Maddera  had  made  great  improvement  in  Eng-
lish during  our  absence ;  his  character  was  altoge-
ther more  developed,  and  being  now  quite  at  his
ease  in  our  company,  took  an  unaffected  interest  in
everything  belongmg  to  us.  But  his  earnest  desire
to  inform  himself  on  all  subjects  sometimes  distress-
ed him  a  good  deal.  Having  discovered  the  facility
with  which  he  accomplished  some  things,  his  en-
terprising mind  immediately  suggested  the  possi-
bility of  imitating  us  in  aU  ;  but  when  made  sen-
sible of  the  number  of  steps  by  which  alone  the
knowledge  he  aspired  to  could  be  attained,  his  de-
spair was  strongly  marked.  One  day,  on  shore,  see-
ing me  with  a  book  in  my  hand,  he  begged  me  to
sit  down  under  a  tree,  and  read.  Jeeroo  was  the
only  chief  present,  but  there  were  several  of  the
peasants  in  attendance.  The  whole  party  lay  down
on  the  grass,  and  listened  with  deep  attention  and
interest,  especially  Maddera  :  the  rest  were  perfect-
ly contented  ;  but  it  was  his  wish  to  be  able  to  read
in  the  same  manner  himself,  and  he  in  vain  tried
to  do  so.
