Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-08-01
posssssor Of anc gun hasa thing Of beauty
and Joy forever.
suMxsR IN INDIA.
p.,,sn. and Drawbacks. Of the r,e, season


The home mail arrived this morning,
bringing papers bearing date April 2ith.
They tel us OF the advent Of "Renuine
spring weather." Of bright skies, peeping
spears OF green grass, and the bursting into
bloom OF the crocus aud wild violet. For
that goodly land on the other side OF the
world we have to-day an almost bomesick
longing, for we know very lovey u Is now,
with IFS trees in their fresh and beauti-
| ful array, It's daily Frightening gardens
| and its genial skies. Contrast such
| land with that IN which We now dwell.
The hour Is early, only O'Clock, but the
| outer doors are all carefully closed to shut
! out the heated air and the windows are
| shaded, Draw the curtains aside and look
| out The grass in the yard u burned
brown. The limestone road passing In
| front of the compound" Is painful 10
| look upon In the dazzling light, and you
| cast your ewes With sense OF relief up 10
The beautiful tamarind-trees with their
wealth OF exquisite foliage. Now puff OF
wind sets not only the leaves quiyering,
but puts in motion cloud OF fine white
dust and sends 1t in spiteful gusts against
the window. pants. Your eyes are blinded.
for II rusbes In through every crcyice. and
you are glad TO turn your gaze inward.
the year. We drove out yesterday morn
ing soon after the sun appeared above the
horizon, but its heat was even then 50
fierce that we rocolcd from its touch, and
carefully closed the doors OF the boX-like
convey vance on the sunny side. Carriages
raised us bearing pale-faced ladies and lii.
tie children with checks pitiiully blanched
Iy The cruel heat. Sitting on the broad
VeTandes Ct some Of the bungalows were
family parties gathered about small tablJS.
refreshing themselves with toast and tea,
with which the day in India invariably
begins, the real breakfast being served at
later hour, when outdoor duties are at an
end.
ON the roads were long lines OF men and
women on their way 10 market, bearing on
their heads baskets filed with golden mel
ons or the luscious mango, NUT much
esteemed by foreigners as wei as by the
natives OF the country. Others were carry
ing huge baskets filed with large, coarse
cucumbeTs. Under some great mango-trces
nv tue highway was straw nut, within
which were several porous jars filed with
water. Beside them sat Brahmin ready
10 serve thirsty w0yfarers-thiSi is afayorte
method Of LAYING up q store OF merit.
BY or 10 O'Clock the great heat at this
rot compelled by stress OF circumstances TO
remain abroad. When the mercury stands
as now. at 1lTo IN the shade and 171o in the
sun. even the natives OF the country dread
exposure 10 its power, and the streets are
almost deserted at midday. The few
travellers venturing abroad have their faces
mutllCd to shut out the scOrching wind,
lust As IN northern ATTITUDES q like means is
employed n a protection against the pierre
ing cold. For Europeans life within doors
is made comparatively comfortable by
closing all the outer doors after the eariy
morning, and keeping in motion kind OF
large fan suspended from the ceiling.
There are also Other devices fOf reducing
the heat. Such care is necessary, not for
comfort merely. but even for Tie prcSerya-
ton az life, and no more sayOrs OF luxury
Than the introduction Of stoves and crates
and furnaces into your dwellings in the
bitter cold Of n northern winter
A stranger would probably be surprised
10 find at this season 50 large number OF
the houses occupied ly both foreigners and
natives in process Of repair, and would
perhaps fancy that storm had swept over
the place. doing immense damage; aud to
the prudent, it may be, would come
thoughts of the injury 10 hOusehOd-fur-
dwellings are partially denuded OF Their
coverings. a yearly repairing OF the
ilatch Of bungalows is As inevitable here
rs a spring housekeeping Mt home, for
this covering. which furnishes so welcome
a prolt elton from the heat, is unfortunately
food much relished by our Unsuitable en-
envy. the teImitc or white ant, neces-ita-
ting annual repairs. The tiles with which
many Of the bungalows are covered, as
well as the larger proportion OF native
houses, are broken in various ways or
thrown down 10y the mischievouS monkeys
or the ubiquitous crow, and must there
fore be relaid.
No fear Of rain, for our climate is not
ike yOurs-CapriciouS and unreliable. All
this hustle OF preparation Is in anticipation
OF the bursting Of the monsoon, as we style
The opening Of the rainy season, and this Is
due " here the latter end Of June. Not
hall an inch Of rain has fallen here within
the last i've months; indeed, we have not
had rainy Gay since the close OF the rams
in September last. Our winter rains quite
failed, and there IS in consequence
only here but in many pats OF Northern
India--a scarcity OF water, and in some
places IN actual. water famine. Situated as
we are between two great rivers, the Ganges
others. Al this season many Of the natives
battle twice in the day, and in the morn
ing. but more especially in the evening,
troops of people NAV he seen on their way
TO the rivers. or course scarcity OF water
means Scanty food supply. A column in
the daily paper always scanned with in
tcrIst is that embracing the "crOp and
weather reports Here the fluctuations
in the market are nOted-a matter Of
mOmcntous import in a country so denScly
populated rs India-the changes in tenn
peTature are recorded, and the condi-
ton OF the community as to health is re-
ported.
Ike diic-tases rife at this se:Son are feyers
Of various types, smallpox happily aDat-
ing. and cholera, our dreaded and ins1ti1-
be enemy. Calcutta has suffered greatly
from the Tayagcs Of cholera during ,me
present season. and the doctors aver that
similar visitation may be expected next
February. SMALLPOX. too, has been stead
ily increasing in Violence during the past
two wears in the same city. Cholera is
present here, though not in such CHASTITY
proportions as in our sister city.
The heat. with lis terrible power, has NJ
ready lcguu its work Of destruction. This
morning there was borne TO the grave one
WHO a few days ago was in health. In the
midst Of his lsl.nrS hc was smiitcn with
tie heat. fingered a few days in dclirium,
then passed out Of life. In this land 1t Is
rsIecmny Irue tUat "In the must ~ nc W"
axe in DEATH" Recently prominent rhy-
slcian was removed from Us 10 4 manner so
sudden rs to siartle the entire community.
lie dined one evening with friend, was
Ill The following morning, beyond all
earthly aid before the sun went down,
closed his ey9f in death on Friday morning,
, and on the eyeniDg OF that day was carried
10 his grave
Al tin season those Europeans whose
em,loyments and whose means VIII permit
such nm indulgence lice to the noun ms.
and delightful il certainl~ toeychange
this sitting h'a,. and pcsiiltucssladen air
, Ior cc... ard heulti-glvms breezcs. In this
neat even animals Eufer much, and yslta-
bic horses Sn6 dogs are sometimes sent TO
the hilh to femaiu during the heated term.
In enc OF our dalies | recently saw this
advertisement: "Nauable horses and
other animals needing hill climate during
the hot season can be Accommodated on
fam near Naini Tai"
For those who must remain on the plains
during this excessive lat the use OF ice Is
Ia great relief. We are no longer depend
ent upon America for our ice supply. rs in
many II our large cities lce.faetorles have
| -. a established fhpS hrinDipO the luxury