The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 362: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE GOSSOONS 339 the limits of that awful wilderness, he entertained the pre- cisely opposite feeling, and trembled at the thought of being recaptured and conducted back to Inderabad. Thus it was of some consequence to him to learn whether he was still within the range of Queen Indora’s jurisdiction; but how could he possibly ascertain? — for no intelligible word could he exchange with the gossoon. Trusting therefore to some fortuitous circumstance to impart the intelligence which he required, he walked on with his companion. In about an hour and a half, as the sun was sinking into its western bed, they reached the outskirts of the towii, which was one of moderate size. As they entered the streets, the Burker looked about to see if there were any English soldiers or sepoys, such as he had seen in Calcutta and other places in Anglo-India through which he had passed when journeying as a prisoner in the suite of Queen Indora and her royal husband, but he beheld none of those indi- cations of a British possession. The gossoon led him on through several streets, until they reached a small, low building consisting of two rooms, and which was a sort of charitable institution where wayfarers might rest them- selves and cook their rice without having anything to pay for the accommodation. There were several other gossoons in this place, and to whom the Burker’s companion was evidently well known. They had plenty of rice and other provisions, which they liberally shared with the newcomers. When the meal was over, the Burker’s friend borrowed a few copper coins of the other gossoons, and he then beck- oned the Englishman to accompany him. They went out together, and proceeded to a shop where articles of cutlery were sold. Here the gossoon purchased a couple of common rudely constructed knives, the blades of which were fixed in the handles dagger-shaped, so that indeed they resembled oyster-knives. A piece of cork was stuck on each point, and the gossoon, giving the Burker one, made a sign for him to secure it about his person. He then led the way back to the khan, or public accommodation-house, and there some of the other gossoons produced opium and strong spirits. The Burker partook of the latter, but refused the former; his companion however regaled on both, and after awhile the whole motley company stretched themselves to sleep on the benches in the inner room. CORE Oe SS) (S©@)