Prose Writings of Bayard Taylor (Volume 6)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1862 Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XIII. HURDWAR AND THE GANGES. Native Workmen at P.onrkhee--Their Wages--Departure for Hurdwar--Afternoon View of the Himalayas--Peaks visible from Roprkhee--Jungle grass--Jowa'apore--Approach to the Siwalik Hills--First View of the Ganges--Ganges Canal--Prediction of the Brahmins--An Arrival--The Holy City of Hurdwar--Its Annual Fair--Appearance of the Streets--The Bazaar--A Himalayan Landscape--Travel in the Jungle--A Conflagration--The Jungle by Torch-Light--Arrival at Dehra. Before leaving Roorkhee I paid a visit to the workshops, where I was much struck with the skill and aptness of the natives employed. The shops are instituted for the purpose of constructing the implements used on the Canal works The machinery is driven by steam and conducted entirely by natives under European superintendence. One of the departments is devoted to the construction of mathematical instruments, which are fully equal to those of English manufacture. The natives, to use the words of the Superintendent. learn in one sixth of the time which an English workman would require. Their imitative talent is wonderful, but they totally lack invention. This makes them a people easily improved, as they arc anxious to learn, but never knowing more than is taught them, never using their knowledge as a lamp to explore the unknown fields of science or art. These workmen are paid from four to eight rupees a month, according to their skill, but the ordinary laborers on the Canal, though hired at four ($2), do not, owing to their indolence, generally receive more than two rupees per month, out of which they find themselves. It is said that one rupee (fifty cents, ) monthly, covers all their necessary expenses. After two days at Roorkhee, I summoned the bearers to be in readiness at...