"Perhaps he may," replied Captain M---; "but it is against my rules to give the first, and if I recollect right, against those of your order to receive the second." Finding that nothing more was to be obtained, the friar was about to depart, when, perceiving the cabbage lying unnoticed where he had deposited it, he observed--"Capitown, non quer cabbage--not want?" "Not particularly," replied Captain M---, surveying it with rather a contemptuous smile. "Then take it ashore, plant it again--do for 'nother ship;" and he replaced the present in his basket, made his bow, and departed. Reader, cabbages are scarce articles in India. I have seen them at Pondicherry, growing in flower-pots, as curious exotics. Two days afterwards, the _Aspasia_ came to an anchor at Bombay, and having saluted the admiral, Captain M--- went on shore to pay his respects in person. The ship was soon crowded with a variety of people, who came off to solicit the washing, etcetera, of the officers. The gun-room officers had just finished their dinner, and the cloth had been removed, when our friend Billy Pitts entered, introducing a slim personage, attired in a robe of spotless white, with the dark turban peculiar to the Parsees, and bringing in his hand a small basket of fruit. "Massa Courtenay, here mulatta fellow want to speak to officers. Call himself Dubash--look in dictionary, and no such word in English language." "It means a washerman, I suppose," observed Price. "No, sir," answered the man for himself, with a graceful bow, "not a washerman, but at same time get all your clothes washed. Dubash go to market, supply gentlemen with everything they want--run everywhere for them--bring off meat and fish, and everything else--everybody have dubash here--I dubash to all the ships come here--got very good certificate, sir," continued the Parsee, drawing a thin book from his vest, and presenting it to Courtenay with a low bow. "Well, Mr Dubash, let us see what your character may be," said Courtenay, opening the book. "Yes, sir, you please to read them, and I go speak to young gentlemen, before other dubash come on board; I bring gentlemen little fruit," and laying the basket respectfully on the table, with another low salaam the man quitted the gun-room. Courtenay read for a minute, and then burst into a fit of laughter. "Very good certificates, indeed," observed he, "only hear-- "First.--This is to certify, that Hommajee Baba served the gun-room mess of his Majesty's ship _Flora_, and cheated us most damnably. "Signed Peter Hicks, 1st Lieut. "Jonas Smith, Purser. "Second.--Hommajee Baba served me as dubash during my stay in this port. He is a useful fellow, but a great scoundrel. I gave him one half of his bill, and he was perfectly satisfied. I recommend others to do the same. "Signed Andrew Thompson, Company's ship _Clio_.