Chapter I: Front Matter

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Transcriber's note:

Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).

NARRATIVE OF THE LIFE AND TRAVELS OF SERJEANT B----.

WRITTEN BY HIMSELF.

"Call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me."

"I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord."

Edinburgh:

Printed for David Brown, 16, South St. Andrew's Street; Chalmers and Collins, Glasgow; Knight & Lacey, 24, Paternoster-Row, London.

1823.

Printed by Balfour and Clarke, Edinburgh, 1823.

ADVERTISEMENT.

In justice to the unpretending Author of this volume, it is necessary to notice that the idea of publishing it in no respect originated with himself. The circumstances which led to its appearance may be very briefly stated.

On the Serjeant's arrival in this country from India, he found himself surrounded by an extensive circle of relations, to which the excellence of his own character soon added many personal friends. As might be expected, the occurrences of his past life and travels, frequently formed the topics of conversation at their occasional meetings; and as he had from an early period, for his own amusement and edification, been in the habit of keeping an exact journal of all "the providences that befel him," he frequently had recourse to it for the purpose of aiding his recollection, and exhibiting more vividly the state of his feelings at various periods, and under the various incidents of his life. Many passages of the Journal excited a very pleasing and deep interest in those to whom they were communicated, and the desire of perusing it gradually extended itself to persons in a higher condition of life. A clergyman particularly, under whose pastoral care he was for some time placed, was so much struck with the interesting, as well as the instructive character of these "simple annals," that he urged the Author, in a very kind but pressing manner, to collect the more material passages in the original Journal into something like a continued narrative; and to transcribe them in a connected and legible form, for the private enjoyment of his particular friends. Our Author, to whom nothing is more agreeable than to have his mind or hands usefully occupied, undertook the task, and executed it with a degree of neatness, which would have done great credit to a more practised scribe. The manuscript volume was, of course, in very great request in his own neighbourhood, and was perused by none without peculiar pleasure; but, for several years, no idea of printing it presented itself to his own mind, though it was frequently suggested by those who had been permitted to read it. It lately fell into the hands of the writer of this notice, whose feelings in perusing it certainly were those of extreme delight; and finding that one or two friends, in whose judgment he placed the highest confidence, coincided with him in opinion, he strongly recommended to the Author that it should be published. His reluctance to this public appearance, was only overcome through the influence of a suggestion rising up in his own mind, that the work might not only perhaps afford pleasure and instruction, but that, should any profits arise from the sale, he would be enabled thereby to gratify his feelings, by devoting them to the support of Bible and Missionary Societies, or other pious purposes.

The task of the Editor, while the sheets were passing through the press, has been of a very limited kind, being chiefly confined to the correction of a few _glaring_ errors in grammar or style, which the writer's very imperfect education necessarily occasioned. Though the most perfect liberty was conceded to him, the Editor felt no disposition to make any changes affecting that extreme naïveté and simplicity of style which appeared to form at least one peculiar and novel charm in the original narrative.

The Editor abstains from any attempt to characterize the volume, as he feels that, from peculiar circumstances, he has become too much enamoured of the Author and his performance, to possess the requisite coolness for doing the work strict justice. He now sends it into the world, humbly trusting that the same kind Providence that watched over the Author, amid manifold perils, temptations, and afflictions, will furnish him with fresh motives of gratitude, by rendering these his humble labours useful for promoting the glory of God, as well as profitable and acceptable to his "dear readers"--objects more precious, the Editor firmly believes, to _his_ soul, "than thousands of gold and silver."

EDINBURGH,

_April 17, 1823_.

CONTENTS.

_Page_

CHAPTER I.

The Author's Birth and Education--Sent to Edinburgh--Engaged to a Tobacco-Spinner--Hired by Mrs. C.--Her Excellent Character--Death--Goes to Mr. B.--Hardships there from Hunger--Buys a fife, and becomes devoted to Music--Put to the Weaving--Scanty Fare and small Wages--Curious incident--Goes to Peebles--Enlists in the Army of Reserve--Is sent to Ireland. 1

CHAPTER II.

Arrival at Belfast, Athlone, Dublin--His Musical Enthusiasm --Alarms of Conscience--Enlists into the Regulars--Visits Scotland--Courtship--Melancholy Result of it--Goes to England --Arrives at Portsmouth--Dismal scene of Drawing Lots for the Wives--Mrs. Allan permitted to accompany her Husband, through the Author's influence with the Colonel. 21

CHAPTER III.

Embarks at Portsmouth--Death of William Troup of a Broken Heart--Tremendous Storm--Ceremony at Crossing the Equinoctial --Loses his Watch--Cape of Good Hope--Sufferings from want of Water. 39

CHAPTER IV.

Arrival at Prince of Wales's Island--Attacked by Dysentery--His deep Convictions in the Hospital--Is visited by Alexander Chevis, a Pious Soldier--Their profitable Intercourse--Colonel Stewart's kindness--Sent to Madras. 50

CHAPTER V.

Description of Madras--The Thieving Bazaar--Wallajahbad--Terrible Mortality--Death of his friend Allan--Marries his Widow--Her Character--Exploit of the Grenadier Company--Effects of Heat-- Expedient for Relief of checked Perspiration--Prayers read by the Adjutant--Colonel Stewart's return to Europe--Colonel Conran's Character--His Kindness--Mutiny of the Company's Troops--Mrs. B's Fortitude. 73

CHAPTER VI.

March against the Rebels--Tigers--Wild Boars--Gutta--Number and Description of the Forces--Hardships of the March-- Activity and Usefulness of Mrs. B.--Illustrations of Scripture--The Shadow of a Great Rock--New Wine in Old Bottles--New Cloth sewed to Old Cloth--Glass of the East--Submission of the Rebels--Basket Boats--Elephants crossing Rivers--Effects of Live Grass--Anecdotes of Serpents--Their Love of Music. 94

CHAPTER VII.

Hydrabad--Effects of Mad Dogs--Mischiefs of Liquor--Affecting Death of Wilkins--His remarkable love of the Bible--Account of Serjeant Gray--The Author's Happiness on finding Doddridge's Rise and Progress. 118

CHAPTER VIII.

Marches to Masulipatam--Finds Alex. Chevis in the Hospital-- His Dying Address and Death--Wickedness of the Regiment-- Courtney Shoots two Men with one Ball--His Hardened Character --A Singular Incident--Suicide of a Nabob--Increasing Profligacy of the Army--Causes thereof--No Sabbath beyond the Line--History of J. F.--His Aversion to Swearing--Melancholy Change in his Character--His awful Death--Account of W. H.-- His Friendship with the Author--Their pleasant and profitable Intercourse--Corrupted by his Comrades--His Illness--Last striking Words and Death. 131

CHAPTER IX.

Leave Masulipatam--Anecdotes of the Elephant--Its Revenge of an Injury on a Serjeant--The Author's Hardships and Illness-- Hurricane--Mrs. B. stands Godmother to Serjeant Lee's Child --Account of Mrs. Lee--Her Death--The Child taken Home by Mrs. B.--Remarkable Cases of Hydrophobia. 163

CHAPTER X.

Leave Trichinopoly--Bangalore--Melancholy Death of Mrs. Brown --Another Orphan taken charge of--Affecting account of--Leaves the Regiment--Summary of Casualties--Happiness in the Prospect of revisiting Scotland--Friends left in India--Account of Mrs. Copwick--Her Marriage and unhappy Condition--Promising Piety --Doddridge's Rise and Progress presented to her--Punamalee --Paddy L--discharged--Drowns Himself--Death of Mrs. Gray-- Letter from the Serjeant--From Mrs. Copwick--Her Wicked Husband's Death, and her own Comfortable Settlement--The Author bids dieu to India. 180

CHAPTER XI.

Description of the Country--Mode of watering the Rice Fields --Compared with the Scripture account of the Land of Egypt-- Manners and Customs--Dress--Food--Visits--Dancing Girls--Mode of Drinking--Houses--Marriage Ceremonies--Burning Widows-- Religion--Brahmins--Other Castes--Temples--Fakirs--Ordeal Trials--Abstract from the Vedas. 202

CHAPTER XII.

The Author Embarks for Europe--Kindness of the Captain to the two Orphans--Sabbath Profanation, by his Scotch Comrades particularly--Storm--Specimens of the Conversation on Board --Good-Friday strictly observed--St. Helena--Extreme Distress on Board from want of Tobacco--Death of a Soldier--Behaviour of his Comrades--Buried ashore--Effects of this--Attempt against the Author's Life--Account of the Shark--Arrival at London. 235

CHAPTER XIII.

The Author's first Sabbath in London--His longing desires after the Public Ordinances satisfied--Arrival in Scotland --Disposal of the two Orphans with their Grandfathers--One of them returns to the Author at Peebles--Receives a letter from Colonel Stewart, who procures a situation for him in a Militia Regiment--Greenock--Comes to Edinburgh--Dr. B.'s Kindness--Conclusion. 278

NARRATIVE.