Calcutta, watched with jealousy by the British Government, but unable to
find a vessel to convey them away. At length they had peremptory orders
to embark in a vessel bound to England. All hope of escape seemed now
cut off, when Mr. Judson accidentally learned that a ship was about
sailing for the Isle of France. They applied for a passport to go on
board of her, but were refused. They informed the captain of the vessel
of their circumstances, and were allowed to go on board without a pass.
They had got but a few miles down the river, however, when a government
despatch overtook them, commanding the pilot to conduct the ship no
further, as there were persons on board who had been ordered to England.

By advice of the captain, the missionaries left the ship, and went on
shore, while the pilot wrote a certificate that no such persons were on
board. The captain being angry at the detention of his vessel, ordered
them to take their baggage from it immediately, but at length consented
to let it remain on board until he should reach a tavern sixteen miles
further down the river. Mrs. Judson also remained in the ship until it
came opposite the tavern, "where," she says, "the pilot kindly lent me
his boat and a servant to go on shore. I immediately procured a large
boat to send to the ship for our baggage. I entered the tavern _a
stranger_, a _female_ and _unprotected_. I called for a room and sat
down to reflect on my disconsolate situation. I had nothing with me but
a few rupees. I did not know that the boat which I had sent after the
vessel would overtake it, and if it did, whether it would ever return
with our baggage; neither did I know where Mr. Judson was, or when he
would come, or with what treatment I should meet at the tavern. I
thought of _home_ and said to myself, _These are some of the trials
attendant upon a missionary life, and which I have anticipated._ In a
few hours Mr. J. arrived, and toward night our baggage."