Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1910-01-20
CRUISE AROUND
THE WORLD.
Letters From Hon. George
j. LaBar and Wife.
Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean,
Denannhar g 1000

tell you something about our trip. On
the 26th, we sailed along without Incl
dent until about 12 o'clock when we
dropped anchor not far from the Hoog-
ly river awaiting the tide, that we
ascend the river, a distance of some 90
miles, from Calcutta. At about five
we raise anchor again and start on our
way up the river, which we find very
muddy. We proceed slowly until II
on the 9th, when we drop anchor
Thanks to the wireless station on
board as we had communication with
the city and as we get through lunch
we find large tender to take us up
the river. We are soon transferred
and we start on the trip for the city of
Calcutta. We find it very beautiful
country on both sides of the river, no
hill in sight, nothing but green fields
with great herds of cattle, also many
native villages, thatched with straw,
or something of that kind. The river
is filed with craft; many fishing, also
ships of all nations of the world going
to and from the great Indian City.
About six we find ourselves at the
wharf and on landing make a grand
rush as only Americans can do, think,
and soon find ourselves seated in car
riages driving to the Continental He
tel, at which place we are soon at
home, for our stay while in the city.
November 2S.
We are up again good and early and
after fine breakfast we are once more
in carriages for a drive around the
city. There is not much difference in
the cities Of the Orient to write abont,
but after driving through the better
part of the city, we soon come to and
drive through miles of native huts, all
looking alike. AT last we came to one
of the grandest Temples that we had
ever seen, it was the Temple of Jain,
covered all over, inside and out, with
colored glass of evey conceivable
shade, marble floors of different colors,
great covered elephants, standing
around.
great thropg of natives are going
in and out all the time, attired in their
peculiar garbs and last, but not least,
a large bunch of Americans, bent on
seeing all that was to be seen and
more if possible. We are told TO take
off our shoes if we wished to see tho
inside, but we were too independent
to 90 that as we thought our shoes
were about as sacred as their floors
We contented ourselves by looking
around until the ones that did pull off
their shoes returned, and 10; they only
got as far as the door and could go no
further, as they were just doing some
worshipping. Then went to the botan-
ical gardens and saw the largest ban
yam tree in the world. This tree
is about 139 years old, cir
cumference about 81 feet from the
ground is 81 feet and it is 997 feet high,
and has 562 roots actually rooted in
the ground.
November 29th.
Today we have independent action
and can spend the day enjoying our
selves as we please and do so to our
hearts content, and put in very en-
joyable day, shopping and looking at
the pretty things in the stores, of
which there is an abundance.
November 3Oth.
We are again on the move. We
took the steamer about eight o'clock,
to go down the tide and the shifting
nature of the channel has dropped
down the river about 40 miles farther
than where we left it, but we get there
about 4, and to be at home again and
rest, for this sight seeing at lightning
speed is tiresome.
December 1st.
Now, at 4, the last boat has Joined
the ship and at 10 O'Clock the anchor
is again hauled up and we are plough
ing our way the white capped pillows.
of the Gulf of Bengal, on our way to
Rangoon, which will be our next stop.
We expect to be there an Saturday
morning, about ten o'clock. Now,
in closing, will say our heath is good
and we certainly are enjoying the trip.
We have had no storms yet and no
rough sea, still some of our ladies are
little seasick, but not many of them.
| will also mention that Messrs. Mat
teson and Felt are again with us after
trip of II days across India, which
we did not take. They are we'll and
in the best of spirits. Good by for this
time, Yours Respectfully,
Mr.. and Mrs. GEO. J. LABAR.