Homeward Bound

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 8, 20 May 1893, Page 9

Homeward Bound

News from Mr J. Eingsland, Senr. By the last mail a very long and interesting letter was received by his friends from Mr. J. Eingsland, senr., who left a few weeks ago for a trip to the old country. We have been favoured with a perusal of the letter, which is mainly occupied with the traveller’s experiences at Colombo, where he spent a few hours while the steamer was coaling. He made one of a party who drove some distance into the country, and relates the incidents of the journey, in a characteristically lively and conversational style. In common with everybody else he was the object pf attention from the native hawkers, concerning whom he writes :—“ We have all been to a church bazaar, and have experienced the persistent manner in which the young ladies running the show can worry visitors, but the Cingalese hawker could give these young ladies many points, and leave them far behind. Mr Eingsland was struck by the easy way in which life is taken in Ceylon. He passed two natives who were engaged in building a wall. They were sitting down at it, but then, as the writer says, “ there is really not much necessity for these people to live at the high pressure that we have been accustomed to. Tropical fruit is in abundance. Eighty pounds of rice can be bought for two rupees, the cost of clothing is nominal, and things that we could not do without have no charm for them. To bask in the sun and do next to nothing, is fulfilling the first conditions of their nature.” After leaving Colombo, Mr Eingsland had a very pleasant passage to Aden, the sea being as smooth as a lake, and the weather warm but bearable. “I am always up by daybreak and enjoy the sunrise, in the smallest quantity of clothes.” The passage had not been altogether uneventful. On one occasion one of the engines was temporarily disabled, and there had also been some excitement over a stowaway. He was put ashore at Colombo. ‘JLJSome of the passengers raised a pound for him, but he managed to spend it in drink, and got aboard again. He was again discovered, and this time was locked up. Then one of the third-class passengers is supposed to have become insane, and attempted to commit suicide. He has also been, secured.” Mr Eingsland was greatly impressed with the passage through the Suez Canal. “ Coming up the Red Sea we lost sight of land for nearly two days in the wider part, but as we came into the Gulf of Suez, we kept land in view on each side, and from what we could sec of the country from the steamer, it is no wonder the children of Israel were glad to get out of it. It appears to he all glaring sand and clay.” The passengers were not able to land at Suez, but the steamer was quickly surrounded by boats laden with fruit. “ Here, as at Ceylon, the price asked for anything is not the price they expect to get, and everything gets cheaper as buyers get supplied. They are all rogues, and will cheat if possible in quantity or quality.” When Mr Eingsland closed his letter (March 31st) the steamer was a few miles off Port Said, and the weather for the two proceeding days had been “ perfect—just like one of the best days of a Southland summer.”