One of the Hindū poets, in answer to the question, “Why has Vishnŭ assumed a wooden shape?” (alluding to the image of Jaganāth) says, “The troubles of his family have turned Vishnŭ into wood: in the first place, he has two wives, one of whom (the goddess of learning) is constantly talking, and the other (the goddess of prosperity) never remains in one place: to increase his troubles, he sits on a snake, his dwelling is in the water, and he rides on a bird.” All the Hindūs acknowledge it is a great misfortune for a man to have two wives, especially if both live in one house. After many ceremonies have been performed, the god is drawn forth in his car, and at the expiration of eight days he is conveyed back to the place whence he came. The natives dance before the car, and the procession is accompanied with drums, tom-toms, horns, and all sorts of discordant native music. Dancing is considered a religious ceremony among the Hindūs. The Brahmans consider it an act of devotion to the god. WATER CARRIERS. The natives of India carry water long distances in a couple of leathern bags prepared for the purpose and hung across a bullock; the _behishtī_, or water-carrier, by the side of the stream, is filling the skins from his _mashk_, or water-bag, and another man is bringing up his leathern bag for the same purpose. An Hindū girl is taking down a large net to the fisherman in the river, where he has just spread his own net. On the top of his head a small basket is fixed, into which he puts whatever he may catch; and floating on the water, attached to his waist by a long string, is a _gharā_, an earthen vessel, also used as a depository for the fish. The _oolāk_ is floating timber to Calcutta, secured to her by ropes over the side. She is ornamented by a border of impressions of the human hand in white paint on the side of the stern, and has also an eye painted on each side of her bows; which the Hindūs, like the Chinese, consider necessary, to enable the spirit of the vessel to see its way upon the waters. [Illustration] BARRACKPORE. We now cross the Hoogly to Barrackpore, called by the natives _Achánuck_, corrupted from Charnock, the founder of Calcutta, who lived here. In the park is the country-house of the Governor-General; and the military cantonment affords accommodation to six regiments of native infantry. There is nothing remarkable about the Government House; it is a plain edifice of one story in height, with lofty rooms; the aviary, the menagerie, the garden, and a pleasant promenade, where the society of the station assemble, are the most attractive features of the place. The regiments here, with the Artillery at Dum-Dum (seven miles from Calcutta), and the troops in Fort William, constitute the presidency division of the army, which is commanded by a general officer, who resides at Barrackpore.