Having witnessed the _nāch_ and some of the ceremonies of the
_Dūrga-pūjā_ festival, we now quit the illuminated area, and pass into
the beautiful, the delicious moonlight of the East. Some Bengalī huts
are beneath the trees; a _chaukīdar_, or native watchman, is standing
before his hut, formed of straw and bamboo, on which his shield is hung;
and a native beyond is cooking his evening meal.
The soft moonlight falls upon the river, and upon its bank several
Bengalī women are sending off little paper boats, each containing a
lamp. With what earnestness they watch these little fire-fly boats, in
which they have adventured their happiness, as they float down the
stream! If at the moment the paper boat disappears in the distance the
lamp is still burning, the wish of the votary will be crowned with
success; but, if the lamp be extinguished, the hope for which the
offering was made will be doomed to disappointment. With what eagerness
does the mother watch the little light, to know if her child will or
will not recover from sickness! At times, the river is covered with
fleets of these little lamps, hurried along by the rapid stream. Even
when it is not in honour of any particular festival, natives may be seen
offering lamps to Ganga (the Ganges), the sacred river.
A _pataīla_ (a country vessel), and two _oolāks_ are now in view; the
natives always moor their vessels during the night, it being dangerous
to proceed on the river during the hours of darkness.