Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-07-11

+ MOBEED /: b
0ooooooooeoooaeoeeeoeeoooo
r r AID known what was going
- to befall me when ! took steam.
Il L er passage from Ceylon to In.
a should have probably continued
ny Journey eastward round the world
without stopping at the Land Of the
Ra5afa." In blissful Ignorance, how
ever, landed at Calcutta.
The time Of year was that when the
climate most favofs up-couOtry travel.
ing, and %, after q brief visit With
friends. started north by rail. ! was
the richer by half.a.doxen Introductory
letters to men Of more or less promin.
ence In the chief cities Of the empire.
I went hrst to Benares--the sacred
city on the mighty 0anGes. and sought
the house OF Sta Ram. to whom one Of
nv letters was addressed. Sta Ram
was q wealthy and cultured Hindoo
banker. and my friends had pictured
In glowing colois the hospitality that l
would receive.
Before my ride through the city Was
over felt that hospitality Of any sort
from anyone would be doubly welcome.
To my surprise most Of the baSars and
business places were closed. though It
was nearly afternoon. Groups Of evil.
faced natives stood about In the
squares and streets. while police and
soldiers appeared to he unusually plen.
tiful. I was made target for sullen
giances from all sides. and ! could not
help recalling the stirring times Of the
great mutiny, more than thirty years
hack.
found sta Rams house to be pala-
tial cre~ m.colored building. not far
from the river. Its owner proved to be
absent, hut his private secretary re.
ceivcd me aud opened the letter Of In.
PRODUCTION.
BabO0 Das was q sleek. mahogany.
faced gentleman. who spoke English
perfectly. and wore European garments
Of faultless cut.
my honorcd master In In Allahabad
o. matter Of business" be explained.
He will return In day or two, and
meanwhile the house and servants are
ct your disposal"
I thanked Baboo Das, and inquired
The meaning Of the strange sights I had
Witnessed In the city.
'-rhers has been danger Of riot dur.
Ing the past twenty.four hours" hs ~.
piled gravcly; but II II believed to Be
past now. The most ignorant Of the
Hlndoo population are angry because
the municipaiity have acquired the
Ramjee temple for the purpose Of erect.
Ing new watsrworks on its site. The
Mohammsdans have taken part in the
disturbance because Of the dearnsss
Of provisions. for which the municipal.
ity 10 also responsible. Ny honored
master belongs to the Board Of Govern.
ment and helped to purchase the tenn.
ple."
suspected that Sta Rams departure
might b moro In the order Of . digit
than Of Q business trip.
"Ars you surs that the danger =
ovsrr' asked, for !. had some sstlon Of
going to q hotel.
YEA" replied Baboo Das. "ths riot.
on are coWed and submissive. Ny
masters house was under the protsc.
tlea Of the police. but they withdrew
this morning"
Hi manner Was % calm, and decided
that I quite forgot my fears. was
shown luxurious bed chamber. and q
little later I dinsd In solitude Of dishes
Of gold and silver. The entire house
was furnished In Q costly and sump.
fuous style that showed ito bachelor
eWnsr to possess . sense OF European
taste % well % OF barbarlc splsndor.
During the evening I was left pretty
much 70 myself. and 40 did not care to
venture Into the street ! passed the
time with cigar and magazine. and
when slgni6sd my wish to retire he
preceded me upstairs.
squattsd on Q rug In the hail. Just
outade my room, was Q bright.faced
Hindoo lad. about ~ years Old. A cord
danslsd BY bic eide. and, passing
through the door. communicated with
the fans that were attached to the coil.
Ing Of the apartment. The lad was syi.
IDENTITY the ''punky waliah, or fan pull.
Or His name was 0unpat, Baboo Das
Informed me. and bis duty was to keep
me cool during the sultry hours Of the
night
! chattsd with the boy for few mo.
ments, and found him to be intelligent
and fairly conversant with English.
.Chen ! entered my room aud lowered
the square Of rice mating that was
furled above the doorway. There was
also . door Of heavy lakewood. but I
did not think 1t necessary to close It.
The apartment had two windows, over.
looking small courtyard that con.
talned shrubs and q fountain. After
riding most of the day In q stuffysand
jolting railway carriage ! was weary.
IT did not take me long to undress and
fall asleep. The last thing remember
was the soft whirling Of the fans aud
their refreshing current OF air.
I was awakened by q hand tugglng
at the bedclothes. Rouse. 6ahib. there
10 danger" was poured into my ears by
. shrill, childish voice.
] sprang out Of bed In q thrice and
struck light. 1t revealed the half
naked figure Of little Gunpat. His sx.
preston was one Of indignation rather
than Of terror.
what 10 it3'' I demanded.
Those. pigs OF rioters, S9hib," he re-
piled: "rhey have broken loose ut
last"
Then. for the hnt time I beca me
aware Of the tumuit In the streets sur:
rounding the hOIlaA. Rra wiling xolces