Page:The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, vol. 2.djvu/183

 on board for 12 days after such destruction, the Government made no provision for the supply of bedding and clothing, in spite of the signals from the vessels. And but for the charity of a few welldisposed Indians in Durban, the passengers would have been obliged to remain, for that period, without proper clothing and any bedding, perhaps with grievous injury to their constitutions. With due deference to the authorities, your Memorialists cannot help observing further that so much was the disregard shown by them for the welfare of the Indian community that even the mails on board the ships were not taken away and delivered before ten days had elapsed after their arrival causing serious inconvenience to Indian merchants. To further emphasize the above contention, your Memorialists would draw your attention to the fact that, even after the pratique was given and the Courland was moored into the channel, she was not allowed a berth at the wharf for some days, while the steamers that arrived thereafter were provided with berths before she was, as will appear from the following:


 * The Captain of the Courland calls our attention to the fact that although his vessel has been inside the Port since last Wednesday, he has been unable to secure a berth at the main wharf. Several vessels have arrived within the past few days, and although the Courland might have been expected to have prior claim for a berth, the later arrivals have already secured quay berths, while the Courland remains in the stream. The Courland has about 900 tons of cargo to discharge, and requires about 400 tons of coal. The expense of lighterage to and from the Bluff moorings will amount to a considerable sum.—The Natal Advertiser, 19th January, 1897.

Your Memorialists may be permitted to quote from the various newspapers to show how the Demonstration was viewed before and after it took place:


 * Natal’s present action in connection with the immigration of Indians is not well balanced. To the outside world, the fierceness of the agitation, which has suddenly risen at Durban against the landing of more Indians, is in strange contrast to the fact that Natal has all along been, practically, the one gateway through which these Asiatics have found admittance to South Africa. It was hardly to be expected that the country which had for so long openly encouraged Indian immigration should quite suddenly turn round upon two ship-loads of them awaiting disembarkation at Durban, and ostentatious