Soldiering in Sunshine And Storm

hat time, managed to have a good look round the fort and the bazaars. This was our pastime by day; at night, we wandered over Dungaree-green, or danced at Portugee Joe's. Everything to us griffins appeared strange and wonderful, more especially the different costumes of the people, which made the scene keep ever changing. For here were to be seen not only natives, but also Chinese, with their flat faces and long tails; Parsees in their white dresses and shining oilskin hats; Beloochees from Northern India, with their long black hair and wild looks. Jews from Arabia; Caffirs from the Cape, and Bedouin Arabs;?all mingling peaceably together, to say nothing of the Ram-sami houses, their priests and fakeers, the dancing and music, and the beggars who ride on horseback. The first day's march was to Panwell, a village abouttwenty-two miles from Bombay. It was the commencement of the monsoon; so marching was far from pleasant, especially as most of us soldiers were without shoes, light clothing, beds or blankets. Some had bought white trousers on landing, but they were the exception, not the rule. However, what with the rain that poured so steadily down upon us, and the state of the road?which was at that time intersected about every quarter of a mile by a watercourse from two to four feet deep, through which we had to wade?it was of little consequence whether our trousers were good, bad, or indifferent; and boots or shoes would have been of little use, in fact an enc...