There was no mourning or
wailing among the pilgrims. On the contrary, they all seemed most
cheerful over this function; and of course, according to their way of
thinking, a man would be glad to die, as he went straight to heaven.
But I am bound to say that it had a most depressing effect upon me,
for we had twenty-three funerals in twelve days. They seemed to take
it very much as a matter of course; but I kept saying to myself, "That
poor Indian and I might both be lying dead to-day. There would be a
little more ceremony over me, and (not of course including my husband)
my death would cast a gloom over the dinner-table possibly a couple of
days. Once we were shunted down the ship's side, the sharks would eat us
both, and perhaps like me a little better, as I am fat and well fed, and
do not smell of cocoa-nut oil; and then we would both stand before the
throne of God to be judged--he with his poverty, hardships, sufferings,
pilgrimage, and harmless life, and I with all my faults, my happy life,
my luxuries, and the little wee bit of good I have ever done or ever
thought, to obtain mercy with; only equal that our Saviour died for
us both."
I can hardly express what I suffered during the fortnight's voyage on
board the pilgrim-ship. It was an experience which I would never repeat
again. Imagine eight hundred Moslems, ranging in point of colour through
every shade from lemon or _cafe au lait_ to black as ebony; races from
every part of the world, covering every square inch of deck, and every
part of the hold fore and aft, packed liked sardines, men, women, and
babies, reeking of cocoa-nut oil.
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