A LETTER FROM INDIA

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 53, 26 November 1919, Page 4

A LETTER FROM INDIA

Tn viow of the unrest one reads of in the papers as existing: in India, the following letter from a nurse, published in "fvai Tiaki," is of great interest. In a nrcvious letter the writer had repeated a remark made to her by her patient, the wife.of the .Maharajah, who said to her 'that India was no place for an Wiglish ladv. evidently referring to the feelin* against the British and the coming riots and agitation. "Now for somo news of this country. To hecin with, we are all, as you_well know, living in a state of fear. What with riot and warfare on. tho frontier, thines aro very had for Europeans. Another sister and I had'an exciting experience coming home from a case. We had to travel through the midst of the country where the riots were the worst. We started our journey. on . a Sunday, nud reached our destination on Wednesday, each night sleeping cither m the train or station waiting-rooms. We got on an average one meal each day, m we evening, and as it was very hot we were newly fainting for a drink. 'Our train, which was the Calcutta mail (it being unsafe to travel by local trains) was piloted bv an armoured train, and the relief train went ahead, clearing the line. We had to travel without signals, lho (elegraph poles and wires were cut to the ground.,brioges, houses, railwaj carriages, engines, refreshment-room furniture, etc.. was either burning or emaslied io atoms. We were the only two females travelling, and. the soldiers, or at least (he officers in charge, were very good to us. and looked well after us. At one station wo. thought we would have to ftre on the mob. but we managed to get awav That incident frightened me, especially when I found a revolver being Sed into my hand with explanahons given me how ana when to fire. Hoifpvct we arrived safely, and then had fifty miles motor drive to this.place. The drive was wonderful. .The roatls are cut through the mountains, and just v do eno gh for two vehicles to pass. We stay hero until October, when wo return to Eawal Pindi. . ~, "When I was nursing the wife of the Maharaiah, I went for a motor drive in ih 2 undo, past the, fort and native city. His Hishnea took n.e, and explained to ma the whole history of the State. I also hao a ride on an elephant, and His 1 loathe them, and so did not. This narticular Maharajah is considered quite tav«rtaUtienotsafeforEnropean.to ha a native State list now. As fai £,'"»""»"*?!-"f I shall orobaUy be returning to England »s soon as I can-"

' The death took place in Auckland last Saturday at her home in Ascot Avenue, KcmuerJ, of Mrs. AAyllie, wife of Mr. Alexander AYyVlie. city electrical engineer As Miss Margaret Ivash the ate Mrs Wvllie was well known m AVeliinßtoii,'and her friends will greatly ropier, to hear such : news. She leaves ono little girl as we' :>s her husband- The cause of death, v.. . acute pneumonia. 'that ono should fi m l 3 wect blossoms in the ioe-lwund dreary wastes of the Jvorth Polo seems incredible. It is nevertheless a fact that thero tho explorer has found many thousands of acres of buttercups, heather, bluclwlls, dandelions and rhododendrons. A botanist has collected 1"5 snecies of nlnnts and flowers on tho roof'of the. world. Even large, delicious mushrooms are there, while orango-col-onrcd lichens are- in alundance,. Ami, strango to say, all with hut a single exception, are perfectly odourless lhousnmls ond thousands of acres of flowers, and yet no perfume!