The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1890-09-19
TRAVELLING IN INDIA
Hotel and Railway Life In vio-
toria's Eastern Empire.
A Country where Nothing IL Dons for
Hotel Guests Unless They Are wIiInw
30 Pay sow = Exfr&s"- Dr rs~rIpafom
of an Eastern Railway Car.

ef an Eastern Railway Car.
Your train stops at a station where you
wish 10 spend day and you are about 70
step from the CIR when from three to six
coolies block the door, all wishing 10 grab
some parcel from tho car. They have no
baggage-car In India, says a correspondent
OF the Buffalo Express, and every ono must
take his baggage into thecar where he rides
aud look after il himself. Perhaps you may
have four parcels, II 50, theuat least eight
coolies, who have blocked your door, win en-
deavor TO handle II as 1t Is taken out of
tho car and put into n "gharri, " or carriage.
When you come TO settle with them at least
ten viii want 10 be paid. and in order 70 get
away from the mob (for they will literally
mob youl you pay three times as much as
you ought, and yet feel thankful that 1t is as
we'll with you as il is.
On arriving at your hotel you are booked
at the ONCE and shown TO your room, when
the same rush for your baggage Is repeated
by the coolies. only their number Is less. In
due time your four bundles are safely de-
posted In your room and the coolies have
disappeared. Now comes a time for refec-
tion and you drop into the first chair you
come to. One of tho first OBJECTS that at
coed to examine IL closely and take an i'm
ventory. First there Is a hard mattress;
second, one sheet; and these comprise the
whole thing. You put in an appearance ut
the ONCE aud make inquiries as TO bedding
and roOm-bOy. You are told By the clerk
with one of his most bland expressions that
this hotel docs not furnish bedding nor
servants TO look after your room; but In
quiet tone, just above q whisper, he will in
form you that a servant viii be sent TO your
room, but you must pay him. BY this time
sou arc In q condition TO say "yes" 10 any
thing, and you say: "An right. send him
ON
Tho boy puts Ia an appearance and you
try 10 make him understand your mother
tongue; but II Is OF no earthly use. III you
chance 10 have a little smattcrIngof French
or German you try them in succession, also
To no use. Then by motions and gestures
you make him understand that you wish TO
wash. Water Is brought, but you have
neither towel nor soap furnished But you
NAV have had an inkling Of what you might
expect, 80 you open your valise and bring
them forth.
IL Is the same with your rugs and bed
ding, and after all are brought TO light you
motion 10 the boy to make up your bed and
he does II with alacrity. Your scvcn-0'cl0ck
dinner Is announced and you proceed to the
dining-room. After boing shown a scat
you naturally look around for something TO
cat, or perhaps more particularly for some
one 70 wait upon you; but no ono comes.
Walters are passing aud rcpassing on your
right and left and there you sit with 'cuss-
words" running through your mind swift
aud fast You can not help IL and you are
not TO blanc for what you can not help
Finally when you think forbcarance has
ceased 70 be virtue, you look abo,.t the
rom for the head man." as hc Is called in
India. You bcckon him 10 your sile and,
in tones OF smothercd Indignation, say TO
him that you want something 10 eat.
He will pleasantly say 10 you: "wc have
an abundance 10 eat but do not furnish
table-waiters, | win send you ono IL you
like, but II viii DO charged In your hiil "
The servant comes TO do your bidding, but
can not understand a word you say. How.
everthe courses are designated by numerals,
], 2, 3, etc, on tho menu cards, SO sou say
bring this or that number. You ask for tea
or coffee and are informed that neither Is
furnished at dinner. At the same ume you
hear the report occasioncd by tho openmgof
wine, beer and champagne bottles, which,
by the way, is quito suggestive TO onc-that
~, IL be be a prohibiiionist. In this manner
you manage to got through with your
several meals. After remaining twenty
four hours you wish 10 go 10 tho next OBJ
jectiye point or city, and in order 10 make
the most time you ride nj night YOE order
your bill sent to your room, and at the same
time you order your s.gharri" 10 take you
10 the station in tins for the eight p. m.
mail train, which is always on time and Ia
the best train TO ride on in India.
Az the room-boy comes In followed by
half dozen coolies you are made aware
that the "gharri" Is at the door. Now each
coolie wants job and will come for his
backsheesh whether he does any thingo or
not, so you let the ak coolies carry four
pieces of baggage. You give the room
boy the amount thought necessary TO pay
all and shout to the driver to 90.
The station Is just reached In time, and
by the help Of the station watchman and
large number of coolies you are quickly
slowed away In the car, q room eight by
twelve feet Your car door L. beset by
coolies as well as the watchman, all asking
for backshecsh, and. after distributing all
your leose change 10 those you think earned
Il, they still clamor for more. For the life
Of you II Is impossible to tell one from the
Dthers Tor they dress, or rather undress
alike.
Upto this time no one else has come into
tho car, which is calculated 10 carry at
east four persons. The train moves out OF
The station, and you find yourself tho sole
occupant You look for the bell rope In
rase OF accident and then for the short cord /
Dn the side OF the car with which to set the
Air-brake, and arc unable 10 find either. /
Then the car doors are locked ON both sides,
md you fnd yourself shut In with no Wis l
bile means OF escape, and, as you have /
aothing else 10 do, you unron your bundle /
md make up your bed or couch. Now, IL /
vou do your duty you viii commend your
spirit 10 the God who gave it and retire TO
7our virtuous couch, and In the morning. be
thankful that your Improbable life has been
preserved through the night. 4
Remedy for Sore Threms.