same purpose. As numbers of this class promulgate their wishes to return to India, an additional advantage results from this measure because, on arrival in the river, an useful interpreter is at hand ; while, perhaps, a trusty and able servant is obtained; who, being attached, by many little kindnesses while on board-ship, would continue to serve, at least until some other might be obtained.

The female who attends a lady while she is dressing, &c., is called an Ayah ; pretty nearly corresponding with the ' lady's maid' among us. The wages of this servant are by no means settled, but may be taken on average at from eight to twelve rupees monthly. Some are half-cast children; that is, of European fathers and native mothers: brought up in families from their infancy. To these, good treatment and kindness should form a valuable compensation for the smallness of wages ; and induce some among them to remain for numbers of years, faithful and affectionate; but such are by no means numerous, when compared with the thousands who, at a certain age, either quit in search of places affording either higher pay, or handsome perquisites; or who, if handsome, engage as ' house-keepers to single gentlemen !' The majority of ayahs are of Portugueze extraction, being descended from those heroes who, in times of yore, ' laid bleeding Asia prostrate at

VOL. I. Z.