Page:The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, vol. 2.djvu/178

 that they are as safe under the Natal Government laws as if they were in their own native villages.’ The captain asked if it was advisable for him to allow them to land. Mr. Escombe replied that he (the Captain) had better see him again first. Having made a similar communication to the Naderi, Mr. Escombe was pulled ashore to address the crowd. The Naderi and Courland were laid side by side near to the Bluff passenger jetty, the Courland being nearest to land.

After the above assurance was given by Mr. Escombe, he went to Alexandra Square, Point, where the muster had taken place, and addressed the men who had assembled there, promising an early session of Parliament to deal with the question and requesting them to disperse. Speeches were also made by some members of the Committee, and the crowd ultimately melted away. It might be useful to note here some of the exclamations from the audience at the time these speeches were being made, as also a few passages from the speeches themselves:


 * “Send them back.” “Why don’t you bring Gandhi ashore?” “Get the tar and feathers ready.” “Send these Indians back.” “The hold of the British on South Africa would not be maintained by slumming them with the miserable refuge of the social gutters of India.” (Applause.) —Dr. MacKenzie. “He was just as game as anybody to take a coolie by the neck and throw him overboard. (Applause.)... Now about that man Gandhi. (Applause.) They might shout about him. He was a particular friend of his, they might depend upon it. (Laughter). Gandhi was on board one of the boats and the greatest service they could do him would be to do him an injury. He believed Gandhi was very anxious to become a hero and a martyr to his cause. The greatest punishment which could be inflicted upon him was to allow him to live amongst them. If he lived amongst them, they would have an opportunity of spitting on him (Laughter and applause), which they would not have if they wiped him out. He (the speaker) would rather hang himself than be spat upon by every man in the street.” —Dan Taylor.

The passengers landed in small batches in ferry boats, about two hours after the crowd had dispersed. As for Mr. Gandhi, the Superintendent of Water Police was instructed by Mr. Escombe to offer to land him and his family quietly at night that day. Mr. Gandhi accepted the offer with thanks. Later on, the same day, Mr. Laughton paid him a friendly visit on board and suggested that they should land together. The suggestion was accepted, and on his own responsibility, at his own risk,