Page:The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, vol. 1.djvu/257



APPENDIX D

JOHANNESBURG, 14th March, 1895

The undersigned, having been informed that the Arbitration Commission in connection with the question regarding the Indian merchants in the South African Republic is now holding its meeting at Bloemfontein, and, also, having been made aware of the accusations against the said Indian merchants, to the effect that on account of their dirty habits they are a danger to beside amongst the European population, hereby wish to distinctly declare:


 * 1st. That the aforementioned Indian merchants, the majority of whom come from Bombay, keep their business places, as well as their residences, in a clean and proper sanitary state—in fact, just as good as the Europeans.


 * 2nd. That it is a distinct error in calling them “Coolies” or inhabitants of British India of a “lower caste”, as they decidedly belong to the better and higher castes of India.

HEYMANN GORDON & CO. ADAM ALEXANDER BRANDE & MEIRKS B. ALEXANDER LINDSAY & INNES A. BEHRENS GUSTAV SCHNEIDER S. COLEMAN C. LIEBE ALEXANDER P. KAY CHRISTOPHER P. SPNIK P.P., G. KOENIGSBERG A. WENTWORTH BALL J. H. HOPKINS P.P., J. GARLICK P.P., LIEBERMANN, H. WOODCROFT BELLISTEDT & CO. P.P., GORDON MITCHELL & CO. J. H. HOPKINS JOHANNESBURG, Z.A.R. J. H. HOPKINS R. COURTER SHLOM & ARMSBERG P. BARNETT & CO. P.P., HUGO BINGEN P.P., ISRAEL BROS. JAS. W. C. H. CLAPHAM P.P., H. BERNEBERG & CO. P.P., PAYNE BROS. GENERAL MERCHANTS AND H.F. BEART IMPORTERS, JOHANNESBERG JOSEPH LAZARUS & CO. E. NEELL GEO. J AS KETTLE & CO. J. KUSTING BORTON'S BROS. N. W. LEWIS P.P., J. W. JAGGER & CO. SPENCE & HURRY T. CHARLE FREISMAN & SHAPISO R. G. KRAMER & CO. J. FOGELMAN P.P., HOLT & HOLT T. RATES & CO. B. EMANUEL P.P., B. GUNDELFINGER J. GUNDELFINGER