SIX MONTHS IN INDIA.

CHAPTER I.

THE OUTWARD VOYAGE-ARRIVAL IN INDIA

THE FIRST JOURNEY.

Wednesday, Sept. 5, 1866.-We went on board the 'Syria,' and soon steamed off from Marseilles. We now felt we were actually en route for India.

The bay looked very glorious, surrounded by the old historic city, the Massilia of the ancient Romans. This entrance from the East to civilised Europe has not been standing still during the two thousand years in which its name has been known as a fine harbour; and though some of the streets we traversed on the preceding day were dingy and unpromising enough, yet we were well rewarded for spending a few hours in exploring the city, by observing splendid new rows of buildings, handsome broad streets arranged so as to terminate with some fine monument, beautiful drives, and lovely public gardens, in which advantage was so skilfully taken of the natural features of the site, as to lead one on, almost insensibly, to a splendid view over the city to the surrounding country, bounded by the graceful outline of blue hills or mountains. The spirit of the imperial capital seemed spreading here, and gave one a striking impression of