LEAVING LUCKNOW. 55
West Indies, “ a large brown fruit to be eaten with
pepper and salt by those who lis t! ” The other is the
kamarek (avarrhoa carambola), similar in shape and
colour to a plantain, pointed at both ends, but with
three or four ridges lengthways, the edges remaining
green; its taste is acid and somewhat astringent,
generally eaten cooked, and much prized in curry
stuff.
I left Lucknow very reluctantly, and shall he glad of
an opportunity to pay it another visit. I have
heard people compare the place with Dresden, others
again with some old Italian town placed within the
Regent’s Park, as representing the native and the
European portion, but neither give an adequate idea
of this truly Indian city.
After leaving Lucknow for the North-Western provinces,
I had again to pass through Cawnpore, and
this time the weather was bitterly cold, causing the
natives to wrap themselves up from head to foot in
a large white shawl or blanket, like the Bedouins of
E g y p t; and as they crept along thus muffled, they had
all the appearance as if they felt ashamed to walk the
road, recalling the cruelties of Nana Sahib. Once
more upon the rails of the well-managed East Indian
Company, the Toondha Junction was duly reached,