The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-10
FROM ADEN TO BOMBAY.
The Voyage of an Indianian to the Far East
First Sights and Thoughts in India.
corrssnondence Of the IndianapoIis journal.

Correspondence of the Indianapolis journal.
MussooREE, India. Aug. 26.-As the beauti
ful and quiet Sabbath morning Of JAM "a came
over the sea and turned the darkness into gray;
and the golden sunlight streaming in through
the eastern gateway, gilded the wavelets, tossed
lightly into spray by al eastern balmy breeze,
causing them to frolic amid the colors of the
rainbow. we found our way to the place on the
stern deck. near the wheelhouse, which our
party had pre- -empted. We had passed, with
Alden, the southernmost point of our voyage and
now hoped for cooler weather. We had hoped
that our ship would still be slow euough-as she
had failed to reach Alden the day before, as ex'
pected-for us, with the dawn, to get, at least,
distant outlined view of that fortified rock; but
only the disturbed line of the ships track could
be seen to the far-off horizon. This was one OF
che situations where our imagination must aid
as. We cornered the first officer that made his
appearance, and piled him with questions then
sought our reference books, to learn that Alden
is situated rocky promontory,
thrown up in volcanic times. and
much in appearance like Gibraltar.
It has an area of FIVE miles square, and popu-
iation Of over Is OO0 gathered from every
nation. The name. Aden is given to the PENN
spla as we'll as to the town, and is named from
the neighborine promontory, Bah ell Mand eb, or
Abe gate of Mandeb It was styled Alden, or
Eden. by the native Arabians, on account of its
fine climate and great commerce. for which it
was celebrated in olden times. 1t is said to en-
Soy almost perpetual sunshine, while the heat is
tempered by the pleasant sea breeze, and the in
habitants are generally healthy. Alden
Is one of the fields of the Somal
Bwinymer noted for his skill in diving. We
were told that should we toss bright penny
into the sea- oven the boys would dive into the
depths, often passing entirely under the ship
and come up with the shining coin in his mouth.
Do you wonder that we wanted to see Adens
1t was taken possession of by the British IN
1888 There is garrison. and the forts are
manned with heavy guns. The British pay the
native chiefs an annual tribute to keep the
peace, while the government is martial law
tempered with bribery. AS Alden. before the
opening of the Suez canal, was the gateway De-
tween Asia and Africa, now it is the gateway
between the Indian ocear and the Red sea- The
regulations of the British government i'll refer
0nce to commerce are stringent, and would
scarcely be tolerated on the coast of a stronger
power than Arabia.
great number of vessels stop at this point,
which enables the government to keep close
Acrutiny upon all that is going on in
Indian waters This too, is source
stopping sends moHey on sho1e. Thus
the fort supports itself, while. at the same time,
1t commands most important position, and
snakes the Red almost British lake. In
studying the growth of the British empire you,
doubtless, have observed that the principle Of
self-support is always encouraged. While they
give good government, they make the gov
erned pay the bills and, when possible, a little
OYer for home revenue.
assure you, we looked long in the direction
of Alden, ''for it seemed we were bidding fare
well to our own world leaving both
Europe and America, and passing
into the open door of Indian civilization" Since
we had missed seeing Alden we must content
ourselves by consulting good mems best
ettends," and watching the bits Of Arabian coast
fhat came and went upon the northern horizon
Cor two hours or more These bits Of coast were
Die moro interesting to us, as they were the last
land we should see until the coast Of oriental
India. weeks sailing distant, came into view
We had now been almost six weeks upon the
pea, and, since most of our party
had never seen the great waters
before, you will not wonder that, as
tho last bit Of coast was lost on the distant hor
tzOn, we turned, with something of longing
look, to watch for the first appearance of land to
che eastward. If you look on the map you will
gee that Alden is on about the twelfth paral
kel north and Bombay about the eighteenth. so
fhat the remainder of our voyage would be al
most directly to the northeast. brisk wind
1.-THE northeast monsoon, which lasts from De-
Gember to June-found its way to almost all
parts Of the ship. We were sure to have
this breeze for the rest Of the voyage
and 1t was, assure you, relief from the oppres
sive heat we had to endure IN the Red sea.
At 1890 A. M. the bell sounded, and we all
sembled In the saloon to worship then again,
with the sailors on the forecastle < in the
afternoon. If there is anywhere in 81. wide uni
verse that man feels his dependence aud the
heart goes out to the Infinite, Is to it is
aboard ship and far out at sea; for what can be
worse than death by fire Or to perish amid the
angry wavesl
The captain announced the following morning
that the crew would drill at 1890 p N.
When the hour arrived. many of the passengers
had quite forgotten so that amid the confusion
of fire alarm, the shouts of each compAny's Off
Ger to his men, and the hurry to and fro, some
became greatly alarmed II was soon under
stood. and we learned that all was we'll, though
not however until we had felt something Of
how terrible would be fire at sea. The drill
consisted Of manning the signals the hose, and
OF swinging and lowering the boats, and proved
to US how quickly and perfectly the work could
be done.
On the afternoon of the same date the captain
pointed out to our right number of small OBJ
Jeets. which he said were Indian boats that car
ried native trade with the coast of Africa
aud also informed us that we would likely have
pleasant weather for the rest Of our passage, as
these boats were seldom seen at sea when there
was likely to be rough weather.
There is perhaps, no place better adapted for
the study of mankind than aboard ship. 1t is
really wonderful to see how human nature will
adapt itself to circumstances. All the restless
ness and lighter gaity which had manifested it
Eef at the beginning of our voyage
from Liverpoolp had passed away. Even
our dude and dudess had become more regardful
and had ceased at az uncommon hour to disturb
the quiet slumbers of the piano and the passen-
gegs near it, We have all become more sociable,
Rtd in our chats. now and then, we learn some
thing of the character of those men-since we
have some of them on board-whom England
sends out to rule India. cas- soon as our meals
are over some move their chairs TO a pleasant
quarter of the deck and are soon lost in ''Les
Miserable "Vanity Fair" or "Last Days of
Pompeii," while others sit quietly
chatting of church and state az
fairs. or the happy subject Of
mails; while still others lean quietly over the
railing to watch the porpoise as he eldes
through the crest of the wave. and to admire