gratitude and hope and curiosity; and as it undoubtedly serves to occupy the feelings and keep away despondency, it serves a very necessary purpose.

When the morning had advanced a little, and the town with the surrounding country could be pretty plainly distinguished, every eye was bent towards them, and every heart was the seat of many varied sensations. The sun rose upon a serene sky, and, as emerging from the ocean, he threw his bright beams on the majestic white building and the green scenery surrounding, objects we had not seen for long before, the scene presented was indeed a gratifying one. It recalled to us objects like these, better known and higher prized. It reminded us of some of our dearest scenes, of some of our happiest seasons. And though it sent regret into the heart, yet joy went with it; the fond, accompanied the regretful feeling, and took away its bitterness.

When the scene had been long viewed, the desire to visit naturally followed; and by-andby, the half-clad sleepless gazers disappeared, to

make their different preparations, and get equipped for landing. Very soon after we anchored the natives came on board in great abundance, eagerly offering their services both to take us on shore and attend us while there. And in course of the forenoon, as we got in readiness, we got into a clumsy Indian boat, manned by a very noisy strange-looking set of chaps, and proceeded to the land.

To those who have been a length of time at sea, it is indeed a gratifying thing to get the foot once more upon dry land. The shore, after all, is a more natural place for us than the rough sea; and there are few, I believe, however much they may be attached to the seaman's life, but are glad to exchange it now and then for the landsman's. And it is only those who have gone a long voyage, that can have a right idea of the very grateful feeling produced when we touch our mother-earth again. The gravest, I am sure, will hardly be able to keep from taking a jump of joy; and, at such a place as Madras, a jump of this kind is an excellent thing, that is to say,

G

if we jump in the proper direction; for if we do not look out pretty sharply, the big surge which rolls there may teach us, too late, that we are not quite upon dry land even when we imagine it. We are inclined, after getting fairly on the landing-place, to stand and consider a little-to make sure that we are really once more upon terra firma: for indeed there is a little difficulty, after having been so long tossed about, and had our course so much circumscribed, in assuring ourselves that we really have a firm footing again, and a clear wide range of country around us. But, at Madras, there is very little time allowed for consideration; for immediately the new-comer gets upon the beach, he is surrounded by an immense flock of, to him, very odd-looking fellows, who astound him so much with their loud, uncouth, and continual gabble, and in their eagerness to get at him and offer their services, press so roughly upon him, that whenever he recovers a little from the astonishment which such a strange and unexpected salutation is sure to produce, he is glad to make his way out of the group as quickly

as possible, and get to some place of quietness

and safety.

At Madras, some of our passengers remained. There are few who have not experienced, at some time or other, the pangs of parting. There are few who have not had to bid adieu to some dear relation, or long-tried friend, and experience the grief which such a parting calls forth. But it is not such a parting that I have now to allude to; it is not the bidding adieu to one that we are bound to by the warm ties of relationship, or one that we have long and intimately known; but it is the parting with those whom we have only been with for a little time, and with whom acquaintanceship is yet young.

Most people, I think, have been in situations where, for perhaps a few days, they were kept pretty closely with strangers; and though no particular intimacy seemed to be formed, yet, when the time came that they were all to separate, and all to go different ways, probably never in this world to meet each other again, there was a depression of spirits produced, a degree of me

lancholy was cast over the mind, which they did not look for. And when, instead of days, we have been for months, as in an Indian voyage, in close association with strangers, it is natural to expect that the melancholy feeling should be felt still more: and we find it to be so. When the vessel has reached the port where some one is to take leave, although up to that time, it might not have been imagined that any attachment had taken place, it is then felt that intercourse has indeed been productive of affection, and each heart feels a pang when the "farewell" is given; and those who remain to go farther on with the vessel, feel a wonderful want in the little society. He that has a spark of tenderness in him at all, will find his heart expand with the warm glow of affection, and the tear will be ready to burst from his eye, as he grasps the out-stretched hand, and bids adieu to the man he is, in all probability, never to meet with again, even though he may not have known that such a man existed till he entered upon the voyage. He that, when thus taking a last farewell, would not press even his enemy to