450)18-G

camp, others to join the section gangs who were repairing the track and the road
grade. These tw: Indian train operators appeared out of their primitive

jungle habitat onto the railroad track near the train and soon had the engine
in running order with the flat cars following in tow. This incident as well

as many other observations made during the day impressed me with the fact that
these primitive Indian peoples are qualified workers and are operating independ-
-antly of civilized man's assistence many of those projects formerally consid
ered as a Civilized mans job. They have a capacity to run 4 more highly tech-
nical world but are hampered by lack of facilities and means only. The startin
of the engine is accompanied with considerable ceremony with temporary fires

to preheat cold chambers and pipelines, the adjusting of the many various and
sundry valves and stops, oiling of friction surfaces and supplying the necess-
ary water for the cooling system. It was not long until we were riding cmm-
fortable upon a flat car behind the slightly smoking engine creeping ahead of
ws. In general the railroad grade is peactically strait for the entire length
except slight changes of direction according to the topography of the country.
There are many irregularities within this apparent straight course, the most
noticable one being the snake like waving of the individ:al rails, Little
attempt was made to grade the route with the result that the track looks more
like a roller coaster course than a respectable railroad grade. It is indéed
remarkable that the train does not leave the track entirely. The course follows
adjacent to the English tea plantation on the one side and a bamboo forest on
bhe opposing side and with such eines familiarity as to practically brush again-
st one's face. This type of scenery is varied with open fields of from ten

to fifteen foot high elephant grasses and sedges creating in appearance a min-
jature jungle. A few Indians are harvesting small sections of these grasses.
Many women workers are found in the tea plantation, shaping up the upper sur-
faces of the tea bushes.

Without too mich variation of scenery finally arrive at jungle and after