The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-09-11
INCIDENTS OF AFRICAN TRAVEL.
Communication with Foreign Servants b.
Easticulotiou Ia Amuaiu~

NNSiDGN|O . UT Ar hlOAN NAVEL.
Communication with Foreign Servants by
Gesticulation Is Amusing.
Tips and gesticulations go a great way
in making foreign servants understand
those who do not speak their language,
but they do not always succeed, and tire
some though amusing adventures are often
the result.
When we first Travelled in India we knew
very little Hindustani, and on arriving at
palatial but very comfortless hotel at
Jubbulpore | wanted a small pitcher of
hot water to bathe an injury on my little
finger. We knew that chola was Small"
and .garrum WARM" but we could not
think of the Hindustani for "water." At
last thought had made the bearer I'M
derstand what wanted. After waiting
some time he returned, looking well
pleased with himself ut 80 easily guessing
my wishes, and, placing a small cup of tea
at my side, bowed profoundly, and was
about to leave the room when called him
back and tried again to explain.
This time we had to wait still longer, but
presently we heard a humping on the
stairs and a deal of gasping and groaning,
and then three men appeared carrying a
most enormous caldron of boiling water.
Our next journey was to Allahabad, and
on reaching the station at dawn we hired
carriage and told the coachman in our
best Hindustani to drive to the nearest
hotel. We soon stopped at the entrance of
a large house and well dressed European
opened the carriage door for us and polite
ly helped us out
81 am glad you have come 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. What will you look at first?"
"After travelling all night we are toe
tired and hungry to look at anything at
present." | answered sharply, "but will
you show us into the best bedroom you've
got and send us some breakfast imme.
diatelyf"
The man stared at me in utter astonish.
ment and turned to Mr.. Ker for an ex.
PLANTATION. After time we found out on
mistake. The house WAS not hotel but a
private residence, and the furniture was
whom we had mistaken for the hotel man
ager, was the auctioneer. So our Hin
dustani had been again at fault.
In west Africa twice quite unintention
ally offended the natives most grievously
Directly steamer arrives at port the ne
groes swarm around her in can5es, offer
ing skins, grass mats, ETC., for sale, and
always took this opportunity Of sketchinl
them. Once one of the men wore a very
extraordinary wig, and in my anxiety tC
have good look at it l must have let my
drawing block and pencil be seen, for ht
caught sight of what l was doing, and
tearing off his wig in terror he called out
wildly:
mo put me in book, white mamil Ne
good mani No put me in book"
He evidently thought that was work
ing some evil spell over him.
Another time an Ashantee woman OF
our steamer saw me sketching her, ant
she complained most bitterly to the cap
tain that had made her very ILL., She sale
that l had given her frightful pain il
her head, and that she had to lie down al
the afternoon.
But think the funniest thing that evel
happened to me was at Old Calabar. w
| had sent our clothes to be washed there
and when the washerwoman brought then
back she coolly told me that she had KEEP
one or two of my garments, for she hknt
them SO much that she could not par
with them. She asked me what she should
give me for them. | told her 1 could no
possibly sell my underclothing as curiosi
ties. However, she got them for nothing
for our steamer was just sailing for Eng
land, so had no means of insisting upol
their return.-Mrs. David Ker in Epoch.