The evening shadows and silence had settled on the river Hooghly as anold Brahman wended his way to one of the many ghats (landing places).

The dinghis--little boats which ply backwards and forwards all daycarrying passengers to and from Calcutta--had all been made rapidfor the night. Some of the boatmen were cooking their night meal,while others sat about on the decks smoking and singing. Many of theboats were wedged close together and drawn up on to the bank.