An Evangelist's Tour Round India (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1868. Excerpt: ... THE TOWNS OF THE NOETH. The great railway stations of India present a more lively scene than those of old England, even as represented by Frith. The English elements are all there; but it is to the mass of Hindus of all classes, from the rajah to the pariah, that we are indebted for the most striking features of a railway journey. The low natives, who seem to travel in great numbers, crowd the platform--noisy, dirty, wondering: driven on with difficulty to their right places by the "age jao " (get along ) of the guard--one of the few, or at least the earliest phrases with which that official becomes acquainted. Once in the carriage, some of which are built in two stories so as to accommodate a double number, the railway travellers, except those of the upper class, who travel with the Europeans, are locked in and kept in durance to the end of their journey, looking out of the windows of their stifling prison at the sahibs or English gentlemen refreshing themselves at the various stopping places on the route. The railway station of Calcutta is at Howrah, which I have already described as on the opposite bank of the Hooghly. From thence I started for the northwest on a line of rail which is continued without interruption to Delhi--1,017 miles from the capital. The first town of interest upon this journey is Serampore, the scene of the long labours of Carey, Marshman, and Ward, and Bo of the first-fruits of the educational blessings which have elevated young Bengal. After Serampore we pass Chandernagore, the old settlement and hope of our rivals the French, and Burdwan--the birthplace of Bammohun Roy. The last named place is also interesting from its being the centre of the richest coal district in India, and as it is only fifty miles distant from Calcutta, a...