Henry J. Neils’
Travelogue of 1959 Great World Cruise
Henry J. Neils was a businessman from Minneapolis. He wrote a daily diary of his voyage on the 1959 Great World cruise. Presumably, the 30 faded typewritten sheets had been duplicated for distribution to his employees.
The transcribed document now forms 25 pages of the Timeline, accessible from links on the January, February, March and April 1959 month pages. This was the first special feature to be added to the Timeline as it entered its 2nd year of being on-line.
Henry's quoted text throughout the site start with this indicator: H.J.N.…
Henry J Neils’ Travelogue 09/10 March 1959
India in General
H.J.N.…
Some information on India from Dr. Croizat's lecture on the Caronia may be of interest…
- Since 21 January, 1947, India is a Republic
- It has twenty states, most of which were ruled by princes under the British
- The population is calculated to be 390 million, or one-seventh of the earth's inhabitants
- Area, 1,269,640 square miles
- New Delhi is the capital, Population over one million
- It has a parliamentary form of government
- (Council of States and House of People)
- Prime Minister and Council of Ministers
- Geography: Mountains in north, plains in south
- Historical Periods: Pre-European - Post European
- Invasion from west: 1000 B.C. by Latins and Greeks (Aryans)
- Invasion by Mohamedons: 1000 A.D. - 1193 A.D.
- Moghuls - 1526-1707 - Agra, Delhi, Lahore
- Europeans, Portuguese - 1498 - Vasco De Gama 1588
- 1600 - East India Company - British
- 1858 - Indian Mutiny
- 1947 - Indian Freedom - Republic formed
- Births: Estimated five million per year
- Mortality: 127 per 1,000 population per year, compared to 27 in New Zealand
‘The most perfect monument in the World’
Agra & The Taj Mahal
H.J.N.…
Population: 450,000
Clear - Cool
To see the Taj Mahal by sunrise, tea was served on the train at 5.00am. On arrival, cars took us to the Taj, a ride of
fifteen miles. The white marble building in the rays of the early sun, was a sight never to be forgotten.
In the cool of the morning we walked in the gardens to get a view from every angle. The gardens are also very fine, and well maintained.
I met an Indian university student who works at the Taj. He gave me a lot of information. The government maintains this monument. One hundred and seven employees are active in restoration and maintenance. Later in the day we made another trip, to see this wonderful tomb at sunset.
Taj Mahal History
This memorial was built by Emperor Shajahan as a resting place for his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal (meaning “Exalted of the Palace”) who died at the birth of her fourteenth child while accompanying her husband in a campaign to crush a rebellion.
After returning, he invited designs from Indian and foreign architects. Construction was commenced in 1631 and completed in 1648. Twenty thousand workmen were supposed to have been steadily employed during the seventeen-year period.
The Emperor died in 1666 and is buried beside his beloved wife. Although many of the precious stones that were once embedded in the marble designs have been stolen during the centuries, the buildings as a whole are well preserved, and restoration activities are doing much to bring back the original beauty.
The Fort at Agra
H.J.N.…
Next we visited Agra Fort, built by Akbar, who was crowned Emperor in 1556. The Fort is built of red sandstone.
The outside walls are tremendous. A moat, filled with water, separates the outside walls from the inside
walls. A draw-bridge was used to allow horses to cross into the Fort.
The interior is very spacious, giving room for many types of separate buildings such as:
- the Khas Mahal (Private Palace);
- Shish Mahal (Palace of Mirrors);
- Sammun Burt (Jasmine Tower);
- The Golden Pavilion;
- Hall of Special Audience;
- Mina Masjid (Heavenly Mosque);
- Hammam Shahi (King's Bath);
- the Throne Terrace;
- the Fish Palace;
- the Hall of Public Audience;
- the Gem Mosque;
- the Pearl Mosque
Altogether, a little city in itself. Design and workmanship are excellent, but not as elaborate as the Taj Mahal.
Sikandra
H.J.N.…
Next we visited Sikandra, the mausoleum where Emperor Akbar is buried. He commenced the construction,
which was completed by his son. Akbar was crowned at the age of fourteen, and died at sixty-three. He was
one of the best emperors and accomplished much during his long reign.
Sikandra is five and one half miles from Agra. The Mausoleum grounds cover an area of 120 acres. Although not as elaborate as the Taj, the group of buildings surrounded by a high wall, is one of the most remarkable, both as to design and construction.
The return trip to Bombay was uneventful, but again gave us the opportunity to see how the people live in the country and towns. To see more faces than one can imagine, and get the feel of India by travelling through it.