The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-20

pa r f. "H H . T..
DIR. John G.. Peters gives an interesting ac-
count of the origin OF the cholera;-- .l
English physicians have long since decided
that this great fair of Bigginuggar is another
prolific cause of cholera. We have already
pointed out many of the causes OF the disease
at these festivals but we have still to men,
tion that much of the food used by the de-
votees is prepared and sold by the priests in
the temples. DR.. Nardoo says 1t is always
greasy, often acrid, and sometimes almost
putrid. The pilgrims eat it with eagerness,
taking no notice Of its condition, taste, or
quality, as they are deeply impressed that any
scrutiny is blasphemous. They drink very
sour tyre and feel themselves refreshed and
very much satisfied for the first twenty-fOur
hours. But on the second or third day all the
causes of diarrhea and cholera, viz, bad
food, acid drinks, wet clothes, exposure to
the night air, exhaustion, dissipation,
absence of surface, cleanliness aud
drainage begin their operation, aud soon
attain great intensity. The citadel of
BellaTy is only few miles away from Biggi-
nuggar, and, in consequence, since 1918 up to
the present time, cholera has never for single
year been absent from Belary. 1t is situated
on granite rock five hundred feet high. On
its bare surface only scauty vegetation grows,
and the soil at its base is equally sterile aud
dried up beneath the fiery rays of the Indian
sun. There are no marshes, rivers, or dense
and exuberant vegetation, which may afford
cholera a coDgenial soil; but the burial place
of each successive English regiment bears sad
testimony to its permanent and unrelaxed
activity. The disease prevails severely in the
barracks on the rock, in the nstivstown and
bazaars Immediately adjoining it, and breaks
out every year just after the festival at Bigg-
nuggar. ~
We have seen that cholera is brought into
the city of Bombay every year, from ninety
four shrines in the Presidency; and from Bonn
bay the disease is frequently distributed up
the Persian Gulf to Persia, Syria, and Asia
Minor. Also up the Red Sea to Mecca and
Medina, and from thence to Suez, Cairo, Alex
andria, and to all the countries in Asia,
Africa, and Europe bordering on the Mediter-
raDean sea. ....
The river Ganges is lined with sacred places,
from its mouth in the Bay of Bengal up to its
origin in the Hmalaya Mountains. Sougar
Island, Gays, Patna, Benares, and Allahabad,
all have vast pgrimages made to them every
year, to and from which cholera is often car
ried. But the most sacred spot of all on the
Ganges is Hurdwar, where the river first
emeTges from the mountains and descends into
the plains which it is to tertilize and bless.
We condense the following account from
Robertson, Jaquemont, Bruce, Perceval, Fer
gusson, and others. The Gapges is q holy
liver to the Hindoo, being supposed by him to
come down directly from heaven. In the
poetical language of the Rama-yana, SITS
bright waters fall flashing from Paradise upon
the peaks of the mountains, while genii and
many of the heavenly host, clothed in their
cleaning garments stand gazing upon it. The
cloudless air about it shines with the light of
one hundred suns; the skies are corruscated
with vivid colors; the earth CLEANS on every
side with its white foam; Vishnu's stairs are
beside it, by which the souls of the elect can
alone ascend to heaven. Its waters are not
only pure, but also wash away all sin, spot or
stain.''
Mr.. N. S. Dodge tells an interesting story
about collision at sea. He was passenger,
several years since, on the Cunard steamer
Arabia, returning to this country. The steamer
was near Cape Race and the fog was Thick
1t was halt-past eleven as | was about quit
ting the deck to turn in. The cabin passen.
gers had been long abed, and stateroom lights
were all out. Save the sailors on the watch,
the men at the wheel, and a senior and junior
officer on duty, there was no one astir. Pass
ing the compass on my way to the companion
ladder, observed that the ships direction was
nearly west-southwest.
80 you have changed her course since eight
bells, see, Mr.. Jones 2'
"Only half point sir, and hardly that"
"And why half point, pray? Or why
change her course at all ?''
'To give the Cape wide berth, sir. You
see this dead reckoning, in the long run, isn't
very reliable, especially with such currents as
We have hereabouts.
"Where away does Cape Race lie, Mr..
Jones?"
'Just above the bows in the direction of the
red light swinging from the halyard yonder."
My hand was on the guide of the ladder
(Which alone saved me a minute afterwards
from being hurled overboard) as l turned to
60 down, saying
"Good night, sir. No more news of the ice,
ell ?"
The words were scarcely uttered, when a
call that sounded like the peal of doom came
from the lookout forward:-
"Sail on the weather now, sir ~
"Where away 7" instantly shouted the
| officer in command.
But no sooner were the words uttered (and
before an answer could be returned) they were
followed by orders so sharp and imperative as
! to be heard through the ship.
| "Hard a-port Hard a-port Jam her down,
sir, jam her down 10
In an instant the ship, answering her helm,
began to swing from her bearings, when, di-
rectly in the line Of our bowsprit, emerging
from the mist, appeared the black lines of au
ocean steamer, under full headway, and of
such monstrous size, that it seemed inevitable
she must send us TO the bottom. 1t was the
| Europa, bound from Boston to Liverpool,
which here, in mid-ocean, under full steam,
had met her consort on this one parallel of
latitude of all others, as if to falsify the pre-
diction forever, that the Cunard line was
bound to be lucky. Bows on, head to head,
the two ships rushed together. The shock
was fearful. Our rate OF speed was nearly
thirteen knots, Hers was as great so that at