The Washington herald., 1907-08-04
GOTHAM GREATER THAN DELHI
Gunga Das and His Brothers Get
Into Fairyland.
StOkers Laugh to ScOrn Stories Told
by Their Fellows as 'TrHIlp"
Approaches Metropolis.

New York, Aug. S.-Battered and rusty,
with the stain Of much brine on her lofty
sides, .he British tramp steamship Clan
Mcintyre crept into her dock in South
Brooklyn after a two months voyage
from Calcutta and half a dozen other
ports. A rain squaI or two pelted her
during the progress up the bay. but the
weather was clear enough TO afford her
Lascar crew a sight of the lofty build
ings of Manhattan.
And great was the wonder of Ali Mukh
and SeIim Din and their brother as they
stood on the fo'c's'le head, gazi & at the
many great castles which wer deemed
necessary in this strange country. So
wide was their wonder that it was in
time communicated to the engine room,
where the Brahman firemen and stOkers
laughed the story to scorn.
"Of a certainty, ye lie" they said, ac-
cording TO the first officer. this morning.
For to be seen at such vast distance,
the buildings must needs be as vast as
the Roof Of the World. upon which the
clouds break their backs. beyond Nepaul
/ Go away, for it is plain that ye do not
speak the truth. But what could be ex-
I pected?"
Whereupon they laughed again, all to-
gether, and continued shoveling black
Jumps into the roaring furnaces. Ali Mukh
was very angry. and so was Selim Din.
but they only said one to another: Come
we viii go away from these swine, broth
er. 1t is an old saying that some men
travel far and learn little. They shall
/ find out for themselves" This dialogue
! is guaranteed by the first officer.
Then they climbed up the iron ladder
/ to the deck, and again and again gazed
at the tremendous city on the horizon. a
/ city far mightler even than the ruins Of
old Delhi But downstairs in the fire.
room the BTahmins talked OF the mes
/ sage they had received. and at last de-
cided to test its truth. SO Gunga Das.
| the head stoker. also ascended the lad
/ der and slid sidewise from the hatch be-
/ hind a venulator. seeking 10 hide from
the sailors lest they should think him Gu
rious. after all And what he beheld
chained him motionless to the spot.
! Never in his life had he dreamed that
men could rear such cliffs Of masonry.
/ They were greater, far greater, than
any the sahibs had built in India.
| What Raj was this, ne asked himself,
with the power of gods and angels. He
could not take his eyes from the picture,
! according to the first officer, who has an
/ artistic temperament He forgot com
pletely his companions below, waiting for
/ his verdict, and slipped across the deck to
/ lean over the rail There MahOmet Sing,
| the old serang, found him. and took re-
venge for the Sights put upon his men.
What do you here, dog?' he cried,
raising his hand to strike. The open air
is not the place for such as you. Get
| back"
Gunga Das shrank away, whining-the
/ first officers chronicling improves as it
/ goes on.
"Ai! good sir: Ai"' suid Gunga Das
/ depreciatingiy DO not be offended. I be-
/ seech you. Thy word ard the word of the
/ brothers of thy caste is like unto a pillar
/ Of truth in heaven. And now that have
/ seen, I believe. For it is not written that
what man shall see is truth? Take nc
/ offense; we knew not what we did"
/ His servillty persuaded Mahomet Sing
/ to clemency. al, go then, Brahmin," he
/ ordered.
Gunga Das salaamed deeply-Lascars
always salaam-and half tumbled down
the ladder to send more Of his fellow
stokers up 10 see the wonder city behind
! the rain curtain. They came and leaned
against the rail with MahOmet Sing. who
had been many times to this city. even as
much as thrice, and he told tales Of a
| thoroughfare for sailormen which offered
more means Of amusement than the ba-
zars Of Calcutta. And the name of it was
the BoCeree