Tata Family

Bombay, Sunday Feb’y 13/98. Local time 3:17 p.m. your time 10:30 a.m.

Just your church time.Well, yesterday after posting letters 12:30 I rested awhile & at 1 o’clock went to Cook’s office, close by the hotel, & made all arrangements for leaving here tonight at 9 for Ahmadabad.[1] Then I went, as per appointment, & had tiffin with Mr. Plinston, staying till nearly 5:30. During this time we visited the Natural History Museum. Mr. Phipson (Mrs. Dr. Pechey Phipson’s husband) is Hon. Sec.[2] I saw him & was introduced to him, & they live very near to the museum. Mr. Plinston is a subscribing member. I then returned to my room & did not go out any more. I felt very tired, however, I had a very good rest during the night & at 7 this morning, the only opportunity I should have had, Mr. G. & 4 of his friends & I, in a steam launch which they got loan of from a friend, went over to Elephanta[3] & viewed the caves, & I did enjoy it. All we’ve heard or read about these caves & the ancient carvings & sculpture works does not give one any approximate idea of their vastness & wonderful ancient art. I exposed 14 films there & hope they may be successful, & Mr. G. wants the spool of 12 to get developed tomorrow & have some prints, as I photo’d the party here & there. He will send them on to Calcutta to me. I can describe the caves to you on my return, especially [2:17] should some of the views I got be favourable. It was lovely & clear but one interior view I fear may not be clear, tho’ I gave it 8 minutes exposure & it is the principal sculpture of the great Bramah, Seva, & Vishnu (see Encyclopaedia).

We got back just at 12, a fine sail, & we passed the SS “Feronia” of W. H’pool, Maltese Cross on a yellow funnel (see if Herskinds). I am now all ready for going off but there is one thing I regret, which is a Parsee wedding[4] tomorrow at 5 p.m. Tata is the name[5] & have the finest palatial house in Bombay. Mr. G. got me an invitation[6] but I must not delay getting on to Albion as I will only have 3 weeks with him should I get a berth on March 20th on the P&O steamer.

I have also a ticket to visit the burning ghat this evening at 5. I am going to the Free Kirk tonight all being well. Jeff is off with the Sec’y of YMCA to a full rigger in the harbour (no quays[7]) to have a service on board. Labour is going on here to day same as yesterday but European shops are not open.

Willie can tell Crumplen (Cadbury’s traveller) that Mr. Davies was at Lucknow on journey so I did not see him, but I called at Latham & Co., Cadbury’s agents. This, of course, is where I got the information about the Mr. Davies. Now it is just 5 to 11 a.m. at home so I am with you all in spirit & I leave off writing for today.

(Unfortunately, I find I’ve omitted cutting out these 2 pages 10 & 11 to forward with others. They are however a distinct paragraph. Please place them in their order on receiving them. W.)

[2:18]

[1] City in Gujarat state, NW India, on the Sabarmati River.

[2] Edith Pechey was one of the first female medical doctors in the UK. In 1889 she married Herbert Musgrave Phipson.

[3] Inserted on facing page: “Caves of Elephanta, Bombay”.

[4] Meherbai Bhaba married Sir Dorabji Tata, son of Jamsetji Tata, the founder of Tata Group

[5] Tata Group was founded in 1868.  Its revenue in 2017 was $100 billion

[6] Inserted on facing page: “See letter of invitation pasted in ‘Souvenir’”.

[7] A structure built parallel to the bank of a waterway for use as a landing place.

Photo: Elephanta Caves, 1880’s