The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-03-24
AROUND THE WORLD.
With General Grant on His
Indian Journey.
RED SEA And INDIAN OCEAN.
Cordial Reception Of the Ex-Presi-
dent at Bombay.
GUESTS OF THE GOVERNMENT.
Fstsd by Parssss and Natives "A Picnic
in the Elsphanta Caves.
LIFE IN THE BUNGALOWS

ia BOMBAY, Feb. II. 1870.
There were lazy head winds in the Red Sea which
kent the venetia tagging on her way. We should
have reached Alden the 9th of February. and many
plans were arranged for excursions. But when the
sun went down the report that should reach
Alden and be way into the Indian Ocean almost
before it again. Alden juts into the mouth of
the Red Sea, commanding the entrance. It
was taken by the British in 1898.
part OF the English policy of dotting the
world with guns and garrsons. The policy of so
girdling the world is peculiar one. irritating to
foreign governments and an expense and trouble to
England. But if you turn around your globe you
will and England standing sentinel every CONT
nent. She watches France from Guernsey she holds
Gibraltar in spite Of Spain. Heliogoland is her
sentry post over Germany; from Malta she observes
Italy and the African coast. and now she takes
Cyprus, from which she can watch Egypt. the
Bosphorus and Syria. In America she holds
the Bahamas and Bermudas for other rea-
son than to keep eye on the United
States. The occupation of the Bahamas by the
English during cost us great sum of
money. The islands became base of supplies for
the Southern Confederacy. have often wondered
what England would have said il positions had been
reversed--K she had been in for her existence
and we had used the Isle Of Man to supply and
food to her enemy. But the policy is an imperial
one, and suppose, has its Alden is chain in
the line of posts. and in looking upon its rocky
bosom and barren sides You see the flag Of England
and know that you have reached the first outpost of
the Empire of Hindostan.
THE SENTINEL. OF THE RED
Alden is a rock thrown up in volcanic times. in
area FIVE square miles. with population Of 1900.
There is garrison, and the forts manned with
heavy guns. The government is martial law. tenn
pered with bribery. The British pay the native
chiefs annual tribute money to behave themselves.
Alden is q sort of gateway to the Red Sea and the
Indian Ocean. and the regulations of the British
government in reference to commerce are stringent
and would scarcely be tolerated the coasts of
stronger Power than Arabia. Every vessel carrying
more than certain number of passengers
must stop at Alden. The nominal reason is
to obtain clean bill of health. Tho real
reason is that it enables the government to keep
close scrutiny upon all that is doing in the Indian
waters. It also adds to the revenues Of Alden. for
every vessel that stops sends money shore. and
thus the fort. while securing most important post
tion. while commanding the Red Sea and making it
almost British lake. supports itself. have OBJ
served in studying the growth Of the British Empire
that the sef-supportng principle is always encour-
aged. The British give good government and
make the governed ones pay the bills. with
. little over for home revenues when possible
About three in the morning Of February the en-
gines stopped and knew by the unearthy noises
attending the taking in Of coal that at Alden.
The iron pipe for conveying the coal ran through
The cabin of Colonel Grant and myself. and the noise
made sleep impossible. went on deck and found
Mr.. Borie ready to go shore the sun
None of the others had appeared and but for
the noise we might we'll have remained in our
horth e. for her was n sD upc1r
Portable sea, and all could Of tho shore
were the moving lights of sentinel posts
and the shadow of the hill. Those of us who had
improved our time on the journey, and had written
letters sent them on shore and not without feeling
of sentiment at seeing them go. for it seemed fare
we'll to our own world, that leaving Europe
and America and passing into the opening door Of
Indian civilization. As the morning came over the
and the darkness turned into gray the
passengers came on deck. the General appear
ing about sunrise. The proposal to go ashore
vetoed account of tho sea- the early
hour and the that we were sail eight. The
inhabitants of the island were hospitsbe and came
out to U.S. padding little cigar-shapcd, feather
like canoes which danced about on the waves.
There were several races among them. and the
quaint blending OF character aud costume interested
U.S. especially as 1t was our first glimpse Of the
strange contrasts and developments of the Indian
world.
THE INDIAN OCEAN.
At Alden we touched on world long enough to
hear Of the resignation Of Marshal MacMahon and
the change in the French Republic. II was just
touch Of news. but 1t gave theme for talk and
when you have . week of life before you any
theme is welcome On tho morning Of Feb
rusry 8. about eight. the last Somali swimmer was
tossed over the side Of tho vessel into the
water; the last pedler in feathers was
hustled down the gangway; the Parsccs
took Q sad leave Of their friend. who looked
dismal farewell the engines moved and turned
our course toward India. II was an hour two be-
fore sight Of Aden and all the afternoon there
were bits Of the Arabian coast coming and going on
the horizon. To north Arabia, and
course was northeast. II you look at the map you
will see that The journey from Suoz to
Bombay is like going down one side OF
triangle anil up tho other side. Alden
bay about tho eighteenth. consequently In passing
Adcu VIC touched the sonthernmost station OF our In.
dian trip. We had been told to expect something
severe In Tho way Of weather ut Adcn that we would
bake. or burn. broil the Indian Occnn that IL
would be warm that the vessel would have to rc-
verse her engines and 60 backward to make current
Of air. All OF these prophecies failed Our whole Jour
ncy from Alden 10 Bombay was over calm sea. the
Of mo on deck an Will. our
English friends. with whom became closely ac-
quaintcd and among whom wo found high intellt
gcncc and courtesy. II was good opportunity or
studying the character of the men whom England
sends out 10 rule India. They seemed to have
thing OF tho American There less of tho
Of the insuiar quality which marks the Englishman
generally; moro OF our American shrewdncss and
energy and knowledge of tho world.
ARRIVAL IN BOMBAY.
At noon on February II position was latitude
10 deg. 05 min. north longitude 90 deg ~ min. east
We sc,dding along ut eleven knots an hour and
In the morning would see Bombay. The sea became
u dead calm and the morning brought with 10
purple haze. which flushed the horizon. and IL was
After n tifuc by shading TIM cvca from,
the sun that wc could manage TO trace tho
line OF tho hills anu knew that this tho coast Of
India. our departure from Europe had been so sud-
den that had idea that even our Consul at
Bombay knew of coming. All arrangements
were made TO go TO hotel and from thence mako our
tourney; but the venctia hail scarcely entered tho
karbor before saw evidences that the General
expected. Ships In tho harbor were dressed with
dars and Mt the wharf was a largo crowd-soidicrs,
natives. Europeans Az passed the English flag