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Page 7
It is contrary to the rules of their religion to allow mosques to be
built on ground that belongs to unbelievers, but of late the Moslems
have been seizing on buildings owned by Europeans and Hindoos,
converting them into mosques, and then refusing to pay rent for them.
This practice has annoyed the land-owners very much, and at last one
owner, a Hindoo, determined to put an end to the nuisance.
The Mohammedans had seized a mud hut which he owned, and as usual they
refused to pay rent for it. The Hindoo appealed to the British
Government, and under its protection sent workmen over and had the hut
demolished.
This enraged the Mohammedans.
The hut had been converted into a mosque, and they regarded its
destruction as a wicked act.
They rose against the Europeans under whose authority this had been
done, attacked them, and the soldiers had to be called out to quell the
disturbance.
The riots lasted for two days. At the end of that time it was reported
that to pacify the mob the authorities had given them possession of the
land on which the mosque had stood.
The European residents were very angry when this news reached them. They
feared that it would make the people still more unruly, as they would be
sure to think the authorities were afraid of them if they gave in to
their demands.
This prediction appears to have been correct, for even after the rioters
had been subdued, it was unsafe for Europeans to venture into some parts
of Calcutta without protection.
It is stated that the authorities did not really give up the land, but
only allowed the rumor to be circulated for the sake of pacifying the
mob. The police have possession of the disputed property, and will not
allow any one to approach it.
It has developed that notwithstanding the fact that the owner of the
land was a Hindoo, there is no really bad feeling between the Hindoos
and the Mohammedans, but that both have combined against the Europeans.
It is distinctly an anti-European feeling. British authority is openly
defied by the natives, and the situation is regarded as very grave.
In Simla, which is the summer home of the Viceroy of India, there has
been more rioting.
A mob tried to seize upon a mosque, but the police and soldiers opened
fire on them, and a serious fight ensued.
The mob was finally repulsed, and the leader arrested.
Simla, which is one of the most fashionable of the Indian summer
resorts, is built high up among the Himalayan Mountains.
The seat of the government of India is really in Calcutta, but the heat
there is so intense during the summer months that the Europeans cannot
endure it.
For fully half the year the Viceroy, who is the representative of the
Queen, moves up to Simla, with his council and household, and the
government is carried on there.
That riots should have occurred at the seat of government makes the
Europeans still more uneasy.
Nor are these the only disturbances we have to record.
In a recent number we told you about the attack on one of the government
officials in the Fochi Valley.
There has been a fresh outbreak in the same place. A number of coolies
or porters, who were carrying provisions, were attacked and robbed.
This time the attacking party did not meet with such success. The
military commanders have been on the alert since the last outrage, and
no sooner was the news of the attack telegraphed, than a body of cavalry
started in pursuit of the offenders.
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