The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-03-24

While [ was on a visit TO MaUrIt
rus 2 few wears ago the following
mysterious circumstances occurred
and, although everything was don'
10 find out the originator, natural o.
supernatural. OF the tricks playeC
upon us-if trick il was-we neveI
succeeded 10 eiucidatinc the matter
Travellers ii different parts Of tht
world may have mad the ike dlsa
EreeabIe experiences, as | have slnc'
heard that this species OF revsngs
on supposed enemies, Of which SC
dIsagreeable a specimen came uDdei
my notice, Is commonly reseried {,
in Ceylon, and several parts Of India
l happened TO be spending veal
with my sister and her husband IL
tie lovely island made immortal by
the factor EctlOn-of the romantic
loves and deaths OF Paul ana Virgin
la.
The house servants. with the ex-
Cepu0n of the nurses we're al IA
tiyes that is, Indians either born
10 the IslaDd-the offspring Of cool
les imported for the labor of the su-
gar plantations, or who had come to
pro -ecute their f0rtunes-creoles ol
mixed race, natives of the island
and varying considerably 10 tint
and feature.
The cook was 8 madrassee, the
butler a creole OF African descent
tlrse Of the boys were pure In
diaus. They al seemed to get on
very well together now and again
We heard a tremendous noise-slx
or seven tongues raised IL unintellI-
gibie hubbub of lncomprehensIbie
talk, but it gradually sank away or
ended 10 a hearty burst Of childish
laughter.
The language in which we coumu-
nicated with them. was vaguely cali
ed creole, q mixture Of French and
other tongues, the former predomi-
mating; as in MauritiUs, though an
English colony. French obtains in
the shops and IL a considerable por-
Ton OF tae commercial world. most
OF the principal planters in the Is
land being descendants OF old French
families It Is a childish language
being full of authorizations, odd ab-
ruut terminals and CALCULATIONS,
with a universal and NEST catching
burr, 8hlch all children born IN the
island involuntarily acquire.
None Of the servants spoke Eng
lish only one, the butler, Alphonse
Appayarco, familiarly termed Sam
my, understood il, and he only i'm
perfectly so that, Notwithstanding
the presence of three or four boys
at table, We could speak uncon-
straiuedly on any subject. The
cook. whose name was Manuel, had
been uira wears II my brother-in-
laws employment, and was most
steady, harmless man,
and occupied, with his wife and
children. small ~case" in the
ground. hidden behind 4 hedge OF
bamn boo and tamarind trees. 1t was
nv brother-in-law' intention to fin
allv leave MauTitius IN SIX months,
and as the house was to be occupied
after ms departure by his partner,
siugle man, the establishment wOuId
be considerably reduced.
But. az his intention was only known
60 his immediate family, and be did
rot wish it generally spoken OF un-
I'll his plans were fixed, / do not see
that the servants can have had any
with his projected
movement, although subsequent
events have made rne come relue-
,antiv to the concl Gsi0n that Sammy
10 spite of being a trustworthy ser.
want ana the factotum of the estab-
..shmeut, was the prime mover in
the disturbance Of cur peace and
comfcrt. nav be doing him an
aiustice, but he must. think. have
IN some wav become aware CT the
impending changes, and have taken
he means | am about 10 narrate to
5et rid Of q servant wncse footing IN
he house was Of ionger standing
han bis 0wn.
This. however, Is only conjecture,
IS we never succeeded In clearing
lp the mystery
One hOt evening We were seated .
Il "a bic, the party consisting OF my
lister. her husband, two young men
his cousius-and myself. The
srvants had lefG the room for one
IF the courses, when, instead OF re-
urning. we heard hubbub OF min
zled voices, cries Of terror, a stam
lede Of naked feet pattering along
he tiled veranda, and while we were
ost ia amazement as to what the
.ause of the sudden disturbance
night be. in rushed one of them,
)jumaa 6v name, his face that ash
n hue. which Indians assume when
bale, bis very turban shaking on
Us bead. as IN tTemulous voice be
.ried plteously
'M.ieu, pierre hne tombe, venez,
,ete Il, fine coupe tete doomon, ma
,as canne doomon zette-li, sarse, ne
roave-h.
But as I cannot speak creole cor
ectly, not to mention spelling II,
lad better give a translation ot the
more puzzling words in bis elacula-
CRY sentence. "Sarse" is ''ehez
bez. as ereoles cannot pronounce
en-" geie' Is look, or, see; "doo-
TO- is very general term applied
o all and sundry. Any one wish
ng TO see you is ''doomon )" all
sws is heard from '.qnelque doo-
,oy, > anl r baiiax-a ia fraPod IN s.d0 .