The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-07-15
ODD EXPERIENCES OF TRAVEL.
A Lady Tells of Some Odd Adventures In
Oriental Lands.

| A Lady Tells OF Some Odd Adventures In
Oriental Lontis.
Tips ind gesticulations 90 great way
IN making foreign servants understand
those who do not speak their language,
but they do not always succeed, and
tircsornc though amusing adventures
ore often the result, says Mrs Davis
Ker in the New York Epoch
When we first Travelled In India we
knew very little IIindoostanoc, and on
arriving ut n palatial but very comfort
| less hotel ut Jubbulporc l wanted
small pitcher of hot water to bathc
hurt on my little finger. We knew that
chota was small, and garrum warm
but we could not think of the Uindus-
tani for "water." At last l thought
had made the bearer understand what
wanted. After whiting some time he
returned looking we'll pleased with him
self at 50 easily guessing my wishes,
and placing small cup of tea at my
side, bowed profoundly, and wus about
to leave the room, when called him
back and tried again to explain
This time we had to wait still longer,
but presently VIC heard n humping ON
the stairs and deal of gasping and
grOaning, and then three men appeared
carrying q most enormous caldron of
boiling water.
Our next journey was to Allahabad,
and on reaching the station ut dawn we
hired Il carriage and told the coachnan
in our best lIindoostancc to drive to the
nearest hotel. We soon stopped ct tho
entrance of u large house, and we'll
dressed European opened the carriage
door for us and politely helped us out
81 am glad YOU have como so early"
he said, ''for You will have plenty Of
time to see everything, and assure YOU
can show you some very handsome
pieces of furniture. Whatwill You look
at first?''
after travelling all night we are too
tired and dusty and hungry to look at
anything at present" answered sharp
y, but will you show us into the best
bedroom you've got and send us some
breakfast inmcdiately?"
The man stared at me in utter as
constituent and turned to Mr. kcr for
an explanation. After time we found
out our mistake The house was not
hotel but u private residence, and the
furniture was about to be sold 1T
auction The European, whom we had
mistaken for the hotel manager, was
the ructioncer So our Hindoostanoe had
been again ut fault
In west Africa twice quite uninten-
tionally offended the natives most gricv-
o1lsly. Directly IL steamer arrived at Il
port the negroes swarIncd around her III
canoes, offering skins, grass mats, etc,
for sale, and I always took this oppor-
tunity OF sketching them. Once one Of
the men wore o very extraordinary wig,
and in my anxiety to have good lool,
ct it must have let my drawing block
and pencil be seen. for he caught sight
of what l was doing, and tearing off
his wig in terror, lie called out wildly:
mo put me in book, white mamil Me
good man! No put me in bool1!'
lie evidently thought that I wos work.
ing some evil spell over him
Another time an Ashantce woman on
our steamer saw me slletching her, and
she complained most bitterly to tho
captain that I had made her very i'll.
She said that had given her fright
full pain in her head and that she had to
lie down all the afternoon
But think the funniest thing that
ever happened to me was at Old Gala
bar. We had sent Our clothes to be
washed there, and when the washer
woman brought them back she coolly
told me that she had kept orc or two Of
my garments, for she liked them so
much that she could not part with
them She asked me what She should
give me for them I told her ! could
not possibly sell my underclothlng as
curiosities- However, she got them for
nothing, for cur steamer was just sail
ing for England, so had 10 means Of
insisting upon their return.