Mr. Merriman showed his relief when, on the 30th of April, he noticed the yellow tinge in the water which indicated that the vessel was approaching the mouth of the Hugli. Next day the vessel arrived at Balasore, where a pilot was taken on board, and entered the river. Mr. Merriman pointed out to Desmond the island of Sagar, whither in the late autumn the jogis came down in crowds to purify themselves in the salt water, "and provide a meal for the tigers," he added. At Kalpi a large barge, rowed by a number of men dressed in white, with pink sashes, came to meet the _Hormuzzeer_. "That’s my budgero," said Merriman. "We’ll get into it and row up to Calcutta in half the time it would take the ship. Each of us merchants has his own budgero, and instead of putting our men in buttons with our arms and all that nonsense, we give them coloured sashes--and don’t our women squabble about the colours, my boy, just don’t they!" In the budgero they passed the Dutch factory at Fulta, and the Subah’s forts at Budge Budge and Tanna. At Gobindpur’s reach, Merriman pointed out the pyramid of stone that marked the limit of the Company’s jurisdiction. Soon the gardens of the British merchants came in sight, then the Company’s docks, and at last the town of Calcutta, where the Company’s landing-stage was thronged with people awaiting the arrival of the budgero in the hope of getting news from home. "There’s Surendra Nath and his father," said Mr. Merriman, as they came near the steps. His jolly face beamed when he stepped on to the ghat.[#] "Hullo, Babu!" he said. "Glad to see you again." He shook hands with both the men; the elder was much like his son, a slightly-built Bengali, with white hair and very bright eyes. Both were clad in dhotis of pure white; their legs were bare from the knee, their feet shod with sandals. When the greeting had passed between them and their master, the old man moved towards Desmond, put his hands together, and made a deep salaam. [#] Landing-stage. "I have heard what the sahib did for my son. I thank the sahib," he said. "Yes, ’twas excellent good fortune for Surendra Nath," said Mr. Merriman. "I knew you would be overjoyed to see your son again. But how is the bibi,[#] and the chota[#] bibi?" [#] Lady: _mem-sahib_ was not yet in use. [#] Young. "They were well, sahib, when last I heard. They are on a visit to Watts Sahib, at Cossimbazar." Merriman’s face fell, but he had no time to say more, for he was accosted by a friend. "Glad to see you back, Mr. Merriman. I’ve wanted your voice on the Council for some time past." "Is anything wrong, Mr. Holwell?" asked Merriman anxiously.