176 Sun Dec. 20. up owing to light failing. When I got back to my bungalow I found 3 merchants in possession wiht Beach helpless in the middle of it all. I don't think I have said anything about these chaps yet -- though we have had several of them. A sleek individual in a red cap wanders in wiht a rug or something over his arm. If you take an interest in it -- by the way most of them talk quite good English -- at once a couple of ??? come in with two bales of stuff about 3 or 4 feet ??? which the old geyser at once spreads about your floor for you. Then you are in it. The more you tell him to "Jor?? Jelder?? Jor?" the more he unpacks. Of course he is talking hard all the time and they are absolutely convinced that an English officer has unlimited cash. They will take checques or give credit up to any amount most willingly! The only way to get rid of them is to retire to one's bed-room. If you negotiate withy them it is as well to do so via the Bearer because although he does not mind doing you himself he will see that no one else does so. Well at 6.30 the carraige?? was waiting & I set out for Calcutta. The train was pretty full. I had to get in a carraige?? which had two occupants already. Still we settled down alright to-gether & slept peacefully till we were woken by a Ticket Collector at Hillovah?? just outside Hourah??