Chapter 9

 

Precisely: exactly

Regulations: detailed rules

Traverse: to go along

Vigorous: hard; strong

Exertion: hard work

Rapid: fast

Considerably: well within

Thither: there

Peninsula: land with water on three sides

Sepoys: Indian soldiers

Purser: Chief waiter on a ship

Fare: food

Scrupulously: dutifully and seriously

Toilets: make-up

Whiled way: spent

Tranquil: calm

 

Caprice: moodiness

Boisterous: full of high waves

Ploughed: sailed through the waves

Unretarded: not slowed down

Anxiety: nervousness

Rage: anger

Blllows:

Slacken: reduce

Betray: show

 

Impassable: unreadable

Unvarying: unchanging

Chronometer: watch

Seldom: only a few times

Indifference: lack of interest

Picturesque: beautiful

Navigators: sailors

Venture: visit

Propitiating:

Ample: large; many

Eccentric: one with strange habits

Personage: person

Hearty: big

Persistent: repeated

Rolling: swaying from side to side

Pitching: swaying forward and backward

Indefatigably: without getting tired

Parish: church

Absorbing: deep

 

Conscientiously: dutifully; carefully

Lodged: given a place to live

Delusion: false idea

Whim: moody thought

Obliging: helpful

Quays: platform next to which ships park

 

Amiable: likeable

 

Charmed: pleased

 

Bound: headed

 

Curious: strange

 

Pretending: acting as if

 

Famished: hungry

Ogre:

Curiosity: interest

 

Conceal: hide

Errand: mission

Diplomatic: having to do with relationship between countries

Crown: gold coin

 

Worthy: useful

Graceful: elegant

Alacrity: hurry

Pronouncing: announcing

 

Espied: seen

Vast: large

Ravished: impressed

Behold: see

Celebrated: famous

Dismantled: falling down

Immense: huge

 

Obliged: forced

Foreseen: seen and planned for

 

Resume: restart

Sauntered: walked about

Fortifications: walls strengthened against attack

Cisterns: very large bowls

 

Favourable: helpful

Aiding: helping

Enchanted: charmed

Congenial: friendly

Secured: obtained

Delightful: fun

Horizon: where the sky and see meet

Adorn:

Distinctly: clearly

Hauled up: sailed up to

 

Rubber: a set of several matches

Bold stroke: a risky but confident move or shot in a game

Concluded: ended

Itinerary: schedule

 

Chapter 10

 

Embraces: has within its boundaries

Souls: individuals

Despot: dictator

Dominion: rule

 

Considerable: large

Ferocious: savage

Absolutely: completely

Insurrection: mutiny

Annexed: took control of

Aspect: situation

 

Cumbrous: difficult

Palanquins: Indian carriage carried on the shoulders of bearers

Deflections: turns

 

Ghauts: where Indians wash their cloths next to the river

Skirts: goes around

Ascends: climbs

Thence: there

Descending: climbing down

Terminus: ending point

 

Ashore: on to the shore

 

Promptly: on time

Astronomy: the study of stars

Synagogue: Jewish worship place

Pagoda: chinese/budhist temple

Cared not a straw: did not care at all

Deign: bother

Hypogea:

Grottoes:

 

Giblet:

Native: local

Palatable: eatable; delicious

 

Swear: promise

 

Supposed: suspected

Sorely: badly; painfully

Fain:

Rogue: a bad person

 

In good earnest: honest

Repose: rest

 

 

Leisurely: slow

Promenade: a slow walk

Banyas: Urdu for trader

Sindes: Sindhis

Bonnet: French cap

Mitres:

Descendants:

Thrifty: those who are careful with their money

Austere: quiet and serious

Carnival: festival

Procession: parade

Gauze: thin, see-through cloth

Airily: lightly

Viol: musical instrument

Tambourine: musical instrument

Staring: looking straight at something for a long period

Countenance: the look on his face

 

Unconsciously: without knowing

Wind: go in a zigzag manner

Espy: spy

Splendid: superb

Seized: struck

Irresistible: that which cannot be resisted

Interior: inside

severely: strictly and harshly

 

Sprawling: lying flat on the floor

Sacred:

Flagging:

Behold: see

Enraged: very angry; in a rage

Forthwith: immediately

Fell upon him: started beating him

Savage: angry, uncivilized, blood-thirsty

Exclamations: angry words

Agile: quick

Adversary: enemy

Vigorous: quick, strong

Rushing: moving fast

Mingling: mixing

 

Squabble: fight

 

Obscure: difficult to spot

 

Crest-fallen: disappointed: unhappy

Induced: convinced

Alter: change

 

Offence:

 

Chapter 11

 

Punctually: on time

Indigo: a blue dye

Distinguished himself: did well

Traversing: to pass along

Terrestrial: belonging to the earth

Oddity: uniqueness

 

Viaduct: a bridge consisting of short spans

Defile: narrow gorge

Basalt: dark, hard rock

Verdant: green

 

Palanquins: an ancient carriage carried by four bearers

 

Deranged: spoiled

 

Pagoda: a temple with a high tower

 

Condemned: to disapprove

 

Limpid: clear

Tributaries: branches

 

Nutmeg: a spice

Spiral: going round and round

Marvellous: something to be looked at and admired

Exhaustless: that does not run out

Ornamentation: work such as on jewellery

Haunted: visited by ghosts

Pensive: thoughtful

Gazed: looked intently

Ruffians: robbers

Strangle: pinch the throat so you run out of breath

 

Evident: obvious

Vanity: showing off

 

Reverie: day dream

Entertained: believed in

Conveyance: transportation

Whirling: going round and round very fast

 

Vagabond: one who keeps going from one place to another

Fantastic: from a fantasy – a magical story

Intended in good earnest: honest

Necessity: the noun for something that is necessary

Unpardonable: unforgivable

Restless: nervous, in a hurry

Uttering: saying

Maledictions: curses

Sluggishness: slowness

Ignorant: not knowing

Hasten: quicken

 

Defile: a narrow gorge

Meridian: vertical circles around the earth

Whereupon: when

Obstinate: one whose ideas are difficult to change

Delusion: a false belief

 

Glade: an open space in a forest

 

Retorted: replied

 

Conveyance: transportation

 

Willingly: happily

 

Foreseen: seen before: predicted and planned for

 

Rejoined: joined again

 

Magnificent: beautiful

Frail: weak

 

Extracted: took out

Vitals: vital organs

Fatigue: tire out

Gigantic: very large

Provisions: food supplies

Howdah: a cabin placed on the back of the elephant

Astride: with a leg on each side of

Perched: sit like a bird on a branch