Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1893-02-08
FROM BOMBAY TO MORADABAD.
BIZ ELLA BARTLETT SIMMONS.

ing merely in the style OF upholstery.
The cars are divided into compartments,
each one supposed to accommodate ten
persons.
Entering our compartment, we bade
farewell to the only "Jobn" of the
party, he entering the adjoining dIvis-
ion. The bell sounded, the guard
appeared, the key turned, and we were
locked in for the night.
Now, this English system of locking
rssy have its advantages, but we
Americans oftimes fail to see them.
The great disadvantage and incon.
vanience arises from the fact that there
are no sanitary arrangements whatever,
and no means of procuring even drink
of water. We had taken the precaution,
however, to fill our "serais" with water
before leaving Bombay, and as our
tifin Qunch) basket were bountifully
supplied, in respect to food and drink,
We were comfortably provided for.
AS the iron horse leisurely took itseli
and us--across the fields, we noted
that they were "wuite for the harvest" 4"
The gorgeous-hued flowers we're very
plentiful, the trees richly greenland
this in January.
But we soon learned that what is our
winter is their growing season. Dur
ing the intense heat of the summer,
vegetation becomes dry and parched.
Being weary. We early prepared Tor
the night, and how glad we we're that
there was a bench apiece, that is, by
lowering two which were fastened
above us during the day. Being longer
than the seats IN an American coach,
each bsnch made a fairly comfortable
bed.
We spread our sea rugs and pillows
upon them and then unpacked our
blankets and cOmiOrtables, for we were
told that it would become intensely
cold before morning.
Two Of our party, who. while on ship
board, had been troubled but little
with sea sickness, became quite car-si k,
but the rest of rs slept soundly and
arose bright and early in the morning
to catch the first view of the Eindhya
Mountains. These mountains have
their own peculiar characteristics,
being more bold and rocky than the
Himalayas, and less so than our own
Rockies We soon dIscerned a station
in the near distance, and, ere long, the
voices of Coolies, bIshtis water car
riers), and vendors greeted orr ears.
As the train stopped what perfect
Babel 1t seemed to us "grIffs." Miss
Sparkle es, who had been in India before,
acted as our chaperon and Interpreter.
"Bishtil PIshtil' cried she, "pani lao"
'Je hah, memsahIb," responded the
water carrier, as he came toward rs
bearing the water n a goat skin, which
he had thrown over ms back. Our
"serais" were handed him for replen-
ishing through the window, when the
guard arrived and unlocked the door.
Soon "John" appeared and reported
himself ready tor breakfast. "Wa:t
until the tea Is prepared said MISC
Sparkes.
'Dekho, Coolle garm pani lao. "
Soon the cOOlie brought hot water,
'pice' a small COM was given him,
the water was poured on the tea, and
all was ready.
While we we're eating, n miserable
defOrmed beggar, coming to the win
dow told US he was dying of hunger.
1 quickly threw him some food. Miss
Sparkes smiled, he did not; he took
that as an insult. He would rather
starve than touch food given by one Of
the despised Christians.
There seemed such a contrast be-
tween the beautiful Towering vines
which covered the verandas of the sta
tiOn and the ragged, dirty, half naked
native rs to cause us to be heart sick.
Surely, we thought, it is true that
here "only man IS vile" We buy
some beautiful vases and native
jewelry which is brought to ms at the
window, paying inst half of the mans
original price, and then probably pay
ing twice what he expected to get.
He did not expect to obtain his ask
ing price unless we had all been
'griffs', and knew no better than to
give 1t. After far more than 900 min
utes for refreshments" the train again
starts. As we pass along we notice that
detac farm houses are conspicuous
for til, ir absence The farmers going
for miles to cultivate their tiny plots
and returning to a village at night
Many farms were but one acre in size,
some even less.
We cannot stop at each station but
the next morning Miss Spnrkes said,
''awske girls and see the renowned
Ganges at the point where its most
Important in tributary the J0mn"' enters
Soon we arrived at AlIahabad. Here
Rod my husband and myself just ex-
40 Y 'semi-circumnavigated" the
HIUOe. All was strange and "heathen-
ish, which at least gave us ''far from
home" feeling. That evening at FIVE
skslock we reached Cawnpore, and as
- cars stopped, JOY Gus voices called
ogs, Here they arel" 80, Miss
SpsrSes, how do yen do9" etc.
Our resident missionaries knowing
We we're to wait there an hour had
come TO meet us, and a servant accom-
panied them carrying a huge basket.
The servant appropriating a vacant
compartment had soon prepared for
us quite spread"
Did warm fried chicken, hot his.
cults, coffee and sliced tomatoes ever
taste better, think you? Did home
seem quite so far away?
Leaving this city we reached Luck
now about midnight where we re-
manned over Sunday.
Little did we think when ms students
we had studied of the Sepoy Rebellion
that we should ever plant our foot on
the soil where the great Mutiny oc-
CURED. Can ttis lie the Cawnpore, the
Lucknow? shall We soon be in the
Barely?
Monday night we reached Barely and
the next NOR ing were introduced to
the members of Conference in session
there. Here we were among friends,
nay, amoug brothers and sisters, and
were made to feel at home from the
start And when, after the session,
Anna l., (our college class mattel,
asked all about the Dear Ones at
Home" the "Home Land seemed
very near indeed. 'Tis wonderful how
love shortcuts distancesi Never again
did we feel that we were IN 'far distant
India" There are stronger, more last
ing bands, joining together Mission
aries in q foreign field than all those
that can be forged by any Greek Fra
ternity or secret Sorosis. What
msttered 1t then if Anna L. and
myself had been members of rival so-