ON THE WAY TO INDIA by G. K. Owen

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 23, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 43.

ON THE WAY TO INDIA.

By G. K. Owen

From Aden to Calcutta.

WE passed through the Strait of Babelmandeb at the entrance to the Red Sea, and reached Aden on the morning of June 18. Here we waited the most of the day. At this very ancient town there are seven wells which are said to be prehistoric. They are dug out of the rock among the mountains that surround Aden, and are, it is said, about fifty feet in depth and the same in diameter. They are connected, and stone steps lead down to the water.

On June 20, as we sailed out on the Indian Ocean, we found the monsoon blowing, and during this part of our voyage the waves rolled higher than most of us had ever seen them before; and yet the rough sea afforded scenes of sublime interest to those of us who escaped seasickness.

The 23d the waves were higher than at any other time during our journey, and yet our steamer was so heavily loaded that it plowed its way through them so steadily that we could sit upon the upper deck and continue our writing.

On the 26th the connecting-rod of our great engine broke just as we were within three or four miles of the landing-place at Bombay, and we were obliged to hire one of the small sail vessels that came out to meet us, to take us and all our baggage ashore.

We had a very pleasant ride on the train across India, passing rice fields, mango orchards, banana plantations, etc. The mango is called “the king of fruits.” It furnishes delicious, refreshing, and nourishing “victuals and drink.” June 28, our brethren met us at the train, and kindly escorted us to the sanitarium, where we received a hearty welcome in the evening, in the strange but very interesting city of Calcutta. The hand of the loving Father has been revealed from the beginning to the end of our journey. G. K. Owen.