coarse description of light brown silk termed Tusser, with fringing of the same material, ornamented, probably, with gold beadings and coronets. Others (and an improved taste in these things is greatly multiplying their number)

are painted in distemper, of some cool grey or ochre tint, with ruled or figured borders, whilst some few are embellished with paintings, the work probably of native limners, exhibiting an independence of artistic style indicative of a resolve, indeed, to "snatch a grace beyond the rules of art"! The only really pictorial punkah I have ever seen in Calcutta, forming an exception to this violation of good taste, was the work of Mr. Wm. Home, one amongst the very few artists of estimation who have had their locality in the city of Palaces. The very pleasing design to which I allude, represents a spirited little group of celestial sprites, who, with fan in hand, are humanely engaged in dispensing the favours. of Æolus upon all of mortal kind who place themselves beneath their reviving influence.

Punkahs, however, of what kind soever, celestial or terrestrial, are indebted for their motion to the same humble agency-that is, a line attached to the centre, and pulled by one of the house-bearers, or, possibly, a Punkah-walla, especially engaged for the purpose. To this I may add that its cordage, or, as sailors would say, its gear, both standing and running, is smarter than any rigging in her majesty's navy, being neatly covered with white, red, or green cloth,-in modern days, probably, gathered at intervals into rosettes, and fastened to the punkah by brass clasp-hands,-a great improvement upon the old and dangerous method of iron hooks, hidden beneath carved

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crowns or coronets, a harbour for dust and dirtor, as I lately witnessed, a nest for bats-wherein the line might wear and rot unseen, like the 'weeds on Lethe wharf,' with the chance of letting the Punkah down upon the devoted head of some unfortunate, who might chance to be seated beneath it. This has been known to occur in a church, where, by the way, the accumulation of some twenty or twenty-five Punkahs; suspended from the lofty ceiling, sweeping the space over head in all directions, must present, to many new comers, a very marvellous and distracting appearance.

You may suppose how architectural beauty in India must frequently be sacrificed to convenience-how the dulce gives place to the utile. Only conceive the roof of Henry the seventh's chapel, which-" defies the power of language to give an adequate idea of the geometrical skill which produced it"-improved by about a hundred hooks and ropes and a score or two of these punkahs shrouding the magnificent carvings of those "decorated pendants, elaborate tracery, and clustered beauties which can alone be rendered intelligible to the eye that sees" them !*

We need not go so far as Westminster, however, for an illustration, or borrow from imaginary evils when realities are close at hand. St. Paul's, the new Cathedral of Calcutta, though comparatively plain, has more than a sufficiency of architectural and decorative beauties in its interior to suffer sadly by the infinitude of iron rods, lines, and fastenings (though managed with as much ingenuity and neatness as the most refined taste could dictate) which are necessary to suspend its punkahs, and that cut up, intersect, and hide nearly one half of the interior of the building.*

Where many punkahs are in use at the same time, as in all public build

This very chaste and elegant structure, which has lately been added to our city architecture, was designed by Colonel W. N. Forbes of the Bengal Engineers, and reflects no less credit on his architectural skill and taste than upon his judgment and ingenuity, in the difficult, and necessarily economical, but happy adaptation of the most beautiful, yet unfavourable, style of architecture, to the nature and

demands of an Indian climate. The
entire cost of the building was £50,000,
towards which sum, and the Endow-
ment, the Bishop himself contributed
about £20,000, and the Hon'ble Court
of Directors £15,000, besides the grant
of land and appointment of two chap-
lains. A tribute may likewise be paid to
Major (now Lt. Colonel) H. Goodwyn
(also of the Engineers,) in return for
the beautiful little edifice, the Free Kirk

of Scotland, which has yet more lately contributed another grace to the features of our city. It was built, of course, by public subscription, and cost about £12,000.

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ings or large apartments, labour is economized by several of them being fastened together and pulled by one man; or if, by reason of their number or great length, the punkahs be heavy, the labour is divided by a man being placed on each side, and pulling in opposite directions, the one forward and the other back-if such a distinction can then exist.

Another, and perhaps more serious evil than a mere distracting influence is connected with the necessity of punkahs in a church :-they deaden and interrupt the sound of the voice. In home churches and chapels the pulpit, we know, is frequently surmounted by a shell, or sounding board, in order to assist the voice, for truly "if the trumpet give an uncertain sound" it is to the preacher but labour in vain. St. Andrew's Kirk and the Union Chapel of Calcutta both, at one time, possessed this advantage to their pul

pits, but in the hot weather they were removed (and in the case of the Chapel has been abandoned altogether) to give place to a yet more imperative necessity-the punkahs.

When the artificial breeze from this machine by any accident ceases, the heat, as you will suppose, becomes tenfold more oppressive than if no punkah

had been in use: the consequence is that those who accustom themselves to its constant aid, live, in one respect, in greater misery during their hot weather lives, than those whose circumstances or professions command fewer indulgences, but who are thus, in the case of the punkah, rendered somewhat independent of its services. In the one case it is demanded as a necessity, but in the other it is enjoyed as a relief.

In many houses punkahs are to be found not only in every sitting room, but in the sleeping apartments, suspended over the beds for the purpose of being used throughout the night. Sometimes they are made to supersede the necessity of musquitoe curtains, but in that case all is at the mercy of the puller; should his hand slack, the musquitoes, and the heat together, will thoroughly, like Glamis, " murther sleep." I believe the more generally adopted plan is to suspend the punkah-necessarily a very small one—within the curtains. Be this as it may, the great object in view is effected by passing a line through a hole in the wall, or over a pulley and through the floor, into another apartment, where the bearers (of whom I shall hereafter speak) take it by turns to pull and sleep ;-indeed I may say to do both together, for as soldiers and travellers are known occasionally to sleep on their horses, so these poor fellows may be seen at their duty, with nodding headsclosed eyes, and in all postures,-possibly lying on their backs-pulling by their feet!

The plan of passing the line into another apartment is adopted in many sitting as well as bed rooms, and possesses the advantages of greater freedom and comfort to the servant, and convenience to the family, particularly if the room be small.

Several attempts have, I believe, been made to effect a self-moving punkah, in place of this unnatural night labour, but for certain obstacles, the chief of which, I understand, is the great power required, and the consequent expense of machinery, the matter remains a desideratum. "When machinery (says Miss Emma Roberts) shall be more extensively introduced into India, the residents will be enabled to keep punkahs constantly going in every room in the house at a comparatively small expense, a blessing of most inestimable importance in such a country."

Next in order of our refrigerators is a very effective one when there is any air, either hot or cool, astir, but otherwise it becomes nearly useless. This is the Khuss-Khuss Tattee, the full value of which is appreciated by none but those who have felt the miseries of the hot winds, which, though occasionally visiting Calcutta, are uncommon and trifling in their intensity when compared to those of the upper provinces, where even serious affections of the eyes are amongst their attendant evils,