Memoirs of the Late Sardar Bahadur Capt. G. J. Ferris, IMD (OBI, MBE)
My father FRANCIS XAVIER FARIA son of Danial Faria and Rita nee Vaz was born on 12th December 1859 (died on 28th April 1936 at Mangalore) and my mother Seraphine, daughter of Thomas Noronha and Florine nee Noronha was born on May 10th, 1867 (died on Jan 3rd, 1949 at Bangalore). They were married on May 22nd, 1882. Both parties had their residence at Codialbail. My father was in fairly affluent circumstances. He was educated at St. Aloysius’ College, Mangalore and later on in the Government College, Mangalore. He was employed at the Mangalore Collectorate on a small salary. In those days, things were very cheap – a moore of rice (about 84 lbs.) for example would cost about Rs. 3/- and one could get a tolerably good servant for a couple of rupees per month with food. He owned a house (near Balmatta Falnir, next to the house of Marian Saldanha, the maternal grandfather of L.R.D. Coelho and next to the house of Lawrence Saldanha, father of Zephrinus Saldanha) and it had a fairly large compound containing a good many trees such as coconut, mango, guavas, cashewnut, jack, pummelo, coffee plants, plantain, a couple of orange trees, sago plum, palmyra, etc. etc. He owned plenty of agricultural land in Mulky, kept bullocks, two carts, she buffaloes, cows, fire arms, etc. He kept two or three servants including a cart driver. Some years later, he purchased a coffee estate in Mudgera Taluk, got a riding pony etc. This was the beginning of his ruination. He used to go to the coffee estate pretty often after obtaining leave from his office. But when his office could not afford to grant him leave whenever he required, he resigned his job at the Collectorate and later went to Mysore State and worked in the PWD at Marikanave.
We were seven brothers and one sister. My oldest brother is now settled down in Bangalore. The next brother left India about 1905, went to Europe and joined the Anti-British gang in Paris, later on he took part in the Russio-Japanese war and finally settled down in Buenos Aires, Argentina in South America. He owns property there and intends coming back to India. – He has been there over 50 years. I am the third son, one of my brothers settled down in Indore, Madhya Bharat and another one in Bangalore. My only sister died shortly after child birth and two other brothers also died during their infancy.
I was born on 10th February 1886 in my maternal grandparent’s house in Codialbail. This house is situated near Besant Girls High School and though it is more than a century old (for I am told my mother was born in that house) it still exists and in fairly good condition. When my uncle died he left it to his son Charles Noronha who demolished the entire building in 1967. I was baptized by the Rev. Fr. Piacentini S.J. at the Milagres Church on 18th February 1886 and was named Julian George. My Godparents were Joseph Anthony Noronha (father of Angela Noronha) and Isabella (my maternal grandmother’s sister) who later on married Salvadore Albuquerque and was mother of Joachim Albuquerque.
I was sent to the Milagres School at the age of six. My two elder brothers were already attending that school. The school was about 3/4th mile away from our house and was situated in the Church compound. This school is now demolished and a new one has been opened on Milagres Road on the opposite side of the old school. My teacher in the infant and 1st standard was Clement Saldanha, in the 2nd standard Pinto, in the 3rd standard one Hindu (konkana) and in the 4th, and last of the primary classes Vincent Mathias who was also the Headmaster.
After completing the 4th standard, I was sent to St. Aloysius College, which was about a mile, away by shortcut through Balmatta. My second language was Latin. Fr. Mafi S.J. was then the Principal and Rev. Fr. Frachelli S.J. was the Rector of the College and also my professor of mathematics. I remember the names of some of the priests there at the time viz: Fr. Corli, Fr. Byzini, Fr. Belase, Fr. Sampadi, Fr. Repetto, Fr. Tori, etc.
As I have said earlier, from the time my father purchased the coffee plantation, his fortune started dwindling and the circumstances altered altogether due to bad crops, mismanagement, inexperience and pig headedness. He lost money year after year. So much so that he had to mortgage the lands etc., which were eventually, lost being foreclosed in most instances and the house was also sold. We could not continue our studies in Mangalore and so our maternal uncle (Piad Noronha) arranged to send us to St. Joseph’s College Trichnopoly through his brother-in-law Alexander Vas who was then a Sub-Divisional Officer in the PWD at Dindigul. We three boys used to do a lot of mischief at home especially when our father was out on tour to the estates. We used to meddle with his things, ride the pony, saddle or no saddle, quarrel amongst ourselves etc. our father was very stern and would chastise us frequently and very severely too. Our grandfather (paternal) used to give us his muzzle loading gun and ammunition and we used to stick a piece of paper with a bulls eye marked out in ink onto a coconut tree and do target practice.
.
Early in 1898, I was about 12 years old then, our uncle arranged to dispatch us to Calicut by SS Rajputana, a British India Steam Navigation Company’s Steamer with a protestant gentleman who was proceeding to Fercke. At that time, there was no railway service from Mangalore to Calicut and one had to go by sea. We stayed one night in Fercke and the following morning, railway tickets for Dindigul were purchased for us and we were put on the train. This was the first time we had ever made a sea voyage or seen a train. Although we were conversant with English, Konkani, Canarese and Tulu, it was only the English language that was of any use to us. The remaining three languages none could understand. We reached Dindigul after a long and tedious journey, quite sad and weary. We had no proper food enroute and had to eat the trash sold at the railway stations by the hawkers. We stayed with our uncle at Dindigul for some time. He was stationed there and lived with his family, his wife being my maternal aunt. His office and house were in the same building. The house consisted of one room at the extreme end which was his clerk’s office and records room, next to it was his office where there was a hand pulling punkah which was pulled by one of his peons whenever he was in the office, next to it was the sitting room and then came a large bedroom. All these rooms were in one line. There was a fairly broad verandah on all sides. On the verandah at the rear of the office was the lavatory and bathroom and at the other corner was a large room mostly used for storing boxes and other articles not always wanted. Outside there was a kitchen and stables. He had two peons and a cook. He had a dog cart and a horse which was trained for riding as well. He had a cow, which was said to have been stolen before we arrived. The house had a large compound in which were a great number of jungle trees mostly babool and in one corner of the compound there was a room in which the PWD tools such as spades, axes, crow-bars, etc. were stored. There were a lot of thieves in that place and since the stealing of the cow, one of the peons had to sleep in the verandah every night. It was the duty of one of us three or one of his three sons to see that all the doors were properly closed and bolted each night. The place was also infested with snakes. I think they were Kraits. We could see them crawling up trees or crawling bout in unfrequented parts of the compound. We used to sleep in the sitting room and one night my brother while making his bed observed a snake crawling on the arm of an easy chair. One night as we were studying, a snake suddenly dropped on the table from the roof. Fortunately, no one of us was bitten by a snake although I remember a PWD man was brought in one night said to have been bitten by a snake near the gate of the compound. I do not know what happened to him afterwards.
.
A month or so after our arrival in Dindigul, our uncle took us to Trichinopoly and got us admitted to St. Joseph’s College as boarders. The boarding fees that time inclusive of everything except clothes and books was Rs. 5/- per month for 2nd class and a little more for 1st class. We were put in the 2nd class and I do not know if any reduction in fees was made for us there as we were practically paupers and our near relatives were helping us. In that college at that time there was one Mangalorean priest Rev. Fr. Casmir Saldanha S.J. I think he was distantly connected to our family. All the Jesuits there belonged to the Madura Mission. Among the boarders, almost all were Tamilians. There were a couple of Goans and three or four Mangaloreans viz: Ladislaus Gonzalves and his younger brother, Valerian Souza who joined the priesthood and later became the Bishop of Mangalore and I think William Vas son of Jose Vas and father of Eric Vas. Later on many more Mangaloreans came over. I can remember the following Alexander Vas’ three sons viz: Sylvester, Julian and Louis, Boniface Fernandez son “Jempey”, John Manuel Tellis, Leo D’Souza and his brother, Peter Menezes (Phongo), Tedu Mascarenhas, John I Lobo who was in Quetta during the earthquake, Elais Britto’s brother William, Angela Noronha’s brother Joseph, Tashildar Manuel Sequeira’s son Albert, etc.
We three brothers were admitted to the “A” division which was housed in the lower flat and in which there were all big boys and reading in higher classes upto B.A. Rev. Fr. Make was the head prefect and Rev. Fr. Casmir Saldanha was the assistant prefect. We were admitted to this division as a special case I think through the favor of Rev. Fr. Saldanha S.J. I was the youngest boarder in this division. “B” division was housed in the upper flat and it contained smaller boys reading upto the Matriculation class. The whole of the lower flat was one big hall one half of which was railed in and used as a study hall. The other half was used as a dormitory. On each of the four corners of this hall was a room. The two rooms on the side of the study hall were occupied by priests and one of the other rooms was used to store the sports gear and the other was used to keep the bedding of the boarders. Each boy was provided with a desk to keep his books, stationery etc. and below the desk there was a shelf on which he kept towel and toilet articles, etc. At the top of the study hall the prefect used to sit on a dais. The same arrangement was for the “B” division also. The daily routine in the boarding house is as follows. “A” Division – the prefect who sleeps in the dormitory along with the boys rises at 5:15 a.m. and after his toilet wakes up the boys at 5:30 a.m. by clapping his hands and saying “Deo Gratis” which words are uttered by every boy on rising. They then immediately roll up their mats, beds, etc and stack them in the corner room allotted for the purpose. All boys sleep on the floor on mats or quilts. They then go to ease themselves onto the playground where the urinals and latrines are situated. On finishing this, the boys fall in two single lines and are marched to the water tank where they wash their faces. They fall in again and are marched to the study hall for the morning prayers. Half an hours time is allotted for all this. “B” Division boys also get up at the same time and the procedure of waking them up is much the same. While “A” Division boys have their toilet the “B” Division boys have their prayers and while the “A” division boys have their morning prayers, the “B” Division boys go for their toilet. On completion of this “A” Division boys are marched to church (not to the chapel which is adjacent to the refectory) for the daily mass. So also are the “B” Division boys are marched to church where both the division boys meet. After mass is over the boys are marched back to their respective division study halls. Here the boys who wish to have a morning dip in the tank have to stand up
with a towel in hand and the prefect if satisfied nods his head which means “permission is granted”. They are then marched to the tank by a monitor. Those who wish to see the infirmarian is allowed to do so. The infirmarian is a brother of the society and I think has a little knowledge of medicine. He dishes out medicines for coughs, colds, headaches, etc. When the “A” Division boys have finished all this, the “B” Division boys start.
At 7:30 a.m. the prefect rings the study hall bell and the boys are marched to the refectory for their morning meal. The refectory is large rectangular hall and is situated on the northern side of “A” Division study hall. It has four small rooms, one at each corner. On the far broad side of the refectory there are three large cisterns with water taps. They contain water. There are also a few cupboards where the boys keep their plates, tumblers, etc. 1/3 of the refectory on the left is allotted to the boys of the “B” division, the middle 3rd for the boys of the “A” division and the last third on the right at the far end of it there is a stage which is used for prize distribution, speeches, drama, etc. Next to this is the chapel which has no entrance from the refectory. The space in front of the stage below is allotted to non-caste boys such as those who are habituated to eat beef, pork, etc. and they are mostly boys from Tuticorin, Manapad, etc. We were of course put along with caste boys. “Ca va sans dire” how we were put among them I do not know. Perhaps it was not
known that we too are accustomed to eat beef and pork or perhaps Rev. Fr. Casmir Saldanha had his say in it. In the refectory, long narrow strips of mats are spread and the boys sit down on them back to back leaving a space of 3 or 4 feet in front for the servers to move about.
As soon as the boys all arrive in the refectory grace before meals is said and then they go to fetch their plates, etc. and sit down for the meal. When all are seated the servers commence their work. The morning meals usually consists of rice and curd or pepper water whichever one likes, some pickle and papad. The curd is of very good quality and each boy is served about 8 oz. of it. Half an hours time is allowed for the meal. During the meal no one is allowed to talk. Only on some festival day or on some other grand occasion permission is given to talk by the prefect by saying “Deo Gratis”. After the meal is over, grace after meals is said and the boys take their plates for washing. Some boys are deputed to dish out water from the cistern to wash plates. Each one has to wash his own. The yard in front of the cistern slopes downward into the paddy fields. The paddy fields are very extensive and stretch as far as the eye can see and they belong to the college. After washing the plates, the boys stand up in their respective places in the refectory and they are then marched off to the playgrounds which are close by.
The playground nearer to the “A” division study hall and dormitory is allotted to the “B” division and the farther one is allotted to the “A” division. Both the playgrounds are separated by some sort of Margosa trees which give plenty of shade on hot summer days. “A” division playground is very extensive and at one end there are a lot of trees and a very few coconut trees. About half an hour or so is allowed for this recreation. The boys are then marched to their respective study halls where they study till 9:45 am when a bell rings and the boys are allowed to go and ease themselves and get ready to go to the class rooms. A few minutes before 10 am the boys fall in line outside the study hall in batches for their separate classes. The senior boys march them to their respective class rooms. The lower class boys have no class rooms and their lessons are held in the dormitory whereas the higher class boys and boys of the college department have nice big rooms where classes are held.
The classes give over at 12:30 noon when the boys go back to their respective study halls and thence they are marched to the refectory for their mid-day meal. The procedure in the refectory is the same as that of the morning meal. During the meal time some passage from the life of a saint or some scripture is read by one of the boys standing close to the prefect. The meal consists of rice, vegetable curry, pepper water and papads. Twice a week a little mutton is given perhaps 2 oz. Every Friday, dhal or scrambled eggs is given. Half an hour is allowed for this meal. After the meal the boys go to the dormitory for a
little rest as it is too hot to be out on the playgrounds. After a short rest, off to the study hall for a short time and to get ready to go for afternoon classes which begin at 2:30pm and give over at 5 pm when the boys go back to their respective study halls.
When all the boys return, the prefect takes them to the playground. At this time those who could afford to, go near the infirmary where one of the brothers issues a plantain and a slice of bread or bun on certain payment. Tea or coffee is not served. All sorts of games are played but there is no football, hockey or cricket. At the later end of my stay in the college football was introduced. College department boys play tennis and I used to do the picking up of tennis balls for these boys as I could not on most occasions take part in other games owing to my young age. At times I used to take a tennis racket from one of
the boys and play a little tennis. However I learnt a lot of the game. About an hour or so is allowed for this recreation. Then we all fall into two single files and march to the study hall where we study until 8pm.
At 8pm the prefect rings a bell and we say prayers – rosary. After that we go to the refectory for the night meal which also consists of rice, veg. curry and pepper water, etc. After the meal we are allowed a quarter of an hour to go to the lavatory etc. and then we go to the study hall until 8:45 pm when the prefect rings the bell. Those who wish to go to bed may do so and the others keep on studying until 9:30pm when they have to close down and go to bed in the dormitory. This completes the daily routine which is much the same for boys of the “B” division also.
Once a week the boys are taken for long walks in the evening. They fall in 4 abreast and are marched out by one of the prefects. They are not allowed to talk until all get out of the college gates when the prefect gives the signal “Deo Gratis”. Sometimes we are taken to the Cauvery river where we all have a dip. Sometimes we are taken to a church in the suburbs. On the whole it is quite pleasant and enjoyable. On returning, the prefect gives the signal “Deo Gratis” before entering the college gates and silence is maintained.
Once a week, all the boys are taken for a bath in the tank. Each boy strips himself leaving a loin cloth and all fall into a single file. Oil is dished out to each boy which he rubs well on his head and body. About quarter of an hour later, a paste made out of “seeke kai” is issued to each boy and this paste serves the purpose of soap and takes away the grease from the body.
Lent is very rigidly observed. Everyday the boys have to go to the chapel in the evening. During the holy week one has to go to the Chapel in the morning as well as in the evening for religious exhortation. Once a year, fish is caught from the tank and you can see baskets and baskets of fish caught. Not very large ones and for Easter Sunday, all the boys have fish during the afternoon meal.
Once a year the boys are taken for a picnic to a place called “Pane Mangalam” which belongs to the college. Here we spend the whole day and a good meal is provided. Various sorts of games are played and everyone enjoys himself to his hearts content. This I think takes place on St. Joseph’s feast.
The college has its own printing press which does quite a lot of printing. Most of the school books, readers etc. are printed there. It has also got a dairy with very fine cattle. Each cow gives a bucket full of milk. There is a laundry also. Each boy is given a registration number and he has to mark this number on all his clothes. My number if I remember right was 146. Once a week, clothes are given to the laundry. Boys are appointed to note down the article of clothing given by each boy and see if they are properly marked or not. If not he is made to mark them then and there for which purpose marking ink is kept handy. When the clothes have been laundered they are brought back to the dormitory and spread on a mat where the boys go and pick their own.
Kit boxes are stored in the lumber-room where you are allowed to go once a week regularly. At other times you may go with permission. All the boarders are Catholics but some of the day scholars are protestants and a very few Hindoos. Except in the classroom, the boarders and the day scholars never meet. During the vacation almost all the boys go to their homes. Only a few who live either very far away or have no homes to go to stay in the boarding.
We used to go to our uncles place in Dindigul which is about 80 miles or so from Trichinopoly. On two occasions however I have gone to Mangalore. In Dindigul I used to ride our uncle’s horse especially when our uncle used to be on tours. I was very fond of horse riding but did not know the technique of riding. One evening, I took the horse out for a good ride. I passed by Spencers Cigar factory at full speed. The manager of the factory who was at the gate warned me not to ride so fast lest I tumble down. I continued at the same speed and while passing at the downward incline of the road the horse slipped and fell down. I was thrown off the saddle to quite a distance but got up with a number of bruises not of a serious nature. My elbows and knees were rather badly bruised. The
horse was bruised and still sitting on the road. I managed to make him stand and slowly marched him to the house. It was limping slightly. I was afraid that my uncle would give me a telling off and so I went to the house by the rear gate. As I entered the gate, my uncle’s eldest son, Sylvester, who used to take care of the horse met me and I told him what had happened. Both of us managed to wash the horse and stable him. I do not think my uncle was told anything about it.
In the compound close to the kitchen was a well square in shape and pretty deep. Water from this well was being used for cooking, drinking, etc. About a hundred yards from the house was another well cup shaped with a diameter of about 6 to 8 feet at the mouth. The edges were sloped downward and one could walk down and fetch water which could be reached by hand. I generally used to go to this well for baths in the afternoon. On one occasion, Uncles third son Louis who was about a year or so younger than myself, accompanied me. I undressed myself, fetched some water and started bathing. Then I soaped myself when Louis said he would go and fetch water for me and went down the sloping edge for it. I finished soaping myself and there was no sign of Louis or the water.
My eyes were burning with the soap and I did not want to open them. I shouted out for Louis and yet there was no answer. I thought he was playing a joke on me and hiding the water pot. A little while later I heard a sound like hard breathing and it struck me at once that this boy may have slipped into the water. I ran to the well and just then he had bobbed up and I could see his head above water. I got up the well and shouted for our brothers who were near the stables and within hearing distance, but none would come. Our aunt was having her siesta and our uncle was on tour. I did not know what to do. At last I took courage and went down the well, laid myself flat catching hold of a large boulder and stretched my foot across the water. Louis then bobbed up again and caught hold of my foot tightly and I pulled my foot along with him to the edge. With great difficulty, I managed to get myself relieved of his hold and then pulled him to dry earth. Again I went up and shouted out for our brothers and one of them, I think it was his elder brother Julian came. The other four followed. We got Louis to a nearby shed which was being used by Hindoos for making Pujas as there was some idols in it, removed his wet clothes, wiped him dry, put on dry clothes and made him sleep in the sun. When he was fit to walk we took him home. I do not think either our aunt or our uncle knows about it yet. Had it not been for my prompt action he would have undoubtedly drowned. There was not a single soul anywhere nearby who could have rendered him any help. Neither had anyone seen him fall into the well.
On another occasion, when I was in Dindigul spending my vacation I got ill with acute rheumatism. One morning I could not rise from my bed owing to severe pain in both my knees. However with great difficulty I rose but I could scarcely walk. I could not bend my knees and so had to walk backwards. I was promptly put to bed and some embrocation was used on my knees and some internal treatment also. I do not remember how long I was in bed. When I had sufficiently recovered I was sent to Madras for further treatment. John, my eldest brother accompanied me. We were met by Basil Vas, brother of William Vas, who has been mentioned before, at the Egmore Railway Station and then taken to his residence. I cannot remember where his residence was. The following morning he took us to the house of Dr. P.P. Pinto who was physician in Madras General Hospital. When we reached the house he was having breakfast with Dr. Mathias who I think was sharing his house and was also a physician in the same hospital. This Dr. Mathias was the personal assistant to the Surgeon General afterwards during the latter part of his service. I was then admitted to the General Hospital in the Napier Ward. I can remember Dr. Frank Noronha coming to the ward. Probably he was a senior medical student then. I was in the hospital for a few weeks and then discharged. Basil Vas came and took me to a house in Pudapet. It was raining that evening and the road was full of water. The lane by which we had to go was almost knee deep in water. That night I spent in the house and on the following day entrained for Trichinopoly via Tanjore.
The first time I went to Mangalore on leave, my mother was living in a cottage in the compound of Bernard Gonsalves. I stayed with her. My father was in Marikanave but he had come to Mangalore for a few days. He on leaving Mangalore had taken up a job in the Public Works Department, Mysore State as a clerk in the Superintending Engineers office. A big dam was under construction there. After my vacation was over I had to go back to Trichinopoly. This time I went by a “Pathemar” a cargo coastal country craft which is propelled by canvas sails and is entirely dependant on the breeze to propel it. Along with me were William Vas, Albert Sequeira and one or two others I cannot recollect. We were all scheduled to disembark a Calicut. The craft usually takes about 3 days to reach Calicut from Mangalore but owing to there not being sufficient breeze, we had passed nearly a week and were just near Cannanore. It was not a pleasant voyage. The craft was pitching and tossing. During the hot part of the day we had to sit under the shade of the rear end of the craft. A tatched cadjan roof is fixed like an inverted V and under this we sit during the hot part of the day and sleep when it rains etc. As to a lavatory, none existed. By the side of the craft, about 2 feet down a plank is hung and on this one has to sit to ease himself. When the wave rises it gives you a good hit on your bottom.
We wanted to disembark at Cannanore but the master of the craft would not allow us as we were booked for Calicut. At last we worried him to let one of us visit the post office and he with a lot of fuss allowed and gave us his boat to go. I think William Vas went and saw the post master and prevailed on him to let us disembark at Cannanore. So then we disembarked there. Then the difficulty arose of our proceeding further. Being ignorant of the route or of the language we were very much handicapped. With the help of the post office we at last managed to hire a transport drawn by a single horse and proceeded. On
the way the cart overturned. I had some eggs in my pocket and they all smashed and I was in a terrible mess. Luckily none of us was injured except for a few bruises here and there. Late in the evening we reached Calicut and went to the house of Mr. Martin who was manufacturing pickle and selling. I think he used to keep boarders also. This man’s son in course of time joined the railway and on retirement came and settled down in Bangalore on Benson Road. Mr. Martin gave us a good welcome. He got some hot water ready for our baths and made us quite comfortable. We had a very good meal at his house. I remember the dish I liked best was “Fish Roe Pickle”. The following day we entrained ourselves to Trichinopoly.
On another occasion for vacation I went to Mangalore. This was when Uncle Vas from Dindigul was going to Mangalore. At this time my mother was staying at my uncle’s house at Nandigudda and so I also stayed there. When the vacation was over I had to go to Trichinopoly. This time I went via Chickmangalur and Bangalore. Along with me were Joseph Noronha, brother of Angela Noronha, William Britto brother of Elias and Francis Britto who were also going to Trichinopoly. Francis Britto was taking his brother there for admission. Albert Saldanha, brother of Jerome Saldanha was going to the coffee estate and so he also joined us for some distance. Our journey was in a bullock cart. Lots of straw was put in the cart over which a mat was spread where we had to sit and sleep also. At Chickmangalur we stayed at the house of the post master, Bornu Alvares. His house and the post office were in the same block. I remember Diogenes Britto, father of Anslem Britto who is now settled in Bangalore, was a clerk in that post office. From Chickmangalur we came to Bangalore. We went by cart as far as Kudur and then I think took the train to Bangalore. I am not quite sure of it. In Bangalore we stayed at the house of Mr. Menezes near the fort in the city. I think Mr. Menezes is also distantly connected with our family. A day or two later we entrained for Trichinopoly.
While I was at Trichinopoly I have had occasion to see a lot of places of interest. Once in a way we were taken to Trichinopoly Junction where the regimental band used to play on some days and so on. This time my stay in Trichinopoly was not long. Even though the boarding fees were Rs 5/- per month as stated before, it was I understand a good lot in arrears. My eldest brother, John, got typhoid fever and was very bad. However he recovered after a very long time. I suffered from a very bad attack of malaria, being delirious etc. and I too recovered. Sometime later my elder brother left the college and went to the coffee estates to see if he could do anything there. A year or so later my second brother also left and went to Bombay and got a job as a clerk in the Government Medical Stores at Byculla. His boss was Col. Swinton I.M.S. My brother was staying in a boarding house on Clare Road and it was fairly close to his office. His salary was very meager but enough to lead a very simple life. My uncle (maternal) who was remitting the boarding fees could or would not continue and so I was obliged to discontinue my studies and leave the college. I can remember the names of a few priests who were in the college during the time I was there viz: Fr. Moral was the Rector who died there. Then there was Fr. Konore, Fr. Make, Fr. Sewell, Fr. Saldanha, etc.
I went to my father at Marikanave, which is about 31 miles away from the railway station “Hosdurg Road”. I had to do the first part of the journey on my feet. I accompanied the postal runner and while he was jog-trotting I walked fast and reached Hosdrug. There I stayed with the Sub-Assistant Surgeon of that village dispensary. This doctor was at Marikanave and so knew my father and my father had also written to him about my coming. I had taken a box of Trichinopoly cheroots for him. After a meal at his house he arranged to put me in a bullock cart that was going to Marikanave. A large dam was being constructed there so there was a large population of coolies, maistries, contractors, clerks and other officials. I used to go daily on the dam and enjoy myself as much as I could. There was a Turk from Madras who was in charge of divers who used to patch up the dam when there were leaks. One day the Turk asked me to accompany him under water. I was very much afraid but at last consented. I had to put on a diving suit – water and wind proof. I stayed under water only for a few minutes. I stayed with my father for a few months and then went to Bombay to try my luck.
In Bombay, my brother met me and I stayed with him at Clare Road until I got a job. My brother as I have said before was working in the Govt. Medical Stores then. He is now settled down in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I was trying very hard to get a job. Even though I had some relations in Bombay and some of them in good positions, I did not like to go and see them. From my little experience I knew that relations at least some of them are selfish, jealous and only care for you as long as you have some money. This was the case when my father lost his property. Most of the relations who used to come and have a gay time at our place slowly dwindled away. My aunt (maternal) was in Bombay also her husband. He was a telegraph Master and they used to live in Fort, Bombay. I used to visit them but never stay there and incidentally I must state that I married their daughter in Madras on Feb 10th, 1920.
At last I got a job in the factory of M/s Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Co. at Parel. The company at that time was manufacturing safes, locks, keys, spoons, forks, door handles for railway carriages, bits for horses, etc. etc. I was started on a salary of 4 annas per day, no work on Sundays. The working hours were from 8am to 12 noon and 1:30 pm to 5:30pm. I shifted from Clare Road to a chawl near Byculla Railway Station and shared a room with someone else in the upper flat and started my life as a mechanic. I had firmly made up my mind to make a success in whatever job I might be placed and as my idea was to keep myself strong and fit in every respect I always kept in mind the adage “Mens sana in corpore sano” and tried to live upto it.
I used to get up early in the morning and have a little dumb-bell exercise then prepare my coffee. As soon as it was ready I would drink it with a slice of bread or chappaty and then go to my work in Parel which was a good 2 miles distance to walk. In the noon during the break I would eat a quarter anna loaf of bread dry of course sometimes a cup of tea or half a cup of tea and a couple of limjee biscuits. In the evening after my work I used to go to my lodgings and rest for a few minutes and then prepare my food which invariable was some rice and some dhal or only rice and get a quarter anna worth of curry from some boarding hotel then have my exercise,bath take my meal and then go to bed and have a very sound sleep. This way I kept on for some months. My boss at the factory was quite pleased with my work which I used to do conscientously and thoroughly.
One day it came to my hearing that Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Medical School at Poona – Sassoon Hospital – was advertising for pupil applicants. I thought this was quite a good opportunity for me to apply. Educational qualifications required was below Matriculation and so I was eligible for it. But the question came as to how I should get there. I had only a few rupees with me and I was very particular as to how I spent them. To my good luck, one railway guard (may have been Mangalorean or Goan) whom I had come across many times at the Byculla Station where I used to go and spend sometime on Sundays and other holidays offered to take me to Poona free of cost for which I was most thankful to him. Before leaving Bombay I saw my boss and told him that I was going to Poona to seek admission to the Medical School and if I did not succeed I would return to the factory and requested him to take me back. He was quite willing to do it, hence I went to Poona.
I visited the Sassoon hospital to find out the particulars for admission and I was told that I had to pay a fee of Rs. 3/- and get registered and in a day or two the entrance exam would be held. I was extremely reluctant to spend the Rs. 3/- for registration in case I failed to be selected and I might then be stranded in Poona. So I went to the house of the Supt. Of the Medical School who was also the Civil Surgeon of the Sassoon Hospital and his name was Col. Henderson I.M.S. (Incidentally I met him again in Southampton in 1914). And told him of my desire to join the medical school and at the same time my poverty. He was a good soul. He apparently took a liking to me. I was very courteous and humble. I was also very tall and thin and at the same time straightforward and muscular. He gave me a note to the Head Clerk at the Sassoon Hospital and my name was registered without me having to pay anything.
In a day or two, the entrance examination took place. I came out first amongst the whole lot in English but in mathematics I failed. However the Superintendent took a lenient view of my failure as in all other subjects I was much above the average and I was declared fit for admission. I had opted for the military side and although there were a good many candidates in that category, only 9 were declared fit for admission. After the results were out we were told to go home and await further orders. Accordingly I returned to Bombay paying my own fare which I think was one rupee four annas or perhaps a little
less. In Bombay I went back to my former abode and to the Godrej factory. I informed my boss that I had passed the examination and I have to await further instructions about the re-opening of the medical school. The boss took me in the old job and was pleased to hear that I had passed and as a token of his appreciation he increased my salary from 4 annas to 6 annas a day. I worked for about 6 weeks or a little more when I received intimation that the school would be opening on 15th September and I had to be present at the Sassoon Hospital on that day. I had been very glad I had succeeded and made a firm resolution to be a success.
On the 15th September 1903 (aged 18 years) I attended the Sassoon Hospital and the first thing I did was to change my name from FARIAS to FERRIS. All the boys were present and were made to fall in. The Superintendent inspected us all. The boys were as follows:
- C.M.P.’s (Civil Medical Pupils). Those boys were taken in some civil hospital and given a little training in compounding and then sent to the medical school where they had to serve after passing from medical school.
- Stipendiary Pupils: These were paid for by the government and had to serve the government after passing the final examination.
- Military Medical Pupils: These were paid for by the military authorities – 1st year Rs. 8/- per month, 2nd year Rs. 9/- per month and 3rd year Rs. 10/- per month. In addition they were supplied with free medical books and one free uniform per year. – no head gear or footwear.
- State Medical Pupils: These were from states such as Kholepur, Sanghi, etc. and were paid by their respective states. Finally there were
- Paying Pupils: They paid to study and on obtaining a certificate of qualification could work anywhere they liked.
We in the military side had to give an undertaking to serve in the army for a period of 7 years. Except the paying pupils, all were provided with free quarters.
About a furlong from the Sassoon Hospital was a big bungalow. A portion of it was occupied by a resident medical officer and the rest by pupils. In larger rooms more boys were accommodated. For food, each one had to make his own arrangements. At that time there were some Catholic boys mostly from Karwar viz. Saldanha 2nd year, Louis 2nd year, Coelho, Alphonso, D’Souza 1st year from Karwar and then there were one or two Goans also in the 1st year. Among all those named I was the only boy in the Military side and the rest were C.M.P’s.
Incidentally I must mention that while I was in Medical School our uncle Piad filed a suit against me and my brother for recovery of the amount he was supposed to have incurred for our studies. My brother John who was in Mangalore at that time sent me a form to be signed before a Magistrate. It was in Kannada and I could not read it. However I signed it before the Cantonment Magistrate. Uncle Piad cited my mother as witness and so on it went. Finally I do not know whether the suit was withdrawn, dismissed or compromised. Another time while in Mangalore, our Uncle Piad made out a petition and gave me to go
round the houses of well to do people and collect money. I had to go daily and collect whatever I could get. Some people gave me a rupee, some more, some less.I had to hand over all the collections to Uncle Piad. What he did with the money I do not know.
In medical school, Coelho and myself stayed in one room. Routine of the medical student was – In the morning from 8am to 12-noon work in the hospital such as wards, dispensary, outdoor etc. Every month change the duties. In the evening 3 to 5 pm lectures. Sundays and festive days there were no lectures but the hospital work had to be carried out whether it was sunshine or rain.
Early in the morning after my toilet, exercise, etc. I used to go to a hotel next to the railway station which was about two furlongs away from the Sassoon Hospital for my tea and a chappaty or two. In the noon, after hospital work I used to go there for meals which was rice and a chappaty and some mutton curry almost daily except Friday. In the night about 8pm go there for supper. The monthly payment was Rs. 7/- leaving thereby only Rs. 1/- with me during the month for all other purposes. Clothes I used to wash myself and once in a way give them to the dhoby. I had no other unnecessary expenses.
In the evening after lectures the boys used to go for walks etc. but I did not much care for wasting time and so arranged with one watch maker on main street to teach me watch repairs. I used to go to him every day in the evening but gave it up after some time as it was not suitable and the man did not take sufficient interest to teach me. Of course all this was gratis. Then I joined the Poona Rifles Volunteer Corps and used to go for parades etc. and for target practice. The latter I was more interested in. That also I gave up as the distance to come and go was too much and the timings were not convenient. At last I
joined a wrestling club where there were a few young fellows learning the wrestling art. This was to my very great liking. The manager was a Brahmin and a great wrestler. He took great interest in me and taught me a great deal. Every evening I used to go take exercise and then learn wrestling. I gained good weight, my chest expanded and I felt myself that I was really getting strong. In the Medical School there was a Pathan boy paying pupil by name Ismathulla. He was a big hefty fellow and quite strong. He had a few followers who used to admire him for his strength and I too had a few followers. We both used to have competitions in various feats of strength and it was about fifty-fifty. He was no doubt very muscular and always kept pictures of muscular men with him such as Sandow, Saxon Brothers, etc. He left the medical school in the final year and I remember reading in one of the papers the challenge he gave to “Ramamurthi” then known as the Indian Sandow. The challenge was that if he “Ramamurthi” raised one foot of Ismathulla’s one foot above the ground, he “Ismathulla” would give him Rs. 1000/-. What happened to it I do not know. Ramamurthi might have thrown the challenge aside thinking it from a mad man. Ramamurthi was immensely strong, he would not only have raised Ismathulla’s foot but the whole body and chucked it yards away.
Every evening I used to go to the wrestling club at about 6pm, take plenty of exercise there, do some wrestling and then go for my night’s meal and then back to the hostel. In the night I used to study and so all the other boys. I however due to fatigue could not keep studying long and so used to go to sleep early. The result was that at the end of the year I came out about last in my examination. I felt it very much and consoled myself that I did after all pass. I could not give up my exercise and wrestling which I was determined to continue and which I did until I finished medical school.
At the end of the second term after the first year examinations I got ill with Typhoid fever and was admitted to the hospital. My uncle Louis (maternal) was at that time in Bombay working as a ticket collector at the Cinchpookly Railway Station of the G.I.P Railway. He used to come to Poona to see me now and again and when I was very bad with typhoid he was the only relation of mine who came to see me. Of course he did not know I was sick but came over as usual on a casual visit. I do not think any of my relations knew I was down with typhoid. When I was discharged I remember my father came and took me to Bombay for a change. At that time my brother who used to work in the Govt. Medical Stores had resigned and gone abroad to meet the extremist “Krishna Verma” at Paris.
After a short time I rejoined the medical school and continued my studies as well as my wrestling. At nights I could hardly study however much I tried. I used to be very sleepy due to fatigue yet I did not want to give up my wrestling. The net result – I failed in my 1st term anatomy examination. This was a great blow to me. I did not know what to do. I had to study hard and appear again in that subject at the end of the year in addition to two other subjects of the current term. This meant extra hard study. I continued my study and at night sat along with the other boys for study. Boys used to sit in different groups to study. One boy used to demonstrate or read out and the others follow him. I used to doze off and after some time the boys used to say “Ferris is sure to fail”. I went to bed much earlier than the rest who used to go to bed much after 11pm. I made a firm resolution to get up early in the morning to study. For the first few days it was a very difficult task for me but I resolved not only to pass but to come as high as possible because the higher you
come the greater respect and chances you get in the final year. So for a good two hours or more in the morning when everything is quiet, all boys are fast asleep and nice cool weather, I studied. Very few boys knew that. In the final examination I came out with flying colors, that is, I came out second amongst all the boys. Some said that I might have copied but there was no chance of any sort to do so and all agreed on that. However I was not only glad but extremely glad of my achievement. The one who came out first is made the Medical Superintendent and the one who came out second is made the Surgical Superintendent. So then I was the Surgical Superintendent. Duties of the Superintendent were to check the attendance of the pupils, see that they draw up the case sheets properly and as required by the M.O., help them and try to solve their problems and in very severe or complicated issues to write their case sheets. The M.O. of the European Medical Ward was usually the civil surgeon and of the Surgical Ward the Assistant to the Civil Surgeon and the Medical School Superintendent was Col. Burke I.M.S. and the Assistant to the Civil Surgeon was Major Evans, I.M.S. I remember one morning a Police Sergeant was admitted to the ward and I was to write out his case sheet. So I went and examined him and then went to write out his case when a nurse passed by with a Halma playing set. So I called her over and asked her to play a game with me. The matron was a European called Miss Clarke an she usually used to be downstairs and my ward was upstairs. I knew the Colonel would not come to the ward before a certain time and so continued playing the game when an orderly came running up to say that the Colonel had arrived in the ward.
I quickly went to meet him. Other pupils were present there. He called me and asked me to read out the case of the police sergeant. I hesitated a moment and then took the case sheet of another patient and rattled away by heart the symptoms etc. of my case as I had already examined the patient. I passed all right but I never repeated that game again. Six months after that we were changed from Medical Superintendent to Surgical Superintendent and vice-versa. While I was in the 2nd year I used to help the Civil Surgeon Col. Henderson to examine cases for physical fitness by taking their weight, height, examination of urine, etc. and the Civil Surgeon used to pay me Rs. 10/- a month that is, one rupee more than my salary which was Rs. 9/-. I was fairly rich then getting
Rs. 19/- per month. I used to have better and nourishing food as I used to do more and more exercise and wrestling. In the 3rd year the Surgeon appointed me as a chief assistant in the operating theatre. I was also the chief anesthetist. Those days we had “Junkies Inhaler” with which chloroform was administered. One had to be extremely careful and cautious in administering chloroform. In some cases you have to keep the patient very deep under chloroform practically on the borderline of life and death. I was really lucky I did not kill any patient due to overdose. One patient did die on the operating table but it was not through my fault. He died of heart trouble. Of course before chloroform is administered the Surgeon invariably examines the patient’s heart. During the operations which take place almost daily all the students who are not actually on duty have to be present in the theatre and so the nurses too. One day after the operations were over, Major Evans the surgeon called me and asked me “What is your pay?” I told him I was getting Rs. 10/- per month. All right he said “I will double your pay. Come see me in my office”. Well I was quite happy about it but did not know what it was all about. As directed I went
and saw him in his office at the appointed time. He showed me a large book at least 18” long and 15” wide with a lot of columns in it and said “This is a register I want you to take out the surgical case sheets of my patients from (I do not remember the date) and enter into it the particulars of all the operations I have done”. This surgeon was an expert especially in operating on “Vesical Calculi” (stones in urinary bladder). He used mostly Litholopoxy, sometimes Lithotrity and occasionally Supra Pubic. The entry particulars was a colossal task and so I was excused from all other duties. Therefore instead of
working in the wards I used to go to the lecture room with my register and case sheets and every once in a way the surgeon used to come and see how things were getting on. I used to do it very carefully and neatly. My handwriting was fairly good and the Surgeon was well pleased. Once in a way he used to send his horse and trap and send for me to his house. I forgot to mention earlier that in my last year I often used to go to the hospital office and do a little bit of odd jobs for the Head Clerk such as applying gum for envelopes, entering them into the dispatch book, etc. and so was allowed by him to tinker
about with the typewriter. I then gradually learned to type and was fairly proficient in it. So much so that I used to type a good many official letters for him. Well at the house of the Surgeon, he used to offer me tea, biscuits, etc. and when I had finished typing he would send me back in his trap. He was living with his wife who was also very good to me and showed me the puppies “Japanese Poms” and talk to me often. I must say that most of the students were very jealous of all this but they dared not do or say anything. I was one of the strongest boys in the school and if there was any trouble the opposite party
would get the worst and so days passed. In our final year at the medical school before we were allowed to appear for the examination in mid-wifery we had to witness a certain number of confinements and also we had to personally conduct a certain number of cases. So that we may not miss opportunities of witnessing some of us would sleep in the hospital itself as majority of the cases used to come in the nights. I remember once a European lady objected to students being present during her confinement. The House Surgeon explained to her that she could be confined in the hospital only if the medical students were present as the medical school is attached to the hospital and the students had to be given every opportunity to learn. The lady continued with her objections and
was told to leave the hospital which she did.
During the mid-term vacation I went to Mangalore. My mother at that time was living at Karangalpadi, below the college hill and near to Mrs. Julian Coelho’s house. My eldest and youngest brothers and my sister were with my mother and my other brother was working in the Plague department. My uncle “Codiabeil Sandow” was on of the well built and strongest men in the locality and he and myself often used to go out and try out feats of strength. We very frequently used to go to each others places which was about half a mile distance from each other. In the house where my mother lived there was a well the water of which was used for domestic purposes and at the same time was used for watering the coconut trees. The usual way of watering was by the “Siket system”. A long horizontal piece of wood balanced on a cross bar fixed onto 2 trees close to each other about 6 feet apart. This cross bar functions as a fulcrum. At one end of this horizontal piece of wood is a long bamboo pole at the end of which is fixed a receptacle for drawing water. At the end of the horizontal beam are fixed four ropes about a foots distance apart. Across the well are placed bars of wood on which one stands and pushes the pole with the receptacle into the well and the other end with the horizontal bar goes up into the air. When water is filled in the receptacle the other end where the ropes are tied is hanging. 4 men catch hold of them and jump into a pit dug for that specific purpose and by their weight the water is pulled up which the man at the well empties into a drain which leads to the trees. One afternoon when the trees were all watered, my uncle the “Codialbeil Sandow” and myself wanted to draw some water and see if we could empty the well. There was nobody in the house except my sister who was about 6 years of age or so and my younger brother who must have been 7 years or so. My eldest brother had gone for his work and my mother had been out for somebody’s funeral. While we were drawing water, my younger brother playing somewhere close by the well got slightly hit by the water receptacle and fell into the well. There was no time to be lost if he were to be saved. I went round the well and asked my uncle to let down the rope and I jumped into the well as I was with my shoes and shirt. The boy was unconscious. I
caught hold of him and swam a little where I could just feel the ground. In the meantime the rope was let down and we both managed to come up. I took the boy home and told my sister to keep everything secret, wiped and dried the boy, put on some clothes and gave him a drop or two of brandy when he got better. In the meantime my sister had sent the servant to inform my mother. So my mother and grandmother hurried back home and met me and my uncle just as we were leaving the house near the gate. I told them the boy was quite al right and there was nothing to be alarmed at. This is the second life I saved As there was no other help. I say no other even when my uncle was there because my uncle would have been absolutely incapable to render any help and by the time he would
get the necessary help the boy would certainly have died.
After completing my medical studies and qualifying as a doctor, I enlisted in the Indian Medical Department of the Indian Army at Poona on 15th September 1906. After serving for a year in the Military Hospital I was transferred to the Military Hospitals of various places, viz. Mhaw, Wellington, Lahore, Delhi, etc. In 1913, I was attached to the No. 7 Mountain Battery as the Medical Officer and sent along with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force to Cairo, Egypt. While I was there, the World War I broke out. I was then attached to the Expeditionary Force “A” of the British Army and posted to England and later to France. Later, in December 1915, I was attached to the 3rd Brigade Headquarters of the British Army and posted to the British Salonika Forces. I saw active duty in Flanders and Ypres where there was the heaviest shelling by the Germans. It was here while attending to the wounded that I was awarded the Indian Order of Merit along with a citation that states “Sub-Assistant Surgeon Ferris attended to casualty after casualty under heavy shell fire with utter disregard to his personal safety”. I was also mentioned in dispatches and commended for valuable services rendered in the field on 25th September 1918. I was also awarded the Indian Distinguished Service Medal for my services during the war.
After the end of the hostilities I returned to India in 1919 and on 10th February 1920 I married my cousin Mabel Seldon (Saldanha) my maternal aunt’s daughter at Madras. Of this marriage, I had 8 children:
1. Leslie Eric Reginald Bonaventure, born on 14th July 1921 who on 10th October
1955 married Florence Mascarenhas daughter of Albert and Cecile Mascarenhas at
Milagres Church, Mangalore.
2. Denzyl Winston Ignatius, born on 17th October 1922 who on 25th May 1952
married Marie Coelho, daughter of LRD and Aileen Coelho at St. Peter’s church,
Bandra, Bombay.
3. George Lawrence Francis Benedict, born on 3rd April 1924 who on 2nd May 1960
married Yvonne, the eldest daughter of Stanislaus and Marie Saldanha at St.
Patrick’s Church, Bangalore.
4. Margaret Mary Agnes born on 11th December 1924 who on 15th January 1955
married Stanley Charles Santiago son of Rev. Dev Arul Santiago at St.
Philomena’s Church, Mysore.
5. Pamela Mavis Marie born on 22nd May 1927 who on 3rd September 1964 married
Om Prakash Mediratta at St. Patrick’s Church, Bangalore.
6. Ivan Joseph Robert born on 2nd May 1928 and died on 12th April 1930 at Meerut
due to Enterist
7. Zita Marie Celine born on 25th November 1930 and died on 31st October 1932 due
to dysentery
8. Albert Victor Michael born on 5th September 1932 [who in May 1968 married Joy
Colaco, daughter of Julian Colaco, at Bombay].
I was due for retirement in 1941 but as the Second World War was raging, I was not permitted to retire but my service in the military hospital was retained till the termination of the war. For my services rendered during the second world war, I was awarded O.B.I (Order of British India) and the M.B.E. (Member of the British Empire) with the title of Sardar Bahadur.
After I retired, I settled down to a peaceful retirement in Bangalore content in the happiness of seeing my children married and also in the enjoyment of my several grandchildren.
Post Script by George Ferris Jr.: On 1st May 1967, my father, Captain G. J. Ferris got a paralytic stroke and was admitted to the Military Hospital in Bangalore where he had worked prior to his retirement. On 15th May 1967, he died at the age of 81 years fortified with the rites of Holy Mother the Catholic Church. He was buried in the Hosur Road Cemetery in Bangalore in the presence of his widow and children.
Note: These memoir were typed in by Anil Ferris, the grandson of the late Capt. G. J. Ferris, IMD (OBI, MBE), from the handwritten manuscript of Capt. George Ferris. The postscript was added by George Ferris, Jr. the third son of the late Capt. George Ferris
|