The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-12-19
From The Ladies Repository.
Frogra Calcutta re EseEsteTcs
By MRS. G. $. HAUsER.

By MRS G. s. HAUsER.
Our last purchase had been made in Ca!cut-
Ia; everything was in readiness, and as we en-
| tered the gare OF the 4th OF April, our order
| to the coachman was "jaldi, aldi''--quick-
auckland away we went on full gal!op, the
carrie shaking and Fattling in most alarming
| manner.
After two or three mishaps we reached Inc
river, where, by the difference in our time pie
ces, We found that we were TOO slow Or the ferry
boat too ast, las it had just passed ever carrying
two of our company OF six.
| We were Immediately surrounded by a troop
| of nearly naked boatmen, each begging Tor The
privilege of taking US to the opposite shore; but
our friend who acted as guide, without needing
them, selected the boat which could be most ca
sly pushed off, and by making many promises
of bucksheesh and frequent repetitions ot'Jaldl'
we reached the opposite shore III time TO secure
seats in the cars, when, as the natives say the
devil in the locomotive screamed, and we were
soon flying past broad fields and tall groves OF
rich tropical trees. But tor the palms, at first
glance one might almost fancy that they were
riding over a western prairie. delightful feel
ing OF security crept over US. as we saw Tor the
first time since onr long sea voyage, such wide
extended fields, and felt that if any accident
should occur we should not be drowned
At five p NJ, we reached Ranelgunji, where
re found carries waiting whii soon brought us
before the only hotel in the place. Il did not
appear TO contain more than three rooms, two
small sleeping apartments and huge dining
room. We almost began to doubt whether the
latter was for any use except as standing room
for large table; but after long time, we saw
that food was slowly finding its way there. Al
last, dinner was announced, and with American
haste we seated ourselves, but obtained our din
ner with Indian slowness exaggerated and null
tiplied by red-bearded, red faced, red headed,
lfed.tempered, hatefuleyed officer who irighten-
I'd the servants out of their remaining senses,
and kept them all waiting on him ill his ii!
hammered ordship was quite pleased
Missionaries of course patient. but 1t was
by often saying TO o urseiVes, let patience have
her perfect work." breaking over rules and pur
suing the more American style of helping each
other and ourselves, and that with a lack Of
plates and spoons, that we were able 10 satisfy
the demands of hunger and keep our temperS
At O'clock, amid deep darkness and driz-
cling rain, we lay down il our carries, shouted
" jaldl" to the drivers and closed our eyes tOI
sleep, when the horses gave jump aud gallop-
ed off. Our gaIie had two stationary seats
the front one extended cut under the driver S
seat-aiso an extra one 10 place between the
TWO, so that a bed could be made about SIX feet
long aid three feet wide.
as we looked out next morning we saw hills
nearly all around us. The air was cool and bra
eng, and though our sleep had been much bro
ken by the changing of horses, which took place
every four miles, we felt more refreshed than
we did in the morning in Calcutta.
About nine o'clo ok westopped at Eitcooreo
bungalow for breakfast. The bungalow, which
was nearly the same as aIl other dawk bunga
lows, consisted OF two, dining rooms ami NV
bath rooms. Neraudas exte n6ed ac!Oss Two |
sides of the house. For furniture there were
generally two tables, a small supply OF dishes, |
three or four single beds, bali dozen chains, /
q wash-stand made OF three sticks,a brass wash /
.asin, jars for wa'er, two punkas ami Oh the |
9qor cobl on carpets. I've servants cook and
and sweeper were pad by government. a u otll- /
ers, such as coolies, water carriers, and punka
pulers must be paid by the traveller
The bungalows are kept by government aud |
all the profits go into the treasury We FeIished
finely our breakfast OF chickens, potatoes, aud |
. rice and curry" Though this was The bill! Of
fare at nearly every place Tor breakfast, dinner
or tea,we seldom felt like grunbling because we !
had not greater variety; Tor when we sat down /
we were 700 hungry, and when we arose loo we'll /
satisfied.
At two o'clock we again entered cur carries I
and rode fourteen miles to Vopeehaunee, where I
we stopped ali hour for tea. Our road during !
the day had wound up among hills whose steep
rocky sides, almost entirely destitute of vege- /
tation, rose abruptly from the fertile plain The
Hindoos have strange legend concerning the .
formation of these hills. They say that Han0o- |
man, the head OF the monkey tribe, employed /
all the monkeys to bring rocks from The II nat /
layas to build Adams Bridge" between Cey- |
lon and the mainland, for the use of the Ram
when he desired to enter the island 20 destroy /
the monster RawRn. A sufficient quantity OF
rocks having been brought Hanoomah sent
messengers 10 tell those who were stil coming |
that no more were needed. They, hearing the
message, Immediately dropped their loads, and
thus were formed the hills and mountains III !
Southern India. W e noticed but one hill where /
persons seemed TO 1--we. So steep and ragged ,
are the sides THAI an ascent appeared almost an
imposslbillty. There were no trees nur grass /
adjoining them with beauty only little dried I
brush cluging TO tie bare black rocks.
We saw no longer the palm ana c&ctus OF
Madras and Calcutta, but the more hardy trees;
some with bare branches and Others clothed
nearly to the ground with rich green leaves and |
some bearing beautiful flowers.
As stood at the door Of the bungalow, just |
as twilight was deepening into darkness, the |
scene was at once wild and picturesque On
three sides the Parisnath hills whose black !
uninvlting sides FASTENED the darkness. Close /
by, company of Withholding men were pre- |
pairing their supper, while their tram Of cameIs,
horses, and bulIocks were resting uearaC hand. |
In the other door of the bungalow stood sick /
ly-appearing officer examining his pistols il
preparation for his lonely nights journey. Wis
ions OF thugs and cave prisons disturbed my
sleep that night
Soon we left the bungalow and as we rode |
along we saw the watch fires Of the villages
lighting up the valleys,or stretching long threads
of light along the plains like the fires Of the
western prairies. The villages in Bengal are
simply two long rows of mud houses with
thatched roofs, On each side of a road. The
houses seldom extend back from the road more
than one or two rooms. In the road at night the
bullock and camel trains rest, and before the
door of nearly every house fire is kept burning
till morning.
The people, for greater protection, except at
Government stations, ARE never seen living alone
like the faI mers in civilized lands, but alwai S
IN villages OF from one to five hundred inhabi-
tants. From these they 60 to cultivate he fields.
These villages occur every two or three miles.
Generally they appear to be kept clear OF rub
bish and very neat
The next morning we hailed with joy the
sight OF the Burkee bungalow, ffty-three miles
from our last stopping place. The hot, dry
wind seemed 20 be baking, shriveliiDg US up
our SIX in was parched and chapped. When in
chned to laugh we would hasten to look SOBER
lest our face should crack In vain we used wa
ter to relieve for the moment it seemed to ease
the wIetched feeling, but only left the skin more
render and less soft. After leaving Burkee we
were startled by the intelligence, as we passed
through oae CT the villages about dusk, chat du
ring the night We were 10 cross fOur rivers and
that We should go through the Dumwa pass
where the road was in places so steep that 1t
would be necessary for coolies TO go with s.as
the horses would not be able TO draw the carri-
age; also at the fears expressed by the coolies,
lest we should be eaten by tigers and wolves as
only few nights before garie had been at.
tackled by them. Their fears were quieted in
some degree by The manner in whic one Of our
company showed how he would use hatchet
which he had in bis gar,e and our fears by the
would be most daring beast indeed who would
venture to approach such sounds as escaped