Thurs 19. [19 February 1903] Up at 5 at Sara Ghat. Breakfasted on
board with Mr Paul. Travelled with Mrs Bird. Close morning turning to
heat. We got to Calcutta about 11. Saw a magnificent person at the
railway station, 6 ft 2 in in his wooden patterns, clothed in pilgrim flesh
pink, with a leopard skin round his shoulders and a Shiwa trident in his
hand. They said he was a Sadha Brahmin. The hotel people had not
reserved rooms and turned us out into a lodging house where
however we were very comfortable. After I had washed and changed
I went out shopping. Great difficulty about getting films. Not in till 2.45.
H. [Hugo] and Billy Hornell sat with me while I lunched. Then H and I
drove down to the Hoogli [Hugli] where we found Captain Victor
Brooke and another young man (in the Argyle and Sutherland) and a
launch. Betty and Edyth appeared and we steamed down to the
Botanical Gardens, a charming place. Lovely palms, and orchid
houses; pots of hollyhocks in rows and masses of bouganinvillea.
There is a famous banyan like a great forest, with 464 trunks of
various sizes. They root the long streamers down bamboo poles
filled with earth I think. We had tea by a pond, saw a jackal under the
palms. Talked of Lord K [Kitchener] to whom Cap. Brook is aide. He
seems to inspire a kind of devotion made up of admiration and
respect. Capt V.B. says it's such a comfort to serve a man who
always knows what he wants. He says he had no pleasures. He
works like a horse for 2 days and then arranges his room for 2 days.
Got back just in time to dress. Dined with the Muirs, Mr Anderson and
Mr Blair and went to the Govt House ball. Lovely room with the
famous white chumun[?] columns, but a dowdy party. Anglo Indian
women are so dowdy. Talked to Mr Denison Ross(!) Mr Paul, Mrs
Fleming, a darling party who is (I think) a brother in law of Sir Auckand
Colvin, Mr White of Sikkim and the Lawrences and finally had some
supper with Sir Walter. Home at 12 and packed till 1.