The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-08-28
LIEUT.. THOS. D. PARKER.
His Experiences Among the Peculiar People Of the Orient
u. S. 8. Marietta" at Sea.
~ loo I,,tx, 90 ION

w., y, y.
Near Alden, July %, 1901.
We are nearing our destination after long
run across the Arabian Sea. We shall not be
sorry TO part company, at Perrin, with the
days, has given us some hard farewell kicks.
We have been holding on TO something near
ly all the way, guarding our crockery Win
an 1iety, and walking In series OF jerks and
tumbles.
After about two days at Perrin, we expect to
spend week in the Red Sea and then 10
emerge into civilized waters again. The rest
of our voyage ought to be pleasant enough. ,
rather pleasant. Our consul there was more
attentive than consuls usually are. We re.
ceived cards to the two leading CLUBS, one Oh
which the Yatch Club is visited by ladies as
we'll as men. A foreign Man.of War ia some
what unusual in Bombay, and therefore al
tracts more courtesies than in Colombo or
Singapore. 1t is over two years since an
American crusier visited the port.
other officers at the consul's. His wife and
son played the piano and mandolin, and our
captain laid aside his dignity and not only
sang comic songs. but also performed num-
money out OF peoples pockets, passing cards
through his body and 80 on in an awe inspir.
ing manner.
fhe next night dined With two others at
Bombay. We had been specially invited az a
com pliment to the ship. Two OF the mess re-
ceived US in something like the American
manners, then tke rest OF the mess and other
methods were strikingly different from ours.
There we're no introductiops. The other
guests who dropped in nodded TO their hosts.
Without shaking hands with any one, and
them. The members of the mess, as they
dropped in, sometimes bowed casually to US
and sometimes glanced at us without bowing
or saying anything. There was n o Intentional
rudeness about this, though 1t would have
been strange behaviour In America. When
we went In to dine plenty OF wine was passed,
an body else. Finally the president Of the
mess "a small lieutenant) rose and said, "Mr.
Vice the Queeu"-the vice president (remem-
bering hilnselO said. Gentlemen the King"
and we all drank, Just az the band plsyeGd a. tne
promised TO give us the "Star Spangled Ban
ner" later on, but didn't for some reason.
But the president OF the mess did give us
we also drank standing. After dinner we
listened to the band, or played billiards. and
took drinks when forced to.
1t was twelve O'Clock before we three could
get together, and then they had US TO go into
supper-a grilled bone with "egg cocktails" a
mixture or raw eggs. Worcestershire sauce
and 80 on. BY this time everybody had un-
bent good deal, 80 that our leave tax Ing,
which followed, was more cordial than our
The Germans don't affect the same COM
pressed manners, and while rather formal,
are animated and demonstrative In their
courtesies.
One OF my days in Bombay, spent very
pleasantly driving over the native city, IN
tow of q native guide whom picked up with
an offer of fifteen cents. I strolled about IN
an easy going way and found the sights very
interesting.
l have never even In Japan seen as much
color. It was nothing to pass woman en-,
veloped head and all In red. or man covered
with green. All the rain bow colors were
scattered about everywhere. The people be-
long to about fifty different castles and races,
and speak as many dialects. The Hindoos
proper are not very dark, but there are blacks
In plenty, as well as yellow folk, and some
that approach whiteness. Most OF the women
swathe themselves in some sort OF colored
robe and consider the result O toilet.
their religion Is not essentially very different
from the Christian and Mohammodan faiths,
for they believe In God, heaven. hell and IN
prophet or leader named Zoroaster.
Their Sun worship. and all that may be
symbolic rather than grossly superstitious.
The Parsees OF Bombay are great money
getters, and are intelligent and sometimes
highly educated. 1 dropped into Parsee
theatre one night and found them playing
Hamlet with all the women's parts taken by
men. The music was very oriental. but the
acting was not bad.
They have an astonishing method OF dis.
posing Of their dead. They expose the corpses
on the flowers OF Silence" where they are
eaten by vultures. 1t takes just two hours to
effect the desired end. The bones are pushed
Into q central pit and gradually crumble
away. / visited these Towers without going
Inside; every thing Is conducted with great
decorum and practically the method is not 80
bad as it seems The Towers are In garden
on high hill and overlook the surrounding
country for miles. A temple is there and
other stone buildings. 1t was weird looking
spot with its trees and sinister looking birds
1 also visited the market, where saw fine
aviary, containing an interesting collection
Of tropical birds, among them number OF
parrots They told me that the best tal ker ls
gardens l renewed my circus acquaintance
with q good many animals that belong 10
these parts, some being In cages as large as q
house. There we're snakes, too. hut none OF
the wicked looking Cobras l saw at Colombo
Bomgay has, among many other well nlled
hospitals. One for aged and infirm animals
They say even snakes are admitted and care
fully nursed. I also looked into mosque
where many devotees were praying, Win
hands, knees and occasionally heads on the
carpets.
Before returning. 1 looked into some Of the
shops and tried to bargain for some silk.
When the man produced silk for "S annas" or
II cents yard, I thought had run into
great bargain (remem bering japanese end
Chinese prices.) But be kept on pulling out
three, five. six and seven rupees, until when
did finally buy q shirt waist. / had no Idea
whether was buying cheaply or not.
There Ia plenty of plague In Bombay now,
have it, provided they keep in good condition
still there are exceptions. At Cebu, the son
OF an army paymaster developed genuine
case, and In the house Where our consul now
lives family was wiped out some years ago.
I think we are pretty certain OF arriving
oorIu in 0ntohpr that is if we spend TWO