CEYLON TO BOMBAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 124, 26 May 1888, Page 1 (Supplement)

CEYLON TO BOMBAY.

Observations by an American Visitor,

The Hon. Jeremiah Lynch lately addressed the Geographical Society of the Pacific on the subject of ' A Trip from Ceylon to Bombay, via Delhi,'

After detailing the incidents of his arrival at Point de Galle, the principal port of Ceylon, the speaker referred to Ceylon. ' Despite Bishop Heber's description of Ceylon,' he continued, 'who says the people are poor, but happy, I must say that I saw no evidence of misery there. Leaving Ceylon, I travelled to Calcutta, the capital of 13ritish India, which contains perhaps 750,000 inhabitants. It is a modern town, having been only a station of the East India Company when Ciive won the Battle of Plassey in 1756. It ha 3 been termed, and nob improperly, the ' City of Palaces.' Nearly all the houses aro ono storey in height. The heat is so enervating thab stairways would be irksome to ascend. Living hero in our temperate clime, we oan scarcely conceive of the dreadful beat that prevails in India during nine months of the year. Everyone bathos bwice daily, morning and evening-, and changes ail the clothing each time. From 10 to 4 o'clock no business is transacted ; the ladies do not even go shopping. Those who have to go out in the middle of the day carry thick umbrellas or ride in closo coupes driven by natives. But in tho gloaming, after dinner, everybody, from the Viceroy down, goes to tho theatre, or drives or walks on bhe esplanade on the river banks.'

Regarding Benares, the ' City of Temples,' Mr Lynch said that ib is the religious centre of Hinduism and perhaps the oldest city of India. Ib is the Jerusalem and Mecca of Hindu mythology. Here is where the scenes of the Romeo and Juliet tragedy of Indian mythology, were enacted ; scenes which have been handed down to successive generations in verso and poetry. Delhi, the tomb of the Indian mutiny, was described ab length. The peculiarities of tho people, their traditions, religion and superstitions wero also skillfully and entertainingly touched upon. Tho lecturer referred to the Indian soldiery as composed of 'manly' men, in whom Russia will find a foe worthy of her steel. Tlio Sikhs he described as tall, well - formed men, whose endurance and bravery as men -ab - arms would eternally prevent successful Prussian invasion. The most picturesque race of Asia, Mr Lynch paid, was theParsee, or fire worshippers. Thoy so highly venerated firo thab the common Indian custom of burning the dead on funeral pyres was ignored by them as a profane procedure. Their manner of disposing of their dead was to cast tbe corpses naked to the vultures in a spot selecbed for that purpose. Bombay was described as a beautiful city, twice as large as San Francisco, and a commercial centre of considerable importance. It is there that vessels bound for Egypt and tbe P_ed Sea are provisioned and monncd.

The speaker was frequently interrupted during his discourse by applause. At the close of his address a vote of thanks was tendered to him by the society, after which the audience dispersed.