volume 2 - Robert Bedrosian's Armenian History Workshop

Karachi and Bombay. 135
captain received a telegram from shore ordering him
to await the arrival of Mr. Crawford, H.M.'s Commissioner
for Baluchistan. The captain waited for twentyseven
hours and then departed, the Commissioner arrived
two hours later, and we heard subsequently had to wait
six days for the next steamer. We were all thankful
to leave Gwadar, for the heat was suffocating.
We reached Karachi at daylight on the 26th, and I
went up into the town to see Mr. Mackenzie, the Director
of Indo-European Telegraphs, and he showed me much
kindness. We left Karachi at 3.45 p.m. on the 27th,
four hours late, feeling very doubtful about catching
the homeward Indian mail which was to leave Bombay
on the 29th. Among our passengers for Bombay was
Captain Hobday, who brought on board two terriers
and two beautiful horses. It was quite clear that he
and the horses were fast friends, and he spent many
hours of the day in talking to them and petting them ;
and they returned his affection with all their loyal
hearts. In running from Karachi to Bombay, about
500 miles, we were caused much loss of time by the
small native coast boats which seemed to be everywhere.
Their owners were in the habit of drifting along without
showing lights, and as often as not all the occupants
of the boats were fast asleep. Our siren was going at
frequent intervals the whole night long, and the lookout
Indian must have been tired of beating his gong
and shouting " Hum dekta hai." We dropped anchor
in Bombay Harbour at 3.45 p.m. on the 29th, and I
found that I had only seventy-five minutes in which to
get tickets for White and myself from the P. & O.
offices in the city, and to transport our personal baggage
and the tablets and manuscripts to the mail steamer,
which was timed to leave at 5 p.m. Captain Simpson
himself took the tablets to the mail steamer, the s.s.
" Oriental," and to my great relief my old friend. Captain
Butterworth, appeared in his launch at the foot of the
gangway ladder and gave me help most opportunely.
He had received promotion during the past year, and
was then living with his wife in tents pitched on the