Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1910-09-02
SEES FOREIGN LANDS
A. j. RHODES TELLS OF TRIP
AROUND THE WORLD.
Gives Graphic Description OF Places
Visited and Scenes Witnessed in
Old World Countries.
CONTINUED from Tuesdays obser1 er)

Continued from Tuesdays Obserye er
After an uneyentful three days rul
we arrived forty miles up the Hooghl
river, where we transferred to smalle
boats and proceeded fifty miles far
ther up to Calcutta, city of over
million and a quarter. This is the cap
ital of the province of Bengal and thu
metropolis OF British India as well a.
the headquarters of the governor gen.
eral of India.
AS great commercial port Calcut-
ia is unfortunately located. 1t is on
the Hooghly river, one of the branches
of the sacred Ganges, ninety miles
from its mouth. The Hooghly is a tor
tuous, muddy stream that can be nav
igated by large vessels only by day
light and with favoring conditions of
tide, for its channel is seldom two
days alike. Our captain not caring to
take the risk with such a large vessel
as the Cleveland transferred us fifty
miles south of Calcutta.
The appearance of the city as 1t is
approached by the river is striking. On
the left are the botanical gardens and
the Bishops college; on the right is a
part of the suburbs with its handsome
summer residences and beautiful gar
dens; farther on are the government
dock yards and the arsenal; beyond
these are the Maiden esplanade, the
favorite place of resort of the elite of
Calcutta for their evening drive; the
Eden gardens with their beautiful trop-
ical trees and plants, and the splen-
did geological gardens Here near the
river lies Fort William, the largest Of
tress in India occupying an area of
about a mile in diameter.
Facing the esplanade among other
fine buildings is the government house,
a magnificent palace erected by the |
marquis Of Wellesley. Beyond this ex-
tending northward along the river
bank is the Strand, two miles in length
and forty feet above low water, with |
various docks and landing stages for
ocean steamers. 1t is adorned with
many fine buildings, including the Gus
toms house, new mint and other gov
ernment offices, while the European
quarter of the town Is distinguished
for its fine public buildings and com
residences.
The section occupied by the natives
presents a different aspect, their
houses being in most instances built ,
Of mud or bamboo and mats, and the
streets narrow and unpaved.
Fine Water Supply.
The water of Calcutta is good, be- !.
ng obtained from the Hooghly river, ;
about fifteen miles above the city :
where 1t is filtered and piped down In ;.
he usual way, giving a daily supply
# 10000. 900 gallons
One-third of the whole trade OF In !.
liza passes through Calcutta. The =
exports are jute. opium, rice, a
otton, wheat, sugar, indigo, coffee, !,
ga, linseed, shellac, buffalo horns and -
ides The principal industrial estab- :,
include sugar refineries, cot -
IN manufactures, flour, saw and oil
ILLS and ship building docks
Living is comparatively cheap and :,
lost of the luxuries OF life as well as
$ necessaries are to be had as readily -,
> in America or Europe. The amount -
rainfall averages about Ga inches. -
The inhabitants are mostly Hin =.
Dos and Mohammedans. The Christ ~
ms number about $4,000. ~
One of the most interesting places
e visited in our run about Calcutta -
as the Royal Botanical gardens, lo- a.
ted across the river from the main
'rtion OF the city, embracing over
70 acres. One of the principal attrac-
ms of these gardens or parks is the ma