GUNGA DIN.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume I, Issue 31, 16 July 1892, Page 3

GUNGA DIN.

(ritdyabd 1 kipmng's latest indias soldier song.] The following ballad, called " Gunga Din/ seems to as as good an example as we could give, both of Mr Rndyard Kipling's diamatic power, and of the British soldier's better qualities. It is as pathetic aa it is coarse, as generous as it is rough—for we can hardly apply the word ( " brutul" to so sympathetic a picture of self-forgetful duty—so full of recognition of the fidelity of the native servant of the regiment as it is foil of recognition of the imperious •exactions of those whom he served : — " Yo« may talk o' gin and beer "When you're quartered safe out 'ere, An' you're sent to penny fights an' Aldershot it;, You will'do your work on water, An.' you'll lick the blooming boots of 'im that's got it. Now in Injjia's sunny clime, Where I used to spend my time -A-servin' of 'Er Majesty the Queen, Of all them black-faoed crew "The finest man ]J knew Was our regimental bhisci, Gunga Din. It was «Din! Din ! Din ! You limpin' lump o' brick-dust, , Gunga Din.! ' , Hi! slippery hith&rao! Water, get it! Panee lao ! You squidgy-nosed old idol, Gunga , , • ©ia V ' , ■*' The -uniform 'c wore Was nochin' much before, ' ' JLn' rather less than 'arf o' that Wind, | aipiece-6' twisty rag ■Ana goatskin water-bag I Was all the field-equipment 'c could find. 'When the sweating troop-train lay 3En a sidin' through the day, Where the 'eat would make your bloomin* eyebrows crawl, We shouted * Harry By'!' throats were bricky-dry, -Then we wopped Jim 'cause 'c couldn't serve us all. , It was 'Din 1 Din 1! Din! ■You 'eathen, where- the mischief "'aveyou been".? You put some julEee in it 'Or I'lhmarrow you this minute . I<f you don't fill up mj helmet, Gunga Din!' tJ|IE would dot and carry one 'Till the longest day was done, -An re liidrft seem t© know the use d' tfear. If wecharged er broke, or cut, You-could bet ) Tour bloomiri' nut *'Ed be waiting' fifty paces right (flank ;rear W*th 'is mussick on 'is badk ~'E would skip with our attack, An' watch us till the bugles made 1 Retire,' An' for all 'is dirty 'ide "& wasi white, clear white inside When ;e went to tend the wounded under 'fire! , It was 'Din'! Din! l)in:!' '. With the bullets kickin' dust-spots , on green. ; Whe« the cartridges ran out, You could hear the front files shoiit 'Hi! ammunition-mules an' Gunga Din!' i "' I -sha'n't forget the nigLt When I dropped be'ind' the %ht With a bullet where my belt-plate should 'a'been. . S-was choking mad with thirst, An" the man that spied me first "Was our good old grinuin', gruntin' -. Gunga Din.. *E'lifted up my ;ead, Am' ?e plugged roe wher« 1 bled, An' ?e gave me 'arf.-a.pint 6' water-green; It was crawlin' and it stunk. But of all thedrinka I've drunk, I'm gratefullest to one from Gunga Din. It was' Din! Din!! Din,! .."Ere'Sfi, beggar with a bullet through 'isspleen.; .. t . • , "04. !'<■' 'E's"chawin''up. t'he^roum^, •-'-' -' 'An*' 'c's kickin' 'all ttranmfl i \ "IFor Gawd's B»ke ,git (the water^! 'OungaDin3'i . |

I"'E carried nee away To where a dooli lay An' a bullet came an 1 drilled the beggar clean/ J I \ *1S put me safe in«ide, An' justi before _ he died, .. _„ ' I 'ope you liked your drink, 1 sea Gaiiga Din. So I'll meet 'im later on ' At the place where he is gone— i Where it's always double drill ar.d no , canteen; 'Ell be squattin' on the coals Givin' drink to poor damned souls, An* I'll get a swig in hell from Gunga Din! 1 Yes, Din ! Din ! Dia ! You Lazarusbian - leather Gunga Din ! Though I've belted you and, flayed you, , By the livin' Gawd that made | you, | Your'e a better man than I am, Gunga Din !'*