THE BISHOP OF CALCUTTA'S VISITATION OF ASSAM.

Mission Life-Vol ix part 1 1878 {Abridged from the Indian Church Gazette.")

Page 49 The Bishop of Calcutta was engaged in the months of July, August,
September, and October in a visitation of Eastern Bengal, Assam, and Cachar. He
commenced his tour on Wednesday night, July 18th, proceeding by railway to
Goalundo, where he embarked on the yacht or flat Sonanwkhi, which had been placed
at his disposal by the Chief Commissioner of Assam. “The yacht, which was a close
imitation of the Noah's arks with which we were familiar in childhood, was luxuriously
fitted, and promised to be a comfortable home for a three months' sojourn." ……..

Page 51 The Bishop left Commilla early on July 27th, and re-embarked on the
Sonamukhi at 1.30, the voyage down the stream to Dandkandi having been effected,
with a favouring breeze, in a little over four hours. Dacca was reached the same evening
at 7.30. Here a stay of three days was made. The situation of Dacca is fine, with
pleasant gardens, animated bazaars, and other objects of interest. The church, built in
1818, was consecrated by Bishop Heber. The chancel was added subsequently. The
cemetery covers five acres. It is in good order and well laid out with shrubs and flowers,
and contains some interesting monuments. On Sunday the 29th the Bishop preached to
a good congregation of Eurasians and native Christians in the morning, and to a smaller
assembly in the evening. On the 30th and 31st he visited the college and collegiate
school, and the native girls' school. He was also conducted by Mr. Nuttall to an
establishment for training elephants, 170 of these animals being paraded and put
through their curriculum for the benefit of the Bishop's party. The Nawab Ghani Meea
and his son placed a carriage and horses at their disposal, and invited them to view their
beautiful gardens of Shah Bagh and Dibkoosha. The Lall Bagh also, with its associations
with Shah Jehan and the days of the Mutiny, well repaid a visit. On the other hand,
Dacca presented some of the less pleasing features of Mofussil life—the want of
harmony and mutual forbearance in the small community, the conspicuous absence of
many residents from the church services, and the want of any candidates for
confirmation.

On the 25 th, Gauhati was reached, after a beautiful drive of thirty miles, broken
at Burni Hath by breakfast, to which place Colonel Lamb had sent a more roomy
carriage than the " tonga," as well as elephants for the baggage. The Sonamukhi had
experienced bad weather on the way to Dacca, and had not yet arrived ; so Mr. Ward
kindly placed his bungalow at the Bishop's disposal.

On Sunday, August 26th, the services were at 7.30 A.M. and 5.30 P.M., the
temperature here being much higher than at Shillong, and the heat sometimes
excessive. In the course of the morning, the Sonamukhi arrived with the Bishop's sister
and niece on board, having had a quick run of five and a half days from Dacca.

Extra Note for the readers:

The Bishop of Calcutta exercises episcopal leadership over the Diocese of

Calcutta of the Church of North India. The diocese was established in 1813 as part of
the Church of England. Edward Ralph Johnson, consecrated 1876; resigned 1898; died
1913.
 Bishop Milman's successor as Metropolitan of India was Edward Ralph Johnson,
the Archdeacon of Warrington. It is greatly to be regretted that no memoir has ever been
written of his long and faithful Episcopate. Coming to India when fifty years of age, he
gave to the Church a period of over twenty-one years of unremitting toil. Of untiring
energy and with an iron constitution, Bishop Johnson moved over his huge diocese at all
seasons of the year, regardless of climate.

All who remember Bishop Johnson will recall his fatherli-ness, courtesy, and
kindliness as well as his practical common-sense way of looking at things. When his
appointment was first announced some one talking with Bishop Jacobson, the well-
known Bishop of Chester, expressed a wonder as to whether the new Metropolitan
would be able to understand the subtleties of the Hindu mind. Bishop Jacobson's reply
was very brief: "Johnson will do very well, he never goes out of his depth."

When Bishop Johnson resigned in failing health, after more than twenty years of
hard work, he was the first Bishop of Calcutta up till then who had not died in India.

Bishop of Calcutta Rev Edward Raplh Johnson