The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-06-24
MISCELLANY.
TRAVELS IN the EAST.
Private Notes Of a Journey by +. LIZ
Reed, Of st. Paul.

Reed, of st. Paul.
ALLAHABAD, India, Friday.(
April 2, 1875.
We had delightful weather all the way
from Suez, the hottest being So degrees
which is very mild indeed for the Red
Sea this time of the year. The passage
took sixteen days.
There is little in Bombay to write
about, that is for an ordinary traveller.
took considerable interest in watching
the various nationalities and costumes
although there was little variety IN the
latter, except in the turbans; the fash
ionable dress among the men is cloth
| fastened around the waist, and extending
nearly to the knees. Few Of the boys
wear anything at all, unless once IN
while large silver coin strung about
their waist.
The vegetation is not so rich as | ex-
pected, being much dried up by the heat,
as it is now drawing towards the middle
of the hot season. The climate was very
equable, on the sea and coast ranging
from 80 to "a degrees, during the twenty
four hours. The air was so damp that |
was in q constant perspiration, and could
hardly, in fact, have not had good
nights sleep since left Suez.
Wednesday took a boat and went
down to the island Of Elephanta, which
in some seasons of the year is beautiful,
but is now all burnt up with the heat.
There are some rock temples on the
island, with fine relief sculptures; but in
such swa1ms of figures that it was impos-
sible to trace any design. The figures Of
Brahma, Vishnu and silva were very fine
indeed. Bombay contains little to inte-
rest one compared with the island cities.
and so made only short stay there. |
left that night and arrived here this morn
ing. after journey of thirty.seven hours
two nights and day. II the temPera-
ture was unusually even at Bombay, it
soon became the reverse. | will give you
a few figures to open your eyes little
Thursday, 6 A. NJ. 70 degrees; noon, %
degrees; l p. NJ, l02 degrees; 2 P NJ. lO4
! degrees 81 NJ, l03 degrees: 4 P. NJ,
lO2 degrees: 6 P. NJ. 81 degrees; 9 P. NJ.
"a degrees; midnight, 20 degrees.
I need not say we had no uecd of foot
warmers in the cars, for the floor was Sc
: hot, from the heat Of the ground, that
could hardly keep my feet on it. For
about quarter Of an hour. during the
hottest part of the day, strong breeze
, blew through the car and did not think
could stand it. The air was as dry as
on desert, and my nose and mouth were
/ parched and dry, and my eyes began te
pain me severely. Fortunately this die
not last long, and in still air the heat was
not so uncomfortable as you would think
' was very much disappointed in the
scenery which thought would be so rich
$ and beautiful. saw nothing but an i'm
mense plain, covered with dry grass anc
leaness trees, while here and there tree
still kept It's foliage. The ground was
e baked hard and dry, and to judge from
the streams had not seen rain for Ions
-" time, but the great redeeming feature i:
Il the cool nights. 1t is noon now and
am improving the time by writing thi.
e letter in my room with the Thermometer
at 90 degs., while the others are trying tt
). keep cool in the large room (which il
dining room, parlor, Office and all in ont
d immense room) by keeping wet mating
!. hung up all around and vigorously work
ing the large fans called punkas, ant
g after all it is hot work. AS to going GU
1t is impossible, for the ground throw
back glare that is as bad as powerful
u sun, and even with an umbrella it woul,
II be almost madness for stranger to at
tempt it. This place is situated at tn
lie junction Of the Gauges and Jumna, bot
holy rivers, and so is considered especial
&c ~ sacred to the Hindoos.
When the Mohammedans captured
re from the original holders. they were S
pleased with it's beauty that they gave
VI its present name, Allahabad, meanin
=, "Clty of Cod Immense numbers G
Hindoos make pilgrimages here to bath
lie in the Ganges, and perform other cert
monies; one Of the most curious Of whic
is. the shaving Of the head and beard
, for they believe that for every hair tina
/" is thus disposed of on the banks Of til
Ganges they are assured Of millio
rs wears in Paradise. 1t was not the seaso
for the pilgrimage so | missed an intel
;" esting sight, the only one that | know
in the city.
= DELHI, April 9th.
Ileft Aliahabad April ID, and reache
Agra at noon the next day. This town
ID also, is on the Jumna. which is here br
about one-third Of its size at Allahaba,
y first went to the immense fort, who.
walls are . mile and half in circuit, an
:. which contains the palaces and princip
mosque of Akbar, the greatest emper,
- that ever reigned in India and one of Il
greatest in the world.
'e The palace is labyrinth of rooms
nd white marble, often very richly carv
and inlaid with agate carnelian, bloc
stone. lapis lazuli. and other valuab
stones. in sort of Florentine moss
work. The carvings represent fowe
ne and plants, and are very finely don
att while the mosaic work is perfectly bea
d.. tiful. The windows, which are large. a
me filed with network carved from lar
: a slabs of marble, and at = little distar
his looks like lace.
ed In one of the courts is . large seat
ere pure black marble--a simple slab