And so at last to bed, being well tired by all that I had seen and done that day, but found it prodigious hard to sleep, through being plagued by those villainous insects called _muskeetoes_, the which abound in these parts. Then the next day I began to learn how the Company’s business was carried on. But instead of the English going into the public markets for to buy, as I had thought, I found that they made use of Gentue merchants, called _banyans_,[38] that act as brokers, and after buying up their wares from the Indians, bring them to the Factory. These men are of a smiling and agreeable countenance and extreme respectful in their manners, wearing white linen raiment of a strange and womanish fashion. And although the Indostans generally are very square in all their dealings, and prodigious exact to make good all their engagements, yet these _banyans_ are extreme cunning, and do contrive to gain for themselves so much from their transactions with their countrymen on the Company’s behalf, as they are counted among the most considerable persons of the place. And I not knowing their tongue, my duty was only to write at Mr Martin’s dictation, and do my best to improve myself. And when work was over, Mr Martin was again good enough to take me riding with him in his hackery, and to inform me on many matters. And I expressing my surprise that where so many gentlemen, and some of them of a good age, was gathered together, there should be none married, so far as appeared, Mr Martin saith-- “The proverb, sir, tells us, _He is happie that is wed, and without trouble_, but he that weds here is like to have trouble. For what gentlewoman of good family and fortune should choose to leave all she might have in England, and adventure herself in the Indies? ’Tis true that the Company desires its servants to be settled in life, and sends out women for ’em to marry, but you may guess what manner of creatures they would be, that would come out on such a chance; and moreover they are also sickly and soon die, whether from the evil nature of the climate, or from too much drinking of strong waters. Wherefore certain of the gentlemen here have wedded Indian or Portuguese wenches, and keep ’em shut up after the fashion of the country, never eating with ’em, and seeing ’em but when none else is by. But of such matches as these is great trouble arisen, in especial regarding the children that spring from ’em, when the mothers be Papists. It seems to me, therefore, that they are wisest that determine while in the Indies to devote themselves to their work alone, and postpone all such delights until the time of their return.” “As I shall,” said I. “What, you have made up your mind so soon, Mr Carlyon?” says he. “You an’t yet wedded, surely?” “I am troth-plight, sir,” says I, and told him that which you know already--viz., my engagement with my little cousin Dorothy. When I had ended my tale, Mr Martin smiled upon me.