PC_256_Poe_1910_1911_Typescript_053

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of both sexes, be-jewelled women in their dirty ex-white or
brilliant robes--the streets present an odd sight. The great
banyan tree is 906 feet in circumference. In afternoon went
to Jain Temple and made some purchases. Saw monument "in
Honor of the Most Noble, the Marquis of Hastings, K. G."

January 3rd.
Spent sometime consulting Cook as to trip. Called to see Amer-
ican Consul. Find Sheik Jamaldin, my guide and servant pro tem,
unsatisfactory and will get another. Bought $40 worth of stuff
for presents, getting cheated, I am sure, on afterthought. To-
night Dr. Hildebrand and Miss Shobinger left for Benares, and
I went to depot with them. Hildebrand and I got on famously
together and I am sorry to see them go.

January 4th.
Engaged Sheik Mogul, an English-speading Mohammedan as my guide.
He usually addresses me as "Your honor" or "Your honors" though
sometimes as "master". Called at Goverment House, where the
Secretary to the Viceroy arranged some letters of introduction
for me.

Tiffined with Consul and Mrs. Michael, who told me
some interesting Indian incidents.

In afternoon started for Darjeeling, crossing the sa-
cred Ganges where we had dinner on shipboard.

January 5th.
Got off at Siliguai and boarded the narrow-gauge railway--the
crookedest in the world--for Darjeeling, arriving there about
noon. Was sorry to find it rather cloudy, but felt repaid
even by the partial view of the snow-clad summits of the Him-
alayas (their bases invisible) higher up among the clouds.