Life in India; or, the English in Calcutta. In Three Volumes.
Author Details
Surname:Monkland
First Names:Anne Catherine
Gender:Female
Anonymous:No
Publication Details
Publisher:Henry Colburn, New Burlington Street.
Place:London
Date:1828
Novel Details
Genre:Adventure; anecdotal; courtship; didactic/moralising; domestic; manners/society; military; seafaring; sentimental; social commentary; travel
Setting:India; on board ship
Period:Contemporary
Plot
This is a somewhat miscellaneous set of interwoven stories, tracking the various experiences of young ladies going out to live in India. The novel starts with a group voyaging out to India. Chief among them are Captain Howard and several young ladies. There are various romantic intrigues, and in particular Captain Bently falls for Elizabeth Percy but thinks he is too poor to be good for her. While on the leg from Africa to India, they are attacked by a French frigate and the ladies are taken. Then another British vessel shows up to assist and there is another battle. The ladies remain on the French ship, and go through a hurricane and then imprisonment on board with no amenities and little food. Eventually everyone arrives in India.
There follows a general round of social engagements, with some narratives of various people given; a freed bull is encountered in the streets; they attend a wealthy native wedding; they participate in discussions of Indian versus European. Elizabeth worries about Bently. They get word that Bently is injured and Elizabeth is very worried. Meanwhile, Charlotte realises she is in love with Fortescue.
Narrative switches to Howard and Bently. Betrayed by a native guide, Bently is wounded, encounters a tiger in the aftermath, and takes shelter with a native woman Nunnoo - he speaks to her in Hindostanee.
Bently and Elizabeth meet again and become engaged. Charlotte is saddened because Fortescue is avoiding her. Bently and Elizabeth marry and set up house on a riverboat. An accident occurs and Fortescue rescues Charlotte, declaring his love along the way. Finally Fortescue confesses that he is already promised to a cousin.
The Marriotts marry unwisely and Mrs Marriott has an affair with husband's friend West. She runs away with West, her husband dies and leaves her well off, West is overcome with remorse, there is a thunderstorm plus bandits and the camp is ruined and West killed.
In Volume 3 there is a significant amount of material following O Meer Sing, who is the head bandit. A female bandit, Rizia, is looking for revenge on him and the English are pursuing him but he keeps outwitting them. Melville becomes ill and dies, with Mrs Melville next to him in the middle of nowhere. She is taken in by an old indigo planter and discovers that Mrs Marriott is also there. Mrs Marriott dies, Mrs Melville is delivered of a baby boy which gives her something to live for. Finally Fortescue is released from his engagement because his cousin loves someone else; O Meer Sing is captured; and Mrs Melville returns to Europe for the good of her son. The final reflection of the novel is on the diversity of experiences of life in India.
There is a theme that death happens very rapidly in India - several people drop dead unexpectedly. There is also quite a lot of discussion of how awful the Muslim religion is (widow burning!) There is an ongoing theme that India will be great again once released from oppression - in other words, once British rule is fully established and the people are freed from their terrible native rulers.
There follows a general round of social engagements, with some narratives of various people given; a freed bull is encountered in the streets; they attend a wealthy native wedding; they participate in discussions of Indian versus European. Elizabeth worries about Bently. They get word that Bently is injured and Elizabeth is very worried. Meanwhile, Charlotte realises she is in love with Fortescue.
Narrative switches to Howard and Bently. Betrayed by a native guide, Bently is wounded, encounters a tiger in the aftermath, and takes shelter with a native woman Nunnoo - he speaks to her in Hindostanee.
Bently and Elizabeth meet again and become engaged. Charlotte is saddened because Fortescue is avoiding her. Bently and Elizabeth marry and set up house on a riverboat. An accident occurs and Fortescue rescues Charlotte, declaring his love along the way. Finally Fortescue confesses that he is already promised to a cousin.
The Marriotts marry unwisely and Mrs Marriott has an affair with husband's friend West. She runs away with West, her husband dies and leaves her well off, West is overcome with remorse, there is a thunderstorm plus bandits and the camp is ruined and West killed.
In Volume 3 there is a significant amount of material following O Meer Sing, who is the head bandit. A female bandit, Rizia, is looking for revenge on him and the English are pursuing him but he keeps outwitting them. Melville becomes ill and dies, with Mrs Melville next to him in the middle of nowhere. She is taken in by an old indigo planter and discovers that Mrs Marriott is also there. Mrs Marriott dies, Mrs Melville is delivered of a baby boy which gives her something to live for. Finally Fortescue is released from his engagement because his cousin loves someone else; O Meer Sing is captured; and Mrs Melville returns to Europe for the good of her son. The final reflection of the novel is on the diversity of experiences of life in India.
There is a theme that death happens very rapidly in India - several people drop dead unexpectedly. There is also quite a lot of discussion of how awful the Muslim religion is (widow burning!) There is an ongoing theme that India will be great again once released from oppression - in other words, once British rule is fully established and the people are freed from their terrible native rulers.
Overview of the Dialect
The novel generally focuses on the expatriate community and therefore there is not much dialect representation, although there are a notable American doctor and Scottish doctor. Native servants tend to be mentioned by way of local colour, and there are some passages where ayahs speak a little nonstandard but in a fairly transactional way. Words of Indian origin are frequently used in the text and explained to the reader along the way.
Unexpectedly nondialectal characters: The local characters do not have their language represented in any detail - the author does not seem to have a repertoire for representing Indian English.
Unexpectedly nondialectal characters: The local characters do not have their language represented in any detail - the author does not seem to have a repertoire for representing Indian English.
Speaker #1:Doctor Pillet - Medical doctor
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:Doctor Pillet
Gender:Male
Age:Adult - young
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Minor
Dialect Features:Idiom, Metalanguage, Vocabulary
Social Role
Social Role Description:Medical doctor
Social Role Category:Professional
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:Philadelphia, America
Place of Origin Category:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, America
His attitude did more for him than words could -- after a laugh at his expence, in which it was impossible for the rest not to bear a part, she dismissed him, saying, " I guess , Doctor, that if you were not more judgmatical (to use a perspicuous phrase, which you have taught me) in your services to the American ladies, you could not progress much in their favour."
"Yes, I could, and I did," returned the highly offended Doctor; "the ladies of Philadelphia are not so ungrateful and disremembering as you." "Ah, Doctor! Doctor! how can you accuse me of being disremembering? have I not just given you a specifmen of how much I remember of your Anglo-American improvements on plain English? "
(Vol. 1,p. 48)"Yes, I could, and I did," returned the highly offended Doctor; "the ladies of Philadelphia are not so ungrateful and disremembering as you." "Ah, Doctor! Doctor! how can you accuse me of being disremembering? have I not just given you a specifmen of how much I remember of your Anglo-American improvements on plain English? "
Speaker #2:Ayahs - Ayah
Individual or Group:Group
Primary Identity:Ayahs
Gender:Female
Age:Adult - unspecified age
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Peripheral
Dialect Features:Discourse Marker, Grammar, Metalanguage, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
Social Role
Social Role Description:Ayah
Social Role Category:Servant
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:India
Place of Origin Category:India
Mrs. Russell's ayah came with a message from her mistress to inquire for "Miss Siybet. My Missis self come , mem , but she ill , too much fright last night. My mem 's head ache , O , so bad ! She hope mem give order for consumah for what thing mem want . That so tiresome Brahminee bull . I make quarrel to Musalgie , for not better show to light ;" and, turning to Miss Percy's ayah, she gave the whole detail in Hindostanee with much gesticulation.
(Vol. 1,p. 228-229)The servants and dandies chaced each other up and down the bank, each making as much noise, and doing as little work as possible; while the ayahs screamed in a shrill key, "Where have you put my trunk?" "Where have you put my hookah?" and, "Where am I to cook" "Where am I to smoke?"
"It is your business," said the sirdar bearer "to look to that" as he brushed past with great consequence, rattling his huge bunch of polished keys; "but where is my petarrah,* and my mat?"
"Hear him," said Mrs. Bently's ayah, in great indignation; "as if my mistress did not care more for me, than for a hundred Hindoo fools like him!"
"And who are you," said the enraged bearer, strutting up to her, and fiercely shaking his hand in her face, "that dare to stand upright in my presence?"
"A follower of the true prophet," answered his opponent, trembling with rage; while she spun round, under the effervescence of her own passions, like a tee-to-tum , and clapped her hands in the air; "a follower of the true prophet, who will strike your unbelieving lips with her shoe;"
* Covered basket.
(Vol. 2,p. 127-128)"It is your business," said the sirdar bearer "to look to that" as he brushed past with great consequence, rattling his huge bunch of polished keys; "but where is my petarrah,* and my mat?"
"Hear him," said Mrs. Bently's ayah, in great indignation; "as if my mistress did not care more for me, than for a hundred Hindoo fools like him!"
"And who are you," said the enraged bearer, strutting up to her, and fiercely shaking his hand in her face, "that dare to stand upright in my presence?"
"A follower of the true prophet," answered his opponent, trembling with rage; while she spun round, under the effervescence of her own passions, like a tee-to-tum , and clapped her hands in the air; "a follower of the true prophet, who will strike your unbelieving lips with her shoe;"
* Covered basket.
Charlotte was perfectly aware of the thoughts which passed in her mind, and addressing herself to the ayah, who at the moment came into the room, asked if she knew Colonel Howard. "Yes, mem , I very well know , he come very often to tell my missis what news he hear of mem and Miss Owen ." "And was there any one with him?" said Charlotte. "One other gentleman, Captain Sahib,* with him. I think they eat dinner this house ." "And what was the other gentleman's name? it was not Bently, was it, ayah?" "Yes, mem , that name I think ; handsome gentleman, tall, and walk so well ; gone to fight with Colonel Sahib," meaning Colonel Howard; "but mem's sister sister ill . I bring glass water ;" and she left the room, screaming " Que hie! quie hie !" *
* Sir -- gentleman.
* Who is there? Who waits?
(Vol. 1,p. 128)* Sir -- gentleman.
* Who is there? Who waits?
Speaker #3:Cosinth Bose - Sircar - clerk or accountant
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:Sircar
Gender:Male
Age:Adult - unspecified age
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Peripheral
Dialect Features:Grammar, Metalanguage, Vocabulary
Social Role
Social Role Description:Sircar - clerk or accountant
Social Role Category:Professional
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:India
Place of Origin Category:India
[Writing]"To his worshipful Captain Bently, Esq. the humble petition of your mate bearer Dukie.
"My Lord,
"May it please your highness, being now near the shelter of his own room, your inferior workman in duty prays, that your honour would permit me to turn from the straight way, and refresh his thirsty soul with his large of families . I have two great enemy , over which your honour got large power, their names Distress and Poverty , and not long acquaintance with the universe, and no any protector but your honour in the below.
"And Cosinanth sircar * begs to inform your honour's feet, that your Patna fine rice, wax candle, and table cloths, are all ready to sent to boat this present time, but cannot, because prevent him, the violent rain and blow . Acquaint my best compliments to honoured Mem , and pray her resentment to be obstained; the taylor is not satisfied to go to boat to-night, for the hard rainy and cloudy .
Most honoured Sir, with doubtful gratitude your poor petitioner will ever pray."
"And what," inquired Mrs. Bently with a smile, "can be the purpose of this clearly expressed petition?"
"Simply this. We pass near the Chupprah, but, as our boats are heavy, he could get there before us, visit his family, and rejoin us when we come up, and probably in addition to his savings, he wished to have an advance of wages to leave in his house."
" But he knows nothing of English. Where could he have got any one person to write an epistle for him? "
"Oh," said Mr. Somerville, " I am certain it is the performance of my sircar, the therein named Cosinth Bose. I recognise his style, and his 'doubtful gratitude,' though he has occasionally varied it, when in seeking in the dictionary for a proper word to express very great, he hit upon 'furious;' and once, as the fruit of his studies, I had a letter beginning, 'Most spanking Sir, may it please your enormity! "
(Vol. 2,p. 197-199)"My Lord,
"May it please your highness, being now near the shelter of his own room, your inferior workman in duty prays, that your honour would permit me to turn from the straight way, and refresh his thirsty soul with his large of families . I have two great enemy , over which your honour got large power, their names Distress and Poverty , and not long acquaintance with the universe, and no any protector but your honour in the below.
"And Cosinanth sircar * begs to inform your honour's feet, that your Patna fine rice, wax candle, and table cloths, are all ready to sent to boat this present time, but cannot, because prevent him, the violent rain and blow . Acquaint my best compliments to honoured Mem , and pray her resentment to be obstained; the taylor is not satisfied to go to boat to-night, for the hard rainy and cloudy .
Most honoured Sir, with doubtful gratitude your poor petitioner will ever pray."
"And what," inquired Mrs. Bently with a smile, "can be the purpose of this clearly expressed petition?"
"Simply this. We pass near the Chupprah, but, as our boats are heavy, he could get there before us, visit his family, and rejoin us when we come up, and probably in addition to his savings, he wished to have an advance of wages to leave in his house."
" But he knows nothing of English. Where could he have got any one person to write an epistle for him? "
"Oh," said Mr. Somerville, " I am certain it is the performance of my sircar, the therein named Cosinth Bose. I recognise his style, and his 'doubtful gratitude,' though he has occasionally varied it, when in seeking in the dictionary for a proper word to express very great, he hit upon 'furious;' and once, as the fruit of his studies, I had a letter beginning, 'Most spanking Sir, may it please your enormity! "
Speaker #4:Doctor McAlpin - Medical doctor
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:Doctor McAlpin
Gender:Male
Age:Adult - unspecified age
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Minor
Dialect Features:Grammar, Idiom, Metalanguage, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
Social Role
Social Role Description:Medical doctor
Social Role Category:Professional
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:Scotland - somewhere Gaelic speaking
Place of Origin Category:Scotland
Extract #1 dialect features: Grammar, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
Speakers: All , Doctor McAlpin
Next morning at day-break, Major Melville received a visit from Dr. McAlpin, who walked into his room, saying, " Weel , Major, here's anither het day. But how have ye passed the night; had ye any guid o' the fine nor-wester? The blasts that come from our own blue hills, put life in the veins o' a Scotchman. I've seen me lying on my braid back on the dining-table, under the punkah , ready to give up the ghaist , and no a leaf stirring at midnight, but the very earth smoking as if the flames wad burst up; till rush, I heard the noise of the bonny blasts come roaring from the north, ' wi' healing on their wings,' and a' the doors and windows go bang, as it wad bring the bungalow about my ears, and I felt in one minute a new man, and though I may almost say I had not a knife and fork in my hands for three days, and that nothing crossed my lips but cool claret, I have got up and called for a curry, and eat wi' as good relish as ever I did a kippered salmon after a day's fishing on the banks of Loch Broom."
(Vol. 3,p. 19-20)Speakers: All , Doctor McAlpin
The good doctor after feeling his patient's pulse, and satisfying himself that the northwester during the night had not done much towards reducing it, gave it as his opinion, that he was suffering from the effects of an inward contusion received at the time of his unfortunate fall, and strictly forbad any attempt to leave his bed, observing at the same time, "They were na wise, Major, who ordered you to rin thief hunting through the jungles. That black devil, O Meer Sing, is as supple as an eel; he'll rin fast that will shake salt on his tail . I have been at this court this twenty years, and never saw guid come o' man exposing himself in the hot winds."
(Vol. 3,p. 20-21)Extract #3 dialect features: Metalanguage
in the mean time he thought Major Melville "had better take the opinion of the Residency Surgeon Dr. McAlpin, whose name at once proclaims his country. He arrived in the country at an age when the habits and language are usually fixed, and you will perceive that Gaelic was his mother tongue, and that he perhaps never learned English, until it was necessary for his professional studies; but he has a good head and a kind heart, though he is something odd in his way of expressing himself"
(Vol. 3,p. 17-18)