Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-04-07
A Visit 60 Calcutta.

On our way we crossed the Grand Maid.
en-, public place, In which we perceived
at least three thousand Mohammedans
kneellng In regular lines, shoes of, arrang-
ed In rows behind them, foreheads bare and
touching the earth, in alteration OF the
prophet MohAmmed. Next we met I'm a
narrow street Bengalee Baboas, gentlemen
of Bengal, without hats aud arrayed In
loose flowing durzas, shirts with skirtA
Some Of these Baboas were perfect ApolIos
In appearance; others bore great resem-
blanoe to ideal pictures of Julius Cesar,
Antony, and other noble Romans We
passed a crowd of painted Hindoos, each
very scantily arrayed, and ornamented
with adaub Of paint on the bridge OF his
nose, the lnseparable emblem OF the idola-
tor. The Bheasti Wallah was everywhere;
he had tied TO his back the skin OF o. goat
filled with water, with which he supplied
the thirsty multitude and sprinkled the
parched thoroughfares. Marching by us
with regular military tread was squad Of
native Sepoy police, who looked quite COM
manding In their white SHIRTS and scarlet
turbans. We were riding in a g5amy, q
sort Of closed carriage, but learned after
ward that the popular mode of city travel
was by palanquins, which are always avail
able on the street of any East Indian city
at triaing expense. These palanquins
are carried by four naked Hindoos or
painted heathens called ''palke mallahs,"
a wallah or bearer, VINO lmportunes every
Englishman in the following terms, 'tPal-
kee, Sahib, Juldaj palkee, (which
interpreted means, ''Palanquin, sir, Tli go
quick; will you have the pAIanquin 2" and
you often near them chant, as they bear
you at rapid pace, the HindooStanee words
with now and then an unlnterpretable
English term thrown in, of popular song,
the tera meaning OF which is that the
English Sahib 10 full of champagne and
wants TO be taken home as quickly as posi-
sible, and that he is willing 10 give extra
Dacksheesh (money) for it.
Turning the corner Of a street which led
from Dhurumtolla Street to Jahn Bazaar we
met yelling mob of idol worshipers carry
ing on their shoulders dozens of enormous
and hideous-looking wooden idols, aud
amid the din and noise Of crazy horns, the
brassy banging OF gongs and the dull thud-
thud of numerous tomGoms, they drew. near
to the holy Ganges, where, as we were told
they were TO cast these distorted shapes into
the holy stream, and then plunge in them
selves, under the protection OF these inane
gods. liz q crocodile GeIzeS one of them, or
ne turns sick and hes down and dies on the
sands, or the tide rises and sweeps him
away, then he is happy; he is accepted OF
the gods But if the tide refuses him, and
the crocodiles reject him, he is kicked out
as vile and unworthy the privileges Of his
caste.
A first night in India is always full OF
prospective horrors for the newcomer. AT
midnight, in the principal streets, the fes-
tive jacKal holds high carnival and emlts
squalls and runs the discordant gamut, Civ
ing forth sounds an of an amateur opera
company at rehearsal, or the first attempt
of a juvenile trombone player. have ac-
tually seen the effect or q whole scene of
native opera, ruined by these screeching
Scavengers, which in droves OF 90 ana 100
assemble on the public streets and in front
of churches and theaters, and howl as il In
opposition.
AS the Mohammedan can never be
HadggIs until after performing his pilgri-
mage 10 Mecca, neither can our modern
nlagicians become perfect in ther aTS un-
rl they have visited the Indies 10 see the
clever manipulation OF the native coniur0r.
They perform the most marvellous Things
in the streets, corridors and on the decks Of
vessels, without the aid OF apparaLus-the
''Ossket trick" and 1.-The growth Of the
mango tree" being among their easiest per-
formances. The growth of the mango tree
is illustrated by placing q seed beneath q
little heap Of earth, which is covered tor q
few brief moments; the cover is removed
and behold, we see little green shoot just
peeping trom the top OF the earGh- lG ia
again covered and removed at intervals OF
three minutes, until we have quite a pre-
tentIous tree, of about three teet in height
The mystery Of the basket trick, as per-
formed in India, lies in the unaccountable
disappearance of the girl who is placed be-
meath an oval cover of reticulated sEraws;
swords are run through this covering hilt
deep, and in every direction-it is even
trodden fiat, and when raised the girl La
gone. A laugh Is then heard, we turn in
Lnat direction and we behold, with open
mouLhed astonlshment the girl running TO
ward Us.