File:"Cleveland" Tourists Viewing Kinchinjunga from Tiger Hill, Darjeeling.jpg

English: Halftone, Divided back, 14.30x9.15cm

Hamburg-American Line was one of the largest shipping lines in the world, and brought a majority of German immigrants to the US, as and many tourists from the US to India. Postcards were a critical element in the marketing efforts of shipping companies, and Hamburg-American offered a pre-written one like this with a helpful pre-printed message on the back: "CABLE to the Company's New York Office from the S.S. "Cleveland:" CALCUTTA, December 5, 1912. The "Cleveland" left here this morning, one day later than schedule, for the benefit of Benares and Darjeeling tourists. The "Across India" tourists made this trip from Darjeeling to Tiger Hill on horseback and in sedan chairs. The sunshine enabled the passengers to get a clear view of Mount Everest, the highest in the world. Everyone was pleased with the tour across India. In Lucknow a lawn party was arranged in honor of the passengers who took part in the "Across India" trip. The Benares and two Darjeeling excursions proved a great success. In Benares the passengers were entertained at a lawn party at which the Maharaja of benares put at our disposal the court orchestra, elephants and camels with gorgeous decorations. The trip by boat on the River Ganges in Benares was of great interest to the passengers. Everybody well. HAMBURG-AMERICAN LINE Dept. of Cruises."

The card itself was mailed from New York in 1912 to George B. Rudell, 49 Pearl Street, Hartford, Connecticut, suggesting that it was a pre-scheduled communication that probably was part of the cruise package for passengers.