Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/108

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Itf THE SOUTH AFRICAN INDIAN QUESTION

damages. The following is the plaintiff's evidence in the case :

Deponent got into a second class carriage in the train, leaving Charlestown at 1-30 P.M. Three other Indians were in the same compartment, but they got out at New Castle. A wbite man opened the door of the compartment and beckoned to witness, saying "come out. Sammy." Plaintiff asked, " why," and the whie man replied " Never mind, come out, I want to place some- one here." Witness said, " why should I oome OUG from here when I have paid my fare ?".... The white man then left and brought an Indian who, witness believed, was in the employ of the railway. The Indian was told to tell plaintiff to get out of the carriage. Thereupon the Indian said, " the white man orders you to oome out and you must oome out." The Indian then left. Witness said to the white man, " what do you want to shift me about for. I have paid my fare and have a right to remain here." The white man became angry at this and said, " well, if you don't oome out, I will knock hell out of you." The white man got into the carriage and laid hold of witness by the arm and tried to pull him out. Plaintiff said, "Let me alone and I will oome out." The witness left, the carriage and the white man pointed out another second class compartment and told him to go there. Plaintiff did as he was directed. The compartment he was shown into was empty. He believed some people who were playing a band were put into the carriage from which he was expelled. This white man was the Diet riot Superintendent of Railways at New- castle. (Shame). To proceed, witness travelled undisturbed to Maritzberg. He fell asleep and when he awoke at Maritzberg he found a white man, a white woman and a child in the compart- ment with him. A \vh te man came up to the oarriage and said, " Is that your boy speaking to the white man in the compart- ment ?" Witness's fellow-traveller replied "yes," pointing to his little boy. The other white man then said, " No, I don't mean him. I mean the darnued coolie in the corner." This gentleman with the choice language was a railway official, being a shunter. The white man in the compartment replied, " Oh never mind him, leave him alone." Then tho white man outside (the official) said, " I am not going to allow a coolie to be in the same compartment with white people." This man addressed plaintiff, saying "Bammy, oome out." Plaintiff said, " why, I was removed at New Castle to this compartment." The white maji said, " well, you must oome out " and was about to enter the oarriage. Witness thinking he would be handled as at New Castle said he would go out and lefft the compartment. The white man pointed out another second class compartment which witness entered. This was empty for a time but before leaving, a white man entered. Another white man* (the official), afterwards came up and said if you don't like to travel with that stinking ooolie I will find you another carriage," (The Natal Advertiser, 22nd November, 1893.)

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