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THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 PRESENTED BY 
 
 PROF. CHARLES A. KOFOID AND 
 MRS. PRUDENCE W. KOFOID 
 

 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS 
 
 " Survey the globe, each ruder realm explore ; 
 From Reason's faintest ray to NEWTON" soar. 
 What different spheres to human bliss assign 'd ! 
 What slow gradations in the scale of mind! 
 Yet mark in each these mystic wonders wrought, 
 Oh, mark the sleepless energies of thought!" 
 
 ROGERS. 
 
 BY J. STATHAM. 
 
 LONDON : 
 SAMUEL BAGSTER, 15, PATERNOSTER ROW. 
 
 1832. 
 
LONDON : 
 
 S. BAGSTER. JUN., PRINTER, 
 14, Bartholomew Close. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 AT a time like the present, when Missionary 
 operations are regarded with so much interest by 
 some, and so scornfully derided by others, the 
 Author of the following pages thought his Recol- 
 lections of India might not be unacceptable to 
 the former, and at the same time not altogether 
 useless in removing the prejudices of the latter. 
 If but one friend be gained to the Missionary 
 cause by the publication of this volume, the Author 
 will abundantly rejoice. 
 
 Another reason which induced him thus to ap- 
 pear before the public, was, that in the course of 
 his residence in India he met with several striking 
 illustrations of the sacred Scriptures, which he did 
 not remember to have seen noticed in the works 
 of others. Some of these have appeared in the 
 New Baptist Miscellany ; but the whole are em- 
 bodied in these Recollections. 
 
IV 
 
 Besides which, another motive powerfully ope- 
 rated in leading him to decide on the present 
 attempt, viz. that whilst the Missionary Heralds, 
 and other mediums of religious intelligence, fully 
 record the success attendant on the labours of 
 Missionaries in the East, and other parts of the 
 world, yet very little generally is known of those 
 details which respect social intercourse, and the 
 every day occurrences of an Indian life. 
 
 To literary reputation the Author lays not an 
 atom of claim. He is sensible of the defects under 
 which he labours, and therefore throws himself 
 upon the charity of the literary world. 
 
 To his kind friends who have patronised the 
 work, he returns his grateful acknowledgments, 
 and humbly hopes that those amongst them who 
 have not hitherto seen it their duty to support the 
 cause of Missions, will, by reading the following 
 pages, be induced to aid in the praiseworthy effort 
 of seeking to rescue so large a portion of the hu- 
 man family from degradation and woe. 
 
 Amersham, April 6, 1832. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Page 
 
 CHAP. I. Arrival at Sand Heads river Hooghley va- 
 rious river craft and boatmen 1 
 
 CHAP. II. Native costumes auction rooms horses 
 destructive fires ravages of white ants palm trees dange- 
 rous situation of a soldier instinct of small red ants . . 16 
 
 CHAP. III. State of religion in Calcutta inattention to 
 the duties of the Sabbath anecdotes chaplains Indo-Bri- 
 tons Mr. Kyd's work indolence to be lamented its evils 
 native female schools Bishop Heber's mistake Rev. D. 
 Schmid's letter anecdotes 33 
 
 CHAP. IV. Hindoo religion castes Brahmins . . 65 
 
 CHAP. V. Influence of caste on agriculture various crops 
 illustrations of Scripture snakes anecdotes, &c. . . 84 
 
 CHAP. VI. Mussulmans their mode of worship moulah 
 and disciples two Mogul merchants native servants 
 their numbeu petty thefts fawning manners barefaced 
 lies anecdotes waiting at the gates curious petition 
 modes of building illustrations of Scripture . . . 101 
 
 CHAP. VII. The Churruck Pooj ah death of a devotee- 
 processions police magistrate anecdote of a syce origin 
 of the festival anecdote of a Brahmin great superstition 
 suttees 118 
 
 CHAP. VIII. Ruth Jatra car drawn Mr. Stirling and 
 Dr. Buchanan Juggernath's establishment ironical poem 
 tradition of the idol affecting narrative. . . . 137 
 
 CHAP. IX. Tuntra Shasters Pran-Krishna Vishwasa 
 doctrines and precepts of the sect . . . . .160 
 
 CHAP. X. Hindoo temples sacred monkeys Ramayuna 
 festival monkeys thieving anecdotes monkey and pig 
 attack on a dog rob a boy mode of catching them mid- 
 night adventure surrounded by them escape with difficulty 
 offerings to them peepul trees banyan trees Brahminy 
 bulls 180 
 
 CHAP. XI. Mussulman enthusiasm Mohurrum Roman 
 Catholics Mussulman burying grounds Howrah and Cal- 
 cutta funerals cholera morbus ravages of small pox me- 
 - thod of inoculation . 200 
 
VI CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAP. XII. Adjutants their voracity tricks played 
 with them kites and crows the chamelion jackals ele- 
 phant's burial deception practised by a jackal illustrations 
 
 of Scripture anecdotes of elephants and tigers sepoys 
 
 instances of th eir literal interpretation of orders, &c. " . 225 
 
 CHAP. XIII. Buffaloes adventure with a herd descrip- 
 tion of them gentleman pursued by one narrow escape 
 
 Government cattle steam boats surprise of natives Bur- 
 mese war boats captured Jewish commerce harbour of 
 Calcutta, ships burnt, &c 253 
 
 CHAP. XIV. First visit to Howrah preaching there 
 crossing the river providential escapes freaks of dinghey- 
 wallahs kindness of friends Episcopalian chapel curious 
 mistake erection of chapel native chapel and school-houses 
 establish an academy fatiguing life deaths of mission- 
 aries missionary aspirations 267 
 
 CHAP. XV. Birth of Mr. Lawson early religious impres- 
 sions manifests great genius arrival in London religious 
 declension is mercifully restored joins the church in Eagle 
 Street offers himself to the mission is accepted placed 
 with the Rev. J. Sutcliffe marries publicly set apart for 
 missionary work sails for India tid America arrival in In- 
 dia pursuits there, and happy death 278 
 
 CHAP. XVI. Benefits resulting from missionary opera- 
 tions extracts of conversations holden with the natives 
 anecdote of a rich sircar ....... 302 
 
 CHAP. XVII. Sanyassees murder of a youth by one 
 female Sany assee at Sahebgung conversations with her dis- 
 ciples Americans' testimony to the success of missions . 316 
 
 CHAP. XVIII. Inundation at Howrah great loss of lives 
 natives fleeing obliged to leave the village Mussulmans 
 call upon Allah retire in anger illustration of Scripture 
 take a boat and go in search of sufferers rescue some from 
 destruction activity of a magistrate history of Sukharee, 
 a native convert his happy death . . . . 334 
 
 CHAP. XIX. Brojomohon Deboshyo his arguments a- 
 gainst the worship of images striking address to his fellow 
 countrymen ........ . 347 
 
 CHAP. XX. Letters from England emotions they cause 
 Boitaconnah visits of friends mission family Benevo- 
 lent Institution the munificence of Government towards it 
 Juvenile Society Mrs. Lushington Hon. J. H. Haring- 
 ton address of the native baboosto him charitable feelings 
 imposed on native petition lawsuits .... 365 
 
 CHAP. XXI. Morning's ride bullocks frightened gi- 
 gantic creeper jackals mangoose and snake idol temples 
 squirrels paddy fields birds elephant loaded toddy 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Vll 
 
 Page 
 
 trees dhobee washing pawn grounds sircar's house 
 school devotee rajah and train native school boys va- 
 rious travellers convicts bazaar native chapel sermon, 
 and conversation 389 
 
 CHAP. XXII. Native chapel opened idol given up- - 
 effect of its removal persecution of native Christians 
 their deliverance Messrs. Bennet and Tyerman Hindoo 
 fable Rev. Micaiah Hill's speech Mussulman moonshee 
 baptized his history Rev. Mr. Wayland's opinions . 408 
 
 CHAP. XXIII. An evening ride travellers reposing 
 native wedding shipwrights bazaar village belle 
 Nautch girls fakeer daroga illustration of Scripture 
 kingfishers Botanical Gardens Bishop's College steam 
 vessel castor oil plants cocoa nuts fishing-mangoes Al- 
 bion mills plantations indigo indigo planters . . . 424 
 
 CHAP. XXIV. Calcutta Bible Society native Roman 
 Catholics union of Romish ceremonies and Pagan supersti- 
 tions applications from natives for Bibles Bible associa- 
 tion number of copies distributed letter of Rev. Henry 
 Martyn Re v.D.Schmid European Female Orphan Asylum 
 Otaheitan youths sickness in India and return . 444 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 Ayah, nurse maid. 
 Abdar, water cooler. 
 
 Baboo, an esquire. 
 Bang, orBhang, intoxicating drug 
 Bangee, a carrier. 
 Bangle, ornament or bracelet. 
 Banyan, shopkeeper. 
 Bauleah, covered boat. 
 Belathee, foreign. 
 Bheestie, a water carrier. 
 Bhurr, a large boat for merchan- 
 dise. 
 
 Bobajee, a cook. 
 Bottlekhannah, pantry. 
 
 Brahmin, priest. 
 
 Buckshish, gifts. 
 
 Budjerowe, large boat for fami- 
 lies. 
 
 Bungalowe, a cottage of bamboo 
 and mats, with thatched roof. 
 
 Caste, a tribe or peculiar trade. 
 Chattah, large umbrella. 
 Chopper, covering for a boat. 
 Chuprassee, a sort of constable. 
 Coir, fibres of cocoa nut. 
 Compound, yard, meadow, or 
 
 garden. 
 Coolies, porters to carry loads. 
 
Vlll 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 Copperah, cloth of any sort. 
 Cummerbund, girdle round the 
 waist. 
 
 Dandee, boatman. 
 
 Daroga, superintendent. 
 
 Dawk, post. 
 
 Debtas, or Devtas, spirits, 
 
 saints. 
 
 Decoit, or Dacoit, river thief. 
 Dewan, an agent. 
 Dhobee, washerman. 
 Dhoodwallah, milkman. 
 Dhingey, small boat. 
 Dhingeywallah, boatman. 
 Dustooree, custom.. 
 Durzee, or Dhurzee, tailor. 
 
 Fakeer, or Fakir, religious men- 
 dicant. 
 
 Ghaut, a landing place. 
 Ghusselkhannah, bathing-room. 
 Godown, warehouse. 
 Golah, ditto. 
 Gooroo, teacher. 
 Gulley, lane. 
 Gunga, river Ganges. 
 
 Handee, large earthen pan. 
 
 Hackrey, open cart. 
 
 Howdah, seat on an elephant. 
 
 Hubblebubble, smoking appara- 
 tus. 
 
 Hurkaru, messenger or letter 
 carrier. 
 
 Jemmadur, officer. 
 Jogue, age of the world. 
 Jungle, thicket. 
 
 Khansuman, steward. 
 Khitmutgar, footman. 
 
 Manjee, helmsman. 
 
 Mather, sweeper. 
 Maund, 40 seer, or 80 pounds. 
 Mesaljie, torch bearer. 
 Mheeties, sweetmeats. 
 Moonshee, Persian teacher. 
 Moulah , Mussulman priest. 
 Muntra, religious ceremony. 
 
 Naick, corporal. 
 Nul, Brahminical pen. 
 Nullah, small canal. 
 
 Paddey, rice in the husk. 
 Padree, minister of the Gospel. 
 Palanqueen, covered conveyance 
 
 carried on men's shoulders. 
 Pallampore, chintz covering. 
 Paunchway, boat larger than 
 
 dhingey. 
 
 Pariah, without caste, vile, low. 
 Peer, spirit of a saint. 
 Perwhanna, government order. 
 Pice, small copper coin. 
 Poojah, religious worship. 
 Punkah, large fan. 
 Puckah, built strongly, any 
 
 thing of good material. 
 
 Rhoat, Rut, or Ruth, Jugger- 
 naut's car. 
 
 Sahib, sir. 
 
 Shaster, commentary on the 
 
 Vedah. 
 
 Sircar, clerk, managing servant. 
 Syce, groom. 
 
 Tank, pond. 
 Tattoo, poney. 
 Thannah, gaol. 
 Tope, grove. 
 
 Vedah, holy book. 
 Zenana, seraglio. 
 
of 
 
 Abbey, Mr. W. Mill End. 
 Adey, Rev. J. Leigh ton, 4 copies. 
 Ainswortb, Mr. H. Amersham. 
 Ainsworth, Mr. George, ditto. 
 Ainsworth, Mr. J. Camberwell. 
 AUan, Mr. G. Cbesbam. 
 Allen, Mr. P. Amersham. 
 Allen, Mr. W. Fenny Stratford. 
 Allen, Miss, Thame. 
 Allen, Mr. Leighton. 
 Allnatt, Mr. C. Wallingford. 
 Allnutt, Mr. Z. Wycombe. 
 Allom, Rev. S. R. Missenden. 
 Amsden, Rev. Mr. Tring. 
 Andrew, Mr. J. ditto. 
 Andrews, J. Esq. FennyStratford. 
 Angel, Mrs. Wooburn. 
 Ashwell, Rev. T. Wycombe. 
 
 Bagster, Mr. John 
 
 Bagster, Miss. 2 copies. 
 
 Bailey, Rev. W. Datchet. 
 
 Baldwin, Mr. Berkhamstead. 
 
 Banbury, Mr. H. B. FennyStrat- 
 ford. 
 
 Barrett, Mr. G. Reading. 
 
 Bass, Mrs. Chesham. 
 
 Beal, Mr. Hemstead. 
 
 Ballard, Miss, Chalfont. 
 
 Bessey, J. F. Esq. Wandsworth 
 Road. 
 
 Best, Mr. Wm. Uxbridge. 
 
 Birch, Mr. John, Amersham. 
 
 Bird, Mr. Joseph. 
 
 Bird, Mr. W. Watford. 
 
 Birdsey, Mr. Market Street. 
 
 Boddy, Mrs. Rickmans worth. 
 
 Bolton, Mr. W. Luton. 
 
 Bowden, Mr. Towsery. 
 
 Brickwell, Mr. B. A. Amersham, 
 
 Brooks,. Rev. J. Fenny Stratford, 
 
 Brown, Mr. B. Dunstable. 
 
 Brown, Mr. John, Maidenhead. 
 
 Brown, Mrs. W. London. 
 
 Buckland, Mr. J. Wraysbury. 
 
 Burgiss, Mr. John, Reading. 
 
 Burgiss, Mr. R. H. Luton. 
 
 Burnard, Mr. W. Academy, Thame 
 
 Butfield, Mr. J. G. Chesham. 
 
 Butfield, Mr. W. Kernel Hem- 
 stead. 2 copies. 
 
 Byles, Mr. H. Henley- upon - 
 Thames. 
 
 Cannon, Mr. W. Great Missenden 
 Capper, Rev. G. ditto. 
 Carey, Mr. Wm. London. 
 Carrad, L. Esq. Taplow. 
 Chapman, Mr. John, Amersham. 
 Charters, Mr. Henley - upon - 
 
 Thames. 
 
 Cheney, Mr. H. Aylesbury. 
 Chippendale, J. Esq. Uxbridge. 
 Church, Mr. J. Rickmansworth. 
 Clarabutt, Rev. D. Tring. 
 Clarke, Mr. J. Great Missenden. 
 Clark, Mr. Ephraim, ditto. 
 Clements, Mr. Thos. Tring. 
 C limp son, Mr. Wm. Amersham. 
 Cogdell, Miss, Berkhamstead. 
 Coleman, Rev. W. Colnbrook. 
 Cooper, Rev. J. Amersham. 
 Cooper, Mr. C. Maidenhead. 
 Cooper, Mr. Wm. ditto. 
 Copley, Rev. W. Oxford. 
 Cortis, Mr. John, Amersham. 
 Coventry, Mr. G. Rickmansworth 
 Crook, Mr. Joseph, Risborough. 
 
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 Crook, Mrs. Lane End. 
 Croxford, Mr. S. Wendover. 
 Curtis, Mr. N. Henley. 
 Cuthbert, Mrs. London. 
 
 Darvell, Mr. W. Jun. Chesham. 
 Dimbledee, Mr. J. H. Henley. 
 Dines, Miss, Amersham. 
 Dolling, Mr. John, ditto. 
 Dorrell, Mr. ditto. 
 Dossett, Mr. Wm. Risborough. 
 Dossett, Mr. Daniel, Gold Hill. 
 Douglass, Rev. A. Reading. 
 Duncombe, Phoebe, Amersham. 
 Duntling, Mr. Obadiah. 
 Dulley, Mr. Wycombe. 
 Dulley, Mr. H. Wooburn. 
 
 East, Mr. Thos. Amersham. 
 Evans, Mr. R. J. Abingdon. 
 Evans, Mr. Caleb, ditto. 
 Eeles, J. Esq. Berkham stead. 
 Elbourn, Mr. H. Amersham. 
 Elliott, Mr. Tring. 
 Elliott,Mr.J. CheshamWaterside 
 
 Fearon, Mrs. Missenden. 
 Field, Mr. J. Wallingford. 
 Filby, Mr. Tring. 
 Fletcher, Mr. W. Henley -upon- 
 
 Thames. 
 
 Fletcher. Mr. W.R. Maidenhead 
 Fowler, Mr. C. Amersham. 
 Fuller, Uev. A. G. Drayton. 
 
 Garratt, Mr. J. Chesham. 
 Gray, T. N. Esq. Amersham. 
 Gibbs, Mrs. Penn. 
 Gibbs, Mr. J. Aylesbury. 
 Giles, Rv. T. Chalfont. 
 Girton,Rev. J. F. Berkhamstead 
 Glenister, Mr. J. R. Tring. 
 Glover, Rev. R. ditto. 
 Gomme, Mr. St. Julian's. 
 Goodyear, Mr. T. Market Street. 
 Goodyear, Mr. T. Jun. ditto. 
 Goodyear, Mr. W. ditto. 
 Goodyear, Mr. Cornelius, ditto. 
 Grace, Mr. C. Tring. 
 
 Grant, Mrs. Leighton. 
 Green, John, Amersham. 
 Gregory, Mrs. ditto. 
 Griffin, Mr. J. Hempstead. 
 Grimsdale, Mr. J. Chalfont. 
 Grimsdale, Mr. T. M. Uxbridge. 
 Groom, Mr. W. Jun. Dunstable. 
 Grover, Miss, Uxbridge. 
 Grover, Mr. W. Wendover, Dean 
 Grover, Mr. W. Tring. 
 Gunn, Rev. W. Aylesbury. 
 Gutteridge, Mr. R. Dunstable. 
 Gutteridge, Mr. R. Jun. ditto. 
 
 Hailey, Mr. John, Amersham. 
 Hailey, Mr. E. Uxbridge. 
 Halifax, Mr. Berkhamstead. 
 Hall, Rev. L. Poyle. 
 Hall, Rev. J. Chesham. 
 Harding, Mr. James, Hemstead. 
 Hare, Mr. Beaconsfield. 
 Harris, Mr. Fenny Stratford. 
 Harris, Rev. W. Wallingford. 
 Harrison, Mr. J. Windsor. 
 Harsant, Rev. J. Beaconsfield. 
 Harvey, Mr. Amersham. 
 Hatch, Mr. John, Windsor. 
 Havell, Mr. C. Reading. 
 Hawes, Mr. James, London. 
 Heybourne, Mr. Chesham. 
 Hedge, Mrs. Thame. 
 Herbert, Miss, Chesham. 
 Higgins, James, Rickmansworth 
 Hobbs, Rev. J. Berkhamstead. 
 Holland, Miss, Cornwall Ter- 
 race. 3 copies. 
 Hollis, Wm. Amersham. 
 Holloway, Mr. G. ditto. 
 Holloway, Miss, ditto. 
 Holmes/Mr. G. Market Street. 
 Honner, Mr. T. Missenden. 
 Hopley, Rev. J. Kernel Hemstead 
 Howard, Mr. W. ditto. 
 Hughes, Mr. S. Risborough. 
 Hunt, Mr. Heathrow. 
 Hunt, Mr. J. ditto. 
 Hunt, Mr. J. Wycombe. 
 Hussey, Mr. E/ditto. 
 Jackson, Miss, Walford. 
 
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 XI 
 
 Jameson, Rev. P. Wycombe. 
 Ibotson, Mr. R, Poyle Mills. 
 Johnson, Ann, AmersEam. 
 Jones, Mr. W. ditto. 
 Jordan, Mr. S. Chesham. 
 Ives, Rev. D. Goldhill. 
 
 Kershaw, Rev. J. Abingdon. 
 King, Miss, Watford. 
 King, Mr. Maidenhead. 
 Knight, Mr. T. D. Henley. 
 Knox, Mr. W. Chesham. 
 
 Lake, Mr. W. Tring. 
 Leader, Mr. Abingdon. 
 Letchworth, Mr.Reading, 2 copies 
 Liddon, Mr. H. Hempstead. 
 Line, Mr. Augustus. 
 Lockey, Mr. Maidenhead. 
 Loosley, Mr. W. Thame. 
 
 Maggs, Mr. Reading. 
 . Mann, Mr. R. Parliament Street. 
 Mann, Mr. John, ditto. 
 Mann, Misses, Cedar House, 
 
 Hillingdon. 5 copies. 
 
 Marshall, Thomas, Esq. Amers- 
 
 ham. 
 
 Marshall, W. Esq. Chesham. 
 Marshall, Mr. John, Walling- 
 
 ford. 
 
 Marshall, Mr. Aylesbury. 
 Marks, Rev. R. Great Missen- 
 
 den. 
 
 Martin, Mr. B. Berkhamstead. 
 Mayland, Mr. Tring. 
 Millar, Mr. J. Chesham. 
 Morris, Mr. G. Amersham. 
 Morten, W. Esq. Amersham. 
 
 2 copies 
 
 Morten, Mrs. Thomas, ditto. 
 Morten, Mr. T. jun. Uxbridge. 
 Munn, Mr. St.Alban's. 
 
 Nash, Mr. W. Uxbridge. 
 Nash, Mr. W. jun. Upton. 
 Nicholls, Mr. J. Little Missen- 
 
 den. 
 Norton, Mr. G. Henley. 
 
 Olney, Mr. W. Tring. 
 Owen, Mr. G.D. Maidenhead. 
 
 Packer, Rev. J. Kent. 
 
 Packer, Mr. Wycombe. 
 
 Packer, Mr. J. ditto. 
 
 Parncoate, Mr. Maidenhead. 
 
 Parker, J. Esq. Wycombe. 
 
 Passmore, Mr. C. Wraysbury. 
 
 Passmore, Mr. E. Maidenhead. 
 
 Payne, Mr. Wallingford. 
 
 Payne, Messrs. C. and R. Abing- 
 don. 
 
 Payne, Mr. P. Aylesbury. 
 
 Payne, Mr. James, Great Mis- 
 senden. 
 
 Payne, Mr. C. Chesham. 
 
 Payne, Mr. High Holborn. 
 
 4 copies. 
 
 Payne, Mr. B. Chesham. 
 
 Peachey, Mr. Bowdler's Office, 
 Doctors' Commons. 
 
 Pedley, Mr. S. Chalfont. 
 
 Pegg, Mr. W. Wooburn. 
 
 Phelan, Mr. J. Windsor. 
 
 Pizzey, Charlotte, Amersham. 
 
 Plester, Mr. ditto. 
 
 Pope, Mr. Chesham Bois. 
 
 Potter, Mr. Samuel, Amersham. 
 
 Potter, Mr. William, ditto. 
 
 Priest, Mr. D. Chesham. 
 
 Puddifant, Mrs. Marlow. 
 
 Rayner, Mr. J. Amersham. 
 Rayner, Mr. W. Hertford. 
 Reeves, Mrs. Leighton. 
 Reynolds, Mr. Aylesbury. 
 Riley, Mr. P. Fenny Stratford. 
 Roadnight, Mr. Cowley. 
 Robinson, Mr. J. F. Tring. 
 Robinson, Mr. jun. Maidenhead. 
 Rogers, Mr. Watford. 
 Rogers, Mr. J. Tring. 
 Rolls, Mr. J. Ricksmansworth. 
 Rolls, Mr. J. Aylesbury. 
 Rumsey, James, Esq. M. D. 
 
 Amersham. 
 
 Rumsey, John, Esq. Wycombe. 
 Rumsey, N. Esq. Beaconsfield. 
 
Xll 
 
 LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 Rusher, Mr. Reading. 
 Russel, Mrs. Risborough. 
 
 Saunders, Mr. Jos. Colnbrook. 
 Scott, Miss, Risborough. 
 Scott, Mr. H. Amersham. 
 Skeene, Rev. T. Wendover. 
 Skidmore, Mr. E. Rickmans- 
 
 worth. 
 
 Slater, W. Esq. Camberwell. 
 Smith, Rev. J. Ilford. 
 Smith, Lieut. Uxbridge. 
 Soames, Mr. J. Tring. 
 Stamper, Rev. J. G. Uxbridge. 
 Stanger, Mr. Chesham. 
 Statham, Mrs. sen. Amersham. 
 Statham, Mr. T. M. ditto. 
 Statham, Mr. C. ditto. 
 Statham, Mr. Datchet. 
 Statham, Mr. G. London, 
 Stone, Mr. Thomas, Thame. 
 
 Stone, -, Esq. Aylesbury. 
 
 Stone, Mrs. Uxbridge. 
 Stratford, Mr. James, Amersham. 
 Stratford, Miss, ditto. 
 Stratton, Mr. Risborough. 
 Suthrey, Mr. W. Chesham. 
 Swallow, Mr. Henley. 
 Swannell, Miss, Amersham. 
 
 Tatem, J. G. Esq. Wycombe. 
 Terry, Rev. T. Risborough. 
 Tolley, Mr. Jas. Rickmansworth. 
 TomkiBS, Mr. J. Abingdon. 
 Tomlin, Rev. W. Chesham. 
 
 Toms, Mr. W. Amersham. 
 Tyler, Rev. P. Haddenham. 
 Tyso, Rev.'J. Wallingford. 
 Tuppin, Captain, Reading. 
 
 Upton, Rev. W. St. Alban's. 
 
 Veary,Mr. J. Wycombe. 3 copies. 
 Veary, Miss, ditto. 
 
 Waller, Mr. E. Luton. 
 Ward, Rev. E. Tver. 
 Watts, Mr. J. Henley. 
 Weller, J. Esq. Amersham. 
 Weller, W. jun. Esq. ditto. 
 West, Rev. E. ditto. 5 copies. 
 Werry, J. Esq. Bois. 
 White, Mr. J. Aylesbury. 
 Wiffin, Rev. W. H. Thame. 
 Wilkinson, J. Esq. Wycombe. 
 
 2 copies. 
 
 Wilks, Mrs. J. London. 
 Williams, Mrs. Cowley. 
 Williams, Mr. Wooburn. 
 Williams, Rev. W. Wycombe. 
 Woodbridge, Mr. G. Maiden- 
 head. 
 
 Woodhams, Mrs. Coleshill. 
 Woodman, Mr. Berkhamstead. 
 Wright, Mr. G. Uxbridge. 
 
 Yates, Rev. W. Stroud. 
 Young, Rev. W. B. Reading. 
 Young, Mr. G. Luton. 
 Young, Mr. C. St. Alban's. 
 
f ntJtan &ecollecttott0. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 " Distant at sea, the weary mariner 
 
 Beholds with joy the dim-seen temple rise 
 A well-known mark. He steers his course afresh, 
 The sails are all expanded, white and full ; 
 The burden'd ship moves stately to her port, 
 By thee directed, Juggernath." LAWSON. 
 
 ARRIVAL AT SAND HEADSRIVER HOOGHLEY VARIOUS 
 RIVER CRAFT AND BOATMEN. 
 
 How delightful the sound of " land in sight" is 
 to the passengers of an East India trader, none 
 but those who have performed a long sea voyage 
 can possibly conceive. We had passed through 
 all the vicissitudes of clime, from 52 N. to 42 S., 
 and back again to 23 N. in the Bay of Bengal, 
 having rounded the Cape without seeing land, 
 when one fine morning at the end of September, 
 1818, whilst all eyes were anxiously surveying the 
 chart on which the ship's course was marked, and 
 which the captain had spread upon one of the hen- 
 coops on the poop, the man at the mast-head with 
 stentorian lungs announced the welcome tidings of 
 
 " 
 
'i INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 " land in sight." Whereabouts ? was eagerly de- 
 manded. " On the larboard bow," was the reply. 
 All eyes were directed to the quarter named, 
 anxious to catch a glimpse of the long wished-for 
 shore ; but patience still was to be exercised, and 
 one by one the passengers left the deck for their 
 respective cabins and employments, without being 
 gratified by the view. About two hours after- 
 wards, one of the mates, who had ascended to 
 the niizen-top, exclaimed, after a few minutes 
 reconnoitring, " There they are at last !" " What ! 
 what !" responded many voices. " Why the 
 Black Pagodas," replied the mate. " Aye, there 
 they are, sure enough," cried the captain, who 
 had also directed his glass to the distant hori- 
 zon ; " I told you we should make them before 
 eight bells : that chronometer is a real good one." 
 It was not long before the towering pagodas were 
 visible to all on deck, and the Cuttack Coast 
 opened to view, as a large sand-bank skirted with 
 shrubs ; but these as we neared them were recog- 
 nised to be cocoa-nut and palm-trees. The ship was 
 now put on another tack to steer for the Sand 
 Heads, and signal guns were repeatedly fired to 
 give notice to the Hon. Company's schooners, 
 which are constantly on the look-out, that we 
 wanted a pilot. But as no pilot-vessel appeared 
 in sight, the captain, officers, passengers, and crew 
 all betrayed symptoms of impatience and ill-hu- 
 mour, especially as although we could descry the 
 shores of British India, yet we were obliged to 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. <3 
 
 lay-to, in order to avoid the danger of running on 
 the sands with which the entrance to the mouth of 
 the river Hooghleyis studded, and which are called 
 the Sand Heads. This part of the navigation is at 
 all times, (even to old experienced commanders,) 
 most difficult and hazardous, from the circumstance 
 of the sand-banks frequently changing their posi- 
 tions; so that none but the branch pilots and their 
 assistants, who are constantly out cruising can, 
 with any degree of safety, conduct vessels into the 
 river, or indeed up to Calcutta, the bed of the 
 Hooghley, from the periodical visitation of what is 
 called the Bore, being subject to the like variations. 
 This remarkable " rush of waters" takes place 
 when the spring tide begins to flow, and is some- 
 times awfully grand in its impetuous fury. I have 
 often stood upon a point of land waiting its ap- 
 proach, and have traced its course from the bot- 
 tom of Garden Reach, to Howrah Ghaut, where 
 it rushes on shore, and then obliquely crosses to 
 the Calcutta side. I could compare its progress to 
 nothing but an immense Leviathan rushing up the 
 river, in pursuit of some object of prey: the water 
 foams, the waves are elevated sometimes many 
 feet, and a hissing splashing sound announces its 
 approach, and succeeds the mighty roar of its pas- 
 sing, leaving a swell as great if not stronger than 
 the largest steam vessel would have done at full 
 speed. One day a poor bullock came down to the 
 Ghaut to drink, just as it was passing, the mighty 
 wave raised the poor animal many feet high, and 
 B 2 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 dashing it against the breakwater wall of the dock- 
 yard, broke its leg, and otherwise so maimed it as 
 to cause its death in a very short time. I have 
 often been amused in beholding the scramble which 
 takes place amongst the natives for the fishes which 
 at such times are driven high upon the Ghaut, and 
 left to flounder their way back to the stream ; many 
 of these are often secured, and afford a dainty curry 
 for their fortunate captors, one of whom could not 
 be styled fortunate, as in his eagerness to secure a 
 large fish, he had unadvisedly put his hand into its 
 mouth, and thus suffered the loss of two fingers, 
 the fish being of the shark species. Holding up his 
 hand and staring at it for some time, as if uncertain 
 whether it was his hand or not, he burst out into 
 the most violent scream or howl, and running up 
 to me, said, " Decca Sahib, Look sir, look sir, look, 
 look, look." I bound up his hand with my hand- 
 kerchief, and took him to the residence of Doctor 
 S , who paid every attention to him, the poor 
 fellow declaring it was the river god who had 
 passed, and who had sent the fish to bite him. I 
 endeavoured to explain the phenomenon of the bore 
 to him, as well as to reason with him on his false 
 ideas of deity, with what effect I know not. On 
 beholding this wonderful phenomenon periodically 
 return, I could but personify the huge Leviathan, 
 and with Job exclaim, " He maketh the deep to boil 
 like a pot. He maketh a path to shine after him, 
 one would think the deep to be hoary." 
 
 During this state of suspense, many of the pas- 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 5 
 
 sengers were packing their trunks in readiness to 
 leave the ship by the first boat that should offer ; 
 whilst others to beguile the time sought to catch 
 some of the sportive finny tribe by which the ship 
 was surrounded. Two circumstances however con- 
 tributed to relieve the ennui generally experienced. 
 The first was the arrival of a booby, a bird so often 
 described, that it is needless here to enter into a 
 delineation of its shape, &c. &c., suffice it to say, 
 that no booby probably ever excited more atten- 
 tion; the sailors seemed to have a superstitious 
 veneration for the bird, and many strange stories 
 were soon afloat in the galley respecting the omens 
 and warnings which certain boobies had given. 
 The other circumstance was, the shooting away of 
 the lower studding-sail boom on the starboard side 
 by one of the signal guns, and the captain's ire 
 was not a little kindled against the third mate, by 
 whose carelessness it was occasioned. At length, 
 however, two pilot schooners were discovered bear- 
 ing down upon us, from one of which we soon 
 obtained a pilot, a very civil gentlemanly man. 
 His native servant accompanied him on board, and 
 as this was the first specimen of the natives that we 
 had seen, he excited universal attention. He was 
 certainly a very flattering sample of those who 
 were to follow, having on a clean white muslin robe, 
 with pink girdle and turban. As he could speak a 
 little English, he was quite overwhelmed with ques- 
 tions by the sailors and soldiers ; whilst his agility 
 in skipping along the spars, and running up and 
 
6 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 down the poop ladder, claimed their admiration, and 
 drew from one of the sailors the following question : 
 " I say, Davy, don't you think they are something 
 of the monkey species ? ?1 u No, no/* said the car- 
 penter (to whom it was addressed), " they are just 
 as much human beings as we are, only a little more 
 like the negroes." A squall coming on, the cap- 
 tain suggested the propriety of taking in royals, 
 but the pilot, on whom the command now lay, 
 ordered studding-sails to be set, thinking by so 
 doing we should save a tide, and thus we entered 
 the river Hooghley in what the boatswain called 
 " fine style."' " Our captain has been afraid to carry 
 sail the whole run," (said he to the steward,) " but 
 she cracks a bit now." Just as we entered the river, 
 we sailed past an Arab ship, of largfe tonnage, 
 going within two ships' length to windward of her ; 
 all hands were taking in sail as fast as they could, 
 and the manner in which this was performed was 
 the cause of great mirth amongst our crew ; upon a 
 rough calculation there must have been at least five 
 hundred men employed in doing that which fifty 
 English seamen would have performed with com- 
 parative ease in one third of the time which they 
 required to effect their purpose, and many were the 
 jokes passed and salutations given as we shot by 
 them. 
 
 The squall soon passing over, and the tide being 
 against us, we came to an anchor, and in a short time 
 were visited by two trading boats, laden with fruit 
 and small loaves of a spungy sort of bread. These 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 7 
 
 boats were manned by natives nearly in a state of 
 nudity, having only a dirty piece of cloth round their 
 loins; this at first sight was very disgusting, but 
 in a few days the feeling wore off, and we became 
 quite familiarized to their appearance. The men 
 were very small and weakly looking persons, but 
 seemed to manage their boats with great skill. The 
 river runs at a very rapid pace, especially after the 
 rains, when the freshes set in. Soon as the boats 
 were made fast alongside, a petty traffic com- 
 menced between the sailors and the fruit merchants : 
 bunches of plantains were paid for by small pieces of 
 soap ; loaves were freely offered for pocket knives, 
 combs, old clothes, or indeed any article of European 
 manufacture, however apparently trifling its value. 
 The manner of these men reminded me much of 
 the Jews in London, and this idea was strength- 
 ened by subsequent intercourse with the natives of 
 Bengal. There is a saying in Calcutta, " that many 
 Jews have attempted to settle there, but never could 
 get a living, as the Bengalees out-jewed them;" 
 certain it is, that I should consider myself much 
 more secure from fraud in the hands of a London 
 Jew, than in those of a Banyan of the Old China 
 Bazaar. The choicest fruit was selected by the 
 steward for the cuddy table, and consisted of ba- 
 nanas, pumplinos, plantains and guavas; these 
 presented a most delicious specimen of the fruits 
 of the land, and after our long abstinence from 
 all horticultural productions were indeed very re- 
 freshing. The shore on either side was completely 
 
8 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 covered with jungle, intermixed with plantations of 
 fruit trees, amongst which the mangoe and cocoa 
 nut were most conspicuous. Small canals, or as 
 they are called by the natives " nullahs," intersect 
 the plantations, and answer the purpose of irriga- 
 tion all the way up the river. 
 
 We soon found an alloy to the pleasure which the 
 sight of such richly planted shores afforded, in the 
 disgusting spectacle of human bodies floating down 
 the river; those which had been in the water for 
 some days were quite white, the outward skin having 
 peeled off, whilst others were in some parts black 
 as ink, in others white as snow, and some quite 
 black all over, not having been long cast into the 
 rolling stream. On most of these bodies, vultures 
 were perched, pulling them to pieces, and oftentimes 
 quarrelling for those parts that were detached. The 
 Hindoo shasters require, that all the dead shall 
 be burnt to ashes, unless the relations are so poor 
 that they cannot afford to purchase the quantity 
 of fuel necessary to consume the body, in such 
 case they are directed to put fire on the face, and 
 then to cast the body into Gunga's stream. So 
 great is the natural cupidity of the Hindoos, that 
 even the most wealthy avail themselves of this pro- 
 viso, and after just singeing the face, cast their dead 
 into the river; very few, comparatively speaking, 
 burning their deceased relatives as the shasters 
 dictate. 
 
 The number, construction, and variety of the 
 native boats are the source of much interest and 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 9 
 
 Amusement to the newly-arrived Europeans; at first 
 sight they appear to be very uncouthly and rudely 
 constructed, but as the eye gets familiarized to 
 them this idea wears away. There are four classes 
 of river craft, each class divided into many species, 
 viz. : the dinghy, paunchway, bhurr, and budge- 
 rowe. The row-boats of the Honourable Company 
 are good stout vessels, after the European build, 
 they are well manned, and of essential service to 
 all ships entering the river ; when the pilot comes 
 on board, one of them is attached to the ship, 
 and never leaves till she is safely moored in the 
 harbour. 
 
 The dinghy is a small boat pulled by two men, 
 with a manjee at the helm, who is generally the 
 owner. Some dinghies have a covering called a 
 chopper, (like the tilt of a cart,) half way along the 
 deck, others are quite open ; the latter are generally 
 used to convey native passengers across the river, 
 whilst Europeans prefer the covered, as beneath 
 the chopper they find a temporary shelter from the 
 oppressive heat or violent rains. One of the co- 
 vered dinghies is generally hired by the comman- 
 ders of merchant vessels, to attend their respective 
 ships whilst in harbour, hence most of the dinghy- 
 whallahs (i. e. boatmen) speak a little broken 
 English, in which all the oaths of sailors are min- 
 gled, and used without any idea of the meaning 
 attached; by this partial knowledge of the English 
 language, the dinghy-whallah is a person of great 
 importance to the British sailor, and one of the 
 
 B 3 
 
10 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 many harpies which pounce upon him, soon as his 
 foot touches India's shores. The sailor leaves his 
 ship cleanly dressed in white jacket and trowsers, 
 with new straw hat, tied round with a blue ribbon, 
 and sometimes with many rupees in his pocket; the 
 dinghy-whallah guesses when this is the case, and 
 proffers his services as "master's" interpreter, 
 generally observing, " I go with master, else black- 
 fellows cheat master;" to this the sailor, (conscious 
 of his total inability to make himself understood 
 without an interpreter,) cheerfully accedes. When 
 landed at the Ghaut, the dinghy-whallah assumes 
 an air of importance as master's head-man, chooses 
 which palankeen master shall ride in ; this of course 
 is that the owner of which promises him the largest 
 dustooree ; the sailor enters, and away they start for 
 a grog-shop in the Old China Bazaar, or else\vhere, 
 as the dinghy-whallah may direct. The conse- 
 quence is, the poor sailor is generally seen, the next 
 morning, dirty, forlorn and penniless, vociferating 
 for the ship's dinghy to fetch him on board; swear- 
 ing and blustering at the many natives who accost 
 him, because they do not speak plain English; or 
 endeavouring by hard words and still harder blows 
 to force some poor fellow, (into whose dinghy he 
 has entered,) to convey him to his ship, without first 
 exhibiting the needful to his money-loving gaze. 
 Of dinghy-whallahs and sailors we shall have oc- 
 casion to say more in a future chapter. 
 
 Paunchways are boats larger than dinghies, they 
 are generally used for the conveyance of passen- 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 11 
 
 gers from one town to another, or by the Portu- 
 guese, (of whom many thousands are found in Cal- 
 cutta and its vicinity,) to convey their goods from 
 Chinsurah, Chandernagore, and other stations, to 
 the Calcutta markets. As the boat is longer and the 
 chopper higher than that of the dinghy, there is 
 room for a couch, table, and chair, as also for a 
 small earthen stove to cook by. I have often 
 preferred one of these boats, pulled by six strong 
 dandies, for a long trip, to a regular bauleah, in 
 which, generally speaking, you are straitened for 
 room, while in the paunchway you can either sit or 
 recline on the couch, or stand in front, as inclination 
 may prompt ; and a greater facility is afforded for 
 enjoying the breeze and the prospect on both sides 
 the river. 
 
 The bhurrs are still larger boats, for the convey- 
 ance of goods to and from the interior of the coun- 
 try, and the merchant ships in the river. These are 
 built after various models, some rising very high in 
 the stern, others are very low ; some have flat bot- 
 toms, others round, but none have keels ; many of 
 them are covered with something like a thatched 
 cottage, others are quite open. Those which bring 
 cotton down the country, being of immense size 
 and very unwieldy, seldom return, but are gene- 
 rally broken up to construct smaller craft. The 
 larger bhurrs will carry from four to seven hundred 
 maunds, i. e. from fifteen to twenty-five tons ; the 
 freight paid for their use is rather high, in some 
 cases amounting to sixty rupees per month, and as 
 
12 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 they require a long time to perform a voyage up 
 the river, it enhances the price of all European 
 commodities carried up the country veiy consider- 
 ably. The Honourable Company employ a vast 
 number of large bhurrs in transporting troops and 
 stores from station to station, as well as in bringing 
 their goods to Calcutta ; it is computed that there 
 are full fifty thousand boatmen employed in navi- 
 gating these boats on the Ganges and its tributary 
 channels ; and so widely and generally are these 
 streams spread through the country, that you can- 
 not find a town or village that is above thirty miles 
 from a navigable branch throughout the whole of 
 the flat country of India. It is by these rivers 
 that the provisions, &c. of the many millions of 
 inhabitants are conveyed from place to place ; 
 hence it is that no attention is paid to the making 
 of roads, except just around the European settle- 
 ments, the water affording a cheaper and less 
 laborious means of communication. There are 
 many rivers in the world much broader and longer 
 in their course than the Ganges, but none that 
 discharge so much water into the sea ; its tribu- 
 tary streams being so numerous, and the torrents 
 caused by the periodical rains, all flowing into it. 
 The construction of the rudder of many of the 
 large bhurrs is very different from any we see 
 in England. Sometimes it is formed by a long 
 oar shipped in the stern, shaped something like 
 the tail of a fish, others are managed by a 
 lever, on a bamboo stage elevated above the 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 13 
 
 thatched roof of the boat, in the guidance of 
 which the foot is as much used as the hand the 
 natives being very expert in the use of their toes : 
 the helmsman is generally the owner of the boat. 
 The dandies, or boatmen, are probably the worst 
 paid and hardest worked of any class of labourers 
 amongst the whole of the castes and tribes of 
 India. 
 
 The fourth species of native boat is the 
 budgerowe, which is generally used by civil and 
 military officers, indigo planters, and European 
 merchants, as well as by rich natives, to traverse 
 the rivers, and is a large sized boat varying 
 from five to twenty tons burden ; handsomely 
 fitted up with a verandah, hall, bed-room, and 
 gallery ; the rooms are of good height, and sur- 
 rounded with Venetian blinds, over which canvas 
 rollers are placed to let down in case of violent 
 rains or boisterous winds. Families live for months 
 in a very comfortable manner in one of these boats, 
 but they are very unsafe in a north-wester ; over 
 the top an awning is placed, beneath which the 
 servants live, and a cooking boat, with a thatched 
 roof, is in attendance. The larger budgerowes re- 
 quire from thirty to forty dandies to work them ; 
 these poor men endure the greatest privations and 
 fatigue in their up-country voyages as, except in 
 cases when the wind is brisk and fair, they have to 
 drag the boats all the way up the river, against a 
 stream generally running with great strength from 
 six to eight knots an hour. Soon as it is light, 
 
14 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 they start, after making a breakfast from rice and 
 vegetable curry, and get no other repast except a 
 little dry rice, until five or six o'clock, p. M., when 
 they lay-to for the night, sometimes wading for 
 miles waist-deep in water, all the time exposed to 
 the scorching rays of a tropical sun; I have 
 several times seen them drop from sheer exhaus- 
 tion; their pay is only three or four rupees per 
 month. 
 
 Many pinnaces are constantly passing up and 
 down the rivers, these are more like European 
 craft, and are used by the higher and more influen- 
 tial members of the Honourable Company's service, 
 and by the wealthy merchants and planters. From 
 their ship-like build they are able to weather the 
 roughest gale, and ride in safety when all other boats 
 fall a sacrifice to the fury of the storms, which some- 
 times suddenly surprise them. I once beheld a boat 
 laden with about thirty native passengers suddenly 
 overtaken by a north-wester in the middle of the 
 river, and as a sail was set, in a few minutes she was 
 capsized by the gale ; there were many dinghies 
 lying at the Ghaut, and several pushing about along 
 shore, but none put out to save their drowning 
 fellow creatures ; as most of the poor creatures 
 could swim a little, some of them would evidently 
 reach the shore in safety, whilst others were buffet- 
 ing the waves in a sinking state. I said to the 
 boatmen, who were quietly gazing at them, " Why 
 do you not go out to pick them up ?" The answer 
 was, "What shall I get by that?" It was vain to 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 15 
 
 reason with them, I knew the only way to move 
 them was, to promise buckshish this had a magi- 
 cal effect, and every dinghy was soon out picking 
 up the parties. I believe only two persons were 
 drowned, though had not the boats gone out 
 several others must have perished. Yet these 
 boatmen would not have moved an inch to have 
 rescued them from destruction, unless sure of re- 
 compence for their trouble. Verily "the dark 
 places of the earth are full of the habitations of 
 cruelty." 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 " I do not say there is not aught to please 
 Of picturesque beneath this Indian sun ; 
 The gorgeous rows of pillars white-washed o'er, 
 And proud verandah, and huge porticoes 
 Tis splendid all." LAWSON. 
 
 NATIVE COSTUMES AUCTION ROOMS HORSES DE- 
 STRUCTIVE FIRES RAVAGES OF WHITE ANTS 
 
 PALM TREES DANGEROUS SITUATION OF A SOLDIER 
 
 INSTINCT OF SMALL RED ANTS. 
 
 To the newly-arrived European, Calcutta pre- 
 sents an interesting spectacle. The Esplanade is 
 adorned with numerous princely buildings, amongst 
 which the Government House, and Town Hall are 
 very conspicuous. Within these few years a very 
 commodious quay has been constructed, the whole 
 length of the city, from Chandpaul Ghaut to Chit- 
 pore, and ships of large burden are moored close 
 alongside. The costumes of the motley groupes, 
 which are beheld thickly studded in every place, 
 delight the eye from their total disconformity to 
 any thing before witnessed. The white dresses, 
 and scarlet, blue, purple, violet, or pink cummer- 
 bunds or girdles, and turbands, with which the 
 Mussulman servants are invested, give a brilliant 
 effect to the passing scene ; whilst the snow-white 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 17 
 
 muslin robes of the Pundits, Sircars, and Banyans 
 are deeply contrasted by their own swarthy skins, 
 and the sombre appearance of the almost naked 
 coolies by whom they are surrounded. Palanqueens, 
 coaches, buggies, and hackries, all busily employed, 
 fill the principal streets, and swarm around the 
 auction rooms, of which there are generally two 
 alternately open for the sale of all sorts of Asiatic 
 and European commodities : they are conducted 
 on a liberal and honourable plan, and certainly 
 are of great utility and convenience, not only to 
 the residents of Calcutta, but also to visitors from 
 the upper provinces, who without loss of time can 
 provide themselves with every necessary article of 
 furniture or viands, and when about to return can 
 send all back to the auction, and thus get a 
 clearance without much risk of loss. These auc- 
 tion rooms are the rendezvous of all ranks of 
 society, but when we speak of auction rooms our 
 readers must not figure to themselves any places 
 at all like the apartments used for sale rooms in 
 London. 
 
 As you enter the premises, a great number of 
 vehicles stand in rows, waiting for their respective 
 Sahibs, with crowds of native syces and bearers 
 attendant on them, whilst coolies waiting to be 
 employed sit in groupes smoking a hubble-bubble 
 in rotation, or perhaps quarrelling about the di- 
 vision of the pice received for some job lately 
 performed. Beneath a large corridor, supported 
 by several rows of pillars, stand the horses and 
 
18 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 carriages for sale, as also all sorts of household 
 furniture, wines, liquors, and cases of European 
 goods. In a spacious apartment, behind this, the 
 sale is held, which commences about ten o'clock : 
 the auctioneer is supported on his right by a crier, 
 commonly a native Portuguese, and on his left by 
 a Hindoo Sircar. On a stage before him a native 
 exhibits the lots, and another Sircar receives the 
 cash paid for goods delivered. On each side is a 
 raised gallery for European buyers, and seats rising 
 one above the other in the front, are appropriated to 
 the native merchants. When a lot is put up, the 
 crier keeps calling the price bidden with stentorian 
 lungs, until a nod from the auctioneer, who sits at 
 his ease, causes his hammer to fall, and it is sur- 
 prising how many lots they get through in the 
 course of the six hours they are employed. At- 
 tached to the same rooms are large godowns, or 
 warehouses for the reception of goods, one of 
 which is appropriated as a shop, where you can 
 purchase goods of any sort, either European or 
 Indian, quite as cheap as at any of the Bazaars in 
 Calcutta. 
 
 These auctions are very convenient to newcomers, 
 as after taking a house, of which there are always 
 plenty waiting for tenants, a person can resort to 
 them and immediately supply himself with suffi- 
 cient furniture, &c. to commence house-keeping; 
 and the coolies, who are in waiting, will transport 
 the articles immediately to the chosen residence ; 
 and thus the rooms, which a few hours before were 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 19 
 
 cheerless and dreary, will appear in a very short 
 time indeed comfortable and lively. Much less 
 furniture is needed to fit up a house genteelly in 
 India than in Europe, as the climate requires every 
 place to be as free from incumbrance as possible : 
 a set of chairs, a pair of sofas, and a dinner and 
 breakfast table, are the usual complement in the 
 hall or large room generally used by the family, 
 with a large sideboard in the anteroom or verandah. 
 In the bed-room, you generally find a large four- 
 post bedstead, with gauze curtains to keep out the 
 mosquitoes, footsteps to ascend it, a few chairs, 
 dressing table and glass, a large almirah or 
 wardrobe, and washing stand. The floors of all 
 the rooms are covered with neat matting, made of 
 fine grass, which when newly laid down gives a 
 perfume somewhat similar to that which the even- 
 ing breeze wafts from the hay-fields in England. 
 
 There are many persons who gain a comfortable 
 livelihood by daily frequenting the auction-rooms, 
 and purchasing any lots that go below par ; these 
 they never remove, but put them up again the 
 next sale day, and so on, until a remunerating 
 price is realized. A great quantity of damaged, or 
 what is called rejected, ale is sometimes sold here, 
 which is purchased by the keepers of the low ta- 
 verns and punch-houses ; and I believe that many 
 lives are constantly sacrificed in consequence 
 amongst the soldiers and sailors who frequent 
 these grog-shops in Calcutta; such persons not 
 being able to purchase the prime ale, which gene- 
 
20 
 
 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 rally fetches a rupee per bottle, and having for 
 many months been deprived of their native favour- 
 ite beverage, eagerly embrace the offer of a bottle 
 of ale for four annas, or about sixpence. The con- 
 sequence is, that after greedily swallowing several 
 bottles, they are often seized with an attack of 
 dysentery or cholera morbus ; and I have known 
 many obliged to be carried from these drinking 
 bouts to the hospital, and some have died on their 
 passage thither. I once tasted some ale thus pur- 
 chased, and should certainly have preferred a glass 
 of vinegar. In the same manner damaged cheese, 
 hams, &c. are disposed of to the native shopkeep- 
 ers, who retail them to the lower orders of Europe- 
 ans, and it is surprising to see with what avidity 
 their predilection for the produce of their own 
 country, leads them to feast on these putrid re- 
 mains of the once savoury viands from Yorkshire, 
 Gloucester, or Cheshire. 
 
 Pine cheeses are the most common : these often 
 times, from the long voyage, are so decayed that a 
 shell about an inch thick is all that remains, the 
 inside being completely gone. The native shop- 
 keepers have a method of what is called, doctoring 
 them. After cautiously cutting out a large diamond 
 in the lines which cross the cheese, all the putrid 
 remains are carefully scooped out, and the interior 
 is then filled with a paste made from the scrapings 
 of the shells of other damaged cheese, and the 
 diamond being neatly fitted to its place, the late 
 decayed pine-apple has the appearance and weight 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 21 
 
 of a newly-arrived prime article. I was thus de- 
 ceived more than once. 
 
 A great number of horses and carriages of all 
 descriptions are disposed of weekly by auction. 
 These consist of the equipages of persons deceased 
 or returning to Europe, of fresh importations, as 
 well as of the stock of dealers and persons chang- 
 ing their studs, &c. The carriages of the high civil 
 and military servants of the Hon. Company are 
 much the same as those used by the gentry in 
 England. Those of the native Baboos are, gene- 
 rally speaking, of the same caste, but such as have 
 been laid aside by Europeans, consequently are 
 all of the old fashion build. The doctors com- 
 monly use a very light chariot drawn by Birmah 
 ponies, whilst the middle classes of society prefer 
 palanqueen carriages, drawn sometimes by one, 
 sometimes by two horses, as their resources dictate. 
 Buggies are in general use, with hoods so con- 
 structed as to hang very forward and low ; thus 
 they keep out the rays of the sun, and are by far 
 the pleasantest vehicles for the roads about Cal- 
 cutta ; the principal streets are generally, from 
 about ten o'clock in the morning till dusk, crowded 
 with them. The horses in highest repute are the 
 well-bred English, which fetch great prices, but 
 do not stand the climate long. Arab horses are 
 largely imported, and are mostly used for saddle. 
 They fetch various prices, from four hundred to 
 two thousand rupees each, but the greater part 
 sell when first imported from between seven hun- 
 
22 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 dred to one thousand rupees each. The natives 
 are very partial to the large Persian breed, but 
 they are very unsightly, cumbrous animals. The 
 Hon. Company have many large sales of cast- 
 horses from cattle bred for the army ; from amongst 
 these many valuable and useful animals are an- 
 nually purchased by the European residents of 
 Calcutta, at about twelve hundred rupees each, 
 although many of them do not sell for more than 
 three hundred rupees ; but the hardiest animals 
 are those brought from Pegu and Birmah. These 
 thickset Stockey ponies are about twelve or thir- 
 teen hands high, and very fast in their trotting, 
 which may rather be termed a shuffle than a trot. 
 They stand their work in the hottest weather re- 
 markably well, but are sometimes very intractable 
 and restive. Most of them are what is called 
 very hard in the mouth. Many Javanese ponies 
 are also used ; these are small and hardy. The 
 Sircars and natives of the lower order are content 
 with tuttoos, or Indian ponies ; which very much 
 resemble what are called heath-croppers or forest- 
 ponies in England. The horse I used was a pre- 
 sent from a highly-esteemed friend. It was 
 between an Arab and up-country breed, dapple 
 grey, with black mane and tail ; it was very docile, 
 and remarkably good tempered to all except the 
 grass-cutter, against whom the animal seemed to 
 have taken a great antipathy. This he would ma- 
 nifest by snapping at him whenever he passed, and 
 by striving to get at him if he caught sight of him 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 23 
 
 
 
 in the stable. The syce being ill, this man was 
 obliged to perform his duties ; and the first evening 
 the grass-cutter led him to the door, the animal 
 rose upon his hind legs, when putting his fore legs 
 round the poor fellow's neck, he brought him down, 
 and kneeling upon him tore off his turban, and if I 
 had not ran to his rescue would no doubt have 
 made free with his flesh : the man was considerably 
 bruised, and shortly after, finding the beast's ha- 
 tred of him insurmountably great, he left my ser- 
 vice, and his successor proved to be as great a 
 favourite as he had been the contrary. One very 
 remarkable circumstance was, that Blucher, for so 
 the horse was called, was not alarmed at fire, 
 and it was a very fortunate thing for one poor 
 woman that he was not. A fire had broken out 
 in the village close by, and was raging with great 
 fury, as a brisk wind was stirring. At such times 
 the natives are the most apathetic, cowardly beings 
 that can be imagined, standing by and permit- 
 ting their own and their neighbours' houses to fall 
 a sacrifice to the devouring element, without the 
 least attempt to stay its progress, or save their 
 habitations from destruction. Yet, on many occa- 
 sions, the presence, intreaties, and promises of 
 Europeans have stimulated them to exertion, and 
 much good has resulted from their activity. On 
 the morning when this fire began, I mounted 
 Blucher, and rode to leeward of the flames, which 
 were travelling swiftly along a range of dwellings 
 on each side the road. From one in the centre a 
 
24 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 cry of distress proceeded ; on inquiry I found that 
 a woman refused to quit it without a large box, 
 which contained a few rupees, and which she was 
 making ineffectual attempts to bring out with her. 
 The flames had formed a circle, and for about 
 twenty yards were blazing across the road ; yet if 
 I could get through that space I saw there would 
 be no danger in going the other part of the dis- 
 tance. Depending on the known and tried forti- 
 tude of my horse, I hastily called to some coolies 
 who were throwing water on a godown in which 
 salt was contained, to bring some jars and throw 
 their contents over myself and horse. This was 
 instantly done ; then urging the horse to full speed 
 I pushed through the flames, just in time to save 
 the woman, who, though she appeared at the door, 
 could by no other means have escaped the fury of 
 the flames, which completely surrounded her. To 
 seize her was the work of a moment ; and throwing 
 her across the horse, at full gallop we dashed 
 through the flames again, but not without suffering 
 considerably from the fire. The animal's mane, 
 tail, and legs were greatly singed, and the woman's 
 coppera not being wet as my clothes were, caught 
 fire, but this was instantly extinguished, and her 
 life was saved. On another occasion, when I at- 
 tended at a fire in the same village, the shrieks of 
 a poor old bedridden woman caught my ear. Her 
 house was burning, and a crowd of natives, amongst 
 whom were a great number of Lascars, surrounded 
 the house. I said, " Why do you not go and fetch 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 25 
 
 the poor woman out ? " " She is not my mother," 
 said one. Another exclaimed, " She is of no use ; 
 she can do nothing :" whilst a Mussulman, appa- 
 rently a Jemmadar, assured me her set time to die 
 was come ; and they positively refused to stir a 
 step to her help. I told them to go and bring her 
 out, and I would give them buckshish. The word 
 seemed to operate as a charm ; one would have 
 thought she was the mother of all, and the most 
 useful of mortals, so great was the rush made 
 to save her. The roof fell in just after they 
 had brought her out. I was happy to behold the 
 poor distressed creature rescued from the flames, 
 and gave them the promised buckshish, when a 
 terrible quarrel ensued respecting the distribution, 
 as so many claimed a share, that not one pice 
 each could be found to fall to their lot. Yet these 
 very men might with comparatively as little trouble 
 have rescued property from the devouring element 
 to a hundred times the value of what they were 
 thus contending for. 
 
 In the hot season, a great number of these fires 
 happen in the native part of Calcutta and its sub- 
 urbs. The materials of which the huts are built 
 conduce very much to the frequency of them, as 
 they consist of bamboos, cane, mats, and thatched 
 roofs. It is said, and I think with some little 
 appearance of truth, that the fires are in a great 
 measure the work of incendiaries, as they generally 
 take place just after the straw and bamboo mer- 
 chants have laid in their annual stock of these 
 c 
 
26 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 materials. Some of my servants told me that these 
 men, in order to create a demand for their goods, 
 tie a portion of lighted charcoal to a piece of meat, 
 and then throw it out to the crows, one of which 
 hastily seizing the meat, conveys it to the thatch 
 of a neighbouring building ; this in a very short 
 time catches fire, and as they always go to wind- 
 ward of the village or town to do this, the whole 
 of the houses are endangered. I have often traced 
 one of these fires for above a mile through a thickly 
 inhabited part of the suburbs of Calcutta. The 
 space, in which the fire raged, has generally ap- 
 peared to be from fifty to a hundred yards wide, 
 and throughout the whole distance, the ground 
 over which it passed has been cleared of every 
 thing except the cocoa-nut trees, and some few 
 puckah or brick buildings, which may have been 
 scattered amongst the thatched ones; even the 
 cocoa-nut trees lose their heads, so that only the 
 trunks remain, and appear as tall posts, set up to 
 mark the way in which the devouring element 
 has travelled ; but, in the course of a fortnight, the 
 same space presents a much cleaner and brighter 
 prospect than all around, as in that time new 
 habitations have been erected, which, arrayed in 
 all the freshness of the clean straw and mats, have 
 the appearance of a new colony. One of our 
 native chapels at Sulkea was preserved in almost 
 a miraculous manner. The flames in their progress 
 made straight towards it, but just before they 
 reached the building, divided into two branches, 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 27 
 
 one passing to the right and the other to the 
 left, uniting again a short distance beyond it. 
 Even this diversion of the course of the fire would 
 not have availed for its safety, if I had not sta- 
 tioned two men on the roof, who, receiving handies 
 of water from Bheesties below, kept pouring them 
 over the thatch, &c., as large flakes of burning 
 straw carried by the wind were falling in all di- 
 rections. 
 
 The large salt golahs at Sulkea, belonging to 
 the Honourable Company, have often suffered 
 materially by these fires. In consequence of the 
 danger to which they were thus continually sub- 
 jected, new puckah warehouses have been erected 
 which are fire-proof. In order to stem the pro- 
 gress of the fires, and to afford instant aid in case 
 of danger, engines with a numerous body of Bhees- 
 ties are stationed at regular distances all round the 
 suburbs, and over the water at Sulkea and How- 
 rah ; a constant look out being kept by a man 
 elevated thirty or forty feet from the ground, on a 
 bamboo stage, who thus commanding a view all 
 round, gives notice the moment smoke appears, 
 and the engine, hastening to the spot, often stays 
 the progress of the fire before it gains an ungo- 
 vernable power. 
 
 The puckah houses, in which Europeans live, 
 are happily not in much danger of taking fire, be- 
 ing built entirely of brick-work, except the door 
 and window frames, and the rafters which support 
 the roof and floors. The white ants are more to 
 c2 
 
'28 * 
 
 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 be dreaded than the devouring element. These 
 industrious perforators will achieve wonders in a 
 short time, and if once they get into the timbers 
 of a building, inevitable destruction follows ; for, 
 as they work within the timber, the mischief is 
 done before you suspect their presence. I was 
 one day induced to go out upon the top of a 
 verandah at Gusserah, and no sooner had I put 
 my foot on the floor than the beam gave way, 
 crumbling to atoms, and letting me down, with 
 bricks, mortar, &c., a distance of ten feet ; fortu- 
 nately I caught hold of another beam and broke 
 my fall, or the consequence might have been fatal. 
 On examination nearly all the rafters were found 
 to be completely hollow, the white ants having 
 eaten their way through the whole of them. So 
 destructive are these little depredators that no- 
 thing is safe, unless placed on small stone vessels 
 surrounded by a trench of water, and even then 
 care must be taken that the water is replenished 
 before completely evaporated, or the van of the 
 besieging army will storm the trenches, and riot 
 on the spoils of the drawers, trunks, almirahs, or 
 boxes, as the case may be. A young gentleman 
 having arrived at my house late one evening, the 
 servants who brought in his trunks left the one 
 containing his shirts, white jackets and trowsers, 
 standing on the floor of the Ghusselkhannah all 
 night. The next day, when opened, the most 
 wonderful metamorphosis had been effected upon 
 the contents : every article of clothing presenting, 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 29 
 
 when held up, the appearance of old-fashioned 
 blond lace, being pierced with thousands of holes. 
 Each insect working upwards had wrought out 
 for himself (carefully avoiding breaking into his 
 neighbour's path) a covered way to the top, so 
 that though the garments maintained their origi- 
 nal shape, yet there could not be found any one 
 piece of cloth as large as a sixpence in the whole 
 of the contents. The order in which these minute 
 sappers and miners move is remarkable ; indeed, 
 their instinct at times almost leads one to sup- 
 pose they are gifted with reason. There are two 
 other species of ants which are also very trouble- 
 some, the large black and the small red species. 
 The former frequent the palm and date trees, from 
 which toddy is produced, and often prove very 
 serious enemies to the poor man who has to ascend 
 the tree to bring down the toddy. Toddy is the 
 juice running from an incision made in the stem 
 of the leaves, and constitutes a very pleasant be- 
 verage when first gathered in, but the natives 
 prefer it in a fermented state, when, some bang 
 seeds (of the nature of opium) having been in- 
 fused, it is of an intoxicating nature. Many 
 European soldiers get into the habit of drinking 
 large quantities of this liquor, which from its cheap- 
 ness and general supply is easily procured by them, 
 and numbers annually fall victims to its pernicious 
 qualities. I have passed groupes of four or five of 
 them seated around a large handie holding two 
 or three gallons, which has been replenished seve- 
 
30 
 
 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 ral times during the night. There are shops for 
 the sale of it in all the Bazaars attached to the 
 military stations ; these present no exterior sign 
 of tippling places, and the better behaved and 
 effective part of the European soldiery hardly 
 know that such places exist, whilst the drinkers 
 of country-distilled arrack and toddy spend most 
 of their time in them. In some stations where 
 toddy is scarce, these men visit the topes and 
 secure all that is gathered, drinking it beneath 
 the shade of the trees. One man having become 
 quite intoxicated, laid down to sleep, when the 
 large ants, attracted by the toddy liberally spilt 
 over his clothing, soon covered him from head to 
 foot, and, disturbed by his ineffectual attempts to 
 dislodge them, began an attack which probably 
 would have proved fatal, if his comrades had not 
 discovered his danger, and driven the infuriated 
 army away. So fiercely do they sting as to be 
 terrors even to bullocks and buffaloes, who care- 
 fully avoid lying down on their territories. The 
 smaller species are constant depredators on the 
 articles of the Godown and Bottle Khannah, de- 
 vouring sugar, butter, bread, cheese, and pastry, 
 with unsparing voracity ; the earth literally teems 
 with them, and the utmost caution and pains are 
 necessary to preserve viands from their destructive 
 jaws. I have often watched their motions with 
 surprise. Sometimes I have laid a piece of sweet- 
 meat on a table, and have picked up an ant and 
 placed it upon the table also : after reconnoitring 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 31 
 
 the place, he has descended by one of the legs, 
 and rapidly seeking his fellows, they have appear- 
 ed to understand his communication, and have 
 hastily turned back, and meeting others, they also 
 have spread the news, till at length the announcer 
 of the tidings has returned to the table followed 
 by a long train of his fellow citizens, who greedily 
 seizing as much as each could conveniently travel 
 with, have, in a continuous line about four a-breast, 
 descended by another leg of the table, so as not 
 to interrupt the approach of the column advancing 
 to the prey. In this manner the whole has been 
 carried off, and when no more remained, the tidings 
 have spread back to the advancing column, who 
 immediately retracing their steps, have sought 
 other sources of supply. Often have I been asto- 
 nished at the immense loads they will carry to 
 their stores. I have sometimes seen a large cock- 
 roach steadily advancing perpendicularly up the 
 wall, and upon inspection have discovered hun- 
 dreds of these little provident insects all busily 
 employed beneath the body, every leg being firmly 
 griped by as many as could possibly lay hold, the 
 feelers also being used as ropes to drag the huge 
 victim along. Every now and then some change 
 would take place, the tired ants being relieved by 
 others, many walking backwards as well as for- 
 wards : when arrived at the hole, if too large for 
 admission, they speedily dismembered the cock- 
 roach, and the falling wings, &c. have been soon 
 brought up again by fresh detachments, till the 
 
32 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 whole has been safely stored. At such times the 
 words of Solomon have forcibly occurred to my 
 mind : " The ants are a people not strong, yet 
 they prepare their meat in summer." " Go to 
 the ant, thou sluggard, consider her ways and 
 be wise." 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 u Yet there are those who hail the Sabbath day, 
 And rest from worldly toil ; whose prayers ascend 
 At early morn to God, and thankful praise 
 Flows in wild numbers." 
 
 " O let the lay 
 
 Dwell on the signal victory, obtained 
 O'er the dark strength of ignorance." LAWSON. 
 
 STATE OF RELIGION IN CALCUTTA INATTENTION TO 
 THE DUTIES OF THE SABBATH ANECDOTES CHAP- 
 LAINS- INDO-BRITONS MR. KYD*S WORK INDO* 
 
 LENCE TO BE LAMENTED ITS EVILS NATIVE FE- 
 MALE SCHOOLS BISHOP HEBER's MISTAKE REV. 
 
 D. SCHMID'S LETTER ANECDOTES. 
 
 THE moral aspect of Calcutta is much more 
 pleasing now than it was thirty or forty years ago. 
 When the first Baptist Missionaries visited this 
 city of palaces, they could find no Christian 
 friends with whom they could unite in the devo- 
 tional exercise of the Sanctuary; and in 1803, 
 when they first opened a house for religious wor- 
 ship in Calcutta, very few persons amongst the 
 European residents paid any attention to the sa- 
 cred duties of the Sabbath so much so, that it 
 is now often asserted in Calcutta, that the only 
 visible sign of its being the Sabbath day was, the 
 c3 
 
34 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS, 
 
 hoisting of the flag at Fort William, and by the 
 same signal floating upon the ships in the river. 
 If indeed any difference was made, it was only to 
 commit sin the more greedily, river parties and 
 nautches being the order of the day. Since that 
 period the conjoined efforts of pious clergymen in 
 the Establishment, and the missionaries of the 
 Baptist and London Missionary Societies, have, 
 under the Divine blessing, produced the most im- 
 portant change in the habits and thoughts of the 
 European and Indo-British inhabitants. At the 
 period above referred to, only two places of Chris- 
 tian worship existed in Calcutta, the Presidency 
 and the Mission Churches, and these were very 
 thinly attended. The Rev. Messrs. Brown and 
 Buchanan were the first amongst the Honourable 
 Company's chaplains to seek the good of souls ; 
 and the following extract from the memoirs of the 
 former will prove the statement to be correct. 
 " Mr. Brown found, on his arrival in Calcutta in 
 1786, that a deep ignorance on religious subjects, 
 and a careless indifference to Christian duties, 
 were but too prevalent there : living witnesses can 
 testify, that the Lord's day, that distinguishing 
 badge of a Christian people, was nearly as little 
 regarded by the British as by the natives ; the 
 most noted distinction being hardly more than 
 the waving of the flag at head-quarters, excepting 
 as it was the well-known signal for fresh acces- 
 sions of dissipation. In short, it would hardly be 
 believed in Calcutta now, how the Sunday was 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 35 
 
 openly neglected then. Some instances might be 
 adduced that are absurd, others ridiculous. ' Is 
 it Sunday?' ' Yes, /or I see the flag is hoisted,' 
 was rather customary breakfast-table phraseology 
 on Lord's day mornings. A lady, on being se- 
 riously spoken to on her utter disregard of the 
 day, maintained that she always religiously ob- 
 served it, ' for,' said she, ' every Sunday morning 
 I read over the church service to myself, while my 
 woman is combing my hair/ Another lady being 
 urged to attend divine service, said, ' she had 
 been more than twelve years a resident of Cal- 
 cutta, and twice married ; but it had been out of 
 her power in all that time to go to church, be- 
 cause she had never had an offer from any beau to 
 escort her there and hand her to a pew !' She was 
 perfectly serious in urging this difficulty and on 
 its being removed, by an immediate offer from a 
 gentleman who was present to usher her into the 
 church, she accepted the engagement to go on the 
 following Sunday. It was frequently urged, that 
 there could be no use in keeping holy the seventh 
 day in a heathen country, since the common people 
 not being, as in England, Christians, the example 
 was not needed. The domestic morning work- 
 table was nearly as regularly surrounded on Sun- 
 day forenoons as the card-table was on Sunday 
 evenings. One lady, who indeed professed to feel 
 scruples respecting the use of her own needle, 
 judged nevertheless it would be absurd to restrain 
 that of her husband's daughter, ' since she was 
 
36 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 the child of a native mother, and could be nothing 
 better than the durzees (tailors), and she there- 
 fore ought and should do her needle-work the 
 same as they on Sundays, equally with any other 
 day.' 
 
 " These specimens drawn from domestic life, 
 previous to 1794, are taken from the three classes 
 of superior European society in Calcutta, the fa- 
 milies of the civil and military services and the 
 agents. And if, as is usually thought to be true, 
 the female sex is the most noted for piety in every 
 land, the state of the male part of the British so- 
 ciety in India, it must be supposed, was still less 
 favourable to the interests of the Christian religion 
 at that period. In truth, no business any more 
 than pleasure was discontinued on the Lord's day." 
 This, then, was the state of religious feeling 
 amongst the European and Indo-British inhabi- 
 tants of Calcutta forty years ago. How pleasingly 
 altered is the scene now ! On a Lord's day morning 
 four churches, the cathedral, mission, St. James's 
 and St. Andrew's, with three large meeting houses, 
 are crowded with serious and attentive hearers ;. 
 all business is suspended, and instead of water 
 parties and nautch dances being resorted to as a 
 means of passing away the hours pleasantly, de- 
 votional and religious books are generally read r 
 and the religious instruction of the rising genera- 
 tion attended to, The Honourable Company have 
 of late years, in one instance, greatly aided the 
 cause of missions and the spread of evangelical 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS'. 37 
 
 religion ; viz. by sending out as chaplains, men qua- 
 lified by their personal piety for the important sta- 
 tion to which they are appointed, formerly it was 
 quite a different case ; and even now some of the 
 old sort of chaplains are in being, who do any 
 thing rather than promote the cause of God and 
 the increase of religious feeling. 
 
 The country-born, or as they are called, " The 
 Indo-British" part of the population of Calcutta, 
 are a very interesting and increasing people. Many 
 of them are very opulent, and others can vie with 
 the more highly cultivated of their European 
 neighbours in literary attainments ; notwithstand- 
 ing this, there is a marked contempt shewn them 
 by Europeans generally. If a European lady 
 should wed with an Indo-Briton, the doors of all 
 the higher circles would be closed against her, 
 however rich the man of her choice might be. I 
 knew an instance where an Indo-British youth, of 
 high literary attainments and very opulent parents, 
 gained the affections of a young lady in England,, 
 of highly respectable birth and connection,- she 
 became his wife and returned to India with him ; 
 but alas ! she had the mortification to find herself 
 banished from all society but that of the despised 
 country-born families around her. This so preyed 
 upon her mind, that, in a very short time, she fell 
 a sacrifice to her wounded feelings. These things 
 ought not to be ; we find fault with the Hindoos- 
 because of the tenacity with which they hold their 
 caste ; yet in this particular Englishmen manifest 
 
38 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 just the same principle upon less defensible 
 grounds. I can venture to predict, that the time 
 will shortly come when this abomination will 
 cease, and the Indo-Briton, in the fullest sense of 
 the word, be recognised as a brother. 
 
 On the 4th of May, 1830, a petition from the 
 Indo-British inhabitants of Calcutta was presented 
 to the House of Commons, one of a similar nature 
 having been presented to the House of Lords on 
 the 29th of March in the same year. The griev- 
 ances complained of in those petitions were, first, 
 that whilst they live in Calcutta, within the limited 
 jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, they are guided 
 in their civil relations by the laws of England ; 
 but the moment they go beyond this they are 
 placed beyond the pale of all civil law, whether 
 British, Hindoo, or Mahomedan ; secondly, that 
 they are excluded from all superior offices in the 
 civil and military service of the East India Com- 
 pany. These complaints are founded on matters 
 of fact, and demand the immediate attention of 
 our Senate. Mr. W. W. Wynn most truly stated 
 in the House of Commons, " they are thus 
 deprived of all the advantages of trial by jury; 
 being, when in the interior, amenable to the 
 Mahomedan criminal law, and when accused of 
 offences are liable to be fined and imprisoned, 
 and corporally punished by Mahomedan officers 
 of justice. Questions may arise as to the vali- 
 dity of their marriages, and all such questions 
 must be decided, not according to the principles 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 39 
 
 of Christian, but according to those of Mahomedan 
 law." How great the disadvantages are, which 
 arise from this system, have been made apparent 
 by theinquiries that have been recently instituted 
 into the subject by the Committees of both Houses 
 of Parliament, sitting on the East India Company's 
 charter. It happens that a great many females, 
 the daughters of European fathers by native 
 mothers, are married to European officers, high 
 in the service in India. I have been told, that 
 amongst the officers who hold the highest situa- 
 tion on the staff in the Company's service in Cal- 
 cutta, there is not at present one who is not mar- 
 ried to a female of Indian descent. Supposing 
 that an offence should be charged against any of 
 these married couples whilst residing in the in- 
 terior, the husband would be sent to Calcutta to 
 be tried by Europeans, according to the principles 
 of British law ; but the wife might be tried and 
 condemned before any Mahomedan magistrate. 
 This is not merely a grievance in itself; but it 
 gives rise to a feeling among the Indo-Britons, 
 that they stand in a different situation from their 
 European relations, with whom they would other- 
 wise mix upon terms of equality, and with whom 
 they are in point of fact equal when in Great Bri- 
 tain. Many of them are descended from and bear 
 the names of some of the best English families : 
 
 3 * 
 
 and have received the most liberal education that 
 England could afford. Yet these persons, the actual 
 descendants of some of the greatest men, who 
 
40 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS, 
 
 have ruled our territories in the East, are prohibited 
 from entering either the military or civil service of 
 the Honourable Company. Talents and courage 
 are abundantly found amongst them, and they bit- 
 terly feel the wrong which British pride inflicts ; 
 and, I believe, that unless a tone of conciliation 
 be used towards them they will become the 
 rulers of British India. There have been instances 
 where, notwithstanding these cruel proscriptions, 
 the energy of their minds has triumphed over 
 every obstacle, and they have shone forth as 
 comets in their devious courses amidst the regular 
 orbits of the privileged Europeans around them. 
 Col. Skinner, for instance, though excluded, owing 
 to his descent from a native mother, from serving 
 in the East India Company's regular army, raised 
 a corps of 8,000 men, and distinguished himself 
 in an' eminent manner during a late war. For his 
 intrepid and disinterested conduct, although re- 
 jected by the Company's service, he earned for 
 himself the rank of a Lieutenant Colonel in the 
 King's service, and obtained the cross of a Com- 
 mander of the Bath. I have had many of their 
 youth beneath my care, and can fully testify, that 
 in all particulars, as it regards mental energy, 
 they are able to cope with our British youth ; in 
 fact, the first boys of all the classes in the differ- 
 ent schools in Calcutta were invariably Indo- 
 Britons. Hitherto the greater number of the 
 country-born young men have been employed 
 as writers in the various offices of Government,. 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 41 
 
 the warehouses of merchants, and offices of 
 attorneys, &c. ; but of late years their rapidly 
 increasing number has caused a great deal of 
 anxiety amongst parents how their sons should 
 get employment. Much has been written on the 
 subject in the journals of Calcutta, and a very 
 excellent pamphlet was published by Mr. Kyd, of 
 Kidderpore, a most respectable and intelligent 
 gentleman who has attained to great celebrity as 
 a ship-builder, and who is also an Indo-Briton. 
 His pamphlet is headed by the following striking 
 appeal to his fellow countrymen : 
 
 " How long, ye sons of Briton, will ye yield 
 To foreign hands the produce of your field ? 
 Shake off your sloth, now let your views extend ; 
 Nor to the drudg'ries of a scrivener bend; 
 Greeks, Jews, and Arabs, see, your commerce drive ; 
 Moguls grow rich, and the Armenians thrive. 
 When first these to the shores of Hooghley came 
 They had no friends, no money, and no name : 
 But industry led on their prosperous way 
 Till commerce found them and soon owned their sway.. 
 Sick'hs and Chinese here thriving trades pursue, 
 And toil for riches, then why may not you ? 
 Forego the shame of Asiatic growth, 
 And copy Britons ; and be men of worth.** 
 
 It is to be lamented, that many of the young 
 and promising amongst the Indo-Britons of Cal- 
 cutta are so decidedly averse to engaging in any 
 sort of trade or mechanical pursuit to overcome 
 this aversion has been the aim of Mr. Kyd. Indo- 
 Britons have hitherto attached too much import- 
 ance to opulence, and when without it have con- 
 
42 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 sidered themselves as destitute of means to attain 
 it ; but this is an error which daily experience 
 serves to refute, as those Indo-Britons who have 
 aroused themselves to exertion have rapidly amas- 
 sed considerable fortunes as well as secured exten- 
 sive reputation. It is certain, that from their rapid 
 increase they will soon unavoidably either become 
 a dangerous foe to the British Government, or a 
 powerful auxiliary and sure prop to the interests of 
 Great Britain in the East, and this will rest on the 
 manner in which they are treated when the Ho- 
 nourable Company's charter shall be renewed. 
 
 They all, generally speaking, look with contempt 
 on the native tribes around them, holding their 
 servants at a greater distance than Europeans 
 themselves do. 
 
 One thing I always lamented, and that was the 
 indolent disposition of the daughters of Indo- 
 Britons, who instead of performing those duties 
 which naturally devolve upon them, sit in a list- 
 less state of ennui during the interval that elapses 
 between the morning and evening drive, or, what 
 is worse, slumber upon the hall sofas. Yet I met 
 with some exceptions honourable to parents and 
 children; and the indefatigable efforts of many 
 ladies, aided by the powerful instruction afforded 
 by the late most excellent teacher, Mrs. Penny, in 
 the Benevolent Institution, have in some measure 
 introduced needle-work amongst them. 
 
 Mr. Kyd says, " The whole of the needle- 
 work of the metropolis might be performed by 
 Indo-British females, to the exclusion of the hun- 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 43 
 
 dreds of Mussulman house tailors, dress makers, 
 and men milliners, that we see resort in crowds 
 daily to the city from the suburbs, and who 
 might more appropriately grace a plough tail, or 
 betake themselves to any of those numerous occu- 
 pations open in every country to male industry, 
 instead of narrowing still more by competition the 
 very limited field of employment which ancient 
 prejudices or the feebleness of the female sex have 
 left accessible to the honest industry of that por- 
 tion of our race, from whose virtues or vices the 
 rising generation necessarily takes its tone and 
 character." Every article of their clothing might 
 be spun and woven with their own hands: the 
 whole of the ladies' and other light shoes made in 
 Calcutta might be done by them, to the exclusion 
 of a colony of Chinese, who have established them- 
 selves in the metropolis, and usurp this branch of 
 national industry ; and so might all the chip and 
 straw hats worn by ladies and others, the rattan 
 bottoms of all chairs and sofas, paper and leaf 
 fans, punkahs, artificial flowers, &c. &c. For all 
 these articles there is an uncommon demand, 
 and they might be manufactured by Indo-British 
 females ; and surely all the needle-work of the 
 family might be done by them, without the expen- 
 sive aid of men milliners and tailors; for wherever 
 you go, the first object which presents itself to 
 your notice is, a tailor sitting in the verandah, or 
 generally a knot of tailors, all engaged in making 
 missey's frocks or her brother's shirts. These 
 
44 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 things ought not to be and before I left India I 
 was glad to observe a great change for the better 
 in many families in this respect, the young ladies 
 being employed in needle-work and housewifery ; 
 thus superseding the necessity of supporting dhur- 
 gees constantly. Another part of Indo-British 
 conduct, which always pained my mind, was the 
 attempt at display continually made, even by those 
 in the most inferior circumstances, and the exqui- 
 site dandyism to which many of the copyists and 
 writers in the public offices had arrived : this must 
 be seen to be fully known ; suffice it to say, that 
 a writer upon a salary of forty or fifty rupees per 
 month, will be seen driving on the course in a 
 buggey, with his raven locks frizzed in the most 
 exquisite manner, without a hat, in all the style 
 and appearance of a first rate civilian yet follow 
 him home, as I have done, and you will find him 
 in half an hour seated in the front of a small crazy 
 bungalowe, clothed with nothing but a shirt, (di- 
 vested of wristbands and collar,) and a pair of 
 dirty chintz pijammahs, eating curry rice with his 
 fingers ; his horse tethered under a shed, and the 
 buggey placed beneath the shade of some friendly 
 tree. This I have witnessed in many instances, 
 and it fully serves to shew the nature of the reform 
 so much needed. The masterly pen of the Editor 
 of the Friend of India has been often wielded 
 against this false and vitiated appetite for outward 
 show. His remarks upon this indolent and proud 
 spirit are exactly those which meet my views, and 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 45 
 
 I shall, without apology, give the following extract 
 from them, premising, that not only must these 
 office clerks have a horse and chaise to bring them 
 to and from the scene of their labours, but in most 
 instances a set of bearers with a palanqueen, are 
 supported, to carry them from office to office as 
 duty calls ; these said places being probably (at 
 the farthest) not more than a quarter of a mile 
 apart. True it is, that many now have become 
 wiser, and only employ a chattawallah, or um- 
 brella bearer, thus saving sixteen or twenty rupees 
 per month ; and as Christianity in all its preceptive 
 influence is more rapidly diffused, so in proportion 
 will the Indo-British youth become more sober- 
 minded. 
 
 " We have often thought that the mode of life 
 which has become common among Europeans in 
 the metropolis of India, is in some degree con- 
 trary to nature, and that it cannot as yet have 
 found its proper level. We are far from imputing 
 blame to any one : we are indeed of opinion, that 
 luxury has considerably decreased within these 
 last twenty years. But when all this is allowed, 
 and when it is granted that there is nothing un- 
 reasonable in the rich being distinguished from the 
 poor, as much by their mode of life as by the wealth 
 they possess, we may be permitted to glance at 
 the mode of life which appears to us conducive to 
 general happiness, because founded on the real 
 nature of things ; since it is that alone which the 
 many must set before them, and to which they 
 
46 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 must bend their minds, if they ever intend to enjoy 
 real happiness. We cannot believe then, that, how- 
 ever much any country may be blessed with the 
 bounties of nature, it can be indispensible to hap- 
 piness that five or six men with their families 
 should be supported to carry a man from one place 
 to another, or that a dozen families, much less 
 twenty or thirty, should be supported and employ- 
 ed not to assist a person in his business, in which 
 every servant thus employed would and ought to 
 be a source of profit to his employer, but merely 
 to minister to the personal convenience of himself 
 and his family. That a man who has no heredi- 
 tary estate, and supports himself by his labour and 
 skill, should be able to avail himself, in a certain 
 degree, of the services of others about his own per- 
 son, to lessen his fatigue and add to his enjoyment, 
 is not unreasonable ; it is the proper reward of ex- 
 traordinary skill or labour, and is constantly seen, 
 both in our own country and in America, where, 
 while British habits of life prevail, those circum- 
 stances which generally attend a new country, en- 
 able a man to provide still more easily for his per- 
 sonal comfort. But that a man's happiness should 
 depend on his labours being so productive as to 
 enable him to support twenty families, with no re- 
 ference to his calling or business, but solely to 
 take off the personal fatigue of those services, 
 which each of these families must perform for 
 themselves, beside that labour for him by which 
 they obtain their daily bread, does seem rather an 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 47 
 
 unnatural state of society ; a state which, if the 
 Creator has rendered it indispensibly necessary to 
 happiness, must doom a very great number to un- 
 avoidable misery. 
 
 " That this is the state without which scarcely 
 any one supposes he can taste happiness in the me- 
 tropolis of India, however, a little reflection will 
 convince us. Let a man keep a palanqueen for 
 himself, and he maintains probably six families ; 
 and if he keep another for his wife, he maintains 
 twelve : let him to these add his tailors for his 
 family's cotton apparel, (their European apparel 
 being in general purchased of a European,) his 
 washermen for his family, with their servants, 
 his cook with his servants, his khansama, his table 
 servants, and various others, and should he keep 
 a horse, at least two, if not three, for that horse ; 
 and he will find, that, without the least appear- 
 ance of extravagance or show, he supports from 
 twenty to fifty families, not to assist him in his 
 trade or business, but to lessen his own and his 
 family's personal fatigue, and add to their personal 
 comfort. Now these twenty, or fifty families, must 
 be supplied from the product of his labour, not 
 only with all that conduces to the utmost health 
 and vigour of the human frame, but with what 
 they deem necessary to their comfort and enjoy- 
 ment ; for did they not obtain this, as they have 
 no such esteem for their masters as to submit to 
 privations for the sake of being near their persons, 
 (and both in hiring themselves out and leaving 
 
48 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 their masters, servants here are as free as the 
 air,) they would never leave their own family hut 
 and garden, for the sake of living in a town to 
 serve Europeans. Of their obtaining in their 
 master's service food proper to impart the highest 
 bodily health and vigour to the human frame, 
 there can be no doubt, as the health of their 
 European master or mistress seldom bears any 
 proportion to theirs, if not destroyed by their 
 excess in eating or their other vices. It is indeed 
 a fact, that they themselves often retain servants, 
 which they in their turn support in such a manner 
 as to make their service desirable ; and the lowest 
 among them retains his barber for himself, and his 
 washerman for his family. Thus then, in the com- 
 mon course of life, a man who lives solely by his 
 labour and professional skill, retains and supports, 
 without making any kind of show, from twenty to 
 fifty families, not to raise his corn, to tend his 
 herds, to supply his table with animal food, not 
 even to bake the bread, to churn the butter, or to 
 brew the beverage which daily comes on his table ; 
 but to do those offices for himself and his family 
 which millions of families in Britain perform for 
 themselves with unspeakably greater comfort, in 
 addition to the labours of the axe, the loom, the 
 shop, or the field. 
 
 " That this is not a natural state of things, will 
 we think be readily allowed. That those who from 
 possessing no hereditary property must live by the 
 sweat of their brow, should suspend their happi- 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 49 
 
 ness on their obtaining such remuneration for their 
 labour as shall enable them to support fifty or 
 twenty or ten or even five families beside their 
 own, solely to minister to their personal comfort, 
 seems acting contrary to the actual experience of 
 mankind in every age and country. In a state of 
 society then, which renders this indispensable to 
 happiness, there must be something fundamentally 
 wrong. In Britain, where the various families of 
 citizens, and even of tradesmen, who live so hap- 
 pily on their labour, to employ and support only 
 two families for the sole purpose of ministering 
 to their personal comfort, it would not only be 
 esteemed sufficient, but others around them would 
 deem it almost monstrous, and be ready to say, 
 < Why does not that family by a little personal 
 activity render the services of one family sufficient, 
 and lay up the sum expended in maintaining the 
 other, against a time of misfortune or old age ?' 
 Yet were almost the poorest family in Calcutta to 
 content themselves with supporting only two fami- 
 lies to perform for them those personal services, 
 which these families must do for themselves in 
 addition to serving them, it would almost inva- 
 riably make them rich." 
 
 The Indo-Britons, I consider, will be the effec- 
 tive means of evangelizing India at a future, yet 
 not remote period. The success which has attended 
 the efforts of our Missionaries, although not so 
 great as many sanguine minds have expected, yet 
 has been much greater than those persons who are 
 
50 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 intimately acquainted with the Hindoo and Mus- 
 sulman inhabitants of India could have ventured 
 some thirty years ago to have anticipated, and I 
 think fully equivalent (humanly speaking) to the 
 means used, when we consider the handful of men 
 who have gone forth as the champions of the cross 
 against the hosts of the mighty in that land of 
 caste and prej udice. When I first visited Calcutta, 
 native female schools had not fully been estab- 
 lished, and those for boys were very few and 
 badly conducted; when I say native female schools 
 were not fully established, I must not fail to men- 
 tion that a society of ladies was then formed for 
 the establishment of such schools, and I believe 
 more than one did exist ; and as I have very fre- 
 quently heard the meed of praise bestowed on 
 parties who certainly are not entitled to the 
 smallest share as it regards the originating of fe- 
 male native schools, I shall avail myself of this 
 medium for correcting those mistatements which 
 have gone abroad, and at the same time can but 
 express my astonishment at the want of candour 
 in several recent publications on that point, and 
 others connected with the exertions of Missiona- 
 ries out of the pale of the establishment ; neither 
 is this want of candour a recent fault only. The 
 memoirs of that excellent man, Henry Martyn, 
 whose memory will ever be dear to the friends of 
 the cause of Missions, lamentably manifest the 
 same total want of candour and catholicity. We 
 are told of the Pagan temple on the premises of 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 51 
 
 the Rev. D. Brown, at Serampore, in which the 
 pious Martyn spent so many hallowed hours, but 
 his companions in those devotional exercises within 
 its walls are studiously kept out of sight and who 
 were they? Chaplains of the Honourable Com- 
 pany ? No ; but Baptist Missionaries ; with them 
 he communed in spirit and truth : nor was he 
 ashamed to own they were amongst his dearest 
 friends, or to call them brethren. In the journal 
 of Bishop Heber, the mention of every thing 
 " sectarian" is studiously avoided, except a slight 
 notice of the Serampore Missionaries, and Mr. 
 Leslie, of Monghyr, the latter evidently introduced 
 to make way for a false accusation against John 
 Chamberlain, which had been retailed to the worthy 
 Bishop by some enemy to the cause of evangelical 
 truth, of whom hundreds are to be found amongst 
 the dependents on the Company's treasury. What 
 end this concealment of facts, or contempt of fel- 
 low labourers in the vineyard of the great Lord, is 
 designed to answer, I cannot conceive. No person 
 can deny, (who is conversant with India,) that the 
 Missionaries have, by the blessing of Almighty 
 God, done great things towards the establishment 
 of Christianity, inasmuch as hundreds of the na- 
 tives, comprising many rich and influential Brah- 
 mins amongst the Hindoos, and Moonshees amongst 
 the Mussulmans, have voluntarily renounced their 
 religions and embraced Christianity. These men 
 could not have been influenced by interested mo- 
 tives, as their families and prospects have alike 
 
 D2 
 
52 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 been sacrificed, and consequently the Christian 
 religion has obtained a signal triumph ; their con- 
 duct also having operated as a powerful stimulus 
 on the minds of the people generally to follow 
 their example; and I believe I speak correctly, 
 when I say, that by the unremitting labours of 
 Missionaries, more has been done towards the pro- 
 gress of the Gospel in India than by the efforts of 
 any other persons from the first establishment of 
 the Honourable Company to the present moment. 
 Still, at the same time, I would not detract from 
 the merit due to a Brown, Buchanan, Martyn, 
 Corrie, Thomason, and many others men of God, 
 who have been, and still are, an honour to the 
 establishment; only let others be considered as 
 aiding in the great work, although not clothed 
 in exactly the same garb. But to return : Mrs. 
 Wilson has often received the credit of establishing 
 female schools for natives : this she is not entitled 
 to, as they were in full operation when she arrived. 
 The state of the case is this : the idea originated 
 with some young ladies, under the tuition of the 
 Baptist Missionaries' wives, in the Circular Road, 
 and what was designated the "Calcutta Female 
 Juvenile Society, for the Education of Native Fe- 
 males," was instituted there ; I was present at 
 their second anniversary, which was holden in the 
 school-room, at Mrs. Lawson's, on the 14th Dec. 
 1821. This meeting was a very interesting one, 
 as it was the first time the practicability of estab- 
 lishing female native schools could be spoken of 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 53 
 
 with any degree of certainty. I seconded the first 
 resolution, of which I have a copy, it was this 
 " That the Report be received, and with a view to 
 demonstrate the practicability of native female 
 education in India, and to encourage to more 
 general exertion in attempting it, that it be printed 
 under the direction of the Committee." Neither 
 were the operations and success of this little so- 
 ciety unknown to the members of the establish- 
 ment, as the last resolution was moved by the 
 much esteemed Rev. Mr. (now Archdeacon) Corrie. 
 I shall offer no apology for here inserting an ex- 
 tract from the Report " The school-room, which 
 was building when the first anniversary meeting 
 was holden, has been finished and subsequently 
 enlarged ; the mistress then procured has ever 
 since fulfilled the duties of her office, with the ex- 
 ception of a few weeks, when severe illness pre- 
 vented; and a pretty numerous school has been 
 collected.'* " The number of scholars rapidly in- 
 creased, till at the present time they amount to 
 thirty-two, some of whom are grown-up women ; 
 several are able to read any easy book given them, 
 and who it is hoped will be able, in the course of the 
 following year, to take charge of separate schools. 
 Indeed, Doya, one of the more advanced girls, 
 has for the last few weeks, during the illness of 
 the mistress, entirely conducted the school, and 
 much to the satisfaction of the Committee. A 
 list of the names, ages, castes, &c. of the girls 
 attending this school has lately been taken, and 
 
54 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 will serve as a specimen of the other schools more 
 recently established ; of thirty scholars, no less 
 than eleven are called after one goddess, the wife 
 of Shivu, and nine more after another, the wife of 
 Vishnoo. Among the former are names which, 
 when translated, mean, The producer of fear, The 
 beloved of Shivu, The omnipresent, The filler with 
 food, The wife of the naked one, &c. ; and among 
 the latter, The destroyer of the world, The gold of 
 Ram, The gem of Gokool, The spotless one, The 
 beloved of Vishnoo, &c. While these names, from 
 their novelty to an English ear, may excite a smile, 
 they will also, when they are properly considered 
 in connection with the idolatrous feelings which 
 prompted the parents of the children to adopt 
 them, and which they serve to cherish in the minds 
 of the children themselves, excite a sigh of regret 
 from the Christian. What kind of conduct ought 
 we to expect from these poor children, named by 
 their parents after imaginary goddesses, whose 
 adultery, cruelty, and gratification of other passions, 
 as detailed by their own sacred writings, were so 
 abominable ? 
 
 "The ages of the scholars greatly vary, one 
 being as old as thirty, and several only five. 
 
 " As to caste, it is pleasing to observe that there 
 is a just proportion of all. There are two Brah- 
 muns, four Kayusthus, and seven Voishnubus, 
 which are considered highest in rank while there 
 are four Bagdees, and four Chundals, which are 
 reckoned the lowest. The others are of the inter- 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 55 
 
 mediate classes. Your Committee cannot but 
 rejoice, that in this institution the injurious distinc- 
 tion of caste is so little felt ; and that all in com- 
 mon are receiving that education, the blessings of 
 which they may communicate to their respective 
 connections. 
 
 " The Committee regret to state, that through 
 their husbands removing to a distance from Cal- 
 cutta, two young women, who promised well, have 
 been obliged to leave the school. One now re- 
 sides at Sulkeah, and the other at Burahunugur, 
 where, it is almost unnecessary to state, there are 
 yet no schools they can attend, did their anxiety to 
 receive instruction continue. There has been occa- 
 sionally considerable difficulty in retaining others, 
 it being urged by their friends as a serious objec- 
 tion to their attendance, that should they continue 
 to make the same progress in learning that they 
 had hitherto done, they would soon know as much 
 as their husbands, and it was feared would become 
 untractable, disobedient, and vicious. In all cases 
 hitherto, however, a little conversation on the sub- 
 ject has removed these apprehensions, and led the 
 objectors to allow their female relations to remain. 
 These objections no doubt still operate very 
 strongly on the minds of the majority of the na- 
 tives; indeed, so immersed in ignorance are the 
 minds of the lower and middle classes, and such 
 fearful apprehensions do they entertain of what 
 will be for their own lasting benefit, that we must 
 expect to be occasionally retarded in our efforts to 
 
56 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 benefit them. But the domestic peace, and reci- 
 procal affection which are exhibited in European 
 families, and which flow in a great degree as the 
 result of female education, when contrasted with 
 the want of these blessings, so discernible in na- 
 tive families, must surely by degrees remove fears 
 so groundless. 
 
 " The difficulty of finding native females pro- 
 perly qualified to instruct others has still continued 
 to retard the progress of your Committee. In two 
 instances, however, they are thankful to state,, it 
 has been overcome. Raymunee, a young woman 
 aged 15, having been found, who can read pretty 
 well, and has been used to keeping the accounts 
 of a shop, she was engaged as a teacher; and with 
 her mother, a widow woman, has been placed over 
 the second school of the Society, (situated near 
 the former,) where there are now twenty scholars. 
 Last month a small school-house was erected for 
 them : they are constant in their attendance, and 
 seem very desirous of instruction. 
 
 " Your Committee have the pleasure also of re- 
 porting the establishment of a third school in this 
 neighbourhood, (Intalee.) In this there are twenty- 
 four scholars, three of whom are grown-up women. 
 A school-house is now procured for their accommo- 
 dation. They are taught by a native woman, 
 whose attainments qualify her for the duties,of her 
 office. We also hope that her character is better 
 than is usually possessed by native females of the 
 lower classes. She has a daughter aged 19, who 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 57 
 
 is also clever, and who greatly assists her mother 
 in the instruction of their pupils. This school^ 
 therefore, is in a very promising state ; and it is 
 confidently hoped, that in the course of the ensu- 
 ing year some other schools will be collected in and 
 near this neighbourhood. 
 
 " The number of pupils now receiving instruc- 
 tion at the Society's expense has increased, since 
 the last anniversary, from twenty-one to seventy- 
 nine ; besides which there are several under school- 
 masters, who pay for their own instruction. Seventy- 
 six of the Society's scholars are under the charge 
 of female teachers ; and three only, two in Syam- 
 Bazar, and one in Jaun-Bazar, are under school- 
 masters. About forty of these have very recently 
 been received into school, and are therefore only 
 beginning to learn to read and write. Most of 
 them, however, know the alphabet, and a number 
 of others can read easy words. Each of the 
 schools is placed under the particular care of a 
 member of the Committee, and is visited by her 
 if possible once or twice every week ; and to ex- 
 press the grateful sense entertained by the Com- 
 mittee of the kindness of their coadjutors, and to 
 distinguish the schools more readily from each 
 other, they have (with the exception of the school 
 first formed, which is called after the Society, the 
 " Juvenile School,") been named after the places 
 in which the benevolent ladies reside, who, the 
 Committee perceive by recent accounts, have con- 
 tributed to their support. The second school is 
 
 D3 
 
58 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 therefore known by the name of the Liverpool 
 School, the third by that of the Salem ; and the 
 fourth, which your Committee are happy to say 
 they expect will be formed in the course of a week 
 or two from the present time, will be called the 
 Birmingham School."* 
 
 It was some time after this that I had the plea- 
 sure of welcoming Mrs. Wilson, then Miss Cooke, 
 to India, and of informing her of many particulars 
 respecting those schools which she was anxious to 
 know ; yet Bishop Heber in his Journal, pp. 55, 
 says, "Dec. 12, 1823. I attended, together with 
 a large proportion of the European society of Cal- 
 cutta, an examination of the native female schools 
 instituted by Mrs. Wilson, and carried on by her, 
 together with her husband and the other mission- 
 aries of the Church Missionary Society. The pro- 
 gress which the children as well as the grown 
 pupils had made, was very creditable, and it may 
 show how highly we ought to appreciate Mrs. 
 Wilson's efforts when I mention, that when she 
 began her work there was no known instance of 
 any female having been instructed in reading, writ- 
 ing, or sewing, and that all those who knew most 
 of the country regarded her attempt to bring them 
 together into schools as idle as any dream of en- 
 thusiasm could be." And four days afterwards he 
 writes to the Very Reverend the Dean of St, Asaph, 
 " The difficulties of Mrs. Wilson's undertaking, 
 
 " * This school, which is situated very near Chitpore, was 
 opened on the 25th January. It already contains 20 scholars." 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 59 
 
 and the wonders she has brought about, will be 
 better understood when I mention that two years 
 ago no single native female in Bengal could either 
 write, read, or sew." Now let my readers recollect 
 this was penned exactly two years after the before- 
 mentioned meeting was held, and the time referred 
 to is that very period when the report read stated : 
 "Your Committee have the pleasure of further 
 stating that an examination was held at this school 
 on the first of this month, when very pleasing and 
 satisfactory proofs of the improvement of the scho- 
 lars in reading, writing, arithmetic, &c. were given 
 to all present." How then can we account for the 
 total ignorance which the good Bishop manifested 
 of these operations? 
 
 The highly respected chaplain of the European 
 Orphan Asylum, the Rev. D. Schmid, not long 
 before his death, sent a letter, from which the fol- 
 lowing is an extract, to the editor of a Calcutta 
 newspaper, exposing the fallacy of the good Bi- 
 shop's statements : 
 
 " Allow me, Sir, for the present to make a few 
 additional remarks on the bishop's grossly erro- 
 neous statement respecting native female educa- 
 tion, which the reviewer so justly censures, that 
 before Mrs. Wilson's arrival in Calcutta, there 
 was no known instance of an Indian female having 
 been instructed in reading, writing, or sewing. 
 Though his lordship might not have known (which 
 indeed is exceedingly strange) that in former ages 
 Indian ladies knew not only to read and write, but 
 
60 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 were distinguished by their literary acquisitions, 
 as the Tamul poetess Avegar, yet it is hardly com- 
 prehensible how he could have been ignorant of 
 the fact, that for one year and a half before Mrs. 
 Wilson's arrival in Calcutta there existed a society 
 in this city, called the female Juvenile Society, for 
 the express purpose of establishing native girls' 
 schools; which after vigorously struggling with 
 the difficulties naturally to be expected in a first 
 attempt of this kind, succeeded in establishing 
 several native girls' schools, so that, as it appears 
 from the second report, which was published about 
 one month after Mrs. Wilson's arrival, it supported 
 at that time three well conducted schools, contain- 
 ing seventy-six scholars. It is passing strange 
 that bishop Heber should not have read Mr. Lush- 
 ington's most useful book on the religious institu- 
 tions founded by the British in Calcutta, in which 
 a correct account of the proceedings of this society 
 is given, and to which he bears the following well 
 merited testimony. ' From the circumstances of the 
 majority of the contributors, the funds of this 
 unassuming association are necessarily small ; yet 
 the extent of its operations seem more than com- 
 mensurate with the scantiness of its resources/ 
 
 " What is most of all to be regretted is, that, 
 owing to the grossly erroneous information on the 
 history of native female education which bishop 
 Heber had received, he was (unawares of course) 
 led to introduce a glaring untruth into the resolu- 
 tions passed at the formation of the Ladies' Society 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 61 
 
 for native female education on the 25th of March, 
 1824, which are generally understood to have 
 been revised by his lordship. (See Lushington, 
 page 200.) The first resolution declares, the edu- 
 cation of native females to be an object highly 
 desirable, &c. The second again thus states, that 
 the system introduced into this country by Mrs. 
 Wilson has been pursued by her with a degree of 
 success, 8cc. Thus plainly ascribing to Mrs. Wil- 
 son the introduction of native female education ? 
 (for, according to the connection, nothing else can 
 be meant by the system said to have been intro- 
 duced by her) into this country; which is evidently 
 without the fact. It deserves the serious considera- 
 tion of the highly respectable Committee of the 
 Ladies' Society, whether it may not be necessary 
 still to alter this resolution, which is in a manner 
 a part of the charter of the Society ; since the 
 principles of morality require that untruth of any 
 kind, though seemingly innocent, should be most 
 carefully avoided ; and more especially since the 
 present misstatement unjustly ascribes to others 
 the praise of having introduced into this country 
 the system of native female education a praise 
 which justly belongs to the founders of the Cal- 
 cutta Female Juvenile Society, now denominated 
 the Calcutta Baptist Female School Society." 
 
 Nothing probably has served to lessen the pre- 
 judice which many of the "old Indians" (as the 
 elder servants of the Company are called) had 
 nurtured against the attempts to evangelize India, 
 
62 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 than the success of these schools ; and when we 
 consider the influence of a mother, we can but re- 
 joice that the prejudice of the native mind has so 
 far been overcome. The present race of Ben- 
 galese were brought up under the care of those 
 who were entirely destitute of the knowledge of 
 letters, and consequently unable to impart the 
 least degree of valuable information to the children 
 of their charge. Oral traditions of the most li- 
 centious nature, respecting their debtas, most pro- 
 bably were the sum and substance of the instruc- 
 tion given. The succeeding generation will reap 
 the superior advantage of receiving much valuable 
 information in the days of their childhood from 
 well instructed mothers, as generally speaking, the 
 females who are under tuition, evince a great thirst 
 for useful knowledge ; and a society exists in Cal- 
 cutta, whose object it is to provide all necessary 
 books, that this thirst may be gratified I mean 
 the Calcutta School Book Society : a valuable in- 
 stitution, liberally patronized both by Europeans 
 and rich natives. One very great result has been, 
 that the rich Baboos have become interested in the 
 subject, inasmuch as fearing lest the lower orders 
 might become more learned than their own wives 
 and children, they seek for instructresses amongst the 
 elder girls in the schools, so that it has been difficult 
 to keep them longer than when the first principles 
 were acquired, they being tempted by liberal offers 
 of salary to exchange the station of scholar for that 
 of school-mistress, or, as we should say here, of 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 63 
 
 private governess. This is opening the path wide 
 for the introduction of Christianity, as ignorance is 
 the strong hold of idolatry. The following circum- 
 stance, which is extracted from the superinten- 
 dent's quarterly statement of the state of one of 
 these female schools lately received, speak volumes : 
 " On taking a copy of the improved edition of 
 Hindoo female education to the Glasgow school, 
 and putting it into the hands of a young woman, she 
 read nearly a page of it very attentively, and by 
 the smiles that were excited I perceived she under- 
 stood and was pleased with its contents. On 
 closing the book, I said, ' Do you understand what 
 you have read T with much apparent feeling she 
 replied, ' The meaning is, that the women of this 
 country formerly did nothing but the business of 
 the house, and it was thought a disgrace if they 
 learned to read ; but now their fortune has 
 changed, the work of teaching the females to read 
 and write has begun, and many are learning.' ?: 
 Incalculable blessings may be expected to arise 
 from the mental and moral elevation of those fe- 
 males, whose first appearance in the world has 
 hitherto been a matter of chagrin and disappoint- 
 ment, and who have been considered as utterly 
 unworthy of the smallest intellectual cultivation. 
 In the year 1823, this feeling had so far subsided, 
 that Mrs. Trawin, of Kidderpore, was solicited by 
 a rich Baboo, to instruct his daughters, and she 
 kindly attended his house for some time, her pupils 
 affording her great encouragement; but their 
 
64 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 father could not long sustain the tide of ridicule 
 which this innovation on the customs of his fore- 
 fathers had brought upon him, from certain deisti- 
 cal opposers of the truth, and he declined any 
 further assistance from Mrs. Trawin: this disap- 
 pointment was much regretted at the time, although 
 it assuredly was an omen of better things to fol- 
 low, being, as the tremulous moving of the waters 
 that forebodes the approaching storm, which shall 
 founder the demon structure of superstition, whilst 
 it shall leave mercy's ark triumphantly gliding 
 over the waves. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 " A Brahmin, he 
 
 Alert in mystic signs and holy rites ; 
 He knew to hang the poita with loose grace 
 O'er his bronzed shoulders, swaggering hand in hand 
 With kindred Brahmin. None knew more than he 
 How, with light management, to break the toil 
 Of irksome ceremonies ; none than he 
 More punctual to the task." 
 
 " Each incidental thing 
 Was cause of gain to him. He daily lived 
 On others' hopes and fears, and bless'd himself 
 That he was born a Brahmin." LAWSON. 
 
 HINDOO RELIGION CASTES BRAHMINS. 
 
 THE Hindoo religion is so complex in its nature 
 that it is impossible fully to detail its various 
 branches; being founded on superstition, all its 
 parts are moulded into an artificial system, difficult 
 to unravel or explain. The whole family is divided 
 into four branches or tribes, called CASTES, and 
 denominated Brahmins, Kyetra, Bhysya, and Soo- 
 dra. The rank, occupation, and duties of these 
 several castes are fully explained in their vedahs, 
 or holy books. The Brahmins are the priests, they 
 are required to be virtuous, learned, just, peace- 
 able, and self-denying. If these ever were the 
 
66 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 distinguishing traits of their order, we must ex- 
 claim, " how is the gold changed," as the very 
 reverse are the features of their character now. 
 The Kyetra is the military caste: the Vedas 
 require of them a thirst for glory ; to die rather 
 than retreat ; generosity and princely conduct to 
 captives. The Bhysya form the agricultural part 
 of the community, their duties are briefly defined 
 as cultivators and traffickers. The fourth, or Soo- 
 dra caste consists of labourers, who are enjoined 
 to serve with patience and fidelity the former, I 
 believe, they generally do, but as for the latter it 
 is only when constrained by fear of punishment, 
 or loss of pay. A faithful servant is indeed " Kara 
 Avis" in Bengal. The two middle castes have 
 almost become extinct, or rather amalgamated 
 with the former and latter thus it may almost be 
 said, that the whole Hindoo nation is now com- 
 posed of Brahmins and Soodras, both of which are 
 divided into a great many degrees or sub-castes; 
 so that there are many orders of Brahmins as well 
 as of Soodras. Of the latter the Koit is the highest 
 and the Hurry the lowest, which caste embraces 
 shoe-makers, mat-makers, bird-catchers, tanners, 
 skinners, snake-catchers, and many others. By 
 this division of caste, no possible means exist for 
 any person to rise in the scale of society ; all mo- 
 tives to exertion or mental improvement are cut 
 off; no actions, however noble, no discoveries, 
 however important to society, would ensure honour 
 to a person of low caste ; and those of high caste 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 67 
 
 lose no honour or reputation by their ignorance 
 and vice. Whatever be the mental abilities of a 
 Hindoo, if born a Soodra, a Soodra he must re- 
 main ; if the father be a snake-catcher, all his sons 
 must be snake-catchers too ; and the influence of 
 caste follows him through all the ramifications of 
 life. Persons of different castes or occupations 
 cannot eat, drink, or smoke together ; neither can 
 they intermarry, nor meddle with each other's em- 
 ployment. If a Hindoo loses caste, which is the 
 case if he breaks through any of the foregoing 
 rules, the most distressing consequences ensue : 
 no one will eat with him, or suffer him to come 
 near his dwelling, or marry his children ; his own 
 wife and family disown him ; looked upon as an 
 outcast of society, he is deprived of all privileges 
 or means of comfort as long as he lives ; and how- 
 ever respectable he may have been before, the 
 meanest caste consider him as a vagabond, and 
 will not associate with him. It is caste that ren- 
 ders so many servants necessary to do the work 
 which one or two might easily accomplish. They 
 are born to one peculiar department of service, and 
 no other can they perform without losing caste. 
 Thus the man who fetches water cannot wait at 
 table, nor the man who cooks the dinner, serve it 
 up ; neither will the person who attends the table 
 sweep the room afterwards, and so on through all 
 the different pursuits of life. A native embrac- 
 ing Christianity, loses caste by partaking of the 
 Lord's supper: it requires, therefore, great for- 
 
68 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 titude of mind to make a profession of faith in 
 the Gospel. There are many who have no caste, 
 having been excommunicated because of some 
 breach of the ceremonial laws of their religion, 
 either by themselves or their forefathers, these 
 are all termed Pariahs, and dare not touch the 
 person, garments, food, utensils, or dwelling of a 
 Hindoo of caste, as contamination follows. The 
 Brahmins are a very lordly domineering race, and 
 exact the most servile homage from the Soodras. 
 They themselves are under great restrictions, as 
 well as the Soodras, particularly in the article of 
 food being prohibited from eating any thing that 
 has had life, except fish ; this, I consider, arises 
 from their belief in the doctrine of transmigration, 
 and as they believe that although the spirits of 
 their ancestors may have entered the bodies of all 
 beasts, birds, reptiles, and insects, yet they do not 
 enter another element, so that they may eat fish 
 with impunity. Their principal diet is rice, this 
 with spices, milk, and ghee is their general repast, 
 although they may partake of the flesh of such 
 animals as are offered in sacrifice to their gods, 
 the laws of Menu permitting this. 
 
 The Brahmins, though all eligible to the priest- 
 hood, yet do not all follow it. Some enter the 
 military service of the Hon. Company, and others 
 become clerks and copyists ; but none are permit- 
 ted to engage in menial employments, and in what- 
 soever state they are found, the same honour is 
 paid by their associates, though perhaps not to 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 69 
 
 that degree as if in priestly office. So great is the 
 pride of the Brahmins, that they claim precedence 
 of kings, and the noblest rajah will partake of 
 food cooked or presented by a Brahmin, whilst 
 the meanest Brahmin will not taste that which has 
 been touched by the mightiest monarch, if not one 
 of their own tribe. Many Brahmins are totally 
 ignorant of their own Shasters, and these are al- 
 ways the most intolerant exactors of homage from 
 the Soodras. Those amongst them who are at all 
 learned are the most conceited pedants that can be 
 possibly imagined. All pretend to a knowledge of 
 astrology, and will calculate lucky days in which 
 the business of life may be transacted ; indeed, 
 full half their revenues are derived from this source, 
 as a Soodra always consults his gooroo, or teacher, 
 before he buys a cow, goes a journey, or engages 
 in any concern however trifling, and the Brahmins 
 never act gratuitously. The whole system is 
 founded in priestcraft, and is admirably adapted 
 to illustrate the Roman Catholic motto, viz. " Ig- 
 norance is the mother of devotion." Their sacred 
 book, "The Institutes of Menu," rests the ap- 
 pointment of princes and rulers in the hands of 
 the Brahmins. They are declared "to be by right 
 the chief of the whole creation ;" " The birth of 
 Brahmins is a successive incarnation of the God 
 of justice, and through their benevolence other 
 mortals enjoy life." These institutes further de- 
 clare that the prince " shall choose a certain num- 
 ber of state counsellors, from whom one chief shall 
 
70 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 be selected, a learned Brahmin, who shall be dis- 
 tinguished amongst them all, and to him the prince 
 shall impart his momentous counsel, and intrust 
 to him all important transactions." (Menu, c. vii. 
 v. 58, 59.) Brahmins not only are exempted from 
 all taxes, but a revenue is derived from government 
 for their support ; and should they commit crimes 
 which would subject others to a confiscation of 
 property, their goods and chattels must not be 
 touched by the profane hands of a magistrate : the 
 priesthood must receive the penalty, for Menu says, 
 " A king though dying with want must not receive 
 any tax from a Brahmin learned in the Vedas." 
 The greatest merit is attached to the making of 
 presents to them, and all ranks are enjoined to do 
 this, as it is " far superior to an offering of holy 
 fire." In short, Brahmins are considered to be an 
 inferior order of Gods. They are supposed to have 
 complete dominion over life and death, and the 
 power of rendering Soodras happy or miserable in 
 their next transmigration. The whole waters of 
 salvation are said " to meet in the foot of a Brah- 
 min." Hence I have beheld Juggernutha, a Brah- 
 min of high caste, employed as superintendent in 
 a dock-yard at Howrah, oftentimes dip his toe 
 into a little water which a prostrate Soodra has 
 held before him, thereby imparting (in the estima- 
 tion of the worshipper,) a saving nature unto it : 
 the poor creature, after drinking it in the most 
 devout manner, has again prostrated himself before 
 him, and retired with an idea that his sins have 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 71 
 
 been cancelled by the deed. I have said, " Jug- 
 gernutha, how can you thus trifle with the souls 
 of your fellow-creatures ? you know there can be 
 no virtue in your toe to make the water otherwise 
 than it was before : you are a man of sense, and 
 should rather strive to undeceive your fellow-coun- 
 trymen than endeavour to perpetuate their cruel 
 bondage." " Why, Sahib," he has replied, " it is 
 our custom, and the poor things like it, and the 
 time is not come yet, Sahib ; but by and bye we 
 shall all be one caste, Sahib ; and if I don't do it, 
 another Brahmin will, so it makes no difference in 
 the end, Sahib." In this way he would endeavour 
 to turn away the subject, and the next hour he 
 probably would perform the same ceremony to 
 many who were waiting his coming out of the 
 gates. The Brahmins are said by Menu to be 
 formed by Brahma the creator from his own mouth. 
 This is considered not only as symbolical of the 
 duties which devolve upon them, viz. to pray, 
 read, and instruct, but also to insure their qualifi- 
 cation for the performance of them, this being a 
 necessary consequence of their formation from that 
 organ. 
 
 It is not allowable by their Shaster that the 
 great body of the people should be instructed. 
 Their Veda-pourannahs, and other sacred books 
 must alone be read by Brahmins, and none must 
 even listen to them but the Kyetra caste ; hence 
 very few indeed can at all enter into the genealo- 
 gies or attributes of their deities. But we may 
 
72 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 hope that the general introduction of schools will 
 give a thirst for knowledge which will in the end 
 undermine the fabric of superstition and facilitate 
 the progress of Christianity. 
 
 Their sacred writings are of two kinds, the 
 Vedas, and Shasters. The former may be termed 
 their Scriptures, the latter expositions of them. 
 Beass Muni, (that is, Beass the Inspired,) a pro- 
 phet who lived in the reign of Judistheer, on the 
 banks of the Jumna, near the present city of Delhi, 
 collected all the detached pieces which form the 
 Vedas, from all parts of India, and gave them 
 their present form and arrangement. They are 
 divided into four books, all written in the Sanscrit 
 language, which in regularity of etymology and 
 grammatical order far exceeds the Arabic or Per- 
 sian. Though exceedingly copious, its roots and 
 primitives are fully illustrated in a few pages. It 
 is difficult of acquisition, but when once attained 
 to perfection, it strikes the ear as beautifully har- 
 monious. 
 
 The first book is called Rug Veda, which signi- 
 fies the Science of Divination, concerning which it 
 principally treats. The second is distinguished 
 by the title of Sheham, which signifies Piety or 
 Devotion, and this book treats of religious and mo- 
 ral duties. The third is the Judger Veda, which, 
 as the word implies, includes the whole science of 
 Religious Rites and Ceremonies. The fourth is 
 denominated Obater Bah : in the Sanscrit, abater 
 signifies the being, or essence, and bah, good ; this 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 73 
 
 literally interpreted, is the knowledge of the good 
 Being, and accordingly this book comprehends 
 the whole science of theology and metaphysical 
 philosophy. 
 
 The Vedas,as also the Shasters or commentaries, 
 pretend to great antiquity, so much so, that many 
 Europeans have been strangely staggered in their 
 belief of the Mosaic chronology, by reading them. 
 But it only requires a little consideration and re- 
 search to discover a vein of imposition running 
 through the whole of their details. The account 
 which they give of creation is far more precise and 
 minute than the sublime language of Moses, and 
 sinks very low when, after describing the formation 
 of inferior gods, sages, and princes, it enumerates 
 and specifies the creation of reptiles, moths, flies, 
 lice, and fleas ; and the incongruity appears, when 
 after detailing a very long and tedious process of 
 creating fourteen different spheres or worlds, 'it is 
 said in another place, " The Being supremely ex- 
 alted performs the creation and destruction of 
 worlds with as much ease as if in sport." They 
 reckon the duration of the world by four ages, or 
 jogues, extending altogether to about eight millions 
 of years. The first age, or suttee jogue, was one 
 of holiness, and lasted 3,200,000 years. During 
 this long period, which in some measure corres- 
 ponds with the golden age of Ovid, no laws were 
 necessary to enforce morality or justice; each 
 mortal lived 100,000 years, and was in stature full 
 thirty feet high. The second, or tirtah jogue,con- 
 
 
 
/4 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 tinned 2,400,000 years, during which one-third of 
 the human family became vile, and the lives of 
 men did not extend to more than 10,000 years. In 
 the third jogue, which lasted only 1,600,000 years, 
 one-half of the inhabitants of the world became 
 reprobate, and their age dwindled to 1,000 years. 
 Then came the kalli jogue, or present era, which 
 is to continue 400,000 years, of which now 5,000 
 are elapsed. When this age commenced, mankind 
 universally became corrupt, and their lives did not 
 exceed 100 years. Now the gross fallacy of this 
 chronology is proved by one of their own sages, 
 Munnoo, who says, "When ten thousand and ten 
 years of the suttee jogue (or first age) were past, 
 on the night of the full moon, in the month Bhu- 
 dun, I Munnoo, at the command of Brahma, finish- 
 ed this Shaster, that speaks of men's duties, of jus- 
 tice, and of religion, ever instructive." Yet Munnoo, 
 according to other chronologists, existed in the 
 reign of Darius Hystaspes, in the time of Herodo- 
 tus. The Hindoos, like the Chinese, have received 
 these fables with the most abject credulity, until 
 at length they have been enrolled and made part 
 and parcel of the records of their nation. The 
 complete fallacy of the Chinese chronology was 
 fully exposed by the celebrated astronomer Cas- 
 sini, who by calculating back proved that though 
 they boast of their antiquity some thousands of years 
 beyond the Mosaic chronology, yet that a famous 
 conjunction of the sun, moon, and several planets, 
 which is recorded as having happened in the reign 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 75 
 
 of one of their first emperors, did actually take 
 place, visible at China, in the year 2012 before 
 Christ; that is, in the fourth century after the flood, 
 a little after the birth of Abraham ; from which it 
 is clear that the boasted antiquity of these nations 
 must contract itself within the compass of the 
 Mosaic history, and thus furnish additional evi- 
 dence of the truth of the sacred Scriptures. 
 
 The idea which their Shasters give of God is, 
 that there is one supreme Being, whom they style 
 Bhogabon or Esher, sometimes Khodah : proceed- 
 ing from him are three powers or deities, viz. : 
 Bruhmha, the Creator of all ; Vishnu, the Preserver 
 of all ; and Seeb, or Sheva, the Destroyer of all. 
 Now whilst the latter is worshipped by all, the 
 former has scarcely any attention paid to his tem- 
 ples ; and even Vishnu the preserver, has few vo- 
 taries compared with the destroyer Seeb. Subor- 
 dinate to these are 330,000,000 inferior gods and 
 goddesses, each representing some peculiar virtue 
 or vice. The Hindoos suppose that each of the 
 three presiding powers oftentimes seeks to en- 
 croach upon the prerogative of his compeer, and 
 thus are often quarrelling and seeking to subvert 
 each other's arrangements. Ignorant of the nature 
 of God, they are equally so of the nature of moral 
 evil. Hence they change the glory of God into 
 corruptible things, even going so far as to deify 
 the waters of the Ganges, into which the whole 
 population crowd morning and evening to bathe ; 
 and the water of this sacred stream is carried to all 
 
 E2 
 
76 
 
 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 parts of India, and to swear by in a court of justice. 
 At Allahabad, where the streams of the Ganges 
 and Jumna unite, the country for many miles round is 
 considered sacred ground ; and so great is the number 
 of pilgrims who resort thither for bathing, that the 
 Vizier has received in one year half a lac of rupees, 
 for permission to enjoy the benefit of immersion in 
 the sacred flood. ' Many are the lives sacrificed 
 here annually. The persons who thus fall victims 
 to their superstition are generally females, who 
 come from all parts of the country to perform the 
 tragic deed, and who show a firmness of purpose 
 worthy a better cause. Several of them, accom- 
 panied by the priests, embark in a boat, and pro- 
 ceed to the spot where the streams unite, when 
 each of the victims in succession descends from the 
 boat to the river, with a large earthen pan fastened 
 to her body, and is supported by a priest till she has 
 filled the pan with water from the stream, when 
 the priest lets go his hold, and she sinks to rise 
 no more, amidst the applauses of the spectators, 
 whilst the Brahmins enjoy the scene, and extol 
 the fortitude of the last victim to her who is about 
 to follow. Thus the poor deluded creatures are 
 excited and stimulated to the perpetration of sui- 
 cide by those who profess to be their spiritual 
 teachers ; and these men will return to shore again, 
 laughing and joking at the transaction, as if they 
 had enjoyed a pleasant morning's ramble. I am 
 happy to know that these self-murders are much 
 less frequent than they were ; and as female edu- 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 77- 
 
 cation extends its influence, we may expect to hear 
 that no more such scenes occur. 
 
 The river at Calcutta is not always a safe place 
 to bathe in, as a poor woman was taken away by 
 an alligator just before my dwelling at Gusserah 
 whilst bathing, and a seapoy shared the same fate 
 soon after at Coolie Bazaar. 
 
 Nothing appears more strange to the newly- 
 arrived European than the practice of men and 
 women bathing together in groups in the Ganges. 
 Yet, so it is ; the banks of the river are daily 
 covered with multitudes who come to perform their 
 ablutions, which is not only necessary for their 
 health, but is also, as before stated, a part of their 
 religion. Both men and women often wash their 
 copperas or cloths (the only one they wear) at 
 such times. At some particular festivals I have 
 seen above ten thousand at the different Ghauts in 
 the water at one time. A proud Brahmin was one 
 day bathing just before my dwelling, and a Soodra 
 having stepped into the sacred stream above the 
 place where he stood, the Brahmin with furious voice 
 and gesture commanded him to go below, lest the 
 water flowing from a Soodra to him should con- 
 taminate his holy person ; the man, evidently in 
 much consternation, speedily obeyed ; yet, it was 
 not many minutes before this holy Brahmin, whilst 
 performing some of the religious ceremonies en- 
 joined by the Shasters, entered into converse of 
 the most impure and disgusting nature with some 
 women who came to fetch water from the river. 
 
78 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 It is hardly possible to conceive the tyrannic sway 
 which these Brahmins maintain over the con- 
 sciences and persons of the Hindoos. As I before 
 said, they are literally worshipped ; and I have 
 seen a proud pampered Brahmin of high caste 
 walk through a village without deigning to take 
 the least notice of several poor Soodras, who fell 
 prostrate before his feet. Much merit is attached 
 to washing in Gunga, (as the Ganges is called by 
 the natives.) " Tell me, Sahib," said a Brahmin 
 one day, " what great thing Jesus Christ has 
 done." " He has made atonement for sin, which 
 none besides has done or can do." " As to that, 
 washing in Gunga will cleanse from all sin." " I 
 
 O O 
 
 do not think so ; can you tell me whether a per- 
 son is sensible of being cleansed from sin by wash- 
 ing in Gunga V " Yes, I can witness to that." " I 
 cannot believe that; for I have bathed a great 
 many times in the river, but have always found my- 
 self as sinful as before, but you have not yet 
 believed in Jesus, therefore you cannot perceive 
 that he is able to cleanse you from guilt." " You 
 may say what you please, but I know Gunga is 
 able to save me." "Well, but what is to become 
 of those who live at such a distance from its banks 
 as not to be able to reach it, if they die without 
 washing in Gunga." Here the Brahmin was dis- 
 concerted, and began to use obscene and abusive 
 language. 
 
 It is this idea that causes so many poor dying 
 creatures to be exposed on the banks of the river. 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 79 
 
 Oftentimes have I witnessed children hurrying 
 their parents to the river-side, fearful lest they 
 should die before they reached its banks. Nothing 
 can be more distressing to the feelings, than to be~ 
 hold those poor expiring creatures, some calling 
 upon Rham, some upon one of their false gods, 
 others upon another, with their bodies half in the 
 water and half out ; the rising tide soon to over- 
 whelm them, and thus to hurry their souls to the 
 bar of a righteous God. Many are laid where the 
 tide cannot reach them, and their case is more 
 pitiable still. Beneath a burning sun, they are 
 left without food, and many of them, who would 
 no doubt recover from their diseases if proper at- 
 tention were paid to them, are literally starved to 
 death, or devoured by jackalls at night. And al- 
 though, in some instances, persons thus left on the 
 banks of the river to die have recovered, yet they 
 have never been received into the bosom of their 
 families, or permitted to associate with their former 
 friends, but have been looked upon as outcasts or 
 Pariahs, and losing caste, they have in vain endea- 
 voured to find an entrance into society in a strange 
 place. There is a small village wholly inhabited 
 by such persons on the banks of the Hooghley near 
 Jungipoor, and they stated to me that they enjoyed 
 far more real comfort than they did when in full 
 caste, but it was evident by their appearance that 
 they were a poor, dejected, comfortless people. 
 
 It would occupy too much space were I to 
 pourtray one half of the horrid scenes I have wit- 
 
80 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 nessed with regard to these Ghaut murders. It 
 very often happens a diseased parent thus exposed 
 lives longer than was expected ; when his children 
 (whose office it should rather be to comfort, sup- 
 port, and, if possible, restore their dying parent,) 
 take of the mud of the river and stuff it into his 
 mouth, nostrils, eyes, and ears, thus speedily ter- 
 minating his existence ; the body is then pushed 
 into the river, and they consider they have per- 
 formed a meritorious act. " Nothing is more dis- 
 tressing to a Hindoo than the idea of not being 
 brought to die on the banks of Gunga, or at least 
 when dead not to be burnt on its shores, or cast 
 into its waters." 
 
 There is one festival held in honour of their 
 gods, at which time the whole country, as it were, 
 flock to certain holy places to bathe ; Serampore 
 is one station, amongst many others, where thou- 
 sands meet from all parts of the surrounding coun- 
 try, and great is the harvest of the Brahmins, as 
 all offer gifts before and after ablution. 
 
 There are many things in the Hindoo ceremonial 
 law which call to mind the customs of the Jews, 
 and particularly with regard to their washings, as 
 the Hindoo will never sit down to eat with un- 
 washed hands ; this, indeed, is a necessary pre- 
 caution, as several dip their hands into the same 
 dish, and all eat with their fingers, unaided by 
 knife, fork, or spoon. 
 
 I never understood the full meaning of our Lord's 
 words, as recorded in John xiii. 10, until I beheld 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 81 
 
 the better sort of natives return home after per- 
 forming their customary ablutions. The passage 
 reads thus, " He that is washed needeth not save 
 to wash his feet, but is clean every whit." Thus, 
 as they return to their habitations barefoot, they 
 necessarily contract, in their progress, some portion 
 of dirt on their feet ; and this is universally the 
 case, however nigh their dwellings may be to the 
 river side. When, therefore, they return, the first 
 thing they do is to mount a low stool, and pour a 
 small vessel of water over their feet to cleanse them 
 from the soil they may have contracted in their 
 journey homewards ; if they are of the higher 
 order of society, a servant performs it for them, 
 and then they are " clean every whit." Does not 
 this in a figure represent to us the defilement which 
 a Christian contracts, although he may have been 
 cleansed by faith in a crucified Saviour ; and the 
 necessity of a continual application of the precious 
 blood of atonement to the conscience, in order that 
 the soul may be " clean every whit ?" 
 
 The whole system of Hindooism is the most 
 licentious and impure it is possible to conceive, 
 so much so, that many of their rich men, who are 
 very depraved, cannot but admit that it is too gross 
 to be fully supported : the following remarks, by 
 Mr. C. Williams, respecting their worship and 
 Shasters, perfectly express my own sentiments, and 
 may serve to shew how difficult is the work of Mis- 
 sionaries in that land of darkness and matchless 
 impurity : 
 
 E3 
 
82 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 " The writings of the Hindoos, every class of 
 them, even their works on ethics, are full of abo- 
 minable allusions and descriptions ; so that they 
 are to-day what they were ages ago, a people 
 unrivalled for impurity. Many parts of the works 
 called the Lunus, of the poorans, and of their poet- 
 ical writings, are so indelicate, that they cannot 
 possibly be translated ; they can never see the 
 light. But what is a million-fold more atrocious, 
 the object of worship appears as the personification 
 of sin itself. One or two of the Hindoo objects of 
 worship cannot possibly be named ; but in the acts 
 of Hindoo worship the same licentiousness prevails. 
 In the songs and dances before the idols, at the 
 periodical festivals, impurity throws away her 
 mask. The respectable natives themselves are 
 absolutely ashamed of being seen in their temples. 
 A Brahmin acknowledged that he never witnessed 
 
 O 
 
 these spectacles without hiding himself behind one 
 of the pillars of the temple. The scenes exhibited 
 in the boats on the Ganges every year at the fes- 
 tival of the goddess Doorga, in the presence of 
 hundreds of spectators, are grossly impure; and at 
 the annual festival of the goddess of learning, the 
 conduct of the worshippers is intolerably offensive. 
 The figures painted on the car of Juggernaut, 
 which is exhibited to the public gaze for fifteen 
 days together, at the festivals in honour of this 
 deity, are equally licentious. And, as might be 
 expected, the priests and the religious mendicants 
 under this profligate system, are the very ring- 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 83 
 
 leaders in crime. The whole country is, indeed, 
 given up to abomination in that degree, that, ac- 
 cording to the opinion of one of the oldest and 
 most respectable residents in India, there is scarce- 
 ly a chaste female to be found among all these 
 myriads of idolaters." 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 " The patient kine 
 
 Pursue their tedious toil : this way or that 
 They turn obedient, as their guide directs, 
 By pull of either tail : he sits aloft 
 In easy state, and sucks the fragrant smoke 
 Delicious from the cocoa-nut, with tube 
 And earthen trumpet top, where burns the weed 
 Narcotic." ORIENT HARPING. 
 
 INFLUENCE OF CASTE ON AGRICULTURE VARIOUS 
 
 CROPS ILLUSTRATIONS OF SCRIPTURE SNAKES 
 
 ANECDOTES, &C. 
 
 THE greatest of all impediments to the improve- 
 ment of the moral and social, as well as religious 
 condition of the Hindoos, is the tenacity with 
 which the distinctions of castes are holden. These 
 follow them into all their pursuits, trades, and 
 avocations. The agriculturists particularly, labour 
 under the greatest disadvantages from this barrier 
 to all improvement, as the following statement, 
 made from actual observation will fully prove. 
 
 Loss of caste would inevitably follow the intro- 
 duction of any improvement or alteration in the 
 shape or construction of their agricultural imple- 
 ments, which are the same in appearance now that 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 85 
 
 they were centuries ago. The European often smiles 
 to behold the Bengalee ploughman going forth to 
 work ; a yoke of kine are driven before him, whilst 
 the plough is carried on his shoulders, harness he 
 needs not, as the plough consists of a long pole, 
 through one end of which a piece of harder wood 
 passes, forming the share and handle, whilst at the 
 other end another piece, transversely fixed, answers 
 the purpose of a yoke : this resting upon the necks 
 of the kine, just before the high hump, precludes 
 the necessity of any harness being used. The 
 form of one of these ploughs may be pretty accu- 
 rately conceived, by imagining an anchor with one 
 of the arms reversed, that is, pointing downwards, 
 the stock forming the yoke. With this plough 
 they merely scarify the ground, no furrows are 
 made, in fact they describe any line in their plough- 
 ing but a straight one. I have seen twenty ploughs 
 at work in a large field, crossing each other at all 
 points, stirring it up to the depth of about five or 
 six inches, and in this manner the earth is prepared 
 for the casting in of the seed, without fetching up 
 a portion of new soil, as is the case with ploughing 
 in England. On account of caste, the Bengal 
 farmer cannot feed and rear sheep or poultry, ex- 
 cept he be a Mussulman ; and Mussulman farmers 
 must not rear pigs, nor spin the wool of their sheep, 
 this must be done by a low caste of Hindoos. 
 Cows must not be fattened for slaughter by Hin- 
 doos, neither are they permitted to breed horses ; 
 this is all left to the Mussulman farmer, who, 
 
yet even he 
 
 prove a great hindrance to 
 
 the Hindoo farmer may be, 
 ye: L>r ILU^: :,-: make if UJCTJ,: aiA implem -.-:.:* . :' 
 giirailUHe, or build an onlkowie or tank; the 
 Grammy caste mst do diis. If his fish poods are 
 
 hare all the sport and 
 If his land be fell of fine bock earth, he 
 let Ike Hocanan make bocks, and bay the 
 him; then be dares not 
 
 small the job must 
 When his trees are 
 
 even then must employ 
 the kernel, which he is not 
 toofl; dus fills to the lot of 
 i ao on with regard to making 
 j basks and leaves, eterf 
 by a particular pn: 
 
 tiling; IOBB of carte. 
 T&.rd H t!je pr;.diice of the 
 in in raw state, and 
 t weave it. Sugar, 
 nd T^g^etables, are 
 fo that a man cannot do 
 
 upon the cu? : 
 pains and penalties which, to 
 
 thai. ..-.:.::. 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 87 
 
 instance of a poor farmer losing caste, because he 
 sowed a different sort of grain to what his ancestors 
 had done. This was considered a most scandalous 
 deviation, and he was expelled from society. 
 
 When the crops are in full perfection, the country 
 looks beautiful, but in a very short period, the face 
 of the ground is completely changed, and all ap- 
 pears dry and famished during the hot months, 
 when the stock are very scantily fed. Rice forms 
 the staple commodity, and is when growing, very 
 much in appearance like our barley; there are a 
 great many species of this grain cultivated, some 
 much larger and coarser than others ; the smaller 
 is generally used at the table of Europeans, and 
 the larger by the low caste natives. The most 
 prolific crops are those which have been planted 
 whilst the fields have been overflowed with water, 
 affording I think some illustration of Eccles. xi. 1. 
 " Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt 
 find it after many days ;" as when the waters go off 
 the tender blade is seen advancing in growth, and 
 soon comes to maturity. The most profitable and 
 sure method of obtaining a large crop, is to sow 
 some rice very thickly upon a well cultured spot, 
 and when the plants are risen a few inches, to take 
 them up carefully, and forming a little ball of earth 
 around each root, to drop them regularly into the 
 water ; this secures their descent to the earth and 
 growth afterwards. It is a very tedious and con- 
 sequently a more expensive process than the other, 
 but amply repays the additional outlay. When a 
 
88 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 dry season occurs, a failure of the rice crops is 
 generally the consequence, and many famines have 
 arisen, which have been productive of the greatest 
 misery in many districts. At such times parents 
 have sold their children for a small quantity of 
 rice : I received a boy about ten years of age into 
 my school at Howrah, who had been sold for a 
 maund, or about eighty pounds of rice, and after- 
 wards fell into the hands of a humane gentle- 
 man, Captain Price, who gave him an education, 
 thus qualifying him to become a useful member of 
 society ; he was called Friday, and proved a very 
 active intelligent lad. When the crops become 
 ripe, it is often the case that a great portion of 
 them is lost, through the farmer not being able to 
 gather them in fast enough, consequently the grain 
 is shed on the ground. A labouring man in the 
 harvest fields of England, does full as much work 
 in the course of a day as ten Bengalee husband- 
 men; their implements are rude, and generally 
 very inefficient, a small reaping hook is the only 
 instrument used to cut the corn, scythes being 
 unknown. The carriages or hackreys on which the 
 corn is carried, are the rudest and most unfit for the 
 purpose that can well be conceived, but in all these 
 things, the least change or improvement is prevent- 
 ed by caste. Various are the crops annually raised, 
 and there are two harvests in the year, one in March 
 and April, the other in September and October. 
 
 Large quantities of cotton and opium, are ex- 
 ported annually ; the latter is entirely engrossed by 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 89 
 
 the Honourable Company: of which I shall speak 
 more fully in another place. When the corn is 
 reaped, it is not carried into barns or built into 
 ricks as is the case with us, but is taken directly to 
 the thrashing floor, which is a large square raised 
 terrace, made something after the manner of a 
 malt-house floor in England, and is generally a 
 very conspicuous object in a village ; on this the 
 corn is placed, and a quantity being strewed in a 
 circle, two or three yoke of oxen are driven round 
 upon it till the grain is trodden out ; and I have 
 remarked that those oxen are not muzzled, in ac- 
 cordance with the Jewish mandate, "thou shalt 
 not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn." I 
 remember reading when young, the account of the 
 angel of the Lord being stationed by the thrashing 
 floor of Araunah, when David had numbered the 
 people, and always pictured to myself the angel as 
 being within a building somewhat like one of our 
 barns, and wondered how the king should have 
 beheld him there ; but having seen an oriental 
 thrashing floor, this impression has been completely 
 erased, as such a situation would be the most 
 public the angelic being could have chosen, and 
 more fitted to display the majesty of his appearing 
 than any other. I also met with the following 
 illustration of Isaiah i. 8. "And the daughter of 
 Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge 
 in a garden of cucumbers." There is a small 
 species of cucumber of which the natives of India 
 are very fond, eating it with their rice as a curry. 
 
90 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 Large fields of these are sometimes planted, which, 
 when nearly arrived to maturity, require incessant 
 watching, to protect them from the attacks of man 
 and beast, as the dandies (or boatmen) will, if they 
 are left unguarded, make great ravages among 
 them. Whilst travelling by water, to the upper 
 provinces of Hindoostan, I was accustomed of an 
 evening, so soon as the declining rays of the sun 
 would permit, to leave the boat and take a walk 
 on the banks of the river, or for a short distance 
 into the interior. One evening, whilst attempting 
 to cross one of these fields, I was startled by the 
 vociferations of a gruff voice seemingly very near ; 
 but I could perceive no person from whom it could 
 proceed. My perplexity however was soon re- 
 moved by the cook boy (who had followed me from 
 the boat) pointing to a little hut raised about fif- 
 teen feet from the ground on four large bamboos, 
 directly above my head, in which ^vas seated a 
 chokedar, or watchman, to guard the cucumbers. 
 The lodge in which he kept guard was very simple 
 in its construction ; four large bamboos supported 
 the whole, and at about fifteen feet from the ground, 
 smaller bamboos tied across formed the floor, and 
 about four feet higher two stiff mats constituted 
 the roof; it was open in front, but enclosed by a 
 smaller mat on each of the other three sides : a 
 knotted bamboo formed a ladder to ascend into it. 
 The chokedar was a most inquisitive character, 
 and through the cook boy, who understood his 
 dialect, overwhelmed me with questions about 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 91 
 
 Europe, and at the same time was very communi- 
 cative respecting the customs of his own people. 
 When I returned, about six months afterwards, 
 the boat having put to for the night very near this 
 place, I visited it again ; but what a change in the 
 appearance of it! the field was barren and scorched 
 up the lodge was deserted and in ruins two of 
 the bamboos which had supported it were gone, 
 the other two were far from being perpendicular, 
 only part of the floor and one side of the roof re- 
 mained attached to them ; the whole presenting 
 a lively figure of ruin and desolation, most fitly 
 used by the inspired prophet to represent the cala- 
 mities of the Jewish nation and the destruction of 
 Jerusalem. 
 
 One of the greatest drawbacks to ease of mind 
 in India arises from the vast number of reptiles, 
 by which you are continually surrounded, and from 
 whose evil propensities you are constantly liable to 
 receive injury. Snakes, scorpions, and centipedes 
 are most common and numerous. 
 
 The different kinds of snakes are all tolerated by 
 the Hindoo, who pays a sort of worship to them. 
 The copracapella, or hooded snake, is very danger- 
 ous and common ; the bite generally proves mortal, 
 and that' speedily too, unless prompt measures are 
 resorted to. They are found in the hollow roots of 
 bamboos, old buildings, and any kind of ruins, and 
 frequently in drains, some of them of a very 
 large size. The largest copracapella I ever killed 
 measured about five feet six inches in length, and 
 
92 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 five inches and a half in girth. It was pursuing. 
 a large frog, which, with terrible croaking, was 
 by tremendous springs endeavouring to escape to a 
 neighbouring tank, which it reached just in time 
 to save its life ; the snake then turned round a small 
 tree and appeared to be watching its return, when, 
 having time to take deliberate aim, I shot it in the 
 head, and it fell dead before me ; on carefully ex- 
 amining the head and jaws, we discovered the 
 fangs laid close down, not standing upright as is 
 the case when it bites, and at the bottom or root 
 of each was a small bladder filled with the destruc- 
 tive venom; the fangs, though exquisitely sharp, 
 were hollow, and the tube of each served as a 
 neck to the bladders of poison, so that when the 
 snake perforates the skin of man or beast, the very 
 act of biting causes the bladders to eject their con- 
 tents into the incision made, by squeezing them 
 against the part bitten. One evening, just at dusk, 
 a cook boy was sent into the Bottle-khannah t& 
 fetch some article wanted ; when he came out he 
 said, something had bitten his toe. The Khansam- 
 mah told him, it was only a mouse ; but the poor 
 fellow said, a mouse could not have given it such a 
 shake. He sat down with some servants who were 
 smoking, and they giving him the hubble-bubble 
 he began to smoke ; but after a whiff he cried out 
 in agony, * My leg is swelling, my leg is paining ; 
 and appeared to be convulsed ; after some delay 
 they came and called me, I went, but although 
 every remedy suggested was tried, yet in two hours 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 93 
 
 he was a corpse so powerful is the venom of this 
 scourge of Bengal. 
 
 I remember being in the verandah of a friend in 
 Entallee, when one of his children, a fine boy about 
 five years of age, came in from the garden, riding 
 upon a piece of old bamboo which he had picked 
 up, when all at once the child dashed it from him 
 and uttered a loud scream, which drew our atten- 
 tion to him, and the cause of the uproar was not 
 long a secret, for out of the bamboo came a young 
 copracapella, about a foot and half long ; happily 
 the child was not bitten, and the creature was 
 speedily destroyed. 
 
 The same friend entering a godown in his gar- 
 den, when he opened the door a large snake of this 
 species alighted on his shoulder,'very fortunately for 
 him he gave such a convulsive start, that the snake 
 could not maintain its hold and dropt on the floor ; 
 or it is more than probable his life would have been 
 sacrificed by its venom. 
 
 The following circumstance will shew the danger 
 to which the inhabitants of Bungalowes are conti- 
 nually exposed : A gentleman was one evening writ- 
 ing a letter, with his left arm carelessly hanging 
 over the side of the table, when a friend, who sat 
 by him, said, ' Mr. B., don't move a muscle upon 
 any consideration, for a large copracapella is sur- 
 veying your hand, and the least movement will 
 cause it to snap at you/ The gentleman glanced 
 his eye round, and sure enough there was the snake, 
 dancing its head round and round his hand ; with 
 
94 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 the greatest self-possession he maintained his posi- 
 tion, not a nerve was shaken, at length poking its 
 head into the full sleeve of his white j acket the snake 
 began to ascend his arm, still npt a joint moved, not 
 a feature was altered in this manner the creature 
 passed all up the arm, until at length it emerged 
 from the sleeve at the collar, when the movement 
 of his friend alarming it, caused it to descend his 
 back to the ground, where it was soon killed. Had 
 not the gentleman manifested this self possession 
 he would have alarmed the snake, which, for self 
 defence, would, no doubt, have seized the object of 
 its terror. 
 
 There is a large black snake, which, although its 
 bite is not venomous, still is a great annoyance, as 
 eggs, chickens, &c., fall a prey to its voracity. This 
 snake will entwine itself around the hind legs of a 
 milch cow, and prevent her from moving, whilst it 
 completely drains her of the milk. Many times in 
 the course of the year do the dhoodwhallas, (or 
 milkmen,) when they bring their cattle in to milk 
 them, find that a customer has been beforehand 
 with them^ I have killed several of this kind, ten 
 feet long or thereabouts ; they are extremely vigi- 
 lant, active and cunning. Mr. G., an intimate and 
 dear friend, whose testimony cannot be doubted, 
 related the following circumstance to me : A 
 lady, who had lately been confined, was very much 
 perplexed more than once or twice during the week, 
 on finding, that although she had a copious supply 
 of nourishment for the child, yet on waking early 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECT: 95 
 
 in the morning it was all exhausted ; the ayah, or 
 nurse-maid having mentioned this to a friend, she 
 exclaimed, l then I am sure the snake comes.' An 
 explanation followed, and the woman declared she 
 had been visited by a snake of the species referred 
 to several times during the period she suckled her 
 child, and at length succeeded hi getting the reptile 
 destroyed. The ayah was running in haste to in- 
 form her mistress of the intelligence thus gained, 
 when, very fortunately, she met the gentleman and 
 told him first ; he commanded her by no means, on 
 peril of his highest displeasure, to mention the least 
 hint concerning it to his wife, at the same time 
 promising handsome buckshish if she obeyed. 
 How far the threat prevailed I know not ; but it is 
 certain she kept the secret ; which I attribute to 
 the charm always attendant on the word buckshish. 
 That same evening the gentleman waited on my 
 friend, and requested him kindly to watch with him 
 (during the night) the approach of the suspected 
 snake. There were two large Venetian windows in 
 the room where his wife slept, these were, as the cus- 
 tom is, partially kept open during the night; when 
 the lady was gone to sleep they postecr*theniselves 
 so as each could watch a window. Xo signs of the 
 unwelcome visitor's approach were given till about 
 two o'clock in the morning, when both at times be- 
 gan to nod, however they kept watch as well as 
 they could. It was just as my friend raised his 
 head after a nod, that he saw a shadow, as it were, 
 gliding upon the mat before him, and on closer view 
 
96 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 he saw that it was a very long black snake, which 
 unperceived had entered the room through the 
 open Venetian : it quickly ascended the bed-post ; 
 the mosquito curtains were tucked in all round, 
 yet the crafty creature insinuated its head under 
 the folds, and reaching the head of the bed, for a 
 moment surveyed the face of the sleeping mother, 
 then, with its tail folded round the bed-post, it be- 
 gan its operations, and, as it was obliged to put its 
 head under the pallampore, it would repeatedly 
 look out to see if all was right. By signs the hus- 
 band was informed of the presence of the marauder, 
 and both anxiously waited its retreat : at length 
 slowly withdrawing itself from the bed it descended 
 to the floor, when my friend, by a blow with a 
 cutlass, severed its head from the body ; and a 
 great quantity of milk was found within it. The 
 lady did not awake, and was not informed of the 
 circumstance till some time after. 
 
 There is a small striped snake, which is very 
 harmless and exceedingly beautiful ; though, I 
 confess, I never could be brought to handle it as 
 some persons do. A conductor of ordnance was 
 coming from Allipore to Sulkea to see his son, 
 then with me, and finding one of this species put 
 it into the crown of his shakoe, and brought it with 
 him on his head, to the great amusement of the 
 young folks, in the midst of whom he turned it 
 loose for a hunt, as he called it. The snake escaped 
 by taking refuge in a drain. 
 
 The whip snake is very venomous, and more dan- 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 97 
 
 gerous than any other in India ; the body is long 
 and slender, very much in size like the thong of a 
 chaise whip, from which I suppose it derives its 
 name. This snake frequents the trees, and, fixing 
 its tail round a branch, will dart forward its whole 
 length to seize any object that may, unconscious of 
 the danger, pass below it. One evening, whilst 
 walking beneath a small mangoe tope, I felt a 
 smart rap upon the crown of my hat, and looking 
 up, saw one of these reptiles darting from the bough 
 just above my head: with great difficulty I ma- 
 naged to destroy it ; but not before I had sent for 
 my gun, and shot at it several times. 
 
 I was very much alarmed one day, on entering 
 an out-office belonging to my friend Mr. Davis, to 
 find that I had shut myself in with a very large 
 snake, which immediately announced its presence 
 by a tremendous hissing. Raising itself full five feet 
 upon its tail, it seemed to bid defiance. I was al- 
 most paralyzed expecting an attack every mo- 
 ment ! Possessing nothing wherewith to defend 
 myself, I looked upward for help, and was provi- 
 dentially saved, for having turned my head round to 
 see if the door was a-jar or not, in that moment the 
 snake with a terrible bound cleared a small window 
 or loop-hole, full six feet from the ground, quite as 
 much to my delight as to its own, however great 
 that might be. 
 
 There are a great many species of the water 
 snake, and some of them very large, and others 
 very beautiful : they prey upon the small fish in 
 F 
 
98 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 the tanks, as well as on the frogs and other inha- 
 bitants of the stagnant pools, with which in some 
 parts of the year the paddy fields abound. I have 
 often been surprised at the dexterity with which a 
 small species of the water-snake catches its prey. 
 Leaving the tank, or pool, it cautiously glides along 
 the bank to the opposite side, where a number of 
 small fish are sporting on the surface, when sud- 
 denly pouncing upon them, it generally succeeds 
 in making sure of one. With neck erect, about 
 five or six inches out of the water, it will pursue 
 them in shallow water until a good opportunity 
 presents itself, when making a dive, it proudly rises 
 with a small fish in its mouth, which is then taken 
 to the bank and there swallowed. Their capacity 
 for swallowing is great indeed. I have taken a 
 large frog from the throat of a small snake. When 
 a frog is seized by one of them, it utters the most 
 piteous cries, which continue for some time, as the 
 swallowing is a tedious process. My young gen- 
 tlemen have often exclaimed, " Hark ! there is a 
 frog captured let us go and set the poor fellow 
 free ;" and, directed by the cry, have literally de- 
 livered many from the jaws of death, as the snake, 
 whilst gorging its victim, is itself an easy prey. 
 
 In the Morung forests, and parts adjacent, from 
 whence the saul timber, so much used in building, 
 is brought, a very large and indolent snake is found. 
 I saw one brought to Calcutta from thence ; it 
 measured about twenty feet long, and was very 
 thick. I believe it measured, in the largest part, 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 99 
 
 nearly two feet round. This species is very diffe- 
 rent from the boa constrictor, possessing neither its 
 agility nor flexibility : it will swallow large ani- 
 mals, preparing them first by its saliva. The colour 
 is yellow and brown, very prettily streaked and 
 chequered. Mr. B., who had seen many of them, 
 told me that his men, who were employed in cut- 
 ting timber in the forests, had killed them so large 
 that one made a good load for a hackery to bring 
 out. In travelling up the river in the native boats, 
 one is subject to great annoyance from snakes, 
 as they often hide in the thatch. One evening I had 
 lain down for the night, and was merely covered 
 with a pallampore or chintz counterpane, when a 
 good sized snake dropped from the thatched roof 
 just on my body : flinging the covering over it, I 
 sprang up in an instant, giving at the same time a 
 shriek that alarmed the whole boat's crew. Laying- 
 hold of a billet of wood, I beat the pallampore most 
 fiercely, and killed the snake before it could escape 
 from the folds. It was not a water snake, but one 
 of those which are called by Europeans, Bengal 
 vipers. All the land snakes will take water at 
 times, to cross to different places which they know. 
 The largest copracapella I ever killed was crossing 
 a river at the time ; its body was circularly fold- 
 ed upon the top of the water, with its head elevated 
 about six inches : in this manner it was sailing to 
 the opposite shore, when my boat passed within 
 about twenty yards of it. As it happened, I was 
 prepared for the rencounter, having a loaded gun 
 
 F2 
 
100 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 in my hand, with which I had been trying to kill 
 or drive away some voracious kites that very much 
 annoyed the cook. I fired at it, when it sprang 
 some distance out of the water, and after writh- 
 ing for a short time became quite motionless, and 
 floated down the stream. This snake had a larger 
 hood than any I ever saw. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 " The grave Hindoo, 
 The gay Mussulman, and the sour Malay, 
 Of varying colour, garb, and countenance, 
 " Mingle in common union : all in want, 
 Depending on each other, here supply 
 Their pressing need by intercourse ; their creed, 
 Their names, all different, but their interest one. 
 Ere long their creed shall be the same, and all 
 Join in one brotherhood dissevered now." 
 
 THE CONTRAST. 
 
 MUSSULMANS THEIR MODE OF WORSHIP MOULAH 
 
 AND DISCIPLES TWO MOGUL MERCHANTS NATIVE 
 
 SERVANTS THEIR NUMBER PETTY THEFTS 
 
 FAWNING MANNERS BAREFACED LIES ANEC- 
 DOTES WAITING AT THE GATES CURIOUS PETITION 
 
 MODES OF BUILDING ILLUSTRATIONS OF SCRIP- 
 TURE. 
 
 THE Mussulman part of the community is in 
 much the same state of degrading superstition as 
 the Hindoo, although not quite so much tyran- 
 nized over by the priests. The Moulahs, Imans, 
 and Moonshees, do not meet with half the reve- 
 rence, or reap any thing like the pecuniary revenues 
 from the Mussulmans, that the Brahmins do from 
 the Hindoos ; neither are the Mussulmans so punc- 
 tual in the observance of the rites and ceremonies 
 
102 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 of their religion ; yet the Moulahs themselves ap- 
 pear far more devout in their acts of worship than 
 the Brahmins do. When publicly engaged in 
 prayer, they certainly do present an appearance 
 which assuredly would put to shame most of our 
 congregations, could they behold them, as their 
 attention seems entirely engaged in the exercise : 
 kneeling before the shrine with closed eyes, their 
 prayers are offered, with seeming fervour, in long 
 succession, and often during the time of worship 
 they prostrate themselves, beating the ground with 
 their foreheads. I remember seeing a Moulah and 
 three of his disciples thus engaged for about half 
 an hour, at the time when a ship, built in Messrs. 
 Vrignon's dock-yard, for Shaik Abdallah, a Mogul 
 merchant, was about to be launched. The Moulah 
 was a venerable old man, with a large flowing grey 
 beard, and with his disciples was neatly clad in 
 white robes. They were engaged by Shaik Ab- 
 dallah to pray for the safety of the vessel, in her 
 future cruises over the watery main. Soon as the 
 first shore was knocked away they began to pray, 
 and continued till the vessel was safe at anchor in 
 the flowing stream. The Moulah certainly did 
 seem to be entirely absorbed in the exercise ; but 
 the disciples, who exactly followed him in his pros- 
 trations and all outward ceremonies, could not re- 
 frain from stealing a glance at the busy scene 
 around. 
 
 Though the Mussulmans have no caste in 
 reality, yet their intercourse with Hindoos has led 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 103 
 
 them to imagine that they have one, and this 
 is often productive of a great many disputes in 
 families where they are servants. They are far 
 more dissolute in their habits than the Hindoos, 
 and will freely drink any spirituous liquors that 
 come within their reach ; and this is generally the 
 case with high and low ; whereas, although some 
 of the low castes and Pariahs among the Hindoos 
 may do this, yet no Hindoo of caste or rank, ex- 
 cept the Tuntras, will touch a drop of ardent spirits 
 or wine. I once met two rich Mussulman mer- 
 chants at the house of a ship-builder ; they came 
 in just after dinner, and very readily took seats at 
 the table. The gentleman of the house said, " I 
 suppose it is of no use to offer you a glass of 
 wine?" "Oh, no! no! no!" they both replied: 
 w the followers of the Prophet must drink no wine." 
 Very soon after this, one of them went out of the 
 room, when the ship-builder, who seemed perfectly 
 well acquainted with the manosuvre, said to the 
 other, " You had better taste the wine come, help 
 yourself." To my great surprise, the Mussulman 
 took a tumbler, instead of a regular wine glass, 
 and filling it to the brim, drank it off: the other 
 soon returned, when his friend went out, and ex- 
 actly the same scene occurred again thus they 
 could not accuse each other. 
 
 Every Mussulman is allowed by his religion to 
 have four wives, and as many concubines as he 
 pleases; but in consequence of the expenses at- 
 tendant on polygamy, very few, except their rich 
 
104 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 men, have more than one wife. Among persons 
 of rank, a very rigid exclusion of their wives from 
 all society and the public gaze, is enforced ; whilst 
 the lower orders live much in the same manner as 
 our peasantry do here. 
 
 Most of the servants in Calcutta have wives 
 and families, either in some of the suburbs or up 
 the country, for whose support a portion of their 
 monthly wages is generally very punctually remit- 
 ted. I have often been surprised to learn, that 
 some of my servants, receiving only five rupees 
 each per month, have been enabled regularly to 
 transmit three of these to their wives and families 
 at home, and that even out of that sum, full one 
 half has been laid by for future support. This 
 will appear strange to European ears, when it is 
 added, that out of the two rupees (worth about 
 two shillings each) he had to provide food and 
 clothing for himself as no servants in India, ex- 
 cept native Christian or Portuguese, will eat any 
 thing that comes from their master's table, that is, 
 openly, though, as future details will shew, they 
 can do so privately. 
 
 Servants in India are a heavy burden on the 
 mind, and a great tax on the purse. The high civil 
 and military officers are obliged to support a num- 
 ber of attendants, who merely add to their splen- 
 dour when in public, without being of the least use 
 in the family : such are the chobdars, sotaburdars, 
 and hurkarus. These men cany silver wands before 
 the palanqueen, and bear letters or messages from 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 105 
 
 one person to another. In all families, hurkarus 
 are employed ; but these will do for dhurwans, 
 or door-keepers, of a night : and the following are 
 indispensably necessary to the establishment of a 
 person of any pretension to gentility, viz. a khan- 
 saman, or house-steward abdar, or water-cooler 
 sherabdar, or wine-manager six or eight khit- 
 mutgars, or waiters at table sirdar-bearer, and 
 eight others -two or three bobajees, or cooks 
 bheesties, or water-carriers mhaters, or sweepers 
 out-of-door servants, grooms, &c. &c. &c., to a 
 great number ; custom and caste require persons 
 in the middle rank of life in Bengal to keep a 
 great many: and even a missionary, whose object 
 it is to do with as few as possible, is under the 
 necessity of paying a bobajee or cook, a bearer, 
 khitmutghar, mhater, dhurwhan, syce, grasscut, 
 dhobee, and dhurghee. The salary of these ave- 
 rages at about five rupees per month. Many of 
 the higher ranks of society have as many as a 
 hundred, or a hundred and twenty servants, em- 
 ployed in their houses and gardens, not one of 
 whom can be pronounced superfluous. 
 
 Such a train of servants is a continual source 
 of vexation. Those who have to do with the 
 table will commit such petty thefts as to elude 
 observation, but which, constantly repeated, amount 
 to a heavy tax in the course of a year : for instance, 
 I had a box of tea opened, from which I took two 
 seers (four pounds) and sent it to a friend; in 
 about two months I wanted some for use, and then 
 F 3 
 
106 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 found that, instead of four seers (eight pounds) 
 about one seer (or two pounds) only remained. 
 Now this theft had not been committed at one 
 time, nor at twenty times, but daily; a small 
 pinch had been taken every time the khitmutghar 
 had access to the godown, so that its decrease 
 had been, as it were, imperceptible. Having 
 suspicion that such petty thefts were constantly 
 carried on, I one night stopped the Mussulman 
 servants as they were going home, at the gate, 
 and ordered them to pull off their cummerbunds, 
 when my suspicions were fully realized ; small 
 quantities of salt, sugar, tea, spice, quills, and a 
 dessert knife, were carefully concealed in their 
 folds. It would have been vain to have discharged 
 them, as new servants would not only be a trouble, 
 until initiated to the manners and customs of the 
 family, but would most certainly follow the same 
 plan. I therefore endeavoured to make them 
 ashamed, and threatened to stop the value of all 
 articles missed, out of their joint wages; at the 
 same time ordering the dhurwhan to search them 
 whenever they left the premises. Although they 
 profess not to drink spirituous liquors, yet I found 
 I could never leave any spirits in their way, with- 
 out the quantity being considerably lessened. A 
 gentleman called in one day, who wished for some 
 brandy and water : I sent the servant to the cel- 
 laret, to get the brandy, and when done with, to 
 take it back : j ust after he had given me the keys 
 and left the room, I heard a smash in the marble 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 107 
 
 hall, and going to inquire the cause, the same 
 servant said he was carrying a glass of water for 
 one of the young gentlemen, but another running 
 against him, had knocked it out of his hand. I 
 was turning on my heel to come away, when a 
 strong spirituous perfume caused me to suspect 
 the liquor spilled was brandy. One of the young 
 gentlemen, at the same moment, putting his finger 
 to it, and tasting it, exclaimed, " It is brandy, Sir, 
 and not water." The man most positively asserted 
 it was nothing but water* " For which of the 
 young gentlemen were you bringing it?" said I. - 
 " Oh ! he had quite forgotten !" I then tasted it 
 myself, and being thus convinced it was brandy, I 
 called for a candle, and lighting a piece of paper, 
 threw it down, when the blue flame spread itself 
 over the whole surface of the liquid ; upon seeing 
 which he, with the greatest effrontery and appa- 
 rent astonishment, lifting up his hands, exclaimed, 
 " You sahibs can do wonderful things even make 
 water burn !" The fact was, he had filled a large 
 tumbler with brandy, and availing himself of the 
 long flowing sleeve which covered his hand, he 
 had brought it through the room when he gave 
 me the keys. 
 
 For a long time the silver spoons used to dis^ 
 appear very fast, although I thought I took every 
 precaution to insure their safety. The khansam- 
 mah used to count them every night, and lock them 
 in a drawer, then give me the key, and come for 
 it in the morning, to take them out. One night 
 I had the curiosity, after he had left, to open the 
 
108 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 drawer and count them myself, when I found that 
 a tea and a dessert spoon were deficient, although 
 he had made them to appear correct. I imme- 
 diately sent a hurkarrah to overtake him, and tell 
 him I had something to say to him before he went 
 to the bazaar in the morning, and that he had 
 better come now, as I might not see him on the 
 morrow. Accordingly, in a few minutes he came, 
 when, although his cummerbund was taken off', 
 the spoons were not found ; but an old bearer, a 
 Hindoo, who bore no good-will to the khansam- 
 mah, whispering said, " Examine his turban, 
 sahib/' which I did, and there the spoons were 
 found. 
 
 The bearer I have just mentioned was the best 
 servant I ever had, yet he was not to be implicitly 
 confided in ; many articles of clothing were con- 
 stantly lost, and he knew nothing about them. 
 One month, no less than six shirts, with several 
 white jackets, had disappeared; but although he 
 brought me clean clothes, and took charge of those 
 which were put off, he could never account for the 
 manner in which they were lost. At length I made 
 a list of all my wearing apparel, and counting them 
 before him, gave him the keys of the almirah, 
 or wardrobe, and the entire charge of them, stipu- 
 lating that he should make good all deficiencies ; 
 at the same time giving him half a rupee per month 
 more wages, to enable him to meet any casualties 
 that might happen, and the result was, that from 
 that time I never lost any clothes. 
 
 The fawning, deceitful manners of the servants, 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 109 
 
 are calculated to lead Europeans to place the 
 greatest confidence in them, until woeful expe- 
 rience testifies that not one word they say can be 
 believed, or any reliance placed on a single pro- 
 mise they make. Lying is not considered a vice 
 with them ; but, on the contrary, the man who can 
 dissimulate most successfully is most applauded ; 
 and the greatest lies, so far from being considered 
 as worthy of censure, are extolled, as a means of 
 attaining the object. Hence I have known natives 
 practise a well organized system of deception for 
 weeks, in order to attain a comparatively trivial 
 object. 
 
 I remember one day going to the Botanical 
 Gardens on horseback, and as the tide would 
 serve to return, I preferred going back in a din- 
 ghey to riding my horse. I told the syce, there- 
 fore, to ride him home. This he positively refused 
 to do, saying, he could never think of presuming 
 to sit on the horse which carried the sahib whose 
 salt he ate ; it was an honour he could not think 
 of taking : no, he would lead the horse. I cer- 
 tainly did not wish to press the honour upon him, 
 so told him to take his time and lead the horse 
 gently home. In a very short time, I left the gar- 
 dens in a bauleah belonging to a gentleman at 
 Howrah, and landing at a ghaut a short distance 
 from home, was walking thither, when who should 
 come galloping along the road but my syce, evi- 
 dently under the influence of liquor. He passed 
 without recognizing me, as it was just dusk. I 
 
110 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 took no notice of the circumstance that night; 
 but when I told him of it next day, he stoutly 
 denied the fact, and it cost me a great deal of 
 trouble to convince him that he had experienced 
 the high honour of riding on sahib's horse. From 
 this circumstance I gathered an illustration of 
 Esther vi. 8, where Hainan, thirsting for honour, 
 among other petitions, says, " Let title horse that 
 the king rideth upon be brought," &c, ^ 
 
 None of my servants, at first, would have any 
 thing to do with bringing to table any kind of 
 pig meat, saying that none but a mesaljie could 
 handle the dishes or plates, &c. in which swine's 
 flesh was placed. For some time I humoured 
 them in this particular, and whenever bacon, ham, 
 or a fat pig was brought to table, the mesaljie 
 alone handed the dishes, plates, &c.; and even 
 the bearers went so far as to say, they could not 
 pull the punkah whilst swine's flesh was upon the 
 table. A captain of one of the Honourable Com- 
 pany's chartered vessels dining with me one day, 
 observed this, and told me that his servants for 
 some time had acted upon the same principles; 
 " but the case is quite different now," said he, 
 " for last week I had a fine ham boiled, and, as 
 usual, I was obliged to hire a man of low caste to 
 wait at table. Having occasion to rise earlier the 
 next morning than I generally do, when I came 
 down I could not find a single servant ; but hear- 
 ing a hum of voices in the bottle khannah (pantry), 
 I looked in, and there were all these very men, 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. Ill 
 
 who had refused to bring the ham to table, eating 
 of it, with slices of bread and butter, pretty freely. 
 Never did I witness greater consternation apparent 
 in any countenances than in theirs, when they be- 
 held me. 'O ho ! gentlemen/ said I, 'you cannot any 
 longer refuse to bring pig meat to table, I should 
 think, can you ? I see how the land lies, and I shall 
 just ask a moonshee (Persian teacher) about it this 
 morning/ ' Oh ! sahib/ said they all, ' don't say 
 a word about it, and we will do any thing you 
 wish/ ' Very well/ said I, ' let me have no more 
 bother about caste, and I shall hold my tongue ; 
 but the first time any demur is made, I will expose 
 you all.' From that time," said he, " I have never 
 heard a word about caste, and I dress pig meat 
 almost every day." 
 
 Upon hearing this, it struck me that several of 
 my hams had, after being dressed, disappeared 
 very quickly so that I determined to take parti- 
 cular notice of the next that was cooked ; and in 
 order to be certain whether the servants did par- 
 take of it or no, before it left the table I took mea- 
 sure of the joint, unperceived by them, and when 
 the ham made its appearance on the breakfast 
 table next morning, I applied the measure, and 
 found a decrease of about three inches in the 
 prime part. My suspicions being thus confirmed, 
 I challenged them with it ; but they were all in- 
 dignant at the idea. However, finding that I was 
 confidently assured of the truth of the charge, 
 rather than be dismissed my service, which I 
 
112 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 threatened to do, if they made any demur about 
 bringing pig meat to the table, they agreed to 
 do it, provided all were obliged to share the dis- 
 grace. That same day a kind friend sent me a 
 very fine fat pig : it was dressed, and the whole 
 host of servants putting their hands to the dish, 
 brought it in. From that time my troubles on 
 the score of caste ceased ; but not so on the score 
 of thefts. Three silver spoons being missed, suspi- 
 cion fell on a Mussulman lad ; and the theft being 
 brought home to him, I sent him to the Thanna, 
 thinking it proper no longer to pass these things 
 over, as my forbearance only served to increase 
 the evil. After he had been confined about a 
 month, as I was going out one morning, his father 
 and mother clamorously assailed me with demands 
 for money, saying I had sent their boy to gaol, 
 from whose wages they had received one rupee 
 eight annas per month, therefore as an act of 
 justice I ought to allow them that sum for the 
 time he had already been incarcerated, and in the 
 same ratio for the time he might yet be in prison. 
 It was in vain that I spoke to them of the moral 
 turpitude of their son's conduct ; the only crime 
 they considered he had been guilty of was, that he 
 did not escape detection. In this manner they 
 assailed me whenever I went out, waiting con- 
 stantly at the gates. At length, finding I would 
 not comply with their wishes, the old man offered 
 to supply his son's place until his return from 
 prison, and seemed greatly astonished when I told 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 113 
 
 him I could not think of receiving the boy into 
 my service again. The old lady then became very 
 abusive and insulting in her language, and I could 
 hear her vociferations for a long time, as they 
 passed up the village homewards. 
 
 The practice which prevails of waiting at the 
 gate till the owner of the house comes out, for- 
 cibly reminded me of Prov. viii. 34. " Blessed is 
 the man that heareth me, watching daily at my 
 gates, waiting at the posts of my doors ;" and of 
 Luke xvi. 20. " And there was a certain beggar, 
 named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of 
 sores." Sometimes, as I came out at the gates, 
 written petitions would be thrust into my palan- 
 queen ; and at other times, suppliants would make 
 the most abject prostrations, in order to gain the 
 fulfilment of their wishes. Many of these peti- 
 tions prayed for my interest to be exerted for pro- 
 curing situations for the applicants; others for 
 admission of the petitioners, or their relatives, into 
 the school, in which the native youth were in- 
 structed in the English language ; and many for 
 pecuniary relief. Some of them were written in 
 the Bengalee, others in the Persian language, but 
 most of them in English, and these were the most 
 curious documents I ever read. Being written by 
 sircars, (for a trifling gratuity,) they abounded 
 with high-flown metaphors or compliments, ex- 
 tracted from the Complete English Letter Writer, 
 (a book much in vogue with the natives,) and, ge- 
 nerally speaking, the whole matter was extracted 
 
114 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 from the dictionary without the writer understand- 
 ing the meaning of any of the words he penned. 
 Take the following as a specimen. The original is 
 now by me, it came from a young man who wished 
 to be admitted into the English school. 
 
 " To the Kitig's most excellent Majesty. 
 " Messieurs Statharn, Esq. 
 
 " May it please your reverendship. The humble 
 petition of Rham Hhurry Dhoss sheweth that your 
 petitioner is amazingly idle, and desirous of a com- 
 moner in your university ; and he will take your 
 most noble grace's name, and for ever and ever pray. 
 " Rham Hhurry Dhoss." 
 
 The term idle was taken for unemployed ; but 
 I certainly had no reason to apply it to Rham 
 Hhurry Dhoss, when received as a pupil, for he be- 
 came one of the most industrious lads in the school; 
 so great was his assiduity, that in a few months he 
 could read and parse English tolerably well. 
 
 In speaking of coming out of the gates, it is 
 perhaps necessary to state, that each house is 
 built in a compound, or yard, or garden, surrounded 
 by a wall, with a large pair of gates as an entrance, 
 by the side of which is a small house or lodge for 
 the porter or dhurwhan. This man refuses ingress 
 to strangers, beggars, &c., unless they give some 
 plausible reason for wishing to enter. I have often 
 smiled to see the vast pillars and massive gates 
 which guard the entrance to some of the meanest 
 and most insignificant buildings many of them 
 totally unsupported by walls or palings; but merely 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 115 
 
 flanked by a straggling hedge. In some of the 
 more ancient buildings the gateways exhibit spe- 
 cimens of beautiful work in plaister and stucco. 
 
 There are two methods of building with bricks, 
 one is called puckah, the other cutcha work. The 
 former is much the same as is used in England ; 
 only the mortar is composed of whiter lime or chu- 
 nam, made by burning shells. The latter is effected 
 by using mud or clay instead of mortar, and stands 
 for a length of time, when coated over with rough 
 cast in which lime has been used. The puckah 
 buildings are also plastered over, or the violent 
 rains would soon wash out the mortar from between 
 the bricks and destroy the building. The European 
 houses in Calcutta are all cased in this manner, 
 and appear at a distance as if built with free stone. 
 Many of the natives, with characteristic cupidity, 
 suffer their houses, some of them large, costly, 
 buildings, rapidly to fall into decay and ruin, 
 rather than be at the expence of a coat of plaster ; 
 thus saving about one-fiftieth of what, in a short 
 time afterwards, they unavoidably must lose. 
 
 The houses of the poorer natives are miserable 
 looking huts ; those in the cities being built of 
 cane mats, and those in the country of mud, both 
 being thatched. 
 
 Nothing can present a greater contrast than 
 Chowringhee, where the higher order of Europeans 
 live, and the native streets close behind. One per- 
 sonifies splendour, the other misery and wretched- 
 ness. 
 
116 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 I would here mention a circumstance as iL- 
 lustrative of 1 Kings xviii. 46. " And the hand 
 of the Lord was on Elijah: and he girded up 
 his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of 
 Jezreel." 
 
 It is a well known fact, that, if the natives of 
 India have any object of gain in view, they will 
 spare no mark of respect towards the person by 
 whose instrumentality they hope to obtain it. 
 
 Thus, on the dismissal from office of the Jema*- 
 dar of a Thannah (gaol), in a village a few miles 
 distant from the place where I resided, a very re- 
 spectable native waited upon me and solicited my 
 recommendation to the magistrate of the district, 
 as a fit person to fill the vacant situation. Know- 
 ing him to be greatly superior in many respects to 
 the generality of the natives, I promised that, when 
 I had an interview with the magistrate, which 
 would be in few days, I would speak a word in his 
 behalf. In the mean while, having occasion to 
 pass through the village, I was much surprised at 
 beholding him, the moment he recognised me, 
 tighten his cummerbund (or gird up his loins) and 
 proceed to run before my palanqueen. I said 
 nothing until we had cleared the village, thinking 
 that he would then return ; but as he still con- 
 tinued to run before me, I called to the bearers to 
 stop the palanqueen, and entreated him to go back. 
 This he positively refused to do, saying, nothing 
 should prevent his paying this mark of respect, at 
 the same time overwhelming me with the most 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 117 
 
 extravagant compliments ; and in this manner he 
 preceded me the whole distance, about four miles, 
 until we arrived at the gates of my compound, 
 when, with a profound salam, he took leave and 
 returned. 
 
 In this manner I consider that Elijah, although 
 he detested the crimes of Ahab, was desirous of 
 paying him all that respect which his exalted sta- 
 tion as king of Israel demanded thus affording 
 a ' practical comment on the apostolic precept, 
 " Honour the king." By this means the prophet 
 showed his deep humility in not assuming to him- 
 self any glory because of the mighty works which 
 God had performed by him ; and at the same time 
 evinced his entire dependence on the protecting 
 hand of God, by thus accompanying the king to 
 the very place where his greatest enemies, Jezebel 
 and her prophets, dwelt. 
 
 The same man afforded me an illustration of 
 Genesis xxiv. 9. " And the servant put his hand 
 under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware 
 to him concerning that matter." 
 
 On having communicated to him at a subsequent 
 period his appointment to the situation, and ex- 
 horted him to fill it with fidelity, so that I might 
 not be blamed for having recommended him, he 
 dropped on one knee, and laying hold of my knee 
 with one hand and placing the other at the back 
 of the thigh, he solemnly vowed to be faithful in 
 the discharge of his duties, and professed entire 
 submission to myself, 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 " Prostration in the very dust 
 The pupil too must yield, and bless the feet 
 Of him who saves the soul, and lend his head 
 A footstool meet for holy guest. If aught 
 Of injury happen to the man rever'd 
 From his ungracious learner, he will pay 
 For such temerity in other births, 
 Crawling to life a base abhorred worm, 
 Fattening upon the dunghill." 
 
 THE CHURRUCK POOJAH DEATH OF A DEVOTEE PRO- 
 CESSIONS POLICE MAGISTRATE ANECDOTE OF A 
 
 SYCE ORIGIN OF THE FESTIVAL ANECDOTE OF A 
 
 BRAHMIN GREAT SUPERSTITION SUTTEES. 
 
 AMONGST all the annual festivals of the Hin- 
 doos the Churruck Poojah and Dhoorga Poojah are 
 the most famous. The latter has not been esta- 
 blished many years in the magnificent style in 
 which it is now celebrated ; and I consider this 
 is, in a great measure, owing to the presence of 
 Europeans, who accept invitations from the rich 
 Baboos, and thus give an eclat to the proceedings 
 which causes a vast deal of money to be expended 
 on them annually. I knew one Baboo, who la- 
 vished half a lac of rupees away at every Dhoorga 
 Poojah, whilst I was in India. This sum, equal to 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 119 
 
 ten thousand pounds, is annually given by one in- 
 dividual to support a false system of religion, and 
 surely ought to convey reproof to those, who, en- 
 joying all the privileges of the blessed Gospel, in 
 which life and immortality are brought to light ? 
 still refuse to devote a small pittance annually to- 
 wards the dissemination of those truths, that 
 alone are capable of dispelling the clouds of ignor- 
 ance and superstition, which have so long hovered 
 over and enveloped the Pagan nations of the earth. 
 
 The cruelties practised by devotees towards their 
 own bodies should also teach us the value of that 
 blessed book, in which a Saviour is revealed ; who 
 hath suffered for us the pains and penalties which 
 our sins deserve. 
 
 To know the value of the Gospel we have only 
 to view the rites of Heathenism and the state of 
 Pagan society this view will declare it. 
 
 The Churruck Pooj ah is a festival in honour of 
 the sanguinary goddess Khali ; this takes place 
 at the end of the old and beginning of their new 
 year. At this season the most painful acts of self 
 torture are performed. These have been so often 
 described, that it is needless for me to enter into a 
 full detail. I thought when first I became an eye 
 witness to them that some deception was prac- 
 tised, especially in the swinging, as the persons 
 thus tortured seemed to bear the punishment, 
 which the hooks must inflict, with the greatest 
 self possession; however, on investigation, I found 
 that all was real. I have seen some victims since 
 
120 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 that time who could no longer bear the pain, and 
 cried most piteously to be released. At a village 
 close by Sulkea, one of the persons, whilst swing- 
 ing, desired a large piece of wood to be handed up 
 to him, this was done, when grasping it in his 
 arms, he requested to be swung round again ; but 
 from the increased weight, the -ligaments of his 
 back gave way, and he was hurled to a great dis- 
 tance, and killed on the spot. The crowds that as- 
 semble at this time on the Circular Road, Calcutta, 
 are great indeed. Processions composed of torch- 
 bearers, flag-bearers, pantomimic performers, danc- 
 ing boys and girls carried on stages, mythological 
 representations, masks in the characters of all na- 
 tions, musicians playing on the most discordant as 
 well as most clamorous instruments, viz., tom- 
 toms, gongs, and long trumpets or horns, are met 
 at every corner; these, all surrounded by mock sol- 
 diers, armed with wooden muskets, present a most 
 picturesque appearance, especially as their bodies, 
 faces, and garments are generally besmeared with 
 rose pink. Hundreds of these pageants keep moving 
 along the road in the evening, attended by numer- 
 ous devotees ; some with spits through their tongues, 
 others with burning coals placed in pans near their 
 bodies, and not a few with pans of coals into which 
 they keep throwing oil to make a blaze, which they 
 effect by taking a mouthful and then spitting it out 
 upon the fire. The men who beat the tomtoms, 
 gongs, &c., have large plumes of black and white 
 ostrich feathers, something like those used at fu- 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 121 
 
 nerals, which, being fastened on their backs, hang 
 over their heads, and give a very sombre effect to 
 the musical part of the show. I have seen some 
 with snakes thrust through their tongues instead 
 of a spit, these looked somewhat like the pictures 
 of Medusa, as the snakes (whose poison had been 
 extracted) writhed and twisted in all directions, 
 and by the quickness of their movements some- 
 times seemed to be multiplied five-fold. I was 
 much grieved to find that one of the Police magis- 
 trates, living in the Boitacannah, patronised these 
 horrid practices ; indeed in most things he had be- 
 come assimilated to the Hindoos, at least in their 
 mode of living, and Zenana. His servants were 
 generally found amongst the devotees ; and the 
 swinging was within a short distance of his own 
 gates. I mention this, because the Hindoos them- 
 selves, that is, the more influential members of 
 society, are ashamed of the cruelties then enacted, 
 and never permit the swinging tree to be erected 
 near to the dwellings of Europeans, unless such 
 persons take delight in witnessing the superstitious 
 folly of their deluded countrymen; but I am happy 
 to say that such characters are now rather more 
 scarce than formerly. Except in the case of two 
 or three old Indians (who have suffered the Hindoo 
 mythology to amalgamate with their Christian 
 creed, and who seem to celebrate Christmas-day 
 and theChurruck Poojahjust in the same manner), 
 the civil servants, throughout the country, are 
 men of talent, and, many of them, ornaments to the 
 
 G 
 
122 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 Christian religion. In several instances I have 
 witnessed their arduous exertions to stem the tor- 
 rent of cruelty which so freely flows at this festival, 
 and often with great success. The cry formerly 
 was, " it will not do to meddle with these matters, 
 the Hindoos will revolt ;" but, I believe, it is now 
 pretty generally acknowledged that the govern- 
 ment might, by one enactment, do away with them 
 altogether. In the first place, their Shasters do 
 not prescribe them, as fasting is all that they re- 
 quire ; neither do they (as is generally supposed) 
 consider these self-tortures in the light of an atone- 
 ment for sin committed, although many have an 
 idea that by submitting to them they insure a thou- 
 sand years of happiness in future transmigrations. 
 I am led to suppose, that most persons, w r ho thus 
 suffer, do it in consequence of vows made in trou- 
 ble or affliction. About three days before the fes- 
 tival of the Churruck Poojah commenced, my syce 
 came and solicited a fortnight's holiday ; knowing 
 that his family lived in a neighbouring village, I 
 asked the reason why he wished for holidays ? Had 
 I not been aware of this contiguity I should have 
 granted his request without observation, as it is 
 the custom to allow all servants some weeks in 
 the course of the year to visit their relatives. In 
 answer to my inquiry, he said, that when his child 
 was very ill, some months gone by, he had made a 
 vow before the Brahmins, that if the boy lived he 
 would swang at the Poojah, and it was for the pur- 
 pose of fulfilling his vow (as the child had re- 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 123 
 
 covered), that he wished for the holidays. I told 
 him, I certainly could not, for his own sake, grant 
 his request ; if he chose to be so foolish as to swing 
 it would certainly cost him the loss of his place, 
 as I never could tolerate such wanton cruelty. I 
 then reasoned with him on the awful consequences 
 of such superstitious practices, and directed his at- 
 tention to the only means of obtaining the favour of 
 God, or of making a propitiation for sin. The poor 
 fellow left me much dejected, and went to inform 
 the Brahmins of my refusal, on hearing of which 
 they told him, that under the circumstances in 
 which he was placed, the god would accept an 
 offering in lieu of the performance of his vow ; this 
 was rated at five rupees, exactly the amount of 
 one month's wages. He had just before received 
 his pay and disposed of it ; so he came to me 
 again, and besought me to give him five rupees in 
 advance, that he might carry them to the Brah- 
 mins, who were waiting at the gate, not doubting 
 but I should cheerfully comply with his wishes. His 
 disappointment was apparently very great, when I 
 told him, " I certainly would not advance the 
 money for any such purpose." After a long parley, 
 finding I was inexorable, he went to the Brahmins, 
 and by my advice told them, that he could not get 
 the money then, neither should he ever be able to 
 spare it for such use. Their anathemas were 
 many and loud. Amongst other curses, they de- 
 clared that the child should die in a week, and 
 the syce, as well as myself, in a few days after- 
 
124 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 wards. The poor fellow appeared very much 
 alarmed during the whole of the next week, fear- 
 ing the Brahminical curse would be verified. He 
 was silent, dejected, and hardly able to perform 
 his duties ; I remonstrated with him, and pointed 
 out the folly of believing what the rapacious Brah- 
 mins had said, seeing that God alone had the power 
 of life and death, and told him that it was very 
 likely that the Almighty would have taken away 
 his child had he given the glory of its recovery to 
 these avaricious men, who had no more power to 
 restore to heath, or afflict with sickness, than he 
 had. As the week passed away without any symp- 
 toms of sickness on the part of the child or him- 
 self, his vivacity returned ; and about three weeks 
 afterwards, when the servants received their wages, 
 I observed him waiting at the door of my study, 
 which opened upon a grass plot before the house ; 
 soon as he caught my eye he came in, and salaam- 
 ing, said, " Sahib, I am much delighted that you 
 prevented me from swinging, for now my back is 
 not sore, my child is living and well, and w r hat is 
 best (at the same time chinking the money just 
 received) the Brahmins have not eaten my rupees. 
 Many salaams to you, Sahib, and, for the future, I 
 shall never wish to swing." A long conversation 
 ensued, which, I hope, was attended with good 
 effect. 
 
 The tradition respecting the origin of the Chur- 
 ruck Poojch is this : " Rajah Bhan, a terrific giant 
 with a thousand hands, and of most hideous form, 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 125 
 
 lived in a sumptuous palace on the banks of the 
 Purnabobbhee river (the ruins of which are still 
 pointed out), at the close of the Dwaper Jogue, 
 (third age of the world). This monster had u 
 beautiful daughter, who was married to Khrish* 
 noo's son, to whom Bhan exercised the greatest 
 cruelty and tyranny. In consequence of which 
 Khrisnoo made war upon him. After a long and 
 dubious contest Bhan was overpowered by the god, 
 and all his hands were cut off by the conqueror; 
 besides, which, the various penances, which all the 
 devotees undergo at this festival, were imposed 
 upon him, and have been adopted by those, who, 
 in succeeding years, have vowed to inflict self- 
 torture." 
 
 Although, as I before stated, the sufferings of 
 those who practise the cruel rites of the Churruck 
 Poojah are not intended as an atonement for sin, 
 yet many of their self-inflicted tortures are ; and 
 the doctrine of transmigration is entirely founded 
 on the idea of expiating former guilt, by enduring 
 pains in successive bodies. The institutes of Menu 
 declare, " that penance must be done universally 
 to expiate guilt, as they who do not thus gain ab- 
 solution for their sins, will, in the next and every 
 succeeding birth, bear marks of disgrace." Be- 
 sides the punishment to be endured by metempsy- 
 chosis, the Shasters describe many places of tor- 
 ment, or hells of different degrees. Those who do 
 not expiate their guilt "shall endure agony inTa- 
 misra, or utter darkness j and in many regions of 
 
126 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 horror numerous tortures await them, they shall be 
 mangled by ravens and owls, and swallow cakes 
 boiling hot, they shall walk barefoot upon red hot 
 sand, and endure excruciating pains through being 
 baked as the vessels of a potter." (Menu, chap, 
 xii. v. 74.) 
 
 Of all crimes, killing a Brahmin is the greatest, 
 and to hurt a Brahmin is a greater sin than to slay 
 a hundred Soodras ; and so terrible are the denun- 
 ciations against those who, in the least manner, 
 cause a Brahmin to suffer, that I have known in- 
 stances of Banyans giving large sums, when de- 
 manded by these rapacious beings, rather than 
 subject themselves to the dreadful torments which 
 they believe would fall to their lot, if the Brahmins 
 drew blood by cutting their fingers, which they 
 threatened to do, if the sum demanded was not 
 given. I remember seeing a Brahmin perched 
 upon the roof of a small shop in the Bazaar of a 
 village several times when I passed ; he sat quite 
 mute, and rested his chin upon his knees in a most 
 curious way. Seeing him there for so long a time, 
 I asked what he was about, some of the bystanders 
 said, he w r as going to starve himself to death there, 
 because the man who lived in the house opposite 
 refused to pay certain fees which he demanded ; 
 the next day when I passed the Brahmin was 
 gone, and I heard that the shopkeeper had yielded 
 to his exorbitant charges, rather than incur the 
 fearful penalties attached to being accessory to the 
 death of one of the Brahmin caste. 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 127 
 
 The superstition of the Hindoos is so great that 
 they voluntarily undergo any penance their Goo- 
 roos may dictate, yet a mighty struggle often 
 takes place between their piety and avarice ; still 
 the latter generally yields, and by this means the 
 poor deluded beings strengthen the bands of the 
 tyrannic fetters in which they are held. As the 
 system of penance refers to sins of omission as well 
 as commission, the priests continually reap a rich 
 harvest of fines by way of compromise. 
 
 Since I left Bengal, the horrible practice of burn- 
 ing widows with the dead bodies of their husbands, 
 called Suttee, has been abolished by an order of 
 government ; and I can truly say, no intelligence 
 was ever more grateful to me than the news of so 
 praiseworthy an act on the part of Lord William 
 Bentinck, who has gained more laurels by this 
 order, than any of his predecessors have done by 
 splendid victories or advantageous political treaties. 
 Never shall I forget the awful shrieks of expiring 
 widows, which, in many instances, have met my 
 ear. Sometimes I have beheld the poor aged ma^ 
 tron, unable to ascend the pile, thrown upon it by 
 the hard-hearted Brahmins, with as little remorse 
 as they would have felt if they had been throwing 
 up a log of wood, and with the same roughness 
 too. Whilst, at other times, I have beheld the 
 youthful victim of superstition and Brahminical 
 cupidity eagerly aud fearlessly ascend the funeral 
 pile of her deceased husband and embrace the 
 putrid remains, quietly submitting to be bound 
 
128 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS, 
 
 with flax, and to have a load of dry wood placed over 
 her, till at length the fatal torch being applied by 
 the next of kin, the swiftly-spreading flames have 
 dispelled her dreams of fancied bliss. The last 
 Suttee I witnessed was attended with most dis- 
 tressing circumstances the widow was young, and 
 the mother of three children, two boys and a girl. 
 
 It was about seven o'clock in the morning of 
 one of the hottest days of July, that I heard of the 
 death of the man and of the determination of the 
 widow to become a Suttee. I immediately went to 
 the house, but was refused admittance. I re- 
 turned home ,* but went again in a short time, and 
 then found the body of the deceased husband 
 brought to the Ghaut, just before the narrow gul- 
 ley (or passage) that led to the dwelling-house, 
 and the widow sitting by it. She had taken the 
 cloth from her own shoulders and spread it over 
 the face of her husband, so that she was naked 
 from the waist upwards. In her hand she held 
 the branch of a sacred tree, with which she brushed 
 off the flies from the dead body beside her. I im- 
 mediately reasoned with her on the sin and folly 
 of her proposed self destruction ; pointing out the 
 awful nature of the crime of rushing uncalled for 
 into the presence of the Great Creator, and in for- 
 saking the duties incumbent on a mother ; as well 
 as the excruciating pains she must endure if she 
 persevered in mounting the funeral pile. To all 
 intreaties, to desist from her purpose, she constant- 
 ly answered, "I am a Suttee, a holy woman." 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 129 
 
 When I asked her what she hoped to obtain by 
 this act of self destruction, she said, " Two millions 
 of years of happy lives (or transmigrations) for 
 myself and husband too." This declaration was 
 eagerly caught at by the host of Brahmins around, 
 who, with clamorous tongues, assured her this 
 would be the case, at the same time advising her 
 to answer none of my questions. This advice for 
 some time she strictly adhered to, and when I 
 spoke to her, instead of answering, she would fran- 
 ticly shout, " Hurrubholl, Hurrubholl." How- 
 ever, after reasoning with the Brahmins, and 
 patiently and perseveringly putting questions to 
 her, she at length returned answers to them ; and 
 I found that her mind was most fully bent on un- 
 dergoing the fiery ordeal. She was the most inte- 
 resting native female, in appearance, that I ever 
 saw; and evinced a courage all through the awful 
 scene that I seldom remember to have seen equal- 
 led. In consequence of the judge humanely de- 
 siring to prevent her burning, the perwhanria, or 
 order, was not signed for two days, during the 
 whole of which time she was obliged to remain 
 without food, except a few grains of dried rice, 
 presented by the officiating Brahmin ; neither could 
 she leave the dead body of her husband, which, 
 long before the ceremony of burning took place, 
 was become so putrid, that the Brahmins, who de- 
 lighted in the cruel work, were obliged to keep at 
 a good distance from it ; yet the poor woman sat 
 close beside the corpse, fanning away the flies the 
 
 c3 
 
130 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS, 
 
 \vhole time, and now and then addressing some 
 endearing words to it. A great deal of impatience 
 was manifested on the second day by all parties, 
 for the arrival of the perwhanna ; and the brother 
 of the deceased set out for Allipore, a distance of 
 two coss, or four miles, to expedite the business. 
 During the time he was gone, I made every effort 
 in my power to save the poor infatuated creature 
 from the painful and shocking death, to which she 
 was so anxious to submit. Two European ladies, 
 of great respectability, at my request, came down 
 in their palanqueens in the middle of the day, 
 (which was no small sacrifice to make) to join their 
 intreaties with mine ; but all in vain. They kindly 
 offered to settle upon her for life an income equal 
 to that which her deceased husband possessed ; 
 but this was rejected with indignant looks and 
 words. The Brahmins encouraged her to perse- 
 vere in her resolve, and called upon her, whenever 
 she seemed at all affected by our remonstrances 
 and intreaties, to cry, " Hurrubholl, Hurrubholl," 
 when she \vould start upon her feet, and franticly 
 repeat these words for some minutes, till quite ex^ 
 hausted she sank again beside the putrid remains 
 of her late tyrant, for such I was informed he had 
 been to her. Shouts at a distance announced 
 the approach of the messenger with the order for 
 burning, and soon the brother, with breathless 
 speed, produced the fatal instrument which gave 
 warrant for the burning ; all was now bustle and 
 activity, the police Daroga and his men surrounded 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 131 
 
 the group who were more intimately connected 
 with the arrangement, and the perwhanna was 
 handed to him as the authority for proceeding to 
 immolate the living woman with her dead husband ; 
 when, to the utter consternation of all parties, the 
 deed was pronounced to be invalid, in consequence 
 of the signature of the judge being wanted ; for it 
 appeared that the brother was so impatient to be- 
 hold the fulfilment of his wishes, that, no sooner 
 was the document filled up by the Sircars of the 
 judge's office, and put into his hands, that he 
 might take it to the magistrate for signature, than 
 supposing all was done, he started off on the full 
 run, and though repeatedly called to by the Sircar, 
 yet he neither looked behind nor slackened his 
 pace ; but came the four miles in little more than 
 half an hour, so that when he arrived he was quite 
 exhausted, and so confounded and perplexed at 
 the mistake he had made, that he appeared as in 
 a swoon for a length of time. It was afterwards 
 ascertained, by his own confession, that he heard 
 the calls made after him, but supposing that a fee 
 might be demanded, he appeared not to hear ; thus 
 his cupidity met its own reward. 
 
 What was now to be done, puzzled them all. 
 The relatives wished to burn the bodies ; but this 
 the Daroga forbad. It was too late now to wait 
 on the judge that day, as the offices were closed. 
 Some advised that the dead body should be burn- 
 ed, and the woman on the same spot the next 
 day ; but the relatives said, if the body was once 
 
132 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 burnt, the woman's resolve might fail, so that it 
 was determined to postpone the burning till the 
 morrow, the brother-in-law engaging to be at the 
 magistrate's office soon as open. The crowd then 
 dispersed, and the poor woman was left to another 
 night's watching over the now disfigured corpse, 
 for by this time not a feature of the face was to be 
 recognized, so terribly was it changed by the in- 
 tense heat of the weather. A few grains of pre- 
 pared rice were brought to her by the Brahmins, 
 and a pitcher of water was set beside her, and she 
 was also supplied with paun leaves by a female 
 attendant. Thinking, under the distressing cir- 
 cumstances in which she was now r placed, another 
 effort might succeed, I called her two little boys, 
 who were sitting at a distance, to me, and taking 
 one in each hand, went up to her, saying, " Can 
 you, then, thus leave your children without a pro- 
 tector, to the mercy of those whose interest it will 
 be to injure them ? Have you no maternal feelings 
 left ? Can you thus forsake the children to whom 
 you have given birth ? Remember how you have 
 nursed and cherished them, and do not act so 
 cruel, so unnatural a part towards them." 
 
 Leaping upon her feet, and lifting her hands to 
 heaven, she exclaimed, " They are not my chil- 
 dren I am a Suttee a holy woman. I have no 
 children. Take them away take them away." 
 How forcibly did the words of the inspired writer 
 strike my mind : " Can a woman forget her sucking 
 child ? Yes, she may, but I will never forsake thee." 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 133 
 
 The little boys, evidently in great distress of 
 mind, fell at my feet, and embracing my knees, 
 exclaimed, " Sahib, our father is dead, and if 
 mother dies, what will become of us ? Don't let 
 her burn don't let her burn, sahib." Whilst thus 
 supplicating, an old man, who I afterwards learned 
 was their father's uncle, rushing forward, caught 
 hold of each by the hair of the head, and dragging 
 them from me, constrained them to shout, hur- 
 rubholl. It was a lamentable sight to behold 
 them, with tears rolling down their cheeks, thus 
 employed ; but, as the Psalmist exclaims, " their 
 dwellings are the habitations of cruelty." 
 
 Early the next morning, I approached the fatal 
 spot again. All nature seemed hushed in silence ; 
 a refreshing dew had invigorated the herbs and 
 trees, and a gentle breeze played on the surface of 
 the river. Several large vultures were perched on 
 the summit of the tree, beneath which the devoted 
 victim sat, whilst several large Pariah dogs were 
 prowling around all attracted by the noisome 
 effluvia issuing from the putrid corpse. The ap- 
 pearance of the woman was greatly altered for the 
 worse. She seemed to be quite intoxicated : her 
 eyes rolled, and her manner altogether was quite 
 different from what it was on the preceding day. 
 Her long dishevelled hair floated in the breeze, 
 and she reminded me of the fabled Hecate. In 
 the course of the night she had been allowed some 
 bhang, which produces the same effect as opium, 
 and is very much liked by the natives generally. 
 
134 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 To reason with her in this state was impossible, 
 and being surrounded by Brahmins, who had great 
 fears lest an ancient custom should be infringed 
 by my interference, I had no opportunity of doing 
 it, even if she had been in a fit state to converse, 
 as their clamorous shouts totally prevented what 
 I said from being heard, and the corpse was be- 
 come so extremely offensive that I could not 
 approach close to her. 
 
 About eleven o'clock the brother returned with 
 the perwhanna, duly signed by the magistrate, 
 which having been shewn to the Daroga, he gave 
 orders to his men to attend and prevent any vio- 
 lence being offered to the woman, and very re- 
 spectfully offered to do any thing I wished, as far 
 as his orders would permit him to go. 
 
 The pile was soon in readiness: it was about 
 seven feet long and five feet broad, and raised 
 about five feet from the ground, composed of dry 
 billets laid across each other, and kept in place by 
 strong stakes driven into the ground ; the inter- 
 stices were filled with flax and shavings dipped in 
 oil, and two large bands of flax were laid across 
 the pile. Whilst this work was going forward, 
 the woman was led to the river side, and went 
 through the required ablutions, and then approach- 
 ed the fatal pile. As she walked boldly towards 
 it, I attempted to gain her attention once more, 
 but the Brahmins now became very insulting and 
 violent : appealing to the multitude around, they 
 besought them not to suffer a bhelattee padree to 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 135 
 
 interfere with their holy ceremonies. However, I 
 called to the jemmadar of the Thanna, and he 
 soon, by actively employing a large cane, cleared 
 a way for me to the pile, which the woman had 
 now reached, and insisted upon my being allowed 
 to speak to the Suttee ; but all was in vain burn 
 she would, and added, " I have burnt several 
 times before !" so infatuated and deluded was her 
 mind. 
 
 Having proceeded seven times round the pile, 
 during which time she had given parched rice and 
 several little ornaments to her surrounding rela- 
 tives and friends, she boldly clambered up, and 
 franticly cast herself upon the putrid corpse already 
 deposited there. The two bands of flax were im- 
 mediately drawn tightly round both the bodies, 
 and tied fast together; many large dry billets 
 were then piled upon them to a great height, and 
 flax was cast in between every layer, then over the 
 whole, ghee (a kind of liquid butter) was poured 
 in abundance : and lest the poor victim should, on 
 feeling the fire, make her escape, two large green 
 bamboos were fixed in the ground, on one side of 
 the pile, and being bent over, were held down 
 tightly by men on the other side, so that the 
 escape of the woman was rendered impossible. 
 Soon as this was completed, which was done in a 
 very short time, a light was placed in the hand of 
 the eldest child, and this poor suppliant for his 
 mother's life was constrained to walk round the 
 pile seven times, and then to set light to some flax 
 
136 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 beneath the heads of his dead father and living 
 mother. The pile was instantly in a blaze, and 
 the noise of the tomtoms and screams of the mul- 
 titude quite drowned the cries of the poor widow, 
 except to those who were close to the pile ; but I 
 heard a scream from that fire, which I shall never 
 forget ! It was a cry of horrible anguish and 
 entreaty for liberation ! But in a few minutes the 
 cry ceased, and shortly after nothing but a heap 
 of burning coals was seen on the spot. 
 
 But, blessed be God, these appalling sights are 
 no more witnessed ; and I do hope that the time 
 is not far distant, when all kindred scenes will 
 vanish too. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 " Hinnom ! thou slaughter valley, here behold 
 Thy counterpart. Not Moloch's self e'er savr 
 Such carousal of death : drunk with the wine 
 Of overflowing vintage, lo ! he riots 
 All wantonly. To mortal view it seems 
 He throws in random rage the fatal dart 
 That needs must hit. Here rolls the hated car, 
 Grinding the crashing bones, and hearts, and brains, 
 Of men and women. Down they fling themselves 
 In the deep gash, and wait the heavy wheel, 
 Slow rolling on its thunder-bellowing axle, 
 Sunk in the wounded earth." JUGGANATHA. 
 
 RUTH JATRA CAR DRAWN MR. STIRLING AND DR. 
 
 BUCHANAN JUGGERNATPl's ESTABLISHMENT IRO- 
 NICAL POEM TRADITION OF THE IDOL AFFECTING 
 
 NARRATIVE. 
 
 WHILST the mind is most painfully affected by 
 the cruel rites practised at the Churruck Poojah, a 
 still greater cause of grief is found in the licentious 
 and degrading scenes witnessed at other Poojahs. 
 The Ruth Jatra, for instance, unites both in its 
 festival. The orgies of Bacchus or Venus were 
 
 O 
 
 pure, when compared with this and other religious 
 ceremonies of the Hindoos. Their temples teem 
 with horrible representations of the various 
 
138 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 butes of Brumhu, in illustration of his creative 
 power and fecundity, and their holy places (as 
 they call them) are the very thrones of the prin- 
 cipalities of wickedness. Many of the temples of 
 Juggernath, especially the one in Orissa, are richly 
 endowed, and maintain a large concourse of Brah- 
 mins and prostitutes, who spend their lives in vo- 
 luptuous indolence, the latter accompanying the 
 former in the various forms and ceremonies of their 
 idol worship, with the most indecent and disgust- 
 ing words and gestures. 
 
 At the car festival, when Juggernath, his brother 
 and sister, are brought from their thrones, and placed 
 on cars, to" be drawn to another temple at some dis- 
 tance, to pay a visit to other gods, vast numbers of 
 pilgrims from all parts of India are present. Mr. 
 Peggs has so ably described the miserable state of 
 these pilgrims, and has so fully exposed the system 
 of the pilgrim tax, that I refer my readers to his in- 
 teresting work on the subject, and shall content 
 myself with a brief delineation of the car festival, 
 which I witnessed on a large plain near Serampore, 
 and an extract from the work before mentioned. 
 
 The multitudes assembled far exceeded my ex- 
 pectation, though I had anticipated seeing a vast 
 number. It was with difficulty that two of us 
 could force a passage through the dense mass 
 spread upon the plain, nearly a mile from the 
 Rhat : however, by much perseverance, aided by 
 a native police daroga, we did make our way to 
 the car ; when, ascending a small mound of earth 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 139 
 
 close by the ponderous carriage, we had a full 
 view of the assembly on the plain. It appeared 
 as if the earth was paved with heads, as far as the 
 eye could reach ; so thickly were they studded that 
 no other parts of the human frame were visible. 
 The car itself was not so splendid as I expected 
 to find it, being far inferior in its decorations to 
 many that I had before seen ; and what pleased 
 me more was, it had not those gross representa- 
 tions affixed to it, which I had been disgusted 
 in seeing upon others. I have no doubt this was 
 in a, great measure (although indirectly) the result 
 of the missionary establishment at Serampore, as 
 I found that in Sulkea these abominations were 
 considerably lessened when I had been there a few 
 years. So true is it, that the Brahmins themselves 
 are ashamed of their gross indelicacy. 
 
 The gods and goddess were in the car, having 
 been brought out from the temple the day before, 
 and a red curtain shielded them from the public 
 gaze. After waiting about an hour, the presiding. 
 Brahmins mounted the various galleries of the car, 
 and younger Brahmins bestrode the large wooden 
 horses placed in front. All was now bustle and 
 agitation in the crowd, and when the officiating 
 priests furled the red curtain and exposed the 
 hideous block Juggernaut to view, the very air 
 was rent with cries of " Jye Juggernaut ! Victory 
 to Juggernaut !" and all salaamed towards him. 
 At this moment the vast plain appeared as the 
 agitated ocean, and the simultaneous bowing of 
 
140 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 the many thousand spectators caused an appear- 
 ance similar to that of the flowing tide rolling upon 
 the beach. The ropes, or large hawsers, were now 
 affixed, and happy was the man who could get 
 hold of one of them. At length, at a given signal, 
 the car began to move, its ponderous wheels creak- 
 ing as they went, and redoubled shouts announced 
 the tidings for miles around. I did not follow the 
 car, to behold the victims plunge themselves be- 
 neath the wheels, as I had witnessed this distress- 
 ing scene in another place, and did not wish again 
 to experience the anguish of mind I then felt. 
 The following quotations, from various testimonies 
 collected by Mr. Peggs, will supply my lack of 
 description. 
 
 " Mr. Sterling, in his ' Account of Orissa/ de- 
 scribes the great car festivals of Juggernaut, and 
 adverts to the misery of the pilgrims. ' On the 
 appointed day, after various prayers and ceremo- 
 nies are gone through within the temple, the 
 images are brought from their throne to the out- 
 side of the Lion-gate, not with decency and re- 
 verence, seated on a litter or vehicle adapted to 
 such an occasion, but, a common cord being fast- 
 ened round their necks, certain priests, to whom 
 the duty appertains, drag them down the steps, 
 and through the mud, while others keep their 
 figures erect, and help their movements, by shov- 
 ing them from behind, in the most indifferent and 
 unceremonious manner, as if they thought the 
 whole business a good joke. In this way the 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 141 
 
 monstrous idols go rocking and pitching along 
 through the crowd, until they reach the cars, 
 which they are made to ascend by a similar pro- 
 cess up an inclined platform, reaching from the 
 stage of the machine to the ground. On the other 
 hand, a powerful sentiment of religious enthu- 
 siasm pervades the admiring multitude of pilgrims 
 assembled without ; when the images first make 
 their appearance through the gate, they welcome 
 them with shouts and cries of * Jye Juggernaut ! 
 victory to Juggernaut!' and when the monster 
 Juggernaut, the most hideous of all the figures, is 
 dragged forth the last in order, the air is rent with 
 acclamations. The celebrated idols are nothing 
 more than wooden busts, about six feet in height, 
 fashioned into a rude resemblance of the human 
 head, resting on a sort of pedestal. They arepainted 
 white, yellow, and black, respectively, with fright- 
 fully grim and distorted countenances, and are 
 decorated with a head-dress of different coloured 
 cloths, shaped something like a helmet. The two 
 brothers have arms projecting horizontally forward 
 from the ears. The sister is entirely devoid of even 
 that approximation to the human form. The ruths 
 or cars have an imposing air, from their size and 
 loftiness ; but every part of the ornament is of the 
 most mean and paltry description, save only the 
 covering of striped and spangled broad cloth, fur- 
 nished from the export warehouse of the British 
 Government, the splendour of which compensates, 
 in a great measure, for other deficiencies of deco- 
 
142 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 ration. After the images have been safely lodged 
 in their vehicles, a box is brought forth, containing 
 the golden or gilded feet, hands and ears, of the 
 great idol, which are fixed on the proper parts 
 with due ceremony, and a scarlet scarf is carefully 
 arranged round the lower pail of the body, or pe- 
 destal. The joy and shouts of the crowd on the 
 first movement of the cars, the creaking sound of 
 the wheels, as these ponderous machines roll 
 along, the clatter of hundreds of harsh sounding 
 instruments, and the general appearance of so im- 
 mense a moving mass of human beings, produce, 
 it must be acknowledged, an impressive, astound- 
 ing, and somewhat picturesque effect, while the 
 novelty of the scene lasts; though the contem- 
 plation cannot fail of exciting the strongest sensa- 
 tions of pain and disgust in the mind of every 
 Christian spectator. In an unfavourable season, 
 or when the festival occurs late, the proportion of 
 death occasioned by exposure is very melancholy.' 
 -P. 321325. 
 
 " Dr. Buchanan's visit to Juggernaut's temple, 
 in 1806, is well known; a short extract or two 
 from his ' Christian Researches' may suffice. 
 ' Numbers of pilgrims die on the road, and their 
 bodies generally remain unburied. On a plain by 
 the river near the pilgrims' caravansera, at this 
 place, Budruck, one hundred miles from Jugger- 
 naut, there are more than one hundred skulls ; the 
 dogs, jackals, and vultures, seem to live here on 
 human prey. Wherever I turn my eyes, I meet 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 143 
 
 death in some shape or other. From the place 
 where I now stand, I have a view of a host of 
 people, like an army encamped, at the outer gate 
 of the town of Juggernaut, where a guard of soldiers 
 is posted to prevent their entering the town until 
 they have paid the tax. I beheld a distressing scene 
 this morning, at the place of skulls ; a poor woman 
 lying dead, or nearly dead, and her two children 
 by her, looking at the dogs and vultures which 
 were near. The people passed by without noticing 
 the children. I asked them, where was their 
 home? they said they had no home, but where 
 their mother was. O, there is no pity at Jugger- 
 naut ! Those who support his kingdom err, I trust, 
 from ignorance. They know not what they do/ 
 " Colonel Phipps, who witnessed the car festival 
 at Pooree, in 1822, thus describes the miseries oc- 
 casioned by it : ' The loss of life occasioned by 
 this deplorable superstition, probably exceeds that 
 of any other. The aged, the weak, the sick, are 
 persuaded to attempt this pilgrimage, as a remedy 
 for all evils. The number of women and children, 
 also, is very great. The pilgrims leave their fami- 
 lies, and all other occupations, to travel an im- 
 mense distance, with the delusive hope of obtain- 
 ing eternal bliss. Their means of subsistence on 
 the road are scanty ; and their light clothing and 
 little bodily strength are ill calculated to encoun- 
 ter the inclemency of the weather. When they 
 reach the district of Cuttack, they cease to expe- 
 rience that hospitality shown elsewhere to pilgrims ; 
 
144 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 it is a burden which the inhabitants could not sus- 
 tain : and they prefer availing themselves of the 
 increased demand for provisions, to augment the 
 price. This difficulty is more severely felt as they 
 approach the temple, till they find scarcely enough 
 left to pay the tax to government, and to satisfy 
 the rapacious brahmun. 
 
 " The pilgrim, on leaving Juggernaut, has still a 
 long journey before him ; and his means of support 
 are often almost, if not quite exhausted. The work 
 of death then becomes rapid ; and the route of the 
 pilgrims may be traced, by the bones left by jack- 
 als and vultures. The country near the temple, 
 seems suddenly to have been visited by pestilence 
 and famine. Dead bodies are seen in every direc- 
 tion. Pariah dogs, jackals, and vultures, are ob- 
 served watching the last moments of the dying 
 pilgrim, and not unfrequently hastening his fate. 
 
 " There is no doubt that this deadly supersti- 
 tion is a curse to the country, and tends much to 
 its impoverishment. The enormous loss of human 
 life, and the evils felt by numerous families from a 
 long cessation of useful labour, cannot but prove a 
 great calamity/ Missionary Register, 1822, p. 578. 
 
 " The late Rev. W. Ward, of Serampore, in his 
 ' View of the History, Literature, and Religion of 
 the Hindoos,' vol. iii. p. 126 128, has made a cal- 
 culation of the number who are supposed to perish 
 annually, the victims of superstition. He estimates 
 that 4,000 pilgrims perish every year, on the roads 
 to and at holy places ; and a gentleman, whose 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 145 
 
 opinion is of great weight, says, ' I believe this es- 
 timate is far below the truth. By fevers, by the dy- 
 sentery, and other diseases, arising from exposure to 
 the night air and the privations of a long journey, 
 crowds are carried off in a few days. Five or six 
 hundred persons, principally women, I am in- 
 formed, were crushed to death before the temple 
 of Juggernaut, in the year 18 10, by the mere pres- 
 sure of the crowd. Sacred places, the resort of 
 pilgrims, are spread all over Hindostan, and pil- 
 grims travel to them from distances requiring jour- 
 neys of three, four, and five months.' An officer 
 writing to his friend about the pilgrims at the gate 
 of Pooree, detained for a time to make them pay 
 the tax, says, ' I let above 100 out of limbo at 
 Juggernaut : there were 1,000 dead and dying : 
 all in limbo, starving, to extort money from them.' 
 Ward's View, vol.ii. p. 318. 
 
 " The Rev. W. Bampton, who has resided at 
 Pooree since Sept. 1823, in an account of the car 
 festival of that year, writes : ' July 1 1th. In 
 front of one of the cars lay the mangled body of a 
 dead man, one arm and one leg were eaten, and 
 two dogs were then eating him : many people were 
 near, both moving and stationary, but they did not 
 seem to take any notice of the circumstance. I 
 then went to see the state of the pilgrims, who, 
 either because they could not or would not pay 
 the tax, were kept without one of the gates. In 
 the course of the morning I saw, within a mile of 
 the gate, about six more dead ; the dogs and birds 
 H 
 
146 
 
 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 were eating three of them. Five or six lay dead 
 within a mile of the gate ; and it is generally ad- 
 mitted that there was not a tenth, perhaps scarcely 
 a twentieth, of the pilgrims this year who attend 
 sometimes ; and if there be the same proportion of 
 dead and sick at all times, fifty or sixty dead 
 might some years be seen, within a mile of this 
 gate, and eighty or a hundred sick. A specimen 
 of what is sometimes seen was given me by a mi- 
 litary officer, who pointed out a piece of ground, 
 perhaps scarcely an acre, on w r hich he counted last 
 year twenty-five dead bodies/ Mr. Lacey adds : 
 ' The poor pilgrims are seen in every direction, in 
 the agonies of death, the living using the dead 
 bodies for pillows." 
 
 One temple in the Deccan formerly maintained 
 forty thousand priests, more than double the num- 
 ber of clergymen in the whole of Great Britain ; 
 and the number attendant on the pagodas at 
 Pooree is immense, besides the household esta- 
 blishment of Juggernaut, of which the following 
 particular account was obtained with great trouble 
 bv Mr. Peggs, from a resident of Pooree. It is a 
 very curious document, when it is remembered that 
 all the parties receive large salaries to wait upon 
 an ugly block of wood. 
 
 JUGGERNAUT'S ESTABLISHMENT. 
 
 1. " The Mooderut, as the Raja of Koorda's 
 representative with Juggernaut, at all the festivals 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 147 
 
 moves about the light, performs the daily service 
 before him, and makes the offering of food. 
 
 2. " There are three head Pundas, who having 
 poured clarified butter on the sacred tire, and 
 worshipped the sun and the divine regents of the 
 gates, present the sacrificial articles from the 
 kitchen, to the three gods at three of the daily 
 offices, until the period of Juggernaut's retiring 
 to rest. 
 
 3. " There are three Pushoo-palas, who perform 
 worship between the periods of the regular ser- 
 vice ; and ascending the throne of Juggernaut, 
 clothe him in the three different dresses appro- 
 priated to the three services. 
 
 4. " The Bheet-baboo guards the sacrificial food 
 before it has been offered, prevents the crowd 
 pressing on it, and should the smallest blemish 
 be found in it, (such as a hair or an ant,) he seizes 
 and punishes the Pundas. 
 
 5. " The Tulubu Purehchas guard Juggernaut 
 when he retires to rest. In their absence the 
 Pushoo-palas (mentioned in No. 3) act in their stead. 
 
 6. " The Potee-muhapatra, at the twelve periodi- 
 cal festivals, makes the proper offerings, and moves 
 about the image of Socdha-buden ; and at the 
 great bathing festival, when Juggernaut moves out 
 to the Neeladree beej , worship him during his pro- 
 gress, and during the fifteen succeeding days when 
 he is supposed to be ill, not having recovered from 
 the effects of his bath. 
 
 H 2 
 
148 
 
 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 7. " The Patree-buroo arranges the sacrificial 
 articles, and calls the Pundas to worship. 
 
 8. " The Gora-buroo, at the time of worship, 
 places the water pot and presents the water to the 
 officiating priest. 
 
 9. " The Khootiya calls the Pashoo-paluks who 
 are appointed to wake Juggernaut, and bring for- 
 ward the vestments and necklaces with which he 
 is to be invested. 
 
 10. " The Paneeya-mekab presents the orna- 
 ments of Juggernaut to the Pushoo-paluk, and 
 counts them as they come from Juggernaut's body ; 
 and likewise counts out to the Pureechas any new 
 ornaments offered by pilgrims. 
 
 11. " The Changra-mekab carries the vestments 
 of Juggernaut, and counts them out ; and when 
 new vestments are offered by the pilgrims, he 
 counts them out and puts them away. 
 
 12. " The jBhajidar-mekab counts out the orna- 
 ments when taken off from Juggernaut by the 
 Paneeya-mekab. The vestments, presented by 
 pilgrims, pass into his custody after they have 
 been worn. 
 
 13. " The Suwar-buroo sweeps the place, and 
 places the sacrificial dishes before Juggernaut, pre- 
 sents odours to those who wake him, and distri- 
 butes the sacrificial flowers among the servants 
 and worshippers. 
 
 14. " The Pureeksha-buroo holds up a looking 
 glass to Juggernaut during worship. 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 149 
 
 15. " The Ukhundu-mekab, or lamp - lighter, 
 places lights and removes the lamps. 
 
 16. " The Pureeyarees watch at the gates and 
 doors. 
 
 17. " The Dab-khat brings out Juggernaut's bed. 
 
 18. " The Pureeyaree of the southern gate cries 
 out, ' the sacrificial food is coming.' 
 
 19. " The Pureeyarees of the gate watch the 
 food ; and when Juggernaut moves out, carry with 
 him the sweet-smelling wood. 
 
 20. " The Juya and Vijuya-pureeyarees allow 
 no one to enter while Juggernaut is at his meals : 
 and there are two watchmen at the door of the 
 inner room, where Juggernaut partakes of his food. 
 
 21. " The Khurgu-nayuk, at the close of the 
 daily offices, presents the pan to the officiating 
 priests, to be given to Juggernaut; and on the 
 occasion of the last daily office, offers it himself. 
 
 22. " The Khatsuya-mekab, carries Juggernaut's 
 bed to him at night, for him to sleep on ; and car- 
 ries it back to its place in the morning. 
 
 23. " The Mookh-pakhul pureeyaree presents 
 the water and the tooth-pick to Juggernaut, and 
 inspects into every thing respecting the temple. 
 
 24. " The Suwar-kota prepares the cakes, and 
 delivers them to the Muha-suwar. 
 
 25. " The Muha-suwar brings the first service 
 of cakes. 
 
 26. " The Gopal-bullubha distributes it. 
 
 27. " The Bhatee-buroo places food of a parti- 
 cular description before the idol. 
 
150 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 28. " The Rosh-payeed lights the lamp in the 
 kitchen, and expels the suwars (No. 25) when they 
 become unclean : he accompanies the royal offer- 
 ing of food as far as the Juya and Vij uya gate. 
 
 29. " The Beeree-buha-suwar takes the articles 
 of pan from the Sumurthas, and delivers them to 
 the Suwars. 
 
 30. " The Dhoa-pakhaliya brahmun washes and 
 cleanses the kitchen. 
 
 31. " The Unga-buha brahmun removes the 
 ashes from the cook-room, and throws them away. 
 
 32. " The Dita-sawaree carries the image of 
 Juggernaut, when necessary, and prepares the 
 image. 
 
 33. " The Datya paints the image, and fastens 
 the flag on his carriage. 
 
 34. " The Dwar-nayuk is employed in opening 
 and shutting the door. 
 
 35. " The Muhajhun carries the image of Juya 
 and Vij uya, the two heavenly porters. 
 
 36. " The Beeman-buroo carries the image of 
 Juggernaut, and fixes it in its place. 
 
 37. " The Moodolee-bhandur guards the door, 
 puts the chamura into the hands of distinguished 
 pilgrims, who desire to fan Juggernaut ; and lock- 
 ing, guards the door of Juya and Vij uya, the two 
 heavenly porters. 
 
 38. " The Chootar holds the umbrella over the 
 great god when he proceeds on a journey. 
 
 39. " The Turasee holds before him the turas (a 
 large fan) when he goes on a journey. 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 151 
 
 40. " The Meg-dumboora precedes with the dum- 
 boora when he proceeds on a journey. 
 
 41. "The Moodra holds the lamp when an of- 
 fering of flowers is made to Juggernaut. 
 
 42. "The Paneeya-put delivers the water pots 
 to the Buroo, and washes them. 
 
 43. " The Keehuleea, at all the stated festivals, 
 during the service and during the offering of flow- 
 ers, performs worship, and plays the Kahulee. 
 
 44. " The Ghuntooa rings the bell during Jug- 
 gernaut's meals, and when he goes on journeys. 
 
 45. "The Chumputee-tumukreeycij at the time 
 of pusoowa and during journeys, plays the tumuk. 
 
 46. " The head Punda calls all the servitors to 
 their duty, gives the golden sceptre to the Poree- 
 cAa,and gives food to the brahmuns of the Mooktee- 
 mundupu. 
 
 47. " The Ghutuwaree prepares the sandal wood 
 and gives it to the mekaps ; and at one of the fes- 
 tivals, goes before the image with the incense. 
 
 48. "The Buree Deega supplies the water for 
 cooking, and removes the remains of food. 
 
 49. " The Sumundha pounds peas of one kind, 
 and grinds peas of another kind. 
 
 50. " The Gruhu-mekap cleans the dishes after 
 the principal meal. 
 
 51. "The Yogukuma brings forward the articles 
 of the principal meal. 
 
 52. " The Tomobutee accompanies the principal 
 evening meal with a lamp, and brings the pots and 
 cooking utensils. 
 
152 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 53. " The Chaulbacha cleanses the rice and the 
 peas. 
 
 54. " The Elek carries the Chukru or discus of 
 Vishnoo before the idol when he moves out, and is 
 a general superintendent. 
 
 55. " The Patrok, having dismissed the atten- 
 dants, cleans up the temples, and there retires to 
 rest. 
 
 56. "The Choonara serves the image of Guroora, 
 and has charge of the great standard of the temple, 
 and lifts the great lamp. 
 
 57. "The Khurga-dhoaneeya cleanses the space 
 between the western part of the temple and the place 
 called Jugunmohun. 
 
 58. " The Nagadhya washes Juggernaut's linen, 
 and hangs it up to dry. 
 
 59. "The Daree-ganee sings the songs which 
 precede the anointing of Juggernaut with sandal 
 wood. 
 
 60. "The Pooran-punda reads the Pooranos in 
 the gate of Juggernaut. 
 
 61. "The Beenkar plays the beena, a musical 
 instrument. 
 
 62. " The Tunubobuk dances in the spot called 
 Jugunmohun. 
 
 63. " The Sunkhooa sounds the shell during the 
 offices of worship. 
 
 64. " The Madolee plays on the madol, a musical 
 instrument, during worship. 
 
 65. " The Tooree-nayuk plays on the tooree, or 
 trumpet. 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 153 
 
 66. "The Muhasetee washes the linen of Jug- 
 gernaut. 
 
 67. "The Paneepaee-mahar removes all filth 
 from within the inclosure. 
 
 68. " The Hakeemeeshristar-buru-pureecha is the 
 great judge of all questions; he holds the golden 
 cane." 
 
 I cannot refrain from giving the following ironi- 
 cal address to Juggernath from the pen of Lawson. 
 
 It is piquant and sarcastic to the full. 
 
 t. 
 
 " Great Juggernath, square-headed deity ! 
 Lord of the world ! I sing thy comely form. 
 In verse august I yield a tribute due 
 To god so worthy. Where thy temple rears 
 Its hallowed brick work, sitting in thy nook, 
 Coop'd up obscure in venerable shade, 
 Thee once I saw, thy kindred at thy side. 
 Imbedded 'twixt thy shoulders, lo ! thy noddle 
 Securely sits. No intervening neck 
 Divides the union sweet of head and body ; 
 So dwell together, kneaded gracefully, 
 Thy ample chest and portly paunch, forsooth 
 A neighbourly conjunction, vast and round, 
 Commodious the interior, as beseems 
 The place where lie interred th' immortal bones 
 Of Krishna. Sacred relics ! urn'd and kept 
 From mortal view ; for he inquisitive 
 Who squints upon them, dies for act so rash. 
 Matchless divinity ! the plebeian 
 Bows to the dust, and trembles at thy stare 
 Portentous ; for thy terror-striking eyes, 
 Stretch'd round and wide, look every way at once ; 
 Or here or there, thou seest the timid sinner, 
 Whereat he wonders. Of thy origin 
 H3 
 
154 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 It suits not poesy to tell, nor why 
 
 Thou hast no limbs, O powerful Juggernath ! 
 
 The simple bard knows better than to scoff 
 
 Sarcastic, like an infidel. Think not 
 
 Me capable of waggish word, or chant 
 
 Irreverential of thy pilfering freaks, 
 
 And after punishment with loss of arms : 
 
 Tis idle scandal ! 'Twere no fault of thine, 
 
 If the dull statuary of heaven ne'er thought 
 
 Of legs and arms when first he modell'd thee : 
 
 Or if he thought, yet left thee as thou art, 
 
 A mutilated thing. Let no vain mind 
 
 Rail at divine infirmities, nor strive 
 
 To measure aught of heaven by things on earth. 
 
 To need such dangling-down auxiliaries 
 
 Is proof direct of our own mortal weakness. 
 
 He who can do without them must be great !" 
 
 In the concluding stanza the poet refers to the 
 want of hands and legs in the idol ; but at all fes- 
 tivals the Brahmins fix silver or golden hands 
 upon it. 
 
 The tradition of the idol is as follows : " Krish- 
 nu, in some period of Hindoo history, was acci- 
 dentally killed by Ungudu, a hunter, who left the 
 body to rot under the tree where it fell. Some pious 
 person, however, collected the bones of Krishnu, 
 and placed them in a box, where they remained till 
 Indru-dhoomnu, a king, who was performing reli- 
 gious austerities to obtain some favour of Vishnu, 
 was directed by the latter to form an image of Jug- 
 gernath, and put into its belly these bones of Krish- 
 nu, by which means he should obtain the fruits of 
 his religious austerities. Indru-dhoomnu inquired 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 155 
 
 who should make this image, and was commanded 
 to apply to Vishnu-kurmu, the architect of the 
 gods. He did so, and obtained his request ; but 
 Vishnu-kurmu at the same time declared, that if 
 any one disturbed him, while preparing the image, 
 he would leave it in an unfinished state. He then 
 began, and in one night built a temple. But the 
 impatient king, after waiting fifteen days, went to 
 the spot, on which Vishnu-kurmu desisted from his 
 work, and left the god without hands or feet. 
 The king was very much disconcerted; but, on 
 praying to Brumha, he promised to make the image 
 famous in its present shape." Ward's View, vol. 
 ii. p. 163. 
 
 It is said that every third year they make a new 
 image (which is not much trouble), when a Brah- 
 min removes the original bones of Krishnu from 
 the belly of the old image to that of the new one. 
 On this occasion he covers his eyes, lest he should 
 be struck dead for looking at such sacred relics. 
 The common people never desire to see these 
 bones, though rich and powerful rajahs have craved 
 the sight. The late Rajah of Burdwhan expended 
 twelve lacs of rupees, or 120,000, in a pilgrimage 
 or journey to Juggernath, and in bribing the Brah- 
 mins to let him see these bones, for the sight of 
 which he paid two lacs of rupees ; but he died in 
 six months afterwards, as the Brahmins said, for 
 his temerity. 
 
 Many castes are totally prohibited from entering 
 Juggernath's temple ; still they are required to 
 
156 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 make pilgrimages to it. The temple itself is full 
 of prostitutes, yet the first of the proscribed are 
 kusbee, prostitutes. Then follow cullal, liquor 
 sellers ; machoowa, fishermen ; numosooder, boat- 
 men ; gazur, labourers who carry burdens on their 
 heads ; bangdee, fishers' labourers ; j oogee, weavers ; 
 kahar bawry, bearers ; raujbunsee, a different caste 
 of boatmen; chamar, shoe-makers; dhomee, wash- 
 ermen ; paun, basket-makers ; teor, another caste 
 of boatmen ; bhoinmalee, makers of garlands, &c. 
 for marriages ; haddee, maters. These castes are 
 not suffered to enter the temple to worship Jug- 
 o-ernath. 
 
 I was one morning riding to a neighbouring vil- 
 lage, when my attention was engaged by an object 
 in the road before me at some distance, which I 
 could not at all make out. It appeared as if some 
 large animal was floundering about in the dust. I 
 made the best of my way towards the spot; and 
 as I approached, I saw it was a man lying on his 
 back, with two pariah dogs pulling him by the legs, 
 I galloped towards them, and the dogs made ofF. I 
 found the poor man quite exhausted, and the blood 
 was streaming from his feet, two of his toes were 
 gone from one foot, and nearly all from the other. 
 I bound up one with my silk handkerchief, and, 
 taking off my neckcloth, I wrapped it round the 
 other, the man appearing nearly senseless. Seeing 
 some men in the paddy field close by, I called 
 them to me. When they came, I asked them to 
 carry the poor creature to the next village : but 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 157 
 
 they refused. A thousand excuses were made ; 
 and I found that nothing but buckshish would 
 move their hearts to pity ; and even the promise of 
 buckshish would avail no farther than causing 
 them to lift the poor fellow on the horse before 
 me. Then, walking by the side, they accompanied 
 me to the nearest hut, the owner of which refused 
 to receive him into his dwelling. However, again 
 I promised buckshish, if he would let him lie upon 
 his cot till I sent a palanqueen, and the magical 
 word prevailed. Then, getting some milk, I forced 
 it down the poor creature's throat, which seemed 
 to revive him a little. After engaging one of the 
 men to stop with him till my return, I made haste 
 back to Sulkea ; and finding Dr. Stewart at home, 
 sent him off directly, whilst I went further to get 
 a palanqueen. I then returned with it to the hut ; 
 but when the bearers saw the purpose for which I 
 wanted it, they refused to carry their sick country- 
 man to the native hospital. However, after much 
 coaxing, with proportionate promises of buckshish, 
 and an assurance from the Doctor that the man 
 would not die in the palanqueen, they at last took 
 him up, and began to move onward. I rode along- 
 side, or else I have no doubt they would soon have 
 turned him out, and ran off with the palanqueen. 
 When he became convalescent, which he did in a 
 few days, he told me that he had been on a pilgrim- 
 age to Juggernath, and his money being all taken 
 by the Brahmins, he had to make his way home as 
 
158 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 well as he could. He begged, but without effect, 
 and ate of the fruits of the fields where he could 
 find any, until, worn out with hunger and fatigue, 
 he sank down, unable to rise, or defend himself 
 from dogs or jackals; and that the two dogs I 
 saw had followed him some way before he sank, 
 which was but about ten minutes before I came to 
 his rescue ; and that, after going round him several 
 times, one seized his toes ; that then, he began to 
 kick and straggle, but to no purpose, as the other 
 dog seized the fellow foot, and began to tear off 
 the flesh ; and if I had not come up as I did, he 
 had little doubt but in a few minutes they would 
 have destroyed him. Thus, as Mr. P. observes, 
 " Where the Suttee has slain its thousands, pil- 
 grimage has slain its tens of thousands. Myriads 
 die in journeying to reputed holy places, unknown, 
 unpitied, and unnoticed : penury, famine, exposure, 
 and sickness lay numerous subjects of superstition, 
 at various stages of the destructive route, unnoticed 
 and unburied, a prey to birds and beasts. The 
 European who has visited Juggernath at the great 
 festival, may be forcibly reminded of the following 
 appalling description : 
 
 " He saw the lean dogs 
 
 Gorging and growling o'er carcase and limb, 
 They were too busy to bark at him. 
 From a pilgrim's skull they had stript the flesh, 
 As ye peel the fig when the fruit is fresh ; 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 159 
 
 And their white trunks crunch'd o'er their whiter skulls 
 
 As it slipt through their jaws, when their edge grew dull ; 
 
 As they lazily mumbled the bones of the dead 
 
 When they scarce could stir from the place where they fed ; 
 
 So well had they broken a lingering fast 
 
 With those who had fallen for that repast." 
 
 It is to be hoped, as the pilgrim tax has been 
 so fully exposed, and the attention of the British 
 public so repeatedly called to the inconsistency, 
 (to say no more,) of a professedly Christian go- 
 vernment deriving a large revenue from the worship 
 of idols, that when the period arrives, in which the 
 expediency of renewing the Honourable East India 
 Company's charter shall be considered by British 
 senators, the abolition of this odious tax, and a 
 total cessation of government patronage, as it re- 
 spects the worship of Juggernath, will be made a 
 stipulation. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 " O hear the word 
 
 Oraculous from the deep studied book, 
 Inculcated in tenderest age, and learnt 
 With strictest diligence. It is the voice 
 O' the Tuntra-Sara. ' Docile, meek, and mild 
 Will be the true disciple. Though the mind 
 May steep itself in dregs of lowest guilt, 
 Floundering with impunity in depths 
 Of sin unspeakable, the body pure 
 Must be ; or woe to unclean wight erring 
 From letter'd precept. What the Shaster saith 
 Of good or bad implicitly believe, 
 Nor dare to doubt'" LAWSON. 
 
 TUNTRA SHASTERS PRAN-KRISHNA VISHWASA DOC- 
 TRINES AND PRECEPTS OF THE SECT. 
 
 OF late years a sect has arisen among the Hin- 
 doos, who are called Tuntras, from the Shasters of 
 that name, which they take as the only rule of 
 their conduct, to the neglect of all the others. These 
 Shasters present the singular phenomenon of a 
 religious code of so licentious a character, as to be 
 far below the general standard of public morals. 
 In nothing is the depravity of human nature more 
 fully shown, than by the existence of such a hor- 
 ribly licentious system, claiming divine authority, 
 and openly professing that future bliss is to be 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 161 
 
 attained by the practice of those crimes which de- 
 grade and pollute humanity. Yet so it is ; and I 
 fear that this sect is rapidly gaining proselytes, as 
 its requirements are in unison with the principles 
 of our fallen nature ; and hundreds of the middle 
 and higher classes of Hindoos resign themselves 
 to the unbridled indulgence of their passions under 
 its sanction. Yet still, many of its votaries are 
 prevented by a sense of decorum from entering 
 into all its enormities. 
 
 A rich Baboo near Calcutta has, at the expense 
 of a vast deal of labour, time, and money, produced 
 an abridgment of the doctrines and precepts of 
 the Tuntras from eighty-four large Shasters, in 
 which they are contained. As this native gentle- 
 man was the landlord of the house in which I lived 
 at Gusserahj I had an opportunity of knowing 
 somewhat of his manners and character, and al- 
 ways considered him to be a very intelligent per- 
 son, though excessively proud of his attainments, 
 and thirsting after applause. By a pun common 
 in Hindoo literature, his name, Pran-Krishna 
 Vishwasa, has been compounded with the title, 
 which is Pran-toshuna. T^he work was printed at 
 his own expense, and gratuitously distributed 
 amongst the literary gentlemen of Calcutta, for 
 the avowed purpose of facilitating their progress 
 in the knowledge of the principles of the Tuntras, 
 but really with a design to promote his own glory. 
 But as the Serampore reviewer says, " This em- 
 ployment of the press, though it feed the native 
 
162 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 appetite for applause, as it may eventually lead to 
 the most important results, cannot but be regarded 
 as the dawn of better days to India." The example 
 of Pran-Krishna Vishwasa will find imitators, es- 
 pecially if it should succeed in bringing him a large 
 portion of glory. A few extracts from the review 
 of this work will do more to inform my readers of 
 many things pertaining to Hindooism than any 
 other means I can use. 
 
 " The work is dedicated to Narayuna. The ge- 
 nealogy and virtues of the Vishwasa family, which 
 follow the dedication, afford an amusing specimen 
 of oriental hyperbole. Pran-Krishna cannot ex- 
 actly say with Caesar that there is in his descent 
 both the sacred majesty of kings, the greatest 
 among the sons of men, and the divine majesty of 
 gods, to whose authority kings themselves are 
 subject, the Vishwasa family are not indeed 
 descended from the gods, but they bear a strong 
 resemblance to them in virtue and excellency. 
 Neither is the family very ancient, for the grand- 
 father of the present gentleman appears to have 
 founded it ; but what is wanting in the age of the 
 genealogical tree, is amply compensated in the 
 luxuriance of its foliage and the rich promise of its 
 blossoms. The passage, however, speaks for itself, 
 and we cannot curtail without mutilating it. 
 
 ' ( There existed in the family of the Vishwasas, 
 Duya Ram Vishwasa, of most excellent knowledge. 
 His son, of great and excellent deeds, Ram Huri 
 Vishwasa, with great faith in Vishwunatha, ob- 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 163 
 
 tained final absorption at Benares, as the reward 
 of many acts of merit. His son, the supporter of 
 the universe, the first among many pundits, su- 
 preme in deeds of holiness, is Shree Pran-Krishna 
 Vishwasa, whose younger brother is Jugunmohuna 
 Vishwasa, highly celebrated. He has six sons, of 
 unquestionable wisdom, prudent and profound, the 
 friemjs of the poor, the helpless, and the blind, the 
 great supporters of the twice-born. Of these, 
 Anundamuya is continually absorbed in meditation 
 on Shiva and Doorga. He is the eldest, the first 
 among the best, always compassionate, a believer 
 in Bhuguvutee. 
 
 " The next is Ram-chundra, equal in action to 
 Vishnoo, in munificence to king Kurna ; in deeds 
 of valour equal to Urjoona, to his enemies inexo- 
 rable as death, and is the bee in search of the honey 
 lodged in the two lotus flowers, which the feet of 
 Shiva resemble. The next is Vishwunatha, liberal 
 and compassionate. 
 
 " He is followed by Shumbhoo-natha. Next in 
 order comes Kashee-natha, beautiful in person. 
 The last of these promising youths, is Chundra- 
 natha, splendid as the risen moon. 
 
 " On the eastern bank of the Ganges, in the 
 celebrated village of Khurda, ornamented with 
 beautiful houses, pure as the city of Indra through 
 the residence of Nitya-nunda and other sages, 
 adorned with delightful gardens, to the north of 
 Calcutta, resides Pran-Krishna Vishwasa, free 
 from the thirst of worldly grandeur, equal to Ur- 
 
164 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 joona, the governor of the treasury which is filled 
 with the most precious stones, and moreover wise. 
 He resembles Chundra in deeds ; he is the ornament 
 of the family of the Vishwasas, splendid as the sun, 
 powerful as fire to burn up his enemies, who are 
 feeble as grass. Let him and his subjects prosper!" 
 Such is Pran-Krishna Vishwasa's own account of 
 himself and family. 
 
 The work opens with an assumption of infallibi- 
 lity, and denounces the torments of hell against 
 any one who shall dare to doubt it. " For Shiva 
 says, these words are like Bruhma, they have is- 
 sued from my mouth. He who wishes for final 
 liberation, let him admit no doubts ; he who doubts, 
 will assuredly be punished in hell, together with 
 his ancestors. He who is acquainted with the 
 Muha Tuntra, needs not to study the Pooranas, 
 the Vedas, &c." 
 
 This dreadful denunciation against any one who 
 may doubt the truth of the Tuntras, completely 
 closes against its disciples the door of improvement 
 in science and virtue. The work is filled with ab- 
 surdities ; in science it inculcates the most glaring 
 mistakes ; but what is worse, it saps the foundation 
 of morals ; yet it issued from the mouth of Shiva, 
 and he who questions its authority, dies. The in- 
 tellectual faculties of its followers are thus kept 
 stationary, than which nothing can be more detri- 
 mental to the interests of society; for when the 
 human mind is forbidden to move forward, it 
 speedily retrogrades. By fixing the errors of a 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 165 
 
 dark and superstitious age as the maximum of 
 human attainments, the Tuntra involves its disci- 
 ples in an inextricable labyrinth of folly and error. 
 Investigation is the soul of improvement, but the 
 disciple of the Tuntras dares not investigate, on 
 pain of damnation hereafter. How widely differ- 
 ent is this assumption of infallibility from the 
 modesty of true science, and what a contrast do 
 the Hindoo philosophers present to the ancient 
 sages of Greece, of whom one of the most eminent 
 held it to be the first step in knowledge, " to 
 doubt." 
 
 As a specimen of the doctrines which have thus 
 been stamped with divine authority, let the reader 
 take the following : " The vowel v5[, is an astonish- 
 ing letter : it is bright as the shell of Vishnoo ; it 
 is full of the three gods and of the five souls ; it is 
 in fact Bhuguvutee herself. Of the letter ^, the 
 stroke on the left is Bruhma ; the lower stroke is 
 Vishnoo ; the perpendicular line Shiva ; the hori- 
 zontal, Suruswutee ; the curve is Bhuguvutee ; the 
 space in the centre is Shiva. The colour of the 
 left stroke is red, like the Juba flower ; the right is 
 the colour of the moon in the month Ashwina ; 
 the lower stroke, the colour of the great Moonee 
 Muhamurkut ; the horizontal line is white, like 
 the pubescent j asmine flower ; the curve resem- 
 bling the hook used in guiding the elephant is like 
 ten millions of flashes of lightning; the vacant 
 space is brilliant as ten millions of moons. It 
 bestows liberation ; it produces wealth and holi- 
 
166 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 ness ; it is the root of all letters ; it is the feminine 
 energy of nature, and the mother of all gods. In 
 the upper angle resides the wife of Brahma ; in 
 the middle angle Vishnoo's wife Jistha ; in the 
 lower Shiva's wife Roudree. It is the soul of all 
 knowledge ; the soul of the four castes the origin 
 of Brahma's power to desire of Vishnoo's power 
 to know and of the active energy of Shiva ; 
 therefore is it to be perpetually praised." In this 
 whimsical strain the work proceeds to describe 
 the character and qualities of all the vowels and 
 consonants ; yet he who rej ects the divine autho- 
 rity of this tissue of nonsense, incurs damnation 
 hereafter. It is not our intention to exhaust the 
 patience of our readers by very copious extracts of 
 this description, as nothing sooner fatigues the 
 mind than the repetition of folly ; and indeed our 
 only apology for venturing to extract these and 
 similar passages, is founded on a persuasion that 
 a knowledge of the puerilities of Hindooism is ne- 
 cessary to enable the reader to form a correct idea 
 of the system, and to show the necessity of endea- 
 vouring to substitute higher and nobler principles 
 in its stead. The following are the directions 
 respecting books and manuscripts : 
 
 " Write not letters on the earth, or the muntras 
 in books : never leave a volume open, nor receive 
 one open from another person. He whose books 
 or letters happen to be on the ground at the time 
 of an earthquake, or of an eclipse, becomes igno- 
 rant through every future transmigration. He who 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 167 
 
 writes with a bamboo pen, will undoubtedly suffer. 
 He who uses a copper pen, will enjoy undecaying 
 splendour. A golden pen procures prosperity ; a 
 Brahmun nul ensures wisdom and knowledge ; a 
 wooden pen ornamented with figures, bestows 
 children, grand-children, and wealth. He who 
 writes with a brass pen, obtains immortal prospe- 
 rity ; but the use of a kasa pen occasions death. 
 The pen must be either eight or ten fingers in 
 length ; he who uses one only four fingers long, 
 loses as many days of his life as he writes letters." 
 
 On the subject of the spiritual guide, we must 
 intreat the reader's indulgence for a more copious 
 extract. 
 
 " The spiritual guide or gooroo, must be of a 
 pure family, and pure himself, having his passions 
 in subjection. He must be acquainted with the 
 essence of the Tuntras, and of all the other Shas- 
 ters, ready to assist others, intent on holy medita- 
 tion and acts of worship, always speaking the 
 truth, steady, perpetually in search of Mookti, or 
 final liberation, one in whose heart the devtas re- 
 side, handsome, mild, perfect in all his members, a 
 Brahmun and a koolina, dutiful to his parents, a 
 householder, having a wife and son. In the morn- 
 ing he must be a posoo, or beast ; at mid-day a 
 beer, or drunkard ; in the evening dibya, or hea- 
 venly-minded, strong to punish or destroy, and 
 capable of subjecting others to himself by the 
 charm' of muntras. Let such an one be the spi- 
 ritual guide of the Tuntras." To elucidate this 
 
168 INDIAN RECOLLECTION'S. 
 
 passage, it is necessary to observe, that the follow- 
 ers of the Tuntra are divided into three classes, of 
 which one is in the habit of drinking wine, the 
 other rejects the use of liquor, the third is devo- 
 tional, though given to wine. By a singular per- 
 version of terms, those of the second class are 
 designated by the term beasts. The following ex- 
 ceptions are prescribed in the selection of a gooroo. 
 " One who is constitutionally melancholy, an ugly, 
 diseased, or wicked person, he who commits any 
 of the great sins, or is afflicted with any of the 
 eight kinds of leprosy, is intent on injuring others, 
 is avaricious, who sells gold, or commits robbery, 
 or who is ignorant, or who has the inauspicious 
 black tooth, who follows not the rules of his class, 
 a turbulent man, one diseased in his eyes, an adul- 
 terer, one ignorant of Sungskrita, one who is sub- 
 ject to his wife, or who has six fingers, is deceitful, 
 a babbler, a glutton, without the five qualifications, 
 or whose members are mutilated, is not to be 
 retained as a gooroo ; but if any of these defects 
 should appear after he has been acknowledged as 
 gooroo, let him not be dismissed. 
 
 " A disciple is one who gives his soul, body, and 
 wealth to his gooroo. He must be a believer, 
 steady, without infidelity, having the dominion over 
 his passions, possessed of strong faith in the goo- 
 roo, the muntra, and his protecting deity, of excel- 
 lent family, desirous of fulfilling the four duties of 
 mankind, a reader of the Vedas, without ardent 
 desires, and practising filial duty. He who is 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 169 
 
 destitute of these qualities, is not to be received 
 as a disciple. The disciple must never disobey 
 the commands of a gooroo, but consider himself 
 as his servant. Disobedience to a gooroo renders 
 fruitless the muntra, acts of holiness, and merit, 
 and worship, and ensures the torments of hell." 
 
 There is supernatural sanctity even in the name 
 gooroo. " Of this word, the g is the cause of frui- 
 tion ; the r destroys sin ; the oo is Shiva himself; 
 the whole word gooroo is the eternal Brahma, 
 excellent and inexplicable. He whose lips pro- 
 nounce the sound < gooroo/ with what sin is he 
 chargeable ? The articulation of g annihilates the 
 sin even of killing a Brahmin : the sins of birth 
 are removed by pronouncing oo, of ten millions 
 of births by the pronunciation of roo. Pooroosa- 
 rama murdered his mother, and Indra destroyed a 
 Brahmin; yet they both obtained absolution by 
 pronouncing the word ' gooroo. 3 
 
 " In the gooroo reside the gods, the sacred 
 streams and mountains, the inhabitants of the 
 ethereal regions, the serpents, and all the rational 
 and irrational creation, who are all gratified when 
 the gooroo is pleased. Neither the Shasters, nor 
 holy meditation, nor muntras, nor the fruit of 
 works, nor the goddesses, nor Shiva, nor images, 
 are greater than the gooroo. His residence is as 
 holy as Benares ; the water into which he has dip- 
 ped his feet is sacred as the Ganges. He can de- 
 liver from the curse of the sages and the gods." 
 
170 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 Such are the precepts of the Tuntra on this 
 most important subject. The connexion between 
 the spiritual guide and the disciple, is the funda- 
 mental principle of Hindooism, and essential to its 
 existence. External acts of worship, however 
 meritorious, may be suspended; but he who is 
 without a spiritual guide, and has not received the 
 muntra or sacred text from him, cannot be con- 
 sidered a Hindoo. On it, therefore, the perpetuity 
 of the system is evidently dependent. The duties 
 of the gooroo do not cease with the induction of 
 his disciple into the mysteries of Hindooism ; they 
 extend to the limits of his mortal existence, and 
 even stretch in the nature of their consequences, 
 into the unseen world. In fact, the whole economy 
 of Hindooism, with regard to morals and religion, 
 to present conduct and future happiness, is depen- 
 dent on him. Hence he is invested with super- 
 human prerogatives ; he ranks above the gods, 
 and enj oys a general dispensing power over all the 
 sacred books of the country. This institution is 
 the internal fortress, the strongest bulwark of the 
 system ; and it may be expected to remain, even 
 after many of the outworks have been demolished. 
 In the present age, though many religious observ- 
 ances have disappeared, and a general laxity per- 
 vades the whole system, we cannot discover that 
 the respect or obedience yielded to spiritual guides 
 has been impaired, or the confidence which is re- 
 posed in their infallibility, in the smallest degree 
 weakened. 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 171 
 
 And yet, strange as it may appear, there is no 
 security against the profligacy of the spiritual 
 guide. Once a gooroo always a gooroo. Though 
 the Tuntras forbid the employment of any one who 
 has committed the five mortal sins, yet after his 
 appointment to this important office, should he 
 plunge into vice, he still retains his sacred autho- 
 rity. He still continues superior to all the gods, 
 and to whatever is sacred in the commands of the 
 Shasters, and exercises the same control over the 
 temporal and eternal destiny of his disciple. 
 
 This religious guide, invested with so awful a 
 responsibility, on whom the Tuntra Shasters have 
 devolved the task of piloting men through the sea 
 of this world and conducting their steps to final 
 bliss, the only teacher of men, is allowed five 
 kinds of wives, and a plurality of prostitutes, with- 
 out the least diminution of his spiritual authority ; 
 and to complete this system of morals and virtue, 
 which Shiva sent down to the holy sages by his 
 son Gunesha, for the benefit of the human race, 
 the woman whom he retains, is to receive from the 
 disciples that adoration and worship which is due 
 to God alone. 
 
 The Gooroo having thus received a general dis- 
 pensation himself from all the sanctions of morality, 
 may proceed to gratify his disciple with a similar 
 indulgence. He may abrogate the Shasters at his 
 own discretion. Whatever he commands, is law; 
 and there is no higher law. He is the grandfather 
 i2 
 
172 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 of the gods. All the traditional wisdom of Hindoo 
 antiquity embodied in their earliest and purest 
 works, yea, the Vedas themselves, are laid pros- 
 trate at his feet. Whether he be likely to employ 
 this omnipotent power in favour of virtue and mo- 
 rals, it would be idle to inquire. 
 
 Most of the acts of worship commanded in the 
 Tuntra involve little labour, and cannot but prove 
 acceptable in a country pervaded with indolence. 
 They are so natural, and so easily performed, that 
 it is absolutely impossible to miss the gate of hea- 
 ven. It was reserved for the Tuntras to discover 
 the means of performing worship even while asleep. 
 It was reserved for the Tuntras to reconcile sin and 
 holiness, to point out the way for a man to commit 
 sin and perform acts of devotion, at one and the 
 same time. 
 
 The rules for the worshipping of rats and various 
 other animals, would only fatigue the reader. We 
 have, however, selected the first two by way of 
 example. Every animal has its muntra, or sacred 
 text, the repetition of which confers remarkable 
 benefits. " Having his mind and body sanctified, 
 let the disciple, elegantly attired, and after a day's 
 abstinence from food, proceed to the banks of a 
 river, and repeat the holy text of the rat, till the 
 animal issues from his retreat. Let him then return 
 home, and having seated himself either with his 
 own, or another man's wife, again repeat the mun- 
 tra, when the rat, having become propitious, will 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 173 
 
 present itself, and by the utterance of certain 
 sounds inform him of sinister or happy events, of 
 the approach of famine or of plenty." 
 
 In the months Pousha and Shravuna, let him 
 worship the cat, and repeat the sacred texts be- 
 longing to that animal, who will then advance into 
 the room, and mewing, declare whatever he may 
 desire to know of past, present, and future events. 
 
 The worship of the jackal is more remarkable. 
 Let not the reader be staggered, however, but bear 
 in mind, that there can be no sin greater than that 
 of doubting the truth and authenticity of these 
 sacred books, " On the day of the new moon, let 
 the disciple catch a jackal, and strike him dead 
 with one blow ; then seat himself on the carcass, 
 and continue in divine meditation, repeating the 
 holy text appropriated to the jackal, till he return 
 to life, and the goddess, who was the object of 
 worship, manifest herself in bodily shape. He 
 may then ask and receive whatever he desires, 
 even a beautiful wife, and hear of past, present, 
 and future events, and, above all, understand the 
 meaning of every howl of the jackal." The work 
 then proceeds to detail the formulas for worship- 
 ping the dog, the frog, the guana, the cow, the 
 deer, the goat, the bear, the tiger, the elephant, 
 the lion, the wild hog, the crow, the water fowl, 
 the peacock, the bidyadhun, the stork, the chutuk, 
 the parrot, the tigress, the pigeon, the cock, the 
 surula, the kite, the tittee, the chicken, together 
 with worms and fruit. 
 
174 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 In the chapter on the three classes of Tantrikas, 
 the "beasts," who abstain from the licentious prac- 
 tices of the others, are aspersed without mercy. 
 The veeras, who drink wine, frequent brothels, and 
 live in a delirium of pleasure, are directed to asso- 
 ciate with the initiated only, to partake of intoxi- 
 cating drugs, to be violent and furious in their 
 conduct, to anoint their bodies with ashes like 
 madmen, never to abstain from liquor, to worship 
 the gods with animal and even human sacrifices, 
 and practise the Bhiruvee chukru, a circle in which 
 the followers of the Tuntras sit down indiscrimi- 
 nately, without reference to caste, to drink wine 
 and eat flesh. But how, it may be asked, can the 
 murder of Brahmins, the drinking of wine, and 
 other enormities, which the holy books reckon 
 among the unpardonable sins, be permitted ? The 
 Tuntras explain this very satisfactorily to their 
 followers. The vedas, and other writings, esteemed 
 sacred by the Hindoos, condemn these actions only 
 when they are performed without previous purifi- 
 cations; when thus purified, they become holy 
 and meritorious. 
 
 The work advances in licentiousness as it draws 
 to a close. A Brahmin who becomes a veera f not 
 a pusooy and drinks wine which has been purified, 
 obtains absorption in Brumha, as naturally as 
 water returns to the earth, when the vessel which 
 held it is broken. The four kinds of absorption 
 cannot be obtained without knowledge, and know- 
 ledge cannot be acquired without drinking wine ; 
 
INDIAN KECOLLECTIONS. 175 
 
 the simple pronunciation of the Gayutree does not 
 constitute a Brahmin, but divine knowledge, which 
 depends on frequent and copious potations. Wine 
 is like the water of immortality. It is called wine 
 (soor,) because on drinking it the man immediately 
 becomes a god (soor). 
 
 " To render efficacious a muntra, or holy text, 
 or an act of religious worship, let the devotee 
 worship his tutelar divinity, seated on a dead body 
 or on a funeral pile." The disciple is then directed 
 to perform certain acts of a disgusting nature, 
 which are enumerated ; and to give unbridled 
 liberty to his passions. But we can proceed no 
 farther in our extracts we cannot pollute our 
 pages with these infamous precepts, what follows 
 is diabolical. Suffice to say, that if the disciple 
 feel the least compunction, if the still small voice 
 of conscience even whisper to him, that these acts 
 of religious devotion, which are condemned even 
 by the general sense of mankind, cannot be ac- 
 ceptable to a holy God, he loses all the benefit 
 which arises from them. The compiler adds, that 
 these commands are not binding in the Kalee yoga, 
 the age of iron. Were they then practised in the 
 purer ages of Hindooism ? 
 
 The five qualifications of the licentious sect of 
 Tantrikas, are, the drinking of wine to excess, the 
 eating of flesh, of fish, and of articles fried without 
 oil, and the unbounded indulgence of criminal pas- 
 sions. These qualifications are sought even by 
 the gods, but rarely can they attain the true pitch 
 
176 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 of licentiousness. They are, however, to be care- 
 fully concealed from men, (here a filthy simile is 
 introduced, in perfect harmony with the system,) 
 the promise attached to these actions is, that they 
 will render man a partaker of the divine nature. 
 Shiva goes so far as to prohibit the performance of 
 any religious act, except when the disciple is in- 
 toxicated with pleasure ; and he who in the pre- 
 sent age offers worship to the two gods, divested 
 of these passions and with an unpolluted mind, 
 falls from his caste, and the water he offers to his 
 ancestors is an abomination. 
 
 The deification of pleasure, which follows these 
 directions, agrees well with the system. Shiva 
 has eleven forms, one of which is Anunda Bhiruva, 
 or the god of pleasure, and is to be worshipped by 
 all the veeras or licentious followers of the sect. 
 The form of this deity, is in splendour equal to 
 ten millions of suns, in mild temperature equal to 
 ten millions of moons ; it possesses eighteen hands, 
 five faces, with three eyes to each, and is to be 
 contemplated as floating on a cow in the great 
 ocean of immortal waters. 
 
 The disciple is to perform every act of religious 
 worship by meditation. In the body of his tutelar 
 deity he is to contemplate and worship the dif- 
 ferent seasons and their fructifying effects ; he is 
 to regard every branch of science and knowledge, 
 as existing in the eyes, nose, mouth, forehead, and 
 other members of the body of his god. 
 
 Then follow directions for performing the " six 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 177 
 
 acts/ 7 which it would be scarcely a misnomer to 
 denominate the six " diabolical acts/ 7 viz. the de- 
 struction of an enemy, translating him from one 
 place to another, stupifying him, bringing him en- 
 tirely under one's control, implanting enmity 
 between him and his friends, and depriving him of 
 the use of his senses. As the disciples of this sect 
 are to perform these charitable deeds to one ano- 
 ther, directions are also given for rendering them 
 inefficacious." Friend of India. 
 
 I can only add, that the practices of this sect 
 most fully illustrate St. Paul's awful description 
 of the heathens of his day. 
 
 Having thus briefly noticed the sect of the 
 Tuntras, I would observe, that the greater portion 
 of the Hindoos still rigidly persevere in their ad- 
 herence to ancient usages, and entirely abstain 
 from the use of spirits, wine, opium, or any thing 
 partaking of their intoxicating qualities ; by this 
 means they are a far more healthy race than the 
 Tuntras, who always appear either as elevated be- 
 yond their natural tone of spirits, or else melan- 
 choly, low, and sad, their eyes rolling with a 
 frenzied stare, or sunken, dull, and haggard. The 
 orthodox Hindoos consider the Tuntras as heretics, 
 and abstain from communion with them. The ab- 
 stinence from intoxicating liquors, and constant 
 ablutions, which their Shasters require, are the 
 only parts of their religious system which are at 
 all conducive to their welfare : to counterbalance 
 these, there are so many disadvantages in tem- 
 i3 
 
178 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 porals connected with it, that nothing but the 
 most extensive and complicated system of priest- 
 craft could have held them in such iron bondage 
 for so long a time ; but as education progresses, 
 and missionaries are increased, the system must 
 give way : so true is the proverb " Veritas magna 
 est et pr&valebit." Yet I consider India is the 
 citadel to which the prince of darkness will retreat 
 as his strong hold. The ramparts of caste are 
 strong indeed, and the whole system of Hindooism 
 is defended by outworks of seemingly impregnable 
 strength, as the Hindoo religion is not a vague 
 tradition, handed down from father to son, and 
 merely floating in the minds of untutored savages ; 
 no it assumes the most formidable aspect that 
 system and deeply contrived schemes can bestow. 
 In it the demon Superstition reigns, attended by 
 the evil genii Sensuality and Inhumanity, whose 
 combined efforts are unceasingly used to stifle 
 conviction, wherever it appears. But are we, on 
 this account, to retire from the field, and give 
 up the evangelization of India as a hopeless 
 case? No let us rather consider what was 
 the aspect of Europe and Asia, when the little 
 band of evangelists were driven from Judea, and 
 scattered over the regions round about. The na- 
 tions to whom they preached the glorious Gospel 
 of the blessed God were fettered by a system far 
 more refined and accordant to reason than that of 
 the Hindoos a system embellished with all that 
 genius could invent, and strengthened by all that 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 179 
 
 the secular arm could bestow. But, as Gideon's 
 lamps discomfited the hosts of Midian, so the 
 torch which the apostles lighted in the valley, 
 exposed the weakness of the citadel on the mount, 
 and the fortress, from whence the gigantic demon 
 Superstition, in the night of pagan darkness, 
 issued forth with a mace of iron to rule a vassal 
 world, was destroyed, and its lofty towers razed to 
 the ground. So shall it be with the strong hold of 
 Hindooism : within her walls, Bigotry still forges 
 her fetters, and Sensuality rivets them on her 
 slaves; but no sooner does the Gospel touch 
 them, than the hitherto passive victims burst their 
 bonds asunder, as Samson broke the withs, when 
 he arose to be avenged of his enemies. The pro- 
 mise is still on record, " Ask of me, and I shall 
 give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and 
 the uttermost parts of the earth for thy posses- 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 " Where sacred Ganges pours along the plain, 
 And Indus rolls to swell the eastern main, 
 What awful scenes the curious mind delight, 
 What wonders burst upon the dazzled sight ! 
 There giant palms lift high their tufted heads, 
 The plaintain wide his graceful foliage spreads ; 
 Wild in the woods the active monkey springs, 
 The chattering parrot claps his painted wings ; 
 'Mid tall bamboos lies hid the deadly snake, 
 The tiger crouches in the tangled brake ; 
 The huge rhinoceros rends the crashing boughs, 
 And stately elephants untroubled browze." 
 
 HINDOO TEMPLES SACRED MONKEYS RAMAYUNA 
 
 FESTIVAL MONKEYS THIEVING ANECDOTES 
 
 MONKEY AND PIG ATTACK ON A DOG ROB A BOY 
 
 MODE OF CATCHING THEM MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE 
 
 SURROUNDED BY THEM ESCAPE WITH DIFFI- 
 CULTY OFFERINGS TO THEM PEEPUL TREES 
 
 BANYAN TREES BRAHMINY BULL. 
 
 IN visiting many of the Hindoo temples, I have 
 been disgusted with the worship paid to the sacred 
 monkeys. I was about to enter the court of a 
 large temple at Nuddea, when the officiating 
 Brahmin said, No person must visit the court of 
 Huniman with his shoes on. I reasoned with him, 
 by means of a friend with me, who understood his 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 181 
 
 language (Sanscrit) better than myself, and he 
 became very abusive ; but at length, after patiently 
 bearing his attack with calmness and composure, 
 we were permitted to enter with our shoes on, and 
 were requested to make an offering to the monkeys, 
 either of fruit or sweetmeats, plenty of which were 
 for sale at the gates of the inclosure ; but this we 
 declined. 
 
 The Ramayuna festival is celebrated with great 
 pomp, when Huniman, the monkey son of the god 
 Pavana, who presides over the winds, is personified 
 by some stout fellow, equipped with a mask and 
 tail like a monkey, who, attended by an army of 
 similar masks and tails, attacks the castle of the 
 giant Ravana, or Lanca, to deliver Seetu, a prin- 
 cess, who has been stolen away by the giant and 
 his evil spirits, from her husband, Rama Chandra ; 
 a fruitjess attempt having before been made by her 
 husband and his brother, Luchmunu, to effect her 
 rescue. Formerly, the youths who personified Rama 
 Chandra, Luchmunu, and Seetu, were afterwards 
 sacrificed to the parties they had represented ; but 
 this is not the case now. 
 
 During the fruit season, I was very much an- 
 noyed with monkeys ; a whole tribe of the large 
 species, called ring-tailed, came in from the jungles 
 every season, and devoured all the fruit they could 
 get at. The agility they displayed was truly 
 astonishing, their leaps being almost incredibly 
 great. When erect, they measured as high as a 
 common sized man: their tails being very long, 
 
182 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 assist them greatly in climbing and leaping. Be- 
 hind my premises there was a long building, for- 
 merly used as a rope-walk, the flat roof of which 
 was a great place of resort for them ; there they 
 would gambol and chatter, until any European 
 approached the spot, when in a few moments they 
 would be at the top of some almond trees in the 
 neighbourhood ; but if a native came quite close 
 to them, they took no more notice of him than if 
 he had been one of their own species. 
 
 One of this sort of monkeys became quite fami- 
 liar with the shopkeepers in Sulkea bazaar, and 
 would help himself to rice, fruits, &c., in a liberal 
 sort of way. I was much amused one day to hear 
 a sweetmeat merchant expostulate with him after 
 the following manner : " My brother, you know I 
 am a poor man do not take my meethies, (or 
 sweetmeat balls,) take them from other shops : 
 there is a rich man over the way he has plenty of 
 rupees go to him. Nay, nay, brother, that is too 
 bad ! (the monkey having just then crammed a 
 great ball of sweetmeat into his jaws) I cannot 
 afford so much indeed, my brother, I cannot:' 7 
 and the poor shopkeeper, apparently very much 
 against his inclination, used a bamboo to guard his 
 property. This same monkey played me a trick 
 soon after, that might have proved of serious con- 
 sequence. I was riding through the bazaar on 
 horseback, when the monkey caught hold of my 
 horse's tail, and began to pull the beast, first to 
 one side and then to the other. I had no whip to 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 183 
 
 drive him off, and he was a long armed powerful 
 creature, so that though the horse struck out at 
 him, he maintained his hold without being kicked. 
 In this way we proceeded some distance along the 
 bazaar, the horse becoming more violent in his 
 kicking, and the monkey more active in his pull- 
 ing, until my syce, having procured a bamboo, assail- 
 ed the enemy in the rear, when he took refuge on the 
 roof of a banyan's shop. It was with difficulty I 
 kept the saddle, the plunges of the horse were so 
 great. I have seen these monkeys seize the tail of 
 a Brahminy bull, who came near the trees in my 
 compound, in like manner, and twisting it so as to 
 give the animal excruciating pain, they have driven 
 it out of the compound, at a full gallop, roaring 
 and snorting all the way. 
 
 My friend Mr. B., whose premises at Gusserah 
 adjoined mine, had a very fine litter of pigs, confined 
 in a sty raised upon posts, so as to be out of the reach 
 of jackals, foxes, &c., but they were not out of the 
 reach of these monkeys. One of them paid a visit 
 to the old sow and her little ones : such an uproar 
 ensued, that we thought something uncommon had 
 taken place, and so it was, for the monkey had 
 seated himself astride the sow, and with one of 
 her ears firmly grasped in each hand, was riding 
 in fine style round the sty. The servants began 
 to shout, and he made his retreat, but not without 
 taking one of the young pigs with him. Holding 
 it by the hind leg, he mounted one of the tallest 
 cocoa-nut trees near, and then very deliberately 
 
184 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 placed the poor pig under his arm, and began to 
 move its tail round and round, in the same way as 
 the handle of an organ is turned, the pig all the 
 time uttering the loudest screams, which were re- 
 sponded to by the sow and the rest of the pigs in 
 the sty. One of the servants began to pelt stones, 
 which caused the monkey to flee ; but finding him- 
 self embarrassed in his leaping, by the weight he 
 carried, when he reached the second tree he threw 
 the poor pig into the air, and as it fell fifty, or per- 
 haps sixty feet, it was killed on the spot. 
 
 They became so audacious at last, that it was 
 totally unsafe to leave any thing portable about 
 the premises. A very large dog, belonging to a 
 gentleman in the neighbourhood, used now and 
 then to give chase to any one of them that he 
 found alone, at a distance from the trees ; but one 
 day, as he was running full speed after a small one 
 that came down to the river side, three very large 
 ring-tails left the trees to meet him, and never, I 
 think, was a poor dog so taken to before : how to 
 escape he knew not, as first one, then the other, 
 would lay hold of his tail and swing him round, 
 then grasping his neck, bite his ears, and, from 
 the length of their arms, it was in vain he attempt- 
 ed to retaliate. One of them at length grasped 
 his throat so tightly, that in a short time he would 
 have been killed, if I had not gone to his assist- 
 ance. Taking a gun in my hand, I went towards 
 the scene of action, and in a minute the monkeys 
 were far enough away ; but the poor dog did not 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 185 
 
 regain his wind for some time, and was so terribly 
 bitten all over his body, and particularly the legs, 
 that for many days he appeared in a dying state ; 
 and when able to run about again, we never could 
 induce him on any account to chase a monkey. 
 
 One morning, a little boy, about eight years of 
 age, was coming to school, with a fine bunch of 
 plantains in his hand, to be eaten at tiffin : these 
 did not escape the watchful eyes of a very large 
 monkey, that was perched upon an almond tree near. 
 Making a rapid though circuitous movement to gain 
 the rear, Jackoo soon came up with the object of 
 his pursuit, and jumping between the bearer, who 
 carried a chattah, and the little boy, he put his 
 tremendously long paws round the child's neck 
 and seized the plantains. The bearer screamed, 
 and fled to a distance ; but the child, though ter- 
 ribly alarmed, maintained his rights manfully for 
 some time, clinging to his plaintains with all his 
 might ; but Jackoo was not to be disappointed : 
 giving the boy a blow on the head, he knocked 
 him down, and bore off the plantains in triumph. 
 
 Such is their propensity to retain whatsoever 
 they once grasp, that they are often caught, by 
 putting two large bunches of green plantains, 
 which being hard, will not break to pieces, in two 
 narrow-necked jars; these being placed in a con- 
 spicuous situation, soon attract the notice of one 
 of the monkeys, who eagerly seizing the plantains, 
 soon finds he cannot extricate his hand, yet will 
 not let go his hold, and will endeavour to make his 
 
186 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 escape with the jars and their contents, but at a 
 very slow pace, as both his hands being thus 
 secured, he is obliged to shuffle along in an erect 
 posture. When pursued, he will still maintain his 
 hold, uttering screams, grinning and chattering at 
 an amazing rate, until a noose being thrown over 
 his head, he is dragged to a neighbouring tree and 
 properly secured, though not without struggling with 
 all his might and main. A monkey thus retreat- 
 ing is one of the most ludicrous objects in nature. 
 One evening a little boy was sent for from 
 school, to accompany his father on board a vessel 
 just arrived from Malacca, and on his return 
 brought home a very small monkey, with which 
 he had been presented by the captain. Having 
 gone over to Calcutta, and not returning till late, 
 I heard nothing about the monkey that evening ; 
 but about midnight I was suddenly awoke, as I 
 thought, by a pat on the head. I called out, 
 " Who is there ?" No answer being returned, and 
 not seeing any person in the room, I went to sleep 
 again ; but a severe pull at my nose soon roused 
 me ! Still I could neither see nor hear a creature 
 about the room, and was quite puzzled to account 
 for this unusual visitation; at last I began to 
 think it surely must be a dream. While thus 
 pondering the matter over, a scratching upon the 
 crown of my head made me jump up with all 
 alacrity, when turning round, I beheld a little 
 pigmy, nearly hidden behind my pillow, only 
 about half his head being visible above it his 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 187 
 
 eyes sparkling and twinkling like the stars on a 
 cold frosty night. I certainly was a little alarmed ; 
 but calling the bearer, who was sleeping in the 
 passage before my room door, he soon explained 
 the mystery. The boy had tied Jackoo to the 
 Venetians with a packthread, which he very shortly 
 after gnawed in two, and thus became free to 
 choose his own room for the night. After shutting 
 him in the bathing room, I returned to my bed, 
 and was soon restored to sleep and quiet. 
 
 I was much surprised to find that my sircar, 
 whom I considered to be one of the most intelligent 
 natives I had met with, and who ridiculed idol 
 worship, made a salaam to this creature every time 
 he passed him, provided no European was present. 
 
 In passing up the country, when near to Nuddea, 
 I happened to stroll into a bamboo tope or jungle, 
 when the boat had put to for the night. I had 
 not advanced far, before I heard a terrible up- 
 roar all around, and was not a little alarmed, on 
 looking up, to behold a whole army of the largest 
 species of monkeys making towards me from all 
 quarters. Some j umped on the ground before me, 
 others swung by the bamboos over my head, and 
 many closed up the path in the rear. Several fe- 
 males had young ones clinging to them ; but this 
 did not seem to render them less agile than the 
 others. A few of the largest, and apparently the 
 oldest, chattered for about half a minute together, 
 then the whole tribe responded, all closing nearer 
 to me at every chatter. What to do I knew not ;, 
 
188 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 however, I hallooed as loud as I could to make my 
 people hear, and to my great comfort the monkeys 
 retreated a few paces every time I did so : this en- 
 couraged me to persevere; but I perceived that 
 when I began to retreat, they closed upon me 
 again, without being affected by my noise. Once 
 more I stood still, and gave a tremendous shout, 
 when back they went again. I gained full twenty 
 yards that time, before they came jumping round ; 
 and just as I was about to commence another call, 
 my hopes were raised, in beholding a poor decrepid 
 old woman come hobbling through the midst of 
 them, with whom they seemed to be very familiar, 
 as she shook two or three by the paws as she 
 passed them ; but no sooner had she come within 
 hearing, than she opened a torrent of abuse against 
 me, for disturbing the sacred animals in their re- 
 tirement, and motioned me, with almost frantic 
 gestures, to depart quickly, her tongue never 
 ceasing till I was quite out of hearing. I was 
 not long in fulfilling her commands, as the mon- 
 keys all seemed implicitly to obey her bidding, 
 and made a way for my retreat. When I quitted 
 the jungle I met my servant, who said he was 
 coming to tell me not to disturb the monkeys, as 
 Huniman owned that bamboo grove, the old wo- 
 man being employed by the Brahmins to give 
 them food every day, and that they were wor- 
 shipped by all the people in the country round, 
 who brought offerings of rice and sweetmeats to 
 them continually. 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 189 
 
 At Gusserah, a very large peepul tree, which is 
 esteemed sacred by both Mussulman and Hindoo, 
 spread its huge branches over a part of my com- 
 pound, and these hung so low as to be very incon- 
 venient, and in many cases dangerous to persons 
 passing, whether on horseback or in a chaise. This 
 tree was considered to be the residence of many 
 spirits or peers, and was attended by an old fakeer, 
 of most wretched appearance and licentious man- 
 ners, who received a large revenue, from the cele- 
 brity of the tree, and the consequent number of its 
 worshippers. It was close to the water side, being 
 only separated from the beach by the public road, 
 and a ghaut in front gave ready access to the wor- 
 shippers, of whom boat-loads would arrive at all 
 hours of the day and night from Calcutta, to per- 
 form their devotions before it ; and I never saw a 
 native of any caste pass, without salaaming to the 
 tree. My upper windows completely overlooked 
 the small hut in which the fakeer lived, and the 
 space beneath the peepul, so that I had an oppor- 
 tunity of witnessing the gross deception practised 
 by the fakeer towards the credulous worshippers. 
 They generally brought clarified butter, sweet- 
 meats, rice, and other viands, which were all spread 
 in form before the tree ; and when this was done, 
 and the prescribed prostrations made, they were 
 required to go to the river, and perform their 
 ablutions, during which time, some, and in most 
 cases all, of the presents brought were conveyed 
 into the fakeer's hut, who announced to the wor- 
 
190 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 shippers on their return to the tree, that the peer 
 had condescended to partake of the feast, and was 
 well pleased with their offerings. I often remon- 
 strated with him on the wickedness of his conduct, 
 when he would with the greatest effrontery declare 
 that the particular peer worshipped actually did 
 eat the viands, and that every night he had con- 
 verse with several whose spirits dwelt in the tree. 
 This man was reported to be in league with a 
 band of Dacoits, who infested the river; and I 
 have every reason to believe that he was the con- 
 triver and director of all their schemes. As I found 
 the boughs of the tree increasingly troublesome, I 
 told him that they must be lopped off or trimmed ; 
 at which he flew into the most violent rage, and 
 declared, if I plucked but a twig off the sacred 
 tree, my own blood would inevitably flow, as the 
 peer whose spirit dwelt in the particular branch, 
 would execute the direst revenge upon me. He 
 then told me some most horrible tales of several 
 Europeans who had cut or broken portions of the 
 tree, and who had suffered the most dreadful pains 
 and torments of body in consequence thereof be- 
 fore their deaths, which always happened within a 
 month of the time the transgression had been 
 committed. I told him it was in vain he attempted 
 to impose his idle tales upon me ; I knew who had 
 power to create and power to destroy ; and was 
 assured that the God I worshipped was the only 
 living and true God : and to convince him that I 
 did not fear his threats, I reached forth my hand, 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 191 
 
 and plucked off a small branch of the tree beneath 
 whose shade we were standing ; at which he uttered 
 a piercing scream, and retreated many paces from 
 me, declaring that the vengeance of the peers would 
 soon overtake me ; and was beginning a most vo- 
 ciferous tirade of abuse, when I stopped him short 
 by signifying my intention, if he thus continued, to 
 lop off every branch that overhung my premises 
 forthwith, and called out for a hatchet. It was 
 wonderful to behold the change this apparent de- 
 termination effected : from the infuriate reviler he 
 became the most abject suppliant; falling at my 
 feet, and intermingling his petitions with the most 
 fulsome praises, he besought me to have mercy 
 upon him, for if the tree was in the least mangled 
 the number of worshippers would fail. I told him 
 I should be heartily glad of that, seeing that he 
 subsisted by fraud and deceit, and was the means 
 of riveting the cruel fetters which bound the poor 
 infatuated beings around him. At this juncture a 
 European friend, who had been long a resident in 
 India, passed, and hearing the pleadings of the 
 fakeer, to my great surprise most heartily seconded 
 them, declaring his belief that it was dangerous to 
 cut down the peepul tree, as he had heard of in- 
 stances where those who had done so, had died 
 shortly afterwards. Some other reasons which he 
 urged, I thought more conclusive; but before I 
 retired, I broke off another twig, to show him as 
 well as the fakeer, that I was completely divested 
 of all superstitious reverence for the tree ; and told 
 
192 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 the fakeer, that unless the branches were so se- 
 cured as not to interfere with those who had to 
 pass beneath them, I should still carry my threat 
 into effect. The next morning I was waited upon 
 by one of the richest Baboos in Calcutta, who 
 most respectfully intreated me not to cut a single 
 branch of the sacred peepul, promising that forth- 
 with the boughs should be raised high enough to 
 admit a free passage under them. This was ac- 
 cordingly done, by ropes drawing them upwards, 
 and stout posts supporting them from below. The 
 reasons of my friend which had weight with me 
 were these. The Honourable Company were averse 
 to any acts of external violence being used to the 
 annoyance or destruction of idolatrous usages, and 
 probably if I persevered, such a stir would be 
 made by the influential natives, as to call for the 
 notice of Government, and most likely I should 
 be sent from India because of my rashness (as it 
 would no doubt be termed) ; and even should this 
 not be the case, such prejudices would probably 
 be formed in the minds of the natives against me 
 personally, as to preclude all hopes of my useful- 
 ness in future, either by schools or any other 
 means. So the tree escaped. But from that time 
 I was much less annoyed by the nocturnal revels 
 of its worshippers, as I made this a stipulation, 
 that no bawling or beating of tom-toms should 
 take place after bed-time, and that my servants 
 should not be reproached as they had been, be- 
 cause they served one who did not reverence the tree. 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 193 
 
 It was not long after this, that the fakeer was 
 much mortified by a trick played on him by a 
 young gentleman, to whom he had been expatiat- 
 ing on the sanctity of the tree, and the peers who 
 dwelt in it. Amongst other stories, he told him 
 that on a certain day of the year a peer was visibly 
 seated on its topmost branch. It happened that 
 in a few days one of the large monkeys ascended 
 the tree in quest of its berries ; when this young 
 gentleman ran to the fakeer, who was at some 
 little distance, and told him he was very sorry he 
 had before doubted his word, but that he was now 
 convinced of the truth of what he had told him, 
 as he had just seen the peer in the top of the tree, 
 and if he came he might see him too. The old 
 man came in haste, wondering what he could 
 mean ; and earnestly gazing up into the tree, spied 
 the monkey on its summit. This so completely 
 chagrined him that he retired into his hut, and was 
 not visible for many hours afterwards. Around this 
 tree were hung many little earthen vessels, contain- 
 ing water from the sacred Ganges, for the peers to 
 drink ; and offerings of flowers, in garlands or bou- 
 quets, were daily suspended on its branches. 
 
 Many attempts were made by the fakeer and 
 his associates to dislodge me from the house, 
 by stratagems and schemes which had taken 
 effect with former residents; but they found I 
 was proof against the fear of ghosts, &c., though 
 some, or indeed all my servants were not. From 
 the number of persons resident in the house (having 
 K 
 
194 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 about forty young gentlemen then with me), they 
 could not act the part of ghosts, as they had done 
 formerly, without detection; and one man, who 
 was detected in the act of imitating these noc- 
 turnal visitors, received a severe beating from 
 Mr. G., one of my ushers, which probably had a 
 great effect in staying their tricks. However, be 
 that as it may, after the first twelve months I suf- 
 fered comparatively little annoyance from the fakeer 
 and his tree. Yet each day I could not but recall 
 to mind the words of the prophet, "They served 
 their gods under every green tree ; and under the 
 thick trees they offered there their sacrifices, 
 and there they presented the provocation of their 
 offering : there also they made their sweet savour, 
 and poured out there their drink offerings." 
 
 Of all the trees which abound in Bengal, the 
 banyan is certainly the most noble. When full 
 grown, it covers an area so large that a regiment of 
 soldiers may find shelter from the heat beneath its 
 wide-spreading branches. Bishop Heber says of 
 one, on an island of the Nerbuddu, about twelve 
 miles above Broach, " Of this tree, which has 
 been renowned ever since the first coming of the 
 Portuguese to India, which is celebrated by our 
 early voyagers and by Milton, and which the 
 natives tell us, boasted a shade sufficiently large 
 to shelter 10,000 horse, a considerable part has 
 been washed away with the soil in which it stood, 
 within these few years, by the freshes of the river, 
 but enough remains, as I was assured, to make it 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 195 
 
 one of the noblest groves in the world, and well 
 worthy of the admiration which it has received." 
 As the branches of this friendly tree extend, fibres 
 from them drop downward, till, reaching the 
 ground, they take root, and become stancheons to 
 support the boughs which gave them birth, and 
 increase in magnitude as the branch needs sup- 
 port, until the tree itself forms quite a grove, 
 having hundreds of stems and stocks, all united 
 by continuous branches, affording shelter and sup- 
 port to numerous classes of monkeys and parrots, 
 who sport and chatter in its upper regions ; whilst 
 the weary traveller and his beast, or a whole cara- 
 van and their attendant animals, may find a cool 
 retreat from the piercing rays of the mid-day sun 
 beneath its shade. 
 
 With much delight I have contemplated the 
 wisdom displayed in the arrangement of trees, 
 &c. in this and other parts of the earth, by the 
 great Creator of all things. The cocoa-nut tree 
 affords no refuge from the sun ; thus the danger 
 is avoided which would otherwise be incurred, 
 if beneath its shelter, the weary pilgrim should 
 seek repose, by the fall of its hard, weighty fruit : 
 whilst the banyan and others, whose umbrage 
 courts repose, produce small berries, the fall of 
 which can endanger no one. And a tree is found 
 in the deserts of Upper India, whose branches 
 spread somewhat in the shape of a fan ; and the 
 trunk of which being pierced, produces instantly 
 about a wine glass of clear refreshing liquor, nearly 
 
196 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 as tasteless as spring water, but participating 
 slightly of the flavour of the liquor obtained from 
 a green cocoa nut. I saw one or two specimens of 
 this tree in the Honourable Company's botanical 
 garden, which seemed to thrive remarkably well. 
 Beneath the shade of the banyan, the missionary 
 frequently addresses the listening crowd of idola- 
 tors ; and there the Brahmin often holds his school. 
 Several of these curious trees are found in the bo- 
 tanical gardens, one of which is the largest I ever 
 saw ; and as great care is taken that its shoots and 
 fibres are not cropped by cattle, it grows more ra- 
 pidly than those which are constantly exposed can 
 be expected to do. 
 
 The Brahminy bulls are very fond of cropping 
 these trees, and where many of these animals are 
 ranging about, as is the case in Calcutta and its 
 suburbs, very few large banyan trees can be found. 
 The cow is a sacred animal with the Hindoo, and 
 is worshipped with great veneration. Two of their 
 principal deities are represented as seated on a bull, 
 viz. Sivu and Parvuti. Yet, notwithstanding this 
 professed veneration, I have often been grieved to 
 witness the barbarity with which many of the 
 hackry drivers treat the poor cattle which draw 
 their vehicles. Sometimes their necks are most 
 dreadfully wrung and galled by the wooden bar 
 against which their humps press. Still no mercy 
 is shown by their brutal masters : should they 
 flinch from the yoke, an excruciating pang from 
 the twist of the tail makes them spring forward 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 197 
 
 again ; and whilst the rude wheels creak beneath 
 the heavy loads imposed upon them, their cruel 
 master sits perched in the front, with his chin upon 
 his knees, inhaling the smoke of a well-charged 
 hubble-bubble, which he holds with one hand, 
 while he tortures his beasts with the other. On 
 many occasions the rich natives turn loose a bull 
 calf, branded with a particular mark, which denotes 
 that he belongs to Siva ; from that time he is a 
 holy bull, or, as he is generally called, a Brahminy 
 bull. Wherever he strays he meets with no mo- 
 lestation. To strike one of these animals is an 
 enormous sin, and no Hindoo would on any ac- 
 count incur the penalties denounced against those 
 who in the least degree misuse them. Hence they 
 help themselves pretty frjeely to the grain, &c. 
 which is exposed for sale in the bazaars, till most 
 of them are as sleek and fat as well-fed oxen. 
 Some few years ago they multiplied so fast in Cal- 
 cutta as to become great nuisances, and the au- 
 thorities ordered a great number to be transported 
 over the river to the Howrah side. This was done, 
 and boat-loads of them arrived at the Ghaut, and 
 were landed amidst the acclamations and salaams 
 of the natives. But in a short time the whole of 
 them were found in their old haunts round Cal- 
 cutta, and then an inquiry took place to ascertain 
 who had been wicked enough to transport them 
 back again, the authorities forgetting that the 
 widest and most rapid rivers are crossed with ease 
 by the horned cattle of India. I was crossing the 
 
198 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 Hooghley one clear moonlight night, just at the 
 time of low water, and observed something swim- 
 ming and blowing at some little distance, and mak- 
 ing towards me. The first idea I had was, that it 
 was an alligator, so I raised a bamboo oar upright, 
 ready for action should he attempt to board ; but 
 just before he came in contact, one of the boatmen 
 cried out that it was one of Siva's bulls, and we 
 passed without fear. Instead of a bellow, they 
 make a grunt something like a fat hog when dis- 
 turbed ; and oftentimes fight most severely, so that 
 it is no uncommon thing to see them with only one 
 horn. A remarkably docile one used to frequent 
 my premises, and was a great favourite both with 
 the young gentlemen and the servants, the former 
 of whom would now and then mount on his back, 
 and have a short ride. One evening, when I was 
 over the water in Calcutta, a heavy storm came 
 on, which prevented my return for some hours 
 after the specified time at which I had ordered the 
 syce to bring the horse to the Ghaut to meet me, 
 so that when I landed, which was between eleven 
 and twelve o'clock at night, I found no syce nor 
 horse in waiting. As the roads then were not 
 made puckah, they were remarkably dirty, being 
 completely saturated by the shower which accom- 
 panied the storm. Whilst I stood ruminating on 
 what was best to be done, the pet bull came by, 
 and the idea immediately occurred of mounting 
 him and riding through the mud. This I did, and 
 at a very slow pace the animal carried me safely 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 199 
 
 home. I met no person in the road but the village 
 chokedar, who at first appeared alarmed, thinking 
 it was one of their gods ; but when I spoke to 
 him the man laughed most heartily, and followed 
 me all the way to the gates, where I alighted, and 
 dismissed the sacred bull with two or three pats 
 on his neck ; and although my white trowsers bore 
 full testimony to the animal's need of ablution, 
 still I was glad to have escaped the mud I other- 
 wise must have waded through. It is said that 
 the lower orders of the Mussulmans will some- 
 times decoy one of these animals into the river ; 
 where, to avoid detection, they haul him up 
 between two boats ; then, cutting his throat, take 
 off the skin, and letting that go with the rolling 
 stream, they dress the carcase and bring it on 
 shore, as if sent to market in the regular way. I 
 have heard an indigo factor say, that one season, 
 when a vast deal depended on housing the crop 
 quickly, his superintendents pressed several of 
 these bulls into the service, and, unknown to the 
 Hindoos around, worked them for many days 
 under Mussulman drivers, and that they performed 
 the duty well. Certain it is, that this would not 
 do near Culcutta, or any large town, as the whole 
 Hindoo population would be horror stricken at the 
 idea. The number of Brahminy bulls is very great 
 at Benares and Nuddea, where they have peculiar 
 honours paid to them, to a degree which is not 
 practised elsewhere. Thus is that glory given to a 
 creature which pertains alone to the Creator. 
 
CHAPTER XL 
 
 " Arches grandly bow'd, 
 Bold statuary lions, column, dome 
 Reveal the pride of wealth. But sadly rise 
 (The long forgotten dead t" immortalize,) 
 Each black mausoleum and each solemn tomb ; 
 On whose aspiring points, like moveless stone 
 The ancient crane doth stand> all mute, gloom struck, and 
 lone." 
 
 MUSSULMAN ENTHUSIASM MOHURRUM ROMAN CA- 
 THOLICS MUSSULMAN BURYING GROUNDS HOW- 
 
 RAH AND CALCUTTA FUNERALS CHOLERA MORBUS- 
 
 RAVAGES OF SMALL POX METHOD OF INOCULA- 
 TION. 
 
 THE Mussulman inhabitants of British India are 
 certainly less effeminate in appearance and manners 
 than the Hindoos ; and though in many instances 
 they appear to be more licentious and brutal, yet, 
 generally speaking, they are much on a par for 
 morality with their pagan neighbours. Still I must 
 confess, that however mistrustful I might be of a 
 Hindoo's word, yet I always could give credit to 
 it, in preference to that of a Mussulman. Being 
 very much addicted to strong drink and opium, 
 they often manifest the most furious and vindictive 
 dispositions, especially to those of other creeds, at 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 201 
 
 the times when any of their religious festivals are 
 holden. On such occasions, their enthusiasm is 
 great beyond description, as they seem to have 
 totally given up all their faculties to its despotic 
 sway. The festival of the Mohurrum is kept with 
 as much pomp as their circumstances will allow ; 
 and during the ten days that it lasts, all ranks and 
 degrees are totally absorbed in its ceremonies 
 Different scenes are represented on each day, by 
 means of effigies, gilded thrones, chariots, and va- 
 rious paraphernalia of royal and warlike pageants, 
 attended by hosts of living actors, who manifest 
 at some periods of the festival the most frantic 
 grief, beating their breasts with great violence, 
 and exclaiming in rapid accents, "Oh Hussein, 
 Heif az Hussein." On the first day of the feast, 
 their zeal and enthusiasm are excited by the ad- 
 dresses of the Moulahs, who harangue them on 
 the incidents pertaining to the tragic history of 
 Hussein, as well of his brother Hassan and their 
 father Ali, of which the following is a brief sketch. 
 Ali the caliph was beloved by his subjects, but 
 fell by the hand of an assassin, and the regal 
 power was usurped by his bitterest enemy, who 
 failed in his design of murdering the young princes, 
 Hussein and Hassan. When the usurper died, he 
 was succeeded by his son Yezzed, during whose 
 reign a plot was formed to restore the house of Ali 
 to the throne ; and trusty messengers were dis- 
 patched to Medina, to invite Hussein to invade the 
 kingdom, and to assure him that the faithful were 
 K 3 
 
202 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 anxious to throw off the yoke of their tyrant, and 
 acknowledge him as their rightful sovereign. 
 
 The prince hesitated not to comply with the in- 
 vitation; and, collecting a small army, headed 
 them in person, taking his family with him. Yez- 
 zed being informed of his movements, sent a large 
 army to meet him, which having taken a position 
 between Hussein and the river Euphrates, entirely 
 cut off his supply of water, which in that parched 
 country was a more decisive blow than if half his 
 retinue had been slain in battle. The consequence 
 was, that without coming to action, most of his 
 followers forsook him and fled, so that, in a very 
 short time he numbered only seventy-two persons 
 in his train, most of these being relatives. Still, 
 with this little band Hussein performed the most 
 extraordinary feats of valour ; but, on the tenth of 
 Mohurrum, they were entirely surrounded by ten 
 thousand of Yezzed's troops, and every one cut to 
 pieces, Asher, the infant son of Hussein, being 
 butchered in his father's arms. The head of Hus- 
 sein was carried to Damascus, and laid at the feet 
 of Yezzed. By the harangues of the priests, and 
 the scenic representations, such as the horses of 
 Hussein and his brother covered with gashes and 
 stuck full of arrows, scimitars and turbans stained 
 with blood, and pigeons (which carried the sad 
 news to Medina,) with their beaks clotted with 
 gore, the minds of the spectators are often 
 wound up to a pitch of frenzy, bordering on mad- 
 ness, when they sometimes inflict wounds upon 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 203 
 
 themselves and others, and in some instances many 
 have been slain. Those who are strict in their 
 observance of this festival endure great privations, 
 by an almost total abstinence from water, during 
 the ten days which the Mohurrum lasts. Vast 
 sums are lavished by the wealthy Mussulmans on 
 these occasions, and a great demoralization is pro- 
 moted in the minds of the people, by the revenge- 
 ful and blood-thirsty feelings which are excited. 
 Their temporal interests are also much injured by 
 the cessation from labour which is occasioned, 
 and the expensive pageants to which they are all 
 called upon to contribute. Indeed, the whole of 
 the Hindoo and Mussulman systems are pernicious 
 in the highest degree to the present welfare of 
 their followers, so that if no other object was con- 
 templated, but that of ameliorating the temporal 
 condition of the inhabitants of our East Indian 
 territories, the philanthropist would find the most 
 cogent reasons (from the influence which the fes- 
 tivals both of Hindoo and Mussulman have upon 
 their present welfare), for aiding in the great work 
 of evangelizing these distant realms, subj ect to the 
 British sceptre. So true is the sentiment contained 
 in the following stanza of the immortal Watts, even 
 as it regards temporal prosperity. 
 
 " What if we trace the globe around, 
 
 And search from Britain to Japan ? 
 There shall be no religion found, 
 So just to God, so safe for man." 
 
 In most of the years I passed in India, from 
 
"204 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 eighty to ninety days were required by the alma- 
 nack to be spent in these festivals, and the Hindoo 
 or Mussulman is not content with the waste of 
 time which his own religion demands, but must 
 participate also in that which his neighbours' holi- 
 days insures. I have beheld the houses even of 
 the low'er order of Portuguese Roman Catholics de- 
 corated with flowers, &c., at the Mohurrum, Chur- 
 ruck Poojah or Rhat Jutra festivals, and the huts 
 of both Mussulmans and Hindoos, in like manner, 
 adorned on Christmas day and Good Friday. In 
 fact, amongst the greater part of the low Portu- 
 guese, the Christian, Mahomedan, and Hindoo 
 ceremonies are so amalgamated, that no distinct 
 feature of either is beheld. On one occasion, I 
 remember seeing two of the Portuguese dhooms, 
 as they are called, i. e. men w r ho bear the dead to 
 the grave, dancing with the Mussulmans, and beat- 
 ing on their breasts at the feast of Mohurrum. I 
 was also surprised at beholding a Hindoo sircar 
 salaaming to the tomb of a Mussulman saint. 
 Mentioning my surprise to him, he said, " Oh, 
 sahib, it is good to keep friends with him, for he 
 was a terrible rascal when alive, and we do not 
 know what he may do yet." 
 
 The Mussulmans bury their dead, and many of 
 the tombs erected over the graves have small 
 lamps burning constantly in them. Some of their 
 burial grounds present a very disgusting spectacle 
 at times, as tke jackals often dig down to a newly- 
 buried corpse, and drag it up to devour it. This is 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 205 
 
 not an arduous task for them to accomplish, as the 
 Mussulmans generally dig very shallow graves, 
 and the bodies are not inclosed in coffins. I have 
 often wondered at the little care which is thus 
 taken to preserve the remains of their deceased 
 relatives from the voracious j aws of these animals, 
 seeing that they are so very tenacious in prevent- 
 ing Europeans from encroaching in the least de- 
 gree on the land where they are buried, and the 
 length of time which the least supposed affront 
 offered to their remains rankles in their bosoms. 
 Of their vindictive spirit of revenge, as it regards 
 this, I had an evidence whilst at Howrah. One 
 of the inferior officers in the Honourable Com- 
 pany's service, at the salt golahs there, had (seve- 
 ral years before I lived at Howrah) purchased a 
 small piece of ground, in which a Mussulman 
 family had been buried ; this he converted into a 
 garden, notwithstanding the remonstrances of se- 
 veral Mussulmans around, who vowed revenge, if 
 he persisted in digging up the ground. Many 
 years had passed away, and it was supposed by 
 his friends that all was forgotten ; but they were 
 mistaken. This man died, and I buried him, in a 
 new burial ground at Sulkea, which I had just 
 before purchased on behalf of the chapel, and his 
 grave was dug close to one in which, the day be- 
 fore, I had buried a young gentleman, one of my 
 scholars, whose father lived at Seebpore. The 
 morning after his funeral, a native Called at my 
 gate, and told the dhurwan, that a coffin was lying 
 
206 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 exposed in the burial ground, with the grave- 
 clothes of the deceased person all torn in strips, 
 and the bones scattered about the place. This 
 being communicated to me, I mounted my horse, 
 and went up immediately, and was much grieved 
 to find the coffin of the youth standing empty, 
 whilst his bones, cleanly picked by the jackals 
 and Pariah dogs, were dragged all over the grave- 
 yard, and the shroud and pillow, being torn in 
 pieces, were tied as streamers to the shrubs around. 
 The skull I immediately recognized, from its pecu- 
 liar formation, to be that of the lively active youth, 
 who had only a few days before been conversing 
 with me. The grave of the old gentleman remained 
 untouched. It was a melancholy task I had to 
 perform, in gathering up the bones, and breaking 
 the matter to his mourning father, whose spirit 
 had been greatly bow r ed under the bereaving dis- 
 pensation. However, the former I immediately 
 did, and, by the aid of two Portuguese, consigned 
 the coffin and its contents once more to the tomb, 
 and then rode to Seebpore, and gradually revealed 
 the circumstance to the still weeping parent, who 
 appeared greatly shocked by the outrage com- 
 mitted. A reward was offered for the discovery of 
 the perpetrators, and two Mussulman dhooms were 
 apprehended, when it was discovered that they 
 made a mistake in the grave, as it was the body 
 of the old gentleman, who had disturbed the Mus- 
 sulman burial ground, that they considered they 
 had cast to the birds and beasts of prey ; and such 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 207 
 
 was their disappointment, that they declared he 
 should yet be cast out, should their lives pay the 
 penalty of the deed ; but as a regular watch was 
 afterwards kept, their plans were defeated, until a 
 high wall being built around the ground, and a 
 dhurwan's house erected at the gate, the ground 
 became secure. 
 
 This burial ground I bought very cheaply, in 
 consequence of a Portuguese watch-maker having, 
 at his dying request, been buried in it, as from 
 that time no Hindoo or Mussulman, or even the 
 Portuguese themselves, would have any thing to 
 do with it. The parties who owned it had endea- 
 voured to sell it, without effect, and were them- 
 selves too superstitious to use it as a garden, or 
 appropriate it to any useful purpose whatever ; so 
 that when I made application for the purchase of 
 it, the bargain was speedily closed, to the joy of 
 all parties, as, prior to that time, all bodies of 
 Europeans were obliged to be carried over the 
 water to Calcutta for interment, which involved 
 much trouble and extra expense, as no boatman 
 could by any means be induced to ferry the corpse 
 over, or lend their boat for that purpose : the way 
 pursued was, two or three Portuguese dhooms went 
 forward to the Ghaut, and jumping into a vacant 
 dinghey, before the boatmen could push off from 
 shore, seated themselves in it, when the owners 
 fled, for fear of contamination; and every other 
 boat would put off from shore, until the corpse 
 was safe afloat, when they would come in and 
 
208 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 take the mourners over ; and the undertaker paid 
 the boatmen, who followed in another dinghey, for 
 the use of their vessel. The funerals at Howrah 
 always reminded me of England, as the corpse 
 was carried on men's shoulders all the way to the 
 ground, (nearly half a mile from the chapel,) and 
 the mourners followed in pairs, with cloaks and 
 bands ; yet the illusion was but momentary, as 
 the sable countenances of the men, who carried 
 large umbrellas over the heads of the followers, 
 proclaimed we were far from home and friends. 
 In that little spot, within the space of four years, 
 I had to perform the melancholy duty of burying 
 many Europeans, several of them dear friends, as 
 also several sailors, of whom six were from the 
 ship Calcutta, which had performed a voyage round 
 the world, and who fell a sacrifice to the cholera 
 morbus, which broke out on board soon as they 
 cast anchor in the river. There were also several 
 American sailors interred, and three or four officers 
 of different free traders, one of whom afforded a 
 melancholy instance of the total failure of infidel 
 principles to support the mind in the hour of death, 
 or to afford satisfaction when earthly comforts fail. 
 Jt was about the middle of July, after a most sul- 
 try day, when, unable to sleep, I had taken a turn 
 backwards and forwards in the verandah of my 
 dwelling at Gusserah, and was about to retire 
 once more to seek repose, when my attention was 
 engaged by an unusual noise at the Ghaut before 
 me, and presently I heard a gruff voice calling out, 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 209 
 
 " House, ahoy ! House, ahoy !" Looking out, I 
 inquired what was wanted ? when two sailors ap- 
 proached and said, " Your honour, are you the 
 minister that preaches in the place below ?" I said, 
 " Yes, my good friend ; what is your pleasure with 
 me ?" " Why, if your honour will just come and 
 say a bit of a prayer to our chief mate, it will be a 
 charity, for he is sadly taken aback, and we don't 
 think he'll ever get out of his berth again." " Did 
 he request you to come for me ?" " No, your ho- 
 nour. He does nothing but groan, and rave about 
 hell and such things ; but the second mate thinks 
 a bit of prayer or so will do him good." " Will 
 not the morning be a better time to visit him, think 
 ye ?" " Why it may be he'll not see the morning, 
 we are thinking, your honour." " Well, then," 
 said I, " it shall be as you wish ; I'll go with you." 
 In a few minutes I was seated in the stern of the 
 captain's cutter, and six sturdy hands soon brought 
 me alongside a large vessel at anchor in the middle 
 of the stream. There was something peculiarly 
 solemn and impressive in the scene ; the time was 
 midnight, all around was still and calm, save the 
 rippling of the water, and the noise occasioned by 
 the slow pacing of the watch on deck, and the 
 heart-rending groans which were uttered by the 
 sick man ; these at intervals had reached my ear 
 during our way to the ship, and when I mounted 
 the gangway were very loud indeed. The second 
 mate met me on the quarter deck and stated, that 
 the chief mate was pronounced by the doctors to 
 
210 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 be in a dying condition, and that, as his mind 
 seemed to be in a most distressing state of alarm, 
 he had sent for me at this unseasonable hour to 
 see if any consolation could be administered to 
 him. I told him that no time was unseasonable 
 to me, and begged he would immediately conduct 
 me to the dying man. For the sake of air his cot 
 was slung in the cuddy, and several persons sur- 
 rounded it, apparently endeavouring to soothe his 
 mind ; but, alas ! in vain. When informed who I 
 was, he eagerly stretched forth his hand, and 
 grasping mine with great strength, said, " Dear 
 Sir, pray for me ; pray for me !" I begged him to 
 be calm, and said, " I will pray for you, but let me 
 beseech you not to waste your breath in vain ex- 
 clamations and lamentations, pray for yourself 
 I will offer prayer, you must join with me." " Oh ! 
 no, Sir, I cannot pray my God ! I never have 
 prayed no, Sir, I never shall pray. I feel I can- 
 not I cannot, I am lost, I am lost ; oh that I had 
 never been born !" I entreated him not to indulge 
 in such a strain. I pointed out the value of the 
 atoning blood of Christ ; told him of the willing- 
 ness of Christ to save even the vilest of the vile ; 
 told him of the dying thief; in short, all that I 
 could possibly say to encourage a hope of salva- 
 tion I did say ; but he would still cry out, " Sir, 
 this is not for me. I am lost ! My father is in 
 heaven ! My mother will be there. I broke my 
 father's heart I despised their prayers, their coun- 
 sel, and their entreaties, and now I cannot pray, I 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 211 
 
 cannot hope." I began to read the Scriptures, he 
 stopped me, saying, " Pray for me directly." I 
 prayed, but alas, every petition for mercy seemed 
 only to aggravate his misery, and I could not pro- 
 ceed for his groans and cries. In this awful state 
 he continued till about three o'clock in the morn- 
 ing, when he appeared to be more calm for about 
 five minutes, during which period he seemed to 
 listen very attentively to my words ; but just as 
 I was kneeling down to pray again, he started up 
 in his cot, and fearfully looking around, grasped 
 my hand with all the energy and convulsive power 
 of a drowning man, and wildly shrieking and fall- 
 ing backwards, expired in agony indescribable. 
 What my feelings were can be more easily con- 
 ceived than told. I spoke seriously to all present 
 on the vast importance of being prepared to die ; 
 pointing out the only means, and exhorted them to 
 take warning how they despised the Word of God, 
 or the counsel of parents and friends. Just as I 
 was leaving the ship, the captain, who had been 
 sent for from some distance, arrived : he appeared 
 to be much affected at the intelligence, and ex- 
 pressed his gratitude for my coming. From him 
 I learned that the deceased was the son of pious 
 persons, and of great talents, but unfortunately 
 had in his youth become connected with a com- 
 pany of rich profligates, and had (to keep pace 
 with them in their extravagance,) brought his pa- 
 rents nearly to ruin, and this had so preyed upon 
 the mind of his father, that he died quite broken 
 
212 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 hearted ; but that he thought the infidel principles 
 his son had imbibed was the great source of sor- 
 row, rather than the loss of his property. His re- 
 mains were consigned to the house appointed for all 
 living on the afternoon of the same day, and the 
 address then given was the means, under the 
 Divine blessing, of the reformation of one of the 
 many persons who attended at the grave. 
 
 During the time that the cholera morbus raged 
 violently at Howrah, I was requested to bury seve- 
 ral Portuguese Roman Catholics, who fell victims 
 to its malignant power. 
 
 Some of these persons were brought to the grave 
 without coffins, being merely sewed in a coarse 
 sheet, just in the same manner as sailors who die 
 at sea are stitched in their hammocks. The first 
 funeral that approached the ground was attended 
 by numerous wax tapers, and other paraphernalia 
 of popish origin. These, at my request, were ex- 
 tinguished, and the succeeding funeral parties 
 came without them. The last rites paid to per- 
 sons who die in Calcutta are conducted with more 
 pageantry than in England; and what adds much 
 to the effect, is the number of vehicles of all de- 
 scriptions that accompany the procession. From 
 the nature of the clime, it is indispensably neces- 
 sary that the funeral should take place within 
 twenty-four hours at farthest from the time the 
 spirit has quitted its tenement of clay, and it very 
 seldom happens that a corpse is kept so long. 
 If a person dies before sun-set, he is generally 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 213 
 
 buried at sun-rise the next morning ; and if before 
 sun-rise, at sun-set. Hence the undertakers are 
 all prepared with coffins, &c., so that no delay 
 takes place ; and the persons who bring the coffin 
 wait to carry the body to its dark domain. No 
 invitations are given ; but cards with black edges 
 are freely circulated through the city, stating that 
 the friends of A. B., Esq., are respectfully in- 
 formed that his remains will be consigned to the 
 tomb at five o'clock p. M., or six o'clock A. M., as 
 the case may be ; and all who have been in the 
 habit of associating with the deceased generally 
 attend some in coaches, others in buggies and 
 palanqueens. These all move in a dense mass 
 after the mourning coaches ; and when the corpse 
 is taken into the burial ground, the parties all 
 alight, and follow it along the walks between the 
 rows of tombs, to the vault or mausoleum opened 
 for its reception ; and when the service is ended, 
 drive off to their respective residences, with very 
 little apparent concern or reflection on the solemn 
 scene just presented to their view so much does 
 the frequency of the scene detract from its in- 
 fluence on the minds of survivors. Indeed, I have 
 often thought that Europeans, (when they have 
 resided any length of time in India,) seem to have 
 lost all the finer feelings of our nature, which so 
 beautifully develop themselves at the time of af- 
 fliction or death, in the social circles of our highly 
 favoured land. This, no doubt, arises from the 
 frequent recurrence of the ravages of death amongst 
 
214 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 them, and from the numerous appalling scenes 
 which the river and its ghauts present to the pass- 
 ing European, whenever he traverses its streams or 
 approaches its banks. None but those who have 
 witnessed the distressing sight, can form an ade- 
 quate idea of the picture of human misery which 
 the ghauts afford at the time when the cholera 
 rages. The dead and dying are all huddled toge- 
 ther in a confused mass, and several fires are blazing 
 at the same time, consuming the bodies of the more 
 rich and noble, who have just died, whilst the poor 
 creatures who are expiring feel certain that in a few 
 minutes their bodies must share the same fate, or 
 be hurled into the flowing stream, to become the 
 prey of waiting alligators, or, what is worse, to be 
 left on the beach, a prey to jackals and vultures, 
 which infest the spot. Fresh arrivals every hour 
 multiply the misery, as groans and cries increase, 
 whilst the stench proceeding from the burning bo- 
 dies, and the lurid gleams of the blazing fires re- 
 flected by the water, and giving somewhat of an 
 unearthly appearance to the features of the suffer- 
 ing victims around, furnish a scene of woe which 
 completely baffles the power of description to pour- 
 tray. Having mentioned the disease, which at the 
 present day so much engrosses the attention of the 
 British public, I may be permitted to state, with- 
 out fear of displeasing my readers, some facts 
 which came under my own observation respecting 
 that dreadful scourge of India. I never could 
 bring my mind to decide on the point, whether it 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 215 
 
 might be considered contagious or not, especially 
 as medical men were divided in their opinions on 
 the subject, and so many conflicting ideas were 
 entertained by them respecting the cause from 
 which it proceeded. Dr. Tytler published a pam- 
 phlet, in which he stoutly maintained that bad 
 rice was the means of introducing it to any district 
 where it raged. Others considered that the de- 
 composition of animal and vegetable substances, 
 producing animalculse, was the source of the evil. 
 From my own knowledge I can testify, that some- 
 times a whole family would be affected, whilst at 
 other times one person only of all the families in 
 the village would be seized with it ; and oftentimes 
 it would spread devastation for miles along one of 
 the banks of a river, whilst the villages on the 
 other side of that river would be perfectly free 
 from its attacks. Sometimes it would march across 
 the river, and pursue its course just in the same 
 manner as if a column of infantry had crossed and 
 continued its march through the country. I have 
 known it spread in a direction contrary to the 
 wind, and at other times to go with it : so that no 
 criterion was found on which an opinion could be 
 formed, whether the cholera was contagious or 
 not, as all its features were at times anomalous. 
 One thing, which was a source of pleasure to my 
 mind, when the cholera morbus was raging at its 
 highest around me, was, that the remedies most 
 effectual were simple in themselves and easily pro- 
 cured. I very seldom knew any persons fall a 
 
16 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 sacrifice to it, provided that, as soon as the first 
 symptoms appeared, about forty drops of laudanum 
 were taken, in about half a wine glass of brandy, 
 diluted with nearly the same quantity of water, to 
 which five or six drops of essence of peppermint 
 had been added. Delay in administering the re- 
 medy was sure to prove fatal, as the stoutest con- 
 stitution would avail nothing against its prostrat- 
 ing power. The following is the prescription of a 
 medical gentleman, who had much experience in 
 the treatment of the disease : " Take lauda- 
 num, twenty drops; diluted sulphuric acid (in 
 which there are ten parts of water to one of acid), 
 ten drops ; oil of peppermint, three drops ; and mix 
 them with a little water." This was seldom known 
 to fail if taken promptly. At the time when mul- 
 titudes were falling around us, papers, of which 
 the following is a literal copy, were printed at the 
 Baptist Mission press, and distributed gratis in 
 Calcutta, with much good resulting, viz. 
 
 "CHOLERA MORBUS. 
 
 "THE CHARACTERS OF THIS DISEASE are, a 
 sudden attack of vomiting and purging, attended 
 with severe pain in the belly, great anxiety, spasms 
 in different parts of the body, and extreme debility. 
 
 " ORIGIN. Much has been said and written 
 respecting the cause of this evil. Various articles 
 of food, sleeping in damp and cold places, espe- 
 cially on the ground, exposure to the sun, sup- 
 pressed perspiration, through sudden changes from 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 217 
 
 heat to cold, 8cc., have by turns been suspected to 
 give rise to it. But as the natives of this country 
 are every year more or less exposed to a succession 
 of all these supposed causes without their proving 
 so generally hurtful to them, as in the present 
 epidemic, it would appear that the remote cause 
 exists in a certain inexplicable state of the atmos- 
 phere, by which a too copious secretion of bile is 
 produced ; in the same incomprehensible manner 
 in which, in temperate climates, sore throats, hoop- 
 ing coughs, agues, and numerous other morbid 
 affections are inflicted on men, as well as on the 
 brute creation. 
 
 " The LEADING SYMPTOMS of the disease being 
 increased irritability of the stomach and bowels 
 from accumulated bile, and great depression of 
 strength , the indications of cure are 1. to allay 
 irritation ; 2. to rouse and support the powers of 
 life ; and, 3. to carry off the offending bile. 
 
 "The first is done by opium and its preparations ; 
 the second by stimulating medicines, wine, brandy, 
 and nourishing substances of easy digestion ; the 
 third is best effected by calomel, succeeded by 
 castor oil or other laxatives. 
 
 " METHOD OF CURE. In persons very recently 
 attacked, and whose constitution has not been 
 weakened by previous indisposition, a dose of 
 laudanum, from forty to sixty drops, or a grain 
 or two of opium to a full-grown man, seldom fail 
 to check the vomiting and purging ; and a dose of 
 eight or ten grains of calomel, followed up by three 
 
 L 
 
218 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 or four table-spoonfuls of castor oil, if required, 
 will in most cases complete the cure. 
 
 " But if a person be seized with cholera niorbus 
 while in a weak state of health, or if the disorder 
 have continued for several hours before assistance 
 could be afforded, the case is dangerous, and re- 
 quires the most serious attention. The appearance 
 of a man thus attacked while just recovering from 
 a previous illness, or exhausted by the severity and 
 duration of the present affection, is truly alarming. 
 His countenance is sunk and ghastly, his look is 
 either staring and unmeaning, or his eyes are 
 nearly shut, as if much inclined to sleep; his 
 speech is impeded and tottering; his hands and 
 feet are cold and clammy, and his pulse hardly 
 perceptible. He either vomits a dark coloured 
 bilious fluid, or he is constantly retching, without, 
 being able to bring up anything. He passes fre- 
 quent bilious stools without being aware of it. 
 Spasmodic twitchings and hiccup supervene, and 
 generally close the distressing scene within a few 
 hours, if timely assistance be not afforded in the 
 most energetic manner. 
 
 " A mixture of two parts of compound spirits of 
 ammonia (sal volatile), with one part of laudanum 
 will, under the circumstances above described, be 
 found of great service. A tea-spoonful of this 
 mixture should be given to a full-grown patient 
 every half hour, mixed in a little tepid water, or 
 in brandy and water, and continued until the vo- 
 miting and purging be stopped ; after which, the 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 219 
 
 compound spirits of ammonia should be given alone 
 in doses of nearly a tea-spoonful every hour or 
 every two hours, until the natural heat of the body 
 return, and the pulse be restored to its proper 
 strength. 
 
 " If the patient should be unable to retain li- 
 quids, or if on account of caste he should refuse to 
 take them, one or two pills of opium of one grain 
 each, are to be given instead of laudanum ; and a 
 dram of dried chillies of the small kind reduced to 
 powder, and made into twenty pills with a little 
 flour or gum and water, may be used in the latter 
 case as a substitute for the compound spirits of 
 ammonia, giving one or two every half hour at 
 first, and every hour or two afterwards, either alone 
 or along with the opium, as the state of the patient 
 may require. 
 
 " Having recommended compound spirits of am- 
 monia, it is necessary to observe that, if this medi- 
 cine be not at hand, spirits of hartshorn, ether, 
 lavender, essence of ginger, and in fact any medi- 
 cine possessing a stimulating quality, may be used 
 in its place. Thus, drogue amere, tincture of Co- 
 lumbo root, and many other tinctures, have been 
 found efficacious in this disease, on account of the 
 spirit with which they are made, especially the 
 first mentioned, as containing a number of warming 
 and bracing ingredients. Should unfortunately no 
 medicine of any kind be procurable at the moment, 
 the patient's sufferings may be relieved, and his 
 life kept up, by giving him frequently repeated 
 
 L2 
 
220 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 small draughts of warm water and brandy, or any 
 other spirituous liquor, or warm wine with spices, 
 until the necessary remedies can be obtained. 
 
 " As soon as the vomiting has ceased a short 
 time, a calomel pill of three or four grains should 
 be given, and repeated every two hours, until from 
 twelve to sixteen grains have been taken, support- 
 ing the patient in the intervals with sago, or arrow 
 root, or rice congee, with wine and sugar, or cin- 
 namon, or cardamoms. 
 
 " If that quantity of calomel do not operate 
 freely, two three table-spoonfuls of castor oil, in 
 warm water, or a dram of compound powder of 
 jalap, or forty grains of rhubarb in peppermint 
 water, should be given to work it off. If after this 
 the patient be feverish, two or three grains of ca- 
 lomel should be continued every six hours, and a 
 wine glassful of camphor jalap, with thirty or forty 
 drops of ether, should be given every two or three 
 hours : the purging dose should also be repeated r 
 if the stools continue bilious or deficient. During 
 convalescence, the patient ought to be careful in 
 the choice of his food, returning very gradually to 
 his accustomed mode of living. An infusion of 
 cheretta, or any other bitters, may be used to re- 
 store the tone of the stomach." 
 
 Some of the natives from the prejudice of their 
 minds, could not be prevailed upon to take the 
 medicine, Such generally fell a sacrifice to their 
 superstitious regard to caste. The natives in com- 
 mon entertain a very high opinion of the medical 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 221 
 
 and surgical skill of Europeans. Thus it was no 
 uncommon thing for many persons every day to 
 visit my house, seeking relief from some disease or 
 other with which they were afflicted ; and I always 
 supplied them with medicines and advice, as far 
 as my abilities would allow. Many dreadful acci- 
 dents occurred in the various ship-yards around 
 me during my residence at Howrah, when the poor 
 sufferers would invariably request that a Belathee 
 Sahib might be sent for, in preference to a native 
 doctor. In fact, the rich natives regularly seek 
 medical aid from the Honourable Company's sur- 
 geons now ; and many of them realise large sums 
 by fees received from the wealthy Baboos. 
 
 The small pox still makes great ravages at cer- 
 tain periods amongst the inhabitants of Bengal. 
 For five or six years together its complexion is so 
 very benign as to cause little alarm ; but every 
 seventh year, with scarcely any exception, it rages 
 epidemically during the months of March, April, 
 and May, and sometimes until the return of the 
 rains in the middle of June gives a check to its fury. 
 On these periodical returns, the disease proves 
 universally of the most malignant confluent kind, 
 from which few of the natives that take it in the 
 natural way escape, as it commonly proves fatal 
 on the first, second, or third day of the eruption. 
 
 J. Z. Holwell, F.R.S., in a treatise on this sub- 
 ject, says, " It is singularly worth remarking, 
 that there hardly ever was an instance of a native 
 of the island of St. Helena, man or woman, that 
 
222 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 was seized with this distemper in a natural way, 
 when resident in Bengal, who escaped with life." 
 The same has been remarked of the negroes who 
 have taken the disease in India ; and it is consi- 
 dered, that being from their infancy accustomed to 
 eat plentifully of yams of the skranshee kind, (a 
 term used to express their acrid, unwholesome qua- 
 lities,) they are subject to a habit of body very 
 unfit to combat with any acute inflammatory disease, 
 but more especially the small pox, which in India 
 is so often attended with a high degree of putre- 
 faction. This disease has prevailed in India for a 
 very long time, as their Shasters prescribe a pOojah 
 to be holden in honour of a female deity, called by 
 the common people " Gootee ka Tagooran" (the 
 Goddess of Spots,) whose aid and patronage are 
 invoked during the small pox season ; also in the 
 measles, and every cutaneous eruption. I should 
 suppose, therefore, that it was from India that the 
 Egyptians and Arabians derived the small pox, in 
 their commerce with that country, by way of the 
 Red Sea and Gulf of Mocha. A certain number 
 of Brahmins are delegated annually, by the par- 
 ticular tribe to which they belong, to itinerate 
 through the country, and inoculate those who are 
 anxious to have the operation performed ; and they 
 so plan their travelling circuits as to arrive at 
 each place some weeks before the annual return of 
 the disease ; and the inhabitants of Bengal, know- 
 ing the usual time when the inoculating Brahmins 
 annually return, observe strictly the regimen en- 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 223 
 
 joined. This preparation consists only in abstain- 
 ing for a month from fish, milk, and ghee, (a kind 
 of butter, made generally of buffalo's milk). The 
 prohibition of fish respects only the native Portu- 
 guese and Mahommedans, who abound in every 
 province of the empire. 
 
 When the Brahmins begin to inoculate, they 
 pass from house to house and operate at the door, 
 refusing to inoculate any who have not, on a strict 
 scrutiny, duly observed the preparatory course en- 
 joined them. It is no uncommon thing for them 
 to ask the parents, how many pocks they choose 
 their children should have? Vanity, we should 
 think, urged a question on a matter seemingly so 
 uncertain in the issue; but true it is, that they 
 hardly ever exceed, or are deficient, in the number 
 required. 
 
 They inoculate indifferently on any part, but, if 
 left to their choice, they prefer the outside of the 
 arm, the mid-way between the wrist and the elbow, 
 for the males ; and the same between the elbow 
 and the shoulder for the females. Previous to 
 the operation, the operator takes a piece of cloth 
 in his hand (which becomes his perquisite, if the 
 family is opulent), and with it gives a dry friction 
 upon the part intended for inoculation, for the 
 space of eight or ten minutes ; then, with a small 
 instrument, he wounds, by many slight touches, 
 about the compass of a silver groat, just making 
 the smallest appearance of blood ; then, opening 
 a linen double rag, (which he always keeps in a 
 
224 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 cloth round his waist,) takes from thence a small 
 pledget of cotton, charged with the virulous mat- 
 ter, which he moistens with two or three drops of 
 the Granges water, and applies it to the wound, 
 fixing it on with a slight bandage ; and the patient 
 then submitting to the required diet has generally 
 a very mild species of this otherwise malignant 
 disease. Vaccination has been introduced with 
 much success in some cases ; but it is not yet fully 
 established, so great is the antipathy of the native 
 mind to any innovation on the customs of their 
 fathers. 
 
CHAPTER XIL 
 
 " Come walk with me the jungle through ; 
 If yonder hunter told us true, 
 Far off, in desert dank and rude, 
 The tiger holds his solitude ; 
 Nor (taught by recent harm to shun 
 The thunders of the English gun,) 
 A dreadful guest but rarely seen, 
 Returns to scare the village green." HEBER. 
 
 ADJUTANTS THEIR VORACITY TRICKS PLAYED WITH 
 
 THEM KITES AND CROWS THE CHAMELION 
 
 JACKALS ELEPHANT'S BURIAL DECEPTION PRAC- 
 TISED BY A JACKAL ILLUSTRATIONS OF SCRIPTURE 
 
 ANECDOTES OF ELEPHANTS AND TIGERS SEPOYS 
 
 INSTANCES OF THEIR LITERAL INTERPRETATION 
 
 OF ORDERS, &C. 
 
 NOTHING tends more to diversify the scenery of 
 India from that of England, than the number of 
 adjutants (large birds of the stork species, the 
 ardea argala), which are beheld in all parts of the 
 presidency and military stations. They do not 
 frequent the native part of Calcutta, nor the dwel- 
 lings of the natives generally, so much as they do 
 the residences of Europeans, as near the latter, 
 (being carnivorous,) they find a greater supply of 
 L 3 
 
226 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 food than they possibly can do around the habita- 
 tions of the former, whose diet is principally com- 
 posed of vegetable productions and milk. They 
 seem to entertain no fear of injury from the na- 
 tives, as they will not flee at their approach, nor 
 exhibit the least symptoms of alarm if surrounded 
 by them; but if a European comes near, they 
 immediately retreat to a greater distance, and will 
 not suffer him to approach anything like so near 
 as the natives do. This may in a great measure 
 be owing to the many tricks which Europeans are 
 accustomed to play on their voracity. Every 
 morning, several of these birds station themselves 
 near to the cook-room doors, ready to seize the ofTal 
 which may be thrown out by the cooks ; and many 
 furious battles take place in the course of the 
 morning for the possession of bones, and other 
 spoils, which may occasionally present themselves 
 to their watchful eyes. Their beaks are very long 
 and thick, and they possess great strength in them. 
 When they are fighting, the chopping of their bills 
 and fluttering of their wings are the signals to 
 waiting kites and crows, numbers of which imme- 
 diately surround them ; and one of these active and 
 vigilant spectators will commonly avail himself of the 
 dispute of the quarrelling adjutants to carry off the 
 prize for which they are contending. The crows 
 are about the size of the English jackdaw, and 
 very numerous in every part of Bengal. They are 
 to be found by hundreds around all the houses of 
 Europeans, and are ten times more active, vigilant, 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 227 
 
 annoying, and crafty, than any birds we have in 
 England. Nothing to which they can have access 
 is safe from their marauding attacks. I lost many 
 small articles from their pilfering disposition. I 
 have seen them oftentimes fly into the room, and 
 take off a slice or two of bread and butter, or any 
 thing else that might be left in the hall after the 
 dinner or tea party had just risen from table. 
 Sometimes a number of crows will beset an adju- 
 tant, and torment him exceedingly. At length, 
 the poor bird, quite wearied out by their imperti- 
 nent attacks, suddenly makes a start, and catching 
 hold of one of their number, swallows it instantly, 
 when the other crows set up such a cawing as to 
 disturb the whole neighbourhood. This I have 
 witnessed more than once. 
 
 One of the tricks practised on the adjutants by 
 Europeans is this : a large bone is tied to about 
 half a brick or large stone, at the distance of about 
 three feet, when the bone and its companion are 
 thrown out to the birds, one of which seizes the 
 bait, and greedily swallows it. The consequence 
 is, that the stone hangs dangling from its beak, 
 until the bird, unable to shake it off, rather than 
 disgorge the bone, gives it a throw upwards, and 
 swallows it also. It is said that in a few minutes 
 the powerful chyle of the stomach destroys the 
 string, when the stone or brick is cast out again. 
 But I never had patience to watch for this result. 
 Sometimes a bone is tied to a long string, and 
 thrown to a great distance ; when the bird, having 
 
228 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 swallowed it, is hauled nearly up to the person 
 who holds the string, before he will consent to 
 give back the spoil. I was much grieved at one 
 trick I saw played ; and all who witnessed it joined 
 with me in censuring the cruelty of him who per- 
 formed it. A large marrow-bone was charged 
 with a cartridge of powder, and a fusee inserted, 
 which would, under cover of the bone, keep alight 
 when swallowed. This was ignited, and thrown 
 out, just after two or three of these birds had been 
 scrambling for other food, arid was speedily seized 
 and swallowed by one of them. No sooner had 
 the poor adjutant thus taken the bait, than, feeling 
 the heat of the fusee, it mounted straight upwards, 
 and wa& in a moment after literally blown to atoms 
 in the air. This was the only instance I expe- 
 rienced of such a practice, as, generally speaking, 
 the adjutants are treated with much kindness, 
 being viewed as great benefactors to man, in re- 
 moving the impurities and offal which would 
 otherwise soon taint the air, and breed disease. In 
 fact, if one of these birds receives a hurt, it is 
 carefully attended to, and when recovered, permit- 
 ted to go at large. By an ancient law of Bengal, 
 a heavy penalty is attached to the killing of one of 
 them. Two great reasons why they are more afraid 
 of a European than of a native, are to be found in 
 the native indolence of the Hindoo and the influence 
 of his religion, which leads him to suppose that 
 the spirits of his fathers dwell in the bodies of the 
 animals, birds, insects, and reptiles around him, 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 229 
 
 and that his own soul will, by and by, be transmi- 
 grated into the body of some such creature. Thus, 
 my native boy refused to kill a poisonous reptile, 
 when I desired him to do so, saying, " My father 
 is dead, and my mother is dead also ; and I do not 
 know but it is one of them." 
 
 The adjutant is a bird of passage; but the 
 precise country where it breeds has, I believe, 
 never yet been satisfactorily ascertained. One 
 instance alone has been known of a nest having 
 been found in Hindostan. This was discovered 
 by a party of a European regiment who were 
 crossing the country, and was built on the top 
 of an old stunted tree. In it were two young 
 ones, nearly fledged. The men who found them 
 presented them to the officers, and they were es- 
 teemed as great rarities. When this bird stands 
 erect, it is nearly as high as a common-sized man. 
 It often stands for a length of time on one leg, 
 and sometimes with expanded wings, when it is 
 seen to great a4>gintage. It was reported in Cal- 
 cutta a few years ago, that the life of a European 
 soldier had been saved by one of these birds in the 
 following manner. The man being very much in- 
 toxicated, had fallen senseless upon the ground, at 
 some distance from the barracks, where he lay for 
 many hours unable to rise, and would have been 
 all this time exposed to the rays of a scorching 
 sun, which would most probably have been the 
 cause of his death, had not a large adjutant come 
 to his assistance, as when found, the bird was 
 
230 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 standing over him with extended wings, thus com- 
 pletely shading his body from the sun. 
 
 One of these birds robbed me of a fine lively 
 chamelion, which a friend, returning from the 
 upper provinces, had presented to me, and with 
 which I was much amused. I provided a large 
 shrub, which I placed in an inclosed verandah, for 
 its habitation. By this means we saw the creature 
 in its natural state, and had an opportunity of ob- 
 serving the cause of the various changes its colours 
 underwent. Some of the leaves of the shrub were of 
 a reddish, others of a yellowish hue, the most 
 part being of a beautiful dark green. Whenever 
 the creature glided by any of the red or yellow 
 leaves, that part of its body which covered them 
 from the eye of the spectator would assume just 
 the same colour ; and I often discovered that the 
 fonn of its body was altered to suit the shape of the 
 leaves amongst which it might be placed. So closely 
 did it assume the shape, shades, and colours of 
 the leaves around, that I have Iroked at the tree 
 for some minutes, before I could discover it ; and 
 at length perhaps it has been found in the most 
 conspicuous situation there. 
 
 How wisely has Providence thus endowed this 
 creature with the peculiar gift of altering its co- 
 lour ! If this were not possessed, the poor reptile 
 must soon perish, as its size is such, that any fly 
 or beetle must be apprised of its approach long 
 before it could reach the necessary point of near- 
 ness to dart out its tongue and secure the prize. 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 231 
 
 I always found, that whenever it was irritated, it 
 would change to a dusky black colour ; and when 
 pleased, to light pea green. The following de- 
 scription of the creature from the Cyclopaedia, is 
 so true to nature, that I prefer giving it to anything 
 I can write on the subject. 
 
 " The head is very like that of some fishes, and 
 is joined almost immediately to the breast, the 
 neck being extremely short, and having at the 
 sides two cartilaginous eminences, in the manner 
 of fishes. It has a crest standing up in the middle 
 of the forehead, and two others over the eyes, and 
 between the crests there are two remarkable de- 
 pressions ; the nose and mouth, running from the 
 eyes with a double edge to the end of the snout, 
 resemble those of a frog. At the extremity of the 
 nose there are two perforations, which seem to 
 serve as nostrils; the mouth being always kept 
 close shut, and the creature appearing to have no 
 power of respiring but by means of these. Its 
 mouth is furnished with teeth, or rather with con- 
 tinued denticulated bones. These are of no service 
 in eating, since it preys upon flies, and swallows 
 them whole ; but may serve for its defence in hold- 
 ing fast a stick in its mouth, which, according to 
 ^Elian, this creature does, placing the stick cross- 
 ways, to prevent its being swallowed by serpents. 
 " The structure and motion of its eyes are very 
 surprising, being set in large cavities : they appear 
 to be good-sized spheres, of which one-half stands 
 out of the head, and is covered with a thin skin, 
 
232 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 perforated with a small hole at the top, through 
 which is seen a very vivid and bright pupil, sur- 
 rounded by a brilliant iris. This hole is properly 
 a longitudinal slit, which the creature opens more 
 or less wide at pleasure ; and the eye seems fixed 
 to this eyelid, so as to follow all its motions, not 
 turning round within it, as in other creatures. The 
 motion of the eyes is not less singular than their 
 structure, since it can turn them so as to see what 
 passes either far backward, on either side, or di- 
 rectly behind it, without at all moving the head, 
 which is fixed to the shoulders ; and the creature 
 can give one eye all these motions while the other 
 is perfectly still. The trunk of the body is pro- 
 perly all breast, its ribs being continued to the 
 ilia : the feet have each five toes, two behind, and 
 three before, the hinder ones being as large as the 
 others. This creature moves as slow as the tor- 
 toise, which appears very singular, as its legs are 
 sufficiently long, and it has no great weight of 
 body to carry ; but it is said, that on trees, in its 
 wild state, it moves very nimbly. Its tail, when 
 inflated, is round as that of a rat or snake : when 
 empty, it is very lank, and has three longitudinal 
 ridges running along it. This tail is a great safety 
 to the creature on trees, as it twists it round the 
 branches when in any danger of falling." 
 
 Its pace, as stated, is most remarkably slow and 
 formal ; it generally puts out the foot and draws 
 it backward and forward several times before it 
 sets it on the ground. Yet, when alarmed, it can 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 233 
 
 move at a rapid pace for a few moments, This I 
 proved by tying a thread to a large centipede, and 
 letting it run towards the chamelion ; when, if the 
 centipede caught its eye, its pace was immediately 
 quickened ; and if the reptile drew very near, the 
 poor affrighted chamelion would hurry to the near- 
 est shelter, at almost as rapid a pace as a rat could 
 do. The creature at length became so attached 
 to me, that if I drew near to the shrub, it would 
 approach the extremity of the bough, that I might 
 put forth my hand to receive it ; when, crawling 
 up my sleeve, it would take its seat upon my 
 shoulder, twisting the end of its tail round my ear 
 for security. During the cold months it appeared 
 at times to be in a torpid state, and seldom or never 
 took any food : but as soon as the hot weather re- 
 turned, it became brisk and lively, and would take 
 six large cockroaches in the course of a day. I 
 found by measurement, that the utmost distance 
 to which it projected the tongue to take its prey 
 was eight inches ; though it commonly approached 
 within six inches of a fly or moth before it made 
 the attempt to catch it. The tongue at such times 
 seemed to be unrolled, just in the same manner as 
 a piece of ribbon would be, if a person were to hold 
 the end, and cast the roll from him ; whilst a gluti- 
 nous substance plentifully spread over the surface of 
 the tongue, rendered the escape of the insect impos- 
 sible, if it did but touch any part of its body or 
 wings. I never could observe any hue or colour 
 in its various changes, but those of the vegetable 
 
234 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 kingdom in which it moved, except when wrapped 
 in a white handkerchief, or placed under a black 
 hat ; when, in the former case, it would assume a 
 beautiful primrose, and in the latter a dusky brown 
 colour. One mild day I was induced to place it 
 on a small tree in the front of the house, 
 for the purpose of watching its movements 
 when apparently in a state of liberty, and was 
 much pleased with the ingenuity displayed by 
 the creature in its various changes : at one 
 moment inflating itself to a large size, to match 
 some cluster of leaves or stem of the tree, it 
 would assume the shade of each so correctly, that 
 it required great penetration to discover the cheat; 
 at the next, lean and shrivelled, it would stretch 
 itself out from branch to branch, just as if it was 
 one of the stems on which the leaves grew. Having 
 been called away, I left it there, and returned just 
 in time to see a large adjutant stalk to the tree, 
 and seizing the poor chamelion, at one fell gulp 
 bolt it down its rapacious throat. I shouted, but 
 all in vain ; the greedy bird was not to be diverted 
 from its prey, and thus I lost my reptile friend. 
 
 It was not long afterwards that a beautiful milk 
 white kitten, of the much admired Persian breed, 
 which had been presented to me by Capt. Crouch, 
 was seized as it lay basking in the verandah, by 
 one of these voracious birds, and instantly swal- 
 lowed, to the great regret of the young folks, who 
 were remarkably attached to it. Notwithstanding 
 these predatory acts, we considered the adjutants 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 235 
 
 as great benefactors, in consuming the refuse of 
 the compounds and yards, which in that hot climate, 
 would otherwise become an intolerable nuisance. 
 
 The jackal in this respect may be considered as 
 an auxiliary, though I must confess, that useful as 
 these animals are in eating the filth and carrion 
 which abound, especially in the bazaars and 
 ghauts, yet the depredations which they commit, 
 and the howlings with which they disturb your 
 nocturnal repose, seem more than equivalent to 
 their utility, and lead the mind oftentimes to de- 
 sire their total destruction. The noise which the 
 jackals make every night must be heard to be 
 fully conceived. Soon as the busy hum of the 
 bazaars and streets is ended, and all nature seems 
 about to take repose, their barking or howling 
 commences. Whilst sitting in the verandah to 
 catch the evening breeze, you hear the well-known 
 cry, perhaps a solitary howl from a jackal at a 
 great distance, and you seem glad that it is so far 
 off. However, before your self-gratulations are 
 completed, most probably five or six, or even 
 ten of these clarion-tongued mourners open their 
 cry simultaneously, close by the spot where 
 you are sitting, and the sound thrills through 
 every nerve. Then perhaps silence succeeds for a 
 few minutes, when their cries again break forth in 
 another quarter, and it seems as if an army of them 
 was spread over all the country, as in every direc- 
 tion the same cries are heard ; and woe be to any 
 domestic fowl, kid, lamb, or rabbit that is not well 
 
236 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 secured by high walls and safely fastened doors. 
 Their voracity is so great, that when all other re- 
 sources fail, they devour the remains of the putrid 
 corpses which the tide leaves on shore. In the 
 year 1824, one of the up-country rajahs paid a 
 visit to the Governor-General, and as he came by 
 the great Benares road, he left all his retinue at 
 Howrah, instead of taking them over to Calcutta 
 with him. Some of the elephants and camels 
 were much jaded by the fatigues of the journey, 
 so much so, that one of the largest elephants died, 
 and the rajah ordered it to be buried in a plain at 
 a little distance. An immense grave was imme- 
 diately dug, and the unwieldy beast was, by the 
 help of the other elephants, drawn to the place, and 
 rolled into the yawning gulf below. It was a very 
 interesting spectacle, as the surviving elephants all 
 seemed to mourn its loss ; and I could see the 
 tears trickle down their cheeks in fast succession, 
 as they paid this last friendly office to their de- 
 ceased companion. The animal must have weighed 
 many tons, and it could not have been carried to 
 the grave but by the help of these sagacious crea- 
 tures. Notwithstanding the depth of the hole, 
 which was dug so deep as to allow six feet of earth 
 above the body of the elephant, the jackals began 
 their ravages, and in a very few days a hundred 
 of these animals were feasting upon the spoil. 
 Holes leading down to the carcase were dug in 
 all directions ; and mostly when I passed the spot 
 in the morning at sunrise, the jackals, glutted with 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 237 
 
 their night's repast, were about to depart to their 
 lairs and hiding places, some of them so completely 
 gorged as to be hardly able to move across the 
 plain. So diligently did they work, that in a very 
 short time the whole of the carcase was clean 
 picked by them. One of my friends, now in Eng- 
 land, was one night disturbed by something which 
 seemed to lift up the bed on which he lay : put- 
 ting his hand down by the side of the cot, to his 
 great consternation he caught hold of the back of 
 a jackal, which having examined the bungalowe 
 in search of food, had found a loaf, with which it 
 was trying to make its escape by dragging it under 
 the low cot on which my friend lay. But as there 
 was not space sufficiently large, at every tug the 
 jackal gave to get the loaf away, the bed was 
 jolted upwards. No sooner was he thus disturbed, 
 than the fellow was glad to escape without his 
 prey. This animal will carry off infants, if left 
 unprotected in the night, but never meddles with 
 youth or manhood unless in self-defence, when its 
 attacks are ferocious to the last degree. Mr. S., 
 who lived near me at Gusserah, found a jackal one 
 morning within his garden, the door having been 
 left open all night. He immediately shut it close, 
 and as the garden was walled all round, thus pre- 
 cluded the possibility of the intruder's escape ; 
 and, arming himself with a club, began to give 
 chase to it. The jackal made for the door, which 
 being shut, destroyed his hopes of escape. After 
 searching every corner of the garden, closely pur- 
 
238 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 sued by Mr. S., all at once the animal turned 
 round, and making a violent spring, seized Mr. S. 
 by the throat, and brought him down, when the 
 Mollees alarmed by his cries, hastened to the spot 
 in time to save his life, and destroy the infu- 
 riated beast. Though not much hurt, yet for a 
 long time this gentleman's mind was much per- 
 plexed, lest the animal should have been in a rabid 
 state, as many of the jackals often are, when the 
 consequences might have proved most distressing;. 
 However, through mercy, no such effects did follow. 
 The cadets often purchase jackals for a hunt, and 
 many of the Portuguese set large hutch traps to 
 catch them for this purpose ; and when their visits 
 become particularly annoying, Europeans do the 
 same. Seldom a night passes without one being 
 found in the trap, if a few bones or any meat be 
 tied to the trigger, as these animals possess the 
 most exquisite sense of smelling, and will scent 
 their prey from a great distance. Amongst the 
 natives, there are many proverbs and tales ex- 
 pressive of the cunning of these crafty creatures ; 
 and I certainly could hardly have credited the de- 
 ception they will practise, if I had not witnessed 
 the following scene. A jackal had been caught 
 in a trap by a person whose premises were much 
 annoyed by them ; and by means of a large stick 
 he thought he had killed the captive, by beating 
 and poking him in the trap, as the animal lay 
 quite motionless at the bottom. The door was 
 then opened, and the jackal dragged out. He 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 239 
 
 appeared to be quite dead, and the gentleman laid 
 hold of his tail and lifted him up, and turned him 
 over and over. We then walked away, to send a 
 Mhater to throw him into the river ; but no sooner 
 had we left the spot than the j ackal ran off, as if 
 nothing had been done to him. I thought he must 
 have been stunned all the time by a blow, but I 
 was afterwards told by many persons to whom I 
 related the circumstance, that such deceptions had 
 often been practised by these crafty animals. 
 
 Those who have been sceptical respecting the 
 account given of the stratagem used by Samson to 
 destroy the corn of the Philistines, Judges xv. 4, 
 may have all their doubts respecting the proba- 
 bility of the matter removed, by visiting Bengal, 
 or by receiving the testimony of those who have 
 visited that country. It is said, that " Samson 
 went and caught three hundred foxes, and took 
 firebrands, and turned them tail to tail, and put a 
 firebrand in the midst between two tails; and 
 when he had set the brands on fire, he let them 
 go into the standing corn of the Philistines, &c. 
 &c." Now any person in India, with half the 
 authority of Samson, might obtain, not only three 
 hundred, but three thousand of these animals, in a 
 very short time, if his commands were issued, as 
 they swarm throughout the whole country, and are 
 easily taken. When I have beheld the remains of 
 a fellow mortal devoured by these beasts of prey, 
 I have called to mind the words of the Psalmist, 
 (Psalm Ixiii. 10.) " They shall be a portion for 
 
240 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 foxes." And when I have explored the ruins of 
 some decayed castle, or the remains of a once 
 splendid palace, I have been reminded of the de- 
 solation of Jerusalem, described by Jeremiah, when 
 in his Lamentations he says, " For this our heart 
 is faint; for these things our eyes are dim; be- 
 cause of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate; 
 the foxes walk upon it;" by seeing the foxes and 
 jackals quietly stealing along the walls, or walk- 
 ing over the mounds of mouldering bricks, and 
 through the dilapidated halls, where once the 
 presence of princes shed lustre on all around. 
 
 The elephant is a valuable auxiliary to govern- 
 ment, in transporting stores and troops to the dif- 
 ferent stations, when no water conveyance is avail- 
 able, especially when the army takes the field ; 
 and is much used by the native grandees and Eu- 
 ropeans generally who live in the Mofussil. Of 
 all animals it is the most docile and tractable ; but 
 so much has been written on this subject, that I 
 shall confine myself to my recollections. At the 
 siege of Bhurtpore, a very heavy piece of ordnance 
 was required to be drawn up an immense precipice, 
 and many unsuccessful efforts were made to accom- 
 plish the task, when it was considered that it was 
 a hopeless job, as, with the whole strength of the 
 detachment, if they gained a foot of ground, they 
 lost it again directly, and to gain this temporary 
 advantage required the most vigorous efforts they 
 could possibly make. In this dilemma it was sug- 
 gested by a conductor, who knew the animal well, 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 241 
 
 that old Suwharree, (as the elephant was called,) 
 should be brought to the rear and made to block 
 the gun, so that they might not lose the little 
 ground they gained. This was immediately done, 
 and the mohout made him understand what was 
 required for him to do. The elephant immediately 
 knelt down, and fixing his forehead against the 
 muzzle of the gun, kept it firm in its position, and 
 when the party pulled, Suwharree gave a violent 
 heave, which sent the ponderous burthen forward 
 many feet, and kept it there whilst the others 
 gained fresh strength, and by this means the job 
 was soon accomplished. Doctor V. being about 
 to travel to a distant station, in the Mofussil, had 
 many government elephants put under his charge : 
 these were all brought over to Gusserah, to wait 
 his departure; and as he was staying with my 
 esteemed friend Mr. B., I cheerfully complied with 
 his request that the beasts might remain beneath 
 a shady grove of mangoes in my large compound. 
 There I had a constant opportunity of watching 
 all their motions, and was delighted and surprised 
 to witness their sagacity and docility. Every morn- 
 ing they all came to the river side to wash ; lying 
 down upon one side in the stream, each elephant 
 would fill its trunk with water, and squirt it over 
 the place where the mohout was rubbing, then 
 kneeling would perform the same operation on its 
 back, and lastly on the other side, until the whole 
 body was cleansed ; when returning to the grove, 
 and the flies beginning to be troublesome, the 
 
 M 
 
242 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 whole train would gather large branches, and 
 wielding them with their trunks, brush away the 
 flies from all parts of the body. One of these 
 elephants, in passing through the bazaar, suddenly 
 came upon a man sleeping in the path, when, 
 rather than crush him beneath its foot, the careful 
 animal rolled him over with its trunk, and placed 
 him out of danger. It was some time before the 
 man was sensible of what had taken place, as he 
 appeared to wake in a terrible state of alarm ; but 
 the elephant acted with the greatest coolness and 
 caution. Those elephants which are used in tiger 
 shooting are peculiarly brave, as well as docile. 
 My good friend, Mr. B., was an expert shot, and 
 had killed many tigers, from him I heard several 
 interesting anecdotes of the sagacity displayed by 
 his elephant in passing through the jungles. 
 Whenever a branch hung in the way of the how- 
 dah, although the elephant itself might pass se- 
 curely beneath it, yet knowing it would incom- 
 mode its master, the considerate beast would seize 
 it with its trunk and rend it off, that no inconve- 
 nience might be sustained by its rider. Whenever 
 an elephant scents a tiger, (which it can do at some 
 distance,) it utters a shrill cry, and elevates its 
 trunk perpendicularly, so that when the tiger 
 charges it may be prepared to repel the attack, as 
 also to prevent a surprise, as, if the tiger can but 
 seize its trunk, the elephant is disarmed. The 
 leaps or springs which the tiger makes in its 
 charge are truly astonishing, yet a well trained 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 243 
 
 elephant will generally succeed in repelling the 
 most furious attack, by dashing the springing 
 tiger to the earth with its trunk; when, if its 
 foe be at all stunned or maimed by the fall, or 
 wounded by the rifle of the sportsman, the pon- 
 derous foot of the mighty beast will crush the 
 fallen victim, and complete its total destruction. 
 But it commonly is the case, that a well-directed 
 ball stops the career of the tiger before he reaches 
 the point of attack. When an elephant turns 
 away from the contest, the life of its rider is in 
 the greatest jeopardy, as the tiger can easily climb 
 up in the rear, and seize the person in the 
 howdah, before he can turn to defend himself. 
 An instance of such seizure did occur some few 
 years ago, when the gentleman, who was car- 
 ried some miles by a tigress, was delivered from 
 the most imminent danger ; the circumstances were 
 as follows. A party of Europeans, consisting of 
 Indigo planters, and some of the officers of a na- 
 tive regiment, stationed in their neighbourhood, 
 went into the jungles for the purpose of shooting 
 tigers. They had not proceeded far before they 
 roused an immense tigress, which with the great- 
 est intrepidity charged the line of elephants on 
 which they were seated ; when a female elephant, 
 in the direct point of attack, which had been lately 
 purchased and hitherto untried, turned suddenly 
 round to fly from the field of battle, shewing the 
 greatest dread of the approaching foe. It was in 
 vain that the mohout exerted all his skill to make 
 
 M2 
 
244 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 her face the tigress, which instantly sprang upon 
 her back, and seizing the gentleman by the thigh, 
 speedily brought him to the ground, then throw- 
 ing- him (quite stunned by the fall) over her shoul- 
 der, just in the same manner as a fox carries a 
 goose, she started off into the jungle. Every rifle 
 was pointed at her, but no one dared to fire, be- 
 cause of the position in which the captive lay. She 
 went through the jungle grass much faster than 
 the elephants could do, and they soon lost sight of 
 the tigress and her prey ; yet they were enabled to 
 trace her by the blocd in her track, and, as a for- 
 lorn hope, they resolved still to follow on, to see if 
 it were possible to save the remains of their friend 
 from being devoured by the ferocious brute. As 
 they proceeded the traces grew fainter and fainter, 
 until at length, bewildered in the heart of the 
 jungle, they were about to give up the pursuit in 
 dismay, when all at once they came most un- 
 expectedly upon the objects of their pursuit, and 
 beheld the tigress lying dead upon the long jungle 
 grass, still griping the thigh of their associate in 
 her tremendous jaws, whilst he, though still sen- 
 sible, was unable, from loss of blood, to reply to 
 the questions proposed. To extricate his leg was 
 impossible, without first cutting off the head of the 
 tigress, which was immediately done, and the jaws 
 being severed, the fangs were drawn out of the 
 wounds; and as one of the party providentially 
 happened to be a surgeon, the patient was pro- 
 perly attended to, and the party had the great 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 245 
 
 felicity of returning with their friend, rescued from 
 the most perilous situation, and with hopes of his 
 recovery. He was taken to the nearest bungalowe, 
 and, by the providential aid thus afforded, he was 
 in a short time able to see his friends, and to ex- 
 plain how it was that the animal was thus found 
 dead. For some time after the beast had seized 
 him he continued insensible, being stunned by the 
 fall, as well as faint from the loss of blood, and the 
 excruciating pain which her fangs inflicted : when 
 he came to himself, he discovered that he was 
 lying on the back of the tigress, who was trotting 
 along at a smart pace through the jungle, and 
 every now and then his face and hands would 
 receive the most violent scratches from the thorns 
 and bushes through which she dragged him. He 
 gave himself up as lost, considering that not the 
 least glimpse of hope remained, and determined to 
 lie quietly on her back, waiting the issue when 
 it struck his mind that he had a pair of pistols in 
 his girdle, with which he might yet destroy his 
 captor. After several ineffectual attempts, from 
 the weakness which the loss of blood had occa- 
 sioned, he at length succeeded in drawing one 
 from the belt and directing it at the creature's 
 head ; he fired, when the only effect it seemed to 
 produce was, that after giving him an angry shake, 
 by which she made her fangs meet more closely 
 in his flesh, her pace was quickened. From the 
 excruciating pain thus produced he fainted away, 
 and remained totally unconscious of what was pass- 
 
'246 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 ing for some minutes, when recovering a little, he 
 determined to try the effect of another shot in a 
 different place ; so getting the remaining pistol out 
 of his girdle, he pointed the muzzle under the blade 
 bone of the shoulder, in the direction of the heart, 
 and once more fired, when the tigress fell dead in 
 a moment, and neither howled nor struggled after 
 she fell ; neither had he power to call out for aid, 
 though he heard his friends approaching, and was 
 fearful that they might pass the spot without dis- 
 covering where he lay. Through mercy he reco- 
 vered from his wounds, and was living when I left 
 India, although he was quite lame ; the sinews 
 of his thigh being dreadfully lacerated by the 
 fangs of the tigress. 
 
 Saugor Island, at the entrance of the Hooghley, 
 was formerly very much infested with tigers, and 
 although some portion of the island has been 
 cleared, by the labours of a joint stock company 
 formed in Calcutta, and called the Saugor Island 
 Society, still a great number remain, which are 
 very dangerous to those persons who are employed 
 in clearing away the jungle. During the time I 
 was on board the Comet steamer, which lay at 
 anchor off the island, a sircar's boat's crew went 
 on shore, for the purpose of cooking their dinner; 
 but before they had lighted the fire to commence 
 operations, a tiger sprang upon the poor manjee, 
 who was sitting on the beach, whilst the dandies 
 were making the curry, and carried him off into 
 the jungle, when the affrighted sircar lost no time 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 247 
 
 in seeking refuge on board the Comet, and we 
 could hear the lamentations of the boatmen long 
 before they reached the vessel. So much terri- 
 fied was the sircar, that he seemed to be unable 
 to move hand or foot, and it was with difficulty 
 he managed to get up the gangway of the steamer. 
 
 In passing through the Sunderbunds, it is 
 a very common thing for one of a boat's crew 
 to fall a sacrifice to these voracious animals, as 
 the innumerable little islands formed by the mul- 
 tifarious streams into which the mouth of the 
 Ganges is divided, intersecting each other at all 
 points, abound with tigers and deer. Some of the 
 former have been known to stray as far as the en- 
 virons of Calcutta. I remember a tiger found its 
 way to Dumdum a few years ago, and the tidings 
 reaching the cantonment, the young officers and 
 cadets immediately sallied forth, some armed with 
 fowling pieces, others with spears, but all appa- 
 rently unconscious of the danger to which they 
 were exposed. Very fortunately for its pursuers, 
 the beast was glutted with its prey, having killed 
 a bullock, on which it had feasted during the 
 night, and had taken up its quarters in an old 
 ruinous hut, whither it was watched by some of 
 the poor peasants, who were tremblingly alive to 
 the danger which threatened both themselves and 
 their cattle. They soon directed the Europeans 
 to the spot, and the cadets, with characteristic 
 heedlessness of danger, surrounded the place, and 
 one, more bold than the rest, went forward and shut 
 
248 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 to the door, which stood open : this was no sooner 
 done than they barricadoed it with stakes, and 
 peeping through the crevices, they beheld the tiger 
 couchant in one corner of the hovel, when every 
 fowling piece was levelled at it through the 
 chinks and apertures of the walls, and a whole 
 volley of bullets, slugs, and shot was poured into 
 it. After three or four such volleys had been 
 repeated it ceased to move, and the door being 
 opened, they dragged forth their fallen victim in 
 triumph, and returned elated with the success 
 with which their expedition had been crowned. 
 
 There are many of these animals in the Morung 
 forests, where at one season of the year many 
 persons are employed in cutting down saul timber, 
 and in bringing out, by means of bullocks and 
 hackries, those trees which were felled the year 
 before. These men have a peculiar mode of 
 driving away the tigers, which appears to sa- 
 vour somewhat of fiction ; but I was assured by 
 my esteemed friend, Mr. B., who had for years 
 employed a great number of these persons, that it 
 is the case. Their method is this : when a tiger 
 is found to be near where they are at work, one of 
 the party, in a state of nudity, excepting a girdle 
 round his waist, which is filled with small pebbles, 
 approaches the lair of the beast on all fours, mak- 
 ing a peculiarly hideous noise, and using the most 
 extravagant gestures, ever and anon casting a few 
 of the pebbles at the tiger, who views the strange 
 figure, which gradually draws nearer to it, with 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 249 
 
 evident marks of trepidation, and slinks back from 
 his approach ; the gestures of the man now be- 
 come more violent, and being accompanied by a 
 copious discharge of pebbles, and a still more hi- 
 deous shout, cause the affrighted animal to seek 
 safety by a hasty retreat ; and no sooner is the 
 tiger's back turned to the crawling man, than a 
 signal being given by his voice, the whole band of 
 workmen join in a continued cry, until the poor 
 trembling brute is far beyond the reach of its sup- 
 posed pursuer. So expert are the men engaged 
 in this employ, that they have no hesitation in 
 going into the most wild and lonely jungles, as 
 this method was never known to fail of sending 
 away the beasts of prey around them. 
 
 An officer of a native regiment was conducting 
 an escort with treasure through a wild part of the 
 country, when a tiger unexpectedly sprang upon 
 the officer, and would have taken him off, had it 
 not been for the cool and determined bravery of a 
 sepoy who was near him at the time. This man 
 charged the tiger with his fixed bayonet, and with 
 a furious thrust pierced the animal just below the 
 shoulder bone, at the moment he seized his com- 
 mander. The tiger let go his hold, and ran for- 
 ward; the sepoy clung to his musket, and ran 
 forward too, giving the infuriated animal no oppor- 
 tunity of retaliation, by keeping the bayonet still 
 fixed in the wound, until in a few minutes the 
 tiger fell dead at his feet, and the poor fellow had 
 the satisfaction of saving the life of his officer, as 
 
 M3 
 
250 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 well as of receiving promotion for the fidelity and 
 courage which he displayed. With Europeans the 
 sepoys are always most courageous ; but if left to 
 themselves they seem to doubt their own suffi- 
 ciency, and thus, through diffidence, often fail of 
 achieving that which, under the command of Eu- 
 ropean officers, at other times they would easily 
 perform. Of all soldiers, the sepoy is most atten- 
 tive to the orders given, and strict in the literal 
 fulfilment of them ; of this several instances came 
 under my own knowledge. An officer of high rank 
 lived in an elegant house, in the midst of a large 
 pleasure ground, and as he was on the staff, and 
 in an official situation, a guard was stationed on 
 the premises, and a centinel posted before the 
 house. Orders were given by the officer, that the 
 sepoy on duty should prevent any person, except 
 his lady and children, from walking across the 
 lawn, out of the regular path. It was not long 
 after this order was issued, before the sentinel ob- 
 served the officer himself walking across the grass 
 plat in the front of the house, when he marched 
 up to him and declared that he must not walk 
 there, as his orders were to let no person, except 
 the lady and the children, pass that way. It was 
 in vain that the commander of the station told 
 him that the order was issued by himself, and so 
 forth, as the sepoy still persisted in declaring, that 
 his hookham was that no person whatever, except 
 the lady and children, was to promenade there, 
 and the officer, smiling at the literal interpretation 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 251 
 
 given by the sentinel, went to the guard-room and 
 ordered that he himself might also have permis- 
 sion to cross the lawn ; and I believe the sentinel 
 was soon after made a naick, or corporal. Another 
 instance, which might have proved of the most 
 serious consequence, occurred at the hospital at 
 Dinapore. At a time when great mortality pre- 
 vailed, a sentinel was posted at the entrance of 
 what is called the dead room, where the bodies 
 are placed soon as life is extinct; and amongst 
 other local orders he was directed not to let the 
 bodies be taken away during the night. It so 
 happened that a young man had fallen into a sort 
 of trance, which had been mistaken for death, and 
 had, during the evening, been removed to the dead 
 house. In the course of the night he recovered 
 so far as to know the situation in which he was 
 placed, and summoning all his strength, he came 
 to the door, with an intention of crossing the little 
 court to the hospital ; but not without being per- 
 ceived by the sentinel, who, although he was evi- 
 dently much alarmed, yet declared his hookham 
 was, that no dead man should go from the place 
 that night, therefore he must go back; and on 
 the poor young man's attempting to pass by him, 
 he very deliberately carried him back and fastened 
 the door, until the relief guard came, when he re- 
 ported that a dead man wished to come out, but 
 that he had detained him, according to his orders. 
 The naick immediately opened the door, and tak- 
 
252 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 ing him up in his arms, carried him to a bed in 
 the hospital, and then summoned the steward to 
 his aid, when by means of proper treatment the 
 youth recovered, and was in a short time able 
 to perform his duties as before, after having lite- 
 rally been numbered with the dead. 
 
CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 " With gallant pomp and beauteous pride 
 
 The floating pile in harbour rode; 
 Proud of her freight, the swelling tide 
 Reluctant left the vessel's side, 
 And rais'd it as it flow'd. 
 
 The waves, with eastern breezes curl'd, 
 
 Had silver'd half the liquid plain ; 
 The anchor's weigh'd, the sails unfurl'd^ 
 Serenely mov'd the wooden world, 
 
 And stretch 'd along the main." 
 
 BUFFALOES ADVENTURE WITH A HERD DESCRIP- 
 TION OF THEM GENTLEMAN PURSUED BY ONE 
 
 NARROW ESCAPE GOVERNMENT CATTLE STEAM 
 
 BOATS SURPRISE OF NATIVES BURMESE WAR 
 
 BOATS CAPTURED JEWISH COMMERCE HARBOUR 
 
 OF CALCUTTA, SHIPS BURNT, &C. 
 
 A GREAT number of buffaloes are to be found 
 in Bengal, both tame and wild. The former are 
 very useful hard-working animals, the latter the 
 most formidable foe you can encounter, as the ex- 
 perience of hundreds has testified. I was passing 
 down the river from Dinapore to Calcutta, when I 
 was unexpectedly brought into company with about 
 a dozen of these terrific animals ; but happily sue- 
 
254 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 ceeded in making a safe retreat. The boat had 
 just put to for the night, near the foot of the 
 Rajmahal hills, when, as the sun was not down, 
 and the evening was pleasant, I took a gun in my 
 hand, and accompanied by Gobin, a Hindoo ser- 
 vant, strolled a little way inland. Having ascend- 
 ed a small eminence, we beheld a beautiful valley 
 on the other side, in which was a large sheet of 
 water, surrounded by flowering shrubs, of a diffe- 
 rent species from any I had before seen. Anxious 
 to examine them, and delighted with the beauty of 
 the place, I descended to the edge of the tank, 
 and sitting down on the bank, sent Gobin to the 
 other side to gather some of the flowers, which 
 were in fuller blossom than those around me. 
 Whilst he was performing his errand, I observed 
 several curious looking black balls, moving in a 
 very mysterious manner to and fro on the surface 
 of the water. At first they kept in the centre of 
 the tank, but soon drew nearer to the bank, and 
 became larger as they approached it. I was won- 
 dering what they could possibly be, when Gobin 
 came running back at full speed, shouting and 
 bellowing with all his might ; and what surprised 
 me most was, that, instead of coming towards me, 
 he ran up the hill by the way we came. What he 
 said I could not make out, but from his gestures I 
 comprehended that he wished me to flee too. So 
 catching up the gun, which I had laid on the grass, 
 I rose to follow him, and then discovered the cause 
 of his alarm, as about a dozen large buffaloes, 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 255 
 
 which had been bathing with only their nostrils 
 above water, emerged from the tank, and seemed 
 preparing to follow him. Fear gave wings to my 
 feet, and I soon gained the summit of the hill, 
 when on looking round I saw the herd of buffaloes 
 sporting and gamboling round the tank, without 
 attempting to follow us; and in a few minutes 
 they made a furious rush towards the thicket on 
 the other side, and disappeared. 
 
 With regard to this animal, the Rev. W. Ten- 
 nant observes, " They are generally jet black, and 
 characterised by long semicircular horns, which, 
 instead of standing erect, or bending forwards, are 
 laid backwards upon the neck. These horns, 
 which, from their awkward position, you at first 
 may imagine inoffensive instruments, are in reality 
 most formidable weapons. If you either come 
 upon the buffalo by surprise, in a situation where 
 he cannot escape, or offer him any provocation, he 
 makes a violent attack, with his snout placed be- 
 tween his fore legs, and his horns pointed forwards. 
 If you cannot escape the push, by instantly leaping 
 aside, you are caught upon his horns, and infallibly 
 torn to pieces. So quickly does he turn and re- 
 new his attacks, if he fail in the first onset, that 
 there is no hope for the devoted victim of his fury, 
 if he cannot reach a tree. Even when the traveller 
 has been thus fortunate, so implacable are the re- 
 sentments of this animal, that many instances are 
 known where he has remained for several hours at 
 the root of the tree, expressing his rage and dis- 
 
256 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 appointment. One gentleman, who fortunately 
 escaped in this manner, assured me, that his pur- 
 suer kept him a close prisoner upon a tree for a 
 great part of a day ; till he at last bethought him- 
 self of throwing down his coat ; upon which, hav- 
 ing satiated his rage, the buffalo disappeared. 
 
 " With all this hostility, the buffalo is, strictly 
 speaking, neither a predatory nor an offensive 
 animal. He is in general roused by some provo- 
 cation, or instigated by the principle of self defence, 
 before he commences an attack upon man. Happy 
 it is for the poor Bengalees, that this is the case ; 
 for his immense strength enables him, when they 
 fall in his power, to toss them in the air with as 
 much facility as he would a cat : and if you may 
 judge by the terror of the natives on the appear- 
 ance of a wild buffalo, you must conclude that it 
 is not uncommon for them to fall a sacrifice to his 
 resentment. I had lately an opportunity of seeing 
 one of them surprised on the river side, by my 
 dandies (boatmen) in his retreat among thick grass 
 above six feet high. The poor sailors instantly 
 precipitated themselves from the bank into the 
 river, with screams of terror. Happily for us, the 
 animal himself seemed to have been agitated by 
 similar sensations, for he scampered away with 
 great speed to a considerable distance, before he 
 even ventured to look behind him." 
 
 A gentleman at Purneah had been out hog 
 hunting, and as he was returning homewards fell 
 in with a single buffalo, which immediately gave 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 257 
 
 chase to him. Several of his friends, who were 
 at some distance behind, at first began to laugh 
 at the circumstance ; but their fears were soon 
 aroused, when they saw the determined manner in 
 which the buffalo persevered in the chase, and 
 that the horse on which the gentleman was mount- 
 ed, although a very fine animal, could not maintain 
 his distance from the infuriated pursuer ; and their 
 feelings were still more highly excited, as they be- 
 held the buffalo apparently more furious the nearer 
 he approached the object of its pursuit. They at 
 once determined to attack the beast in the rear, 
 and so divert him from the pursuit of their friend. 
 At full speed they charged upon the buffalo, with 
 their hog spears couched, after the manner of an- 
 cient knights; but long before they could have 
 reached the spot, the horse and its rider must 
 have fallen victims to the fury of the buffalo, if, as 
 a last resource, the gentleman had not urged his 
 horse into a deep river, on whose banks they 
 were. The buffalo followed ; but there his advan- 
 tage failed as, though he could swim much faster 
 than the nearly exhausted horse, yet the rider still 
 kept him at bay, by giving him some desperate 
 wounds about the nose and eyes with his long 
 spear, and in this manner escaped until his friends 
 arrived, who soon finished the business, by spear- 
 ing the animal in the water, and thus delivered the 
 horse and its rider from imminent peril. 
 
 It is said, that if a single buffalo be met with, it 
 never fails to attack the party who is unfortunate 
 
258 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 enough to come in contact with it ; but that a herd 
 will not pursue the traveller who may chance to 
 cross their path, unless some act of defiance be 
 given. From my own adventure, and the circum- 
 stance just related, I should suppose this may be 
 true. 
 
 Notwithstanding these ferocious habits, the buf- 
 falo is easily tamed, and is more serviceable as a 
 beast of burthen than the ox, being stronger; still, 
 no buffaloes, I believe, are used by Government in 
 transporting stores or baggage across the country. 
 Their oxen are beautiful animals, larger than the 
 common breed, and being well fed, are sleek and 
 fat, and very efficient in the artillery trains. 
 
 The first day of every month, a muster is held 
 at all the stations of the army, when all soldiers, 
 European or native, with the whole of the cattle of 
 the station, are paraded at day-break, and reports 
 made of the deficiency, if any, in the number of 
 elephants, camels, horses, or bullocks. These in- 
 spections tend very much to the remedy of all 
 abuses which may at times creep in, as well as to 
 produce an imposing effect upon the minds of the 
 natives. Just after the Burmese war was con- 
 cluded, and many of the regiments (or rather ske- 
 letons of regiments) had returned, the General, 
 before whom the muster was holden, inquired 
 where a particular regiment was, as it had not 
 yet appeared on the ground ? when a quarter- 
 master, who was standing before him, immediately 
 replied, " Here is the twenty-fifth, (or whatever 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 259 
 
 the number was) your honour." " What !" said 
 the General, " are you the only person fit for 
 duty?" " Yes, Sir," was the reply; and it really 
 was the case, that, out of a regiment of sepoys, 
 a thousand strong, some few months before, the 
 greater number had fallen victims to the Arracan 
 fever, as comparatively few had fallen in battle, 
 and the remainder were so debilitated by it as not 
 to be fit for duty. Arracan proved a second Wal- 
 cheren to the European troops ; and many of our 
 brave fellow countrymen, who had escaped amidst 
 all the dangers attendant on storming Burmese 
 stockades, were laid low by the fever, of an inter- 
 mitting kind, which seized them in that unhealthy 
 clime. 
 
 When the troops returned to Calcutta, from 
 Rangoon, they brought a great number of Burmese 
 idols with them; some were of marble, as large as 
 a full grown man, others were covered with silver 
 tinsel, and much smaller in size. Many of the 
 latter have found their way to England, and are 
 all of one form, as the Burmese are worshippers of 
 Bhood, and have not a plurality of gods. 
 
 A great number of gun-boats for the expe- 
 dition were built in the dock-yard, close to my 
 compound, but I believe were found of com- 
 paratively little service, whilst the Diana steam- 
 boat proved a most efficient auxiliary during the 
 whole of the campaign. This vessel was fitted 
 up with brass swivels, which would bear upon any 
 object, and was well adapted to the river service. 
 The Burmese war-boats were very long, and nu- 
 
260 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 merously manned, some containing a hundred and 
 fifty warriors. These boats, when the expedition 
 first anchored in the river, were very annoying, as 
 the moment the flood tide ceased they began to 
 manoeuvre, and being above our fleet were con- 
 scious that from their long and narrow build and 
 the little water which they drew, none of our boats 
 could make way against the tide, as they could 
 do. Thus for some days they would come down 
 very near t$ the anchorage, and insultingly shake 
 their spears, and bid the troops defiance. When 
 the Diana arrived, her steam was got up, ready to 
 make a start when the tide should turn ; and no 
 sooner had the war-boats as usual approached 
 near to practise their wonted boastings, than the 
 steam was put on, and she boldly dashed into 
 their midst, running down several, and capturing 
 the rest, as the Burmese were too much astonished 
 and paralysed to make any resistance, or efforts 
 to save their boats. Most of them jumped over- 
 board and swam to shore, whilst her swivels made 
 sad havoc among the crowds thus huddled together 
 in the boats and river. Never having seen a steam 
 vessel before, they considered that it was some 
 large monster that was thus suddenly come to 
 attack them, not conceiving it possible that a 
 vessel without sails could move at the rate she did 
 against both wind and tide. From that time their 
 war-boats were useless. 
 
 I witnessed the same feeling of surprise evi- 
 denced by the natives of Calcutta when the Diana 
 made her first trip up the river, which was some 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 261 
 
 length of time before Captain Johnstone brought 
 out the Enterprise, Wah, Wah, Wah, was ex- 
 claimed on all sides. " Is it alive?" said a sircar 
 to a dingheywhallah. " See its feet," was the re- 
 ply, pointing to the paddles. And it required the 
 greatest self-possession to avoid laughing at the 
 many serious questions that were asked respecting 
 the vitality of the boat. When the matter began 
 to be more clearly understood, I could perceive 
 that the English character for wisdom rose much 
 higher in the minds of the natives, as no discovery 
 ever seemed more wonderful to them, than that of 
 making a boat to travel against the current of the 
 river, without the aid of sails or tow-line, especially 
 as in the river Hooghley it is a work of much la- 
 bour and time to warp a ship up the river, even 
 when stout hawsers are employed, with a hundred 
 extra hands on board. The mariners belonging to 
 a Chinese junk lying off Burrah Bazaar Ghaut, 
 seemed more amazed at the sight, if possible, than 
 the Bengalese themselves, as, being less acquainted 
 with European resources, they were not prepared 
 to expect such a wonderful display of mechanical 
 skill, their own vessel being probably the nearest 
 in its construction to those by which Solomon used 
 to receive " gold and silver, ivory, and apes, and 
 peacocks." One thing no doubt is an improve- 
 ment in the estimation of the Chinese, on the an- 
 tique models to which I refer, that is, the Chinese 
 junks have two large eyes painted on the bows. 
 Upon my asking a Chinese carpenter why these 
 
262 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 eyes were placed there, he emphatically answered 
 in broken English, " No eye, how see rocks?" The 
 Manilla boats are also curious specimens of naval 
 architecture ; and if we take for granted that the 
 rule laid down by some writers is correct, namely, 
 " That we can pretty accurately j udge of the pro- 
 gress which nations have made in civilization, by 
 the perfection to which their skill in naval archi- 
 tecture has arrived ; " we must conclude that 
 these nations are still far behind all others in the 
 most important point of civilization. 
 
 It has been argued by many, that India was 
 visited by the fleets of Solomon ; but from all that 
 I have been able to gather on this topic, I am in- 
 clined to adopt the sentiments of Dr. Robertson, 
 in his " Disquisition on India, 7 ' which are these : 
 
 " In what region of the earth we should search 
 for these famous ports which furnished the navy 
 of Solomon with the various commodities enume- 
 rated by the sacred historians, is an inquiry that 
 has long exercised the industry of learned men. 
 They were early supposed to be situated in some 
 part of India, and the Jews were held to be one 
 of the nations which traded with that country. 
 But the opinion more generally adopted is, that 
 Solomon's fleets, after passing the straits of Babel- 
 mandel, held their course along the south-west 
 coast of Africa, as far as the kingdom of Sofala, 
 a country celebrated for its rich mines of gold and 
 silver, (from which it has been denominated the 
 Golden Sofala, by Oriental writers,) and abounding 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 263; 
 
 in all the other articles which composed the car- 
 goes of the Jewish ships. This opinion, which 
 the accurate researches of M. D'Anville rendered 
 highly probable, seems now to be established with 
 the utmost certainty by a late learned traveller ; 
 who, by his knowledge of the monsoons in the 
 Arabian Gulf, and his attention to the ancient 
 mode of navigation, both in that sea and along 
 the African coast, has not only accounted for the 
 extraordinary length of time which the fleets of 
 Solomon took in going and returning, but has 
 shown, from circumstances mentioned concerning 
 the voyage, that it was not made to any place in 
 India. The Jews then, we may conclude, have no 
 title to be reckoned among the nations which car- 
 ried on intercourse with India by sea; and if, from 
 deference to the sentiments of some respectable 
 authors, their claim were to be admitted, we know 
 with certainty, that the commercial effort which 
 they made in the reign of Solomon was merely a 
 transient one, and that they quickly returned to 
 their former state of unsocial seclusion from the 
 rest of mankind." 
 
 Perhaps there is no harbour in the world which 
 displays so great a variety of models in naval ar- 
 chitecture as the port of Calcutta. From the Bri- 
 tish free trader to the tiny canoe, there are vessels 
 of all grades, nations, makes, and builds. The 
 merchant vessels pertaining to Calcutta are nume- 
 rous and large. In 1826, the year in which I left 
 India, their number was 108, registering 36,673 
 
264 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 tons, and comprising one ship of 1100 tons and 
 upwards ; one of 800 ; three of 700 ; three of 600; 
 thirteen of 500; eighteen of 400; twenty of 300; 
 twenty-six of 200 ; eighteen of 100 ; and five of 
 50 tons and upwards. These are all fine vessels, 
 most of them being teak built ; and, with the ex- 
 ception of a few, which are called godowns, from 
 their capacious qualities, are fast sailers. I wit- 
 nessed many ship launches from the different yards 
 around me. The river at such times presents a 
 splendid scene, as all the ships hoist their colours, 
 and the banks are lined by natives of the higher 
 ranks, whilst the yard where the launch takes 
 place is crowded with Europeans, all having large 
 umbrellas held over them by natives in coloured or 
 white turbans and vests, which gives a depth of 
 colouring to the scene which it is impossible for 
 the pen to describe. Lady Amherst, attended by 
 Bishop Heber, honoured one of Messrs. Vrignon's 
 launches with her presence ; and a splendid de- 
 jeune was provided in the mould-loft, of which her 
 Ladyship partook. 
 
 Of all the spectacles that I beheld on the river, 
 a large ship on fire was the most awfully grand, 
 and led me to form an opinion of the heart-rending 
 scene which must necessarily follow when a ship 
 takes fire at sea. I saw three large ships within 
 the space of four years burnt in the river Hooghley. 
 If I recollect right, their names were, the Com- 
 modore Hayes, the Morning Star, and the Stan- 
 more. One of them was just ready to sail for 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 265 
 
 England, and had all her cargo and passengers' 
 luggage on board, as well as her sails bent. The 
 fire was occasioned by the carelessness of an 
 ayah, (or female servant,) belonging to a lady pas- 
 senger, who let fall a candle in one of the cabins, 
 which ignited some loose paper ; when, instead of 
 calling for help, she endeavoured to extinguish the 
 fire with her hands, but without effect, as it soon 
 reached the bulkheads and Venetians, which being 
 all of deal, and in that climate excessively dry, 
 blazed most furiously, and soon spread throughout 
 the whole of the range of cabins on the gun-deck, 
 and baffled all efforts subsequently made to stem 
 its progress. The ship was towed clear of the 
 other vessels in the harbour, and was soon burnt 
 to the water's edge. I have seen many grand 
 displays of pyrotechnical skill, but never saw any 
 artificial fire equal in grandeur to the appearance 
 which this ship presented, when the fire ran up 
 her shrouds, and every rope became an illumined 
 line. It was distressing to hear the cries of the 
 pigs and other animals which could not be rescued 
 from the devouring element. One poor pig made 
 its way through a port on the forecastle, singed 
 nearly as much as if it had been killed for bacon, 
 and reached the Howrah shore in safety ; but 
 was soon released from its sufferings, by a hu- 
 mane person who beheld the poor animal's pite- 
 ous condition. Fowls scorched in like manner 
 were picked up by the boats ; and many sheep 
 were also found struggling in the water, being too 
 
 N 
 
266 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 much burnt to swim. Altogether, the scenes at- 
 tendant on this fire were of the most distressing 
 nature. 
 
 The conflagrations of the other two ships were 
 much the same in appearance, but divested of the 
 painful scenes of animals burning alive in the 
 flames. One of them had nearly been the de- 
 struction of many others, as it was anchored oppo- 
 site to Mr. Montgomery's yard, and the cable being 
 burnt, it drifted towards the whole line of vessels 
 moored to the Company's buoys ; but, owing to 
 the intrepidity of Messrs. A. Montgomery, W. 
 Reeves, J. Bastard, and others, it was grappled, 
 and towed clear of the shipping, and brought 
 down to the shallow water opposite Howrah cus- 
 tom-house, where it was soon destroyed. The 
 dingheywallahs were very active in securing any 
 articles that floated from the wreck, but not one 
 came to render any assistance in the salvage of 
 the shipping, or of the cargo on board. The cop- 
 per bolts were speedily extracted from the wreck, 
 and many of the boatmen made fortunes by the 
 spoils, (when I say fortunes, I do not mean such 
 fortunes as Englishmen are fond of making) ; but 
 some of them realised a hundred rupees, for goods 
 and portions of the wreck picked up in the river, 
 and afterwards sold to native merchants. 
 
CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 " Say, ye bright throng, who breathe supernal air, 
 Who flock around the sacred throne of God, 
 And celebrate the triumphs of the skies, 
 Are ye not happy ? Happier far than we, 
 Who toil 'midst tempests, quicksands, boist'rous seas, 
 With scarce one ray to mitigate our gloom ! 
 Can human friendship, friendship most refin'd, 
 E'er urge you once to leave yon heavenly seats, 
 And bliss, so well adapted to your nature ? 
 'Tis true, we feel your worth, your loss deplore, 
 When sever'd from us, Nature's feelings woke, 
 And resolution soften'd into tears. 
 But why lament the loss ? "Pis only sleep ! 
 Faith in the Lord draws e'en the sting of death, , 
 And gives assurance of a better meeting. 
 
 FIRST VISIT TO HOWRAH PREACHING THERE CROSS- 
 ING THE RITER PROVIDENTIAL ESCAPES FREAKS 
 
 OF DINGHEYWALLAHS KINDNESS OF FRIENDS 
 
 EPISCOPALIAN CHAPEL CURIOUS MISTAKE EREC- 
 TION OF CHAPEL NATIVE CHAPEL AND SCHOOL- 
 HOUSES ESTABLISH AN ACADEMY FATIGUING LIFE 
 
 DEATHS OF MISSIONARIES MISSIONARY ASPIRA- 
 TIONS. 
 
 SOON after I had joined the mission families in 
 Calcutta, it was deemed expedient to open a new 
 station at Howrah, on the opposite bank of the 
 Hooghley, there being many Europeans resident 
 
 N2 
 
 
268 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 there, as well as numbers of Indo-British families, 
 and a large population of Hindoo and Mussulman 
 natives, for the whole of whom no place of Chris- 
 tian worship existed. The consequence was, that 
 from the dangers and inconvenience attendant on 
 crossing the river to Calcutta, very few indeed of 
 the Christian inhabitants could enjoy the privileges 
 of the Sabbath. It is true, in fine weather some 
 of the ship-builders who had bauleahs at com- 
 mand, would run across to the morning services, 
 taking some part of their families with them ; but 
 in the freshes and rainy season, hardly any would 
 venture to brave the dangers which the passage 
 presented. My esteemed friend, the Rev. Eustace 
 Carey, had often been induced to visit them, and 
 occasionally to preach in a small bungalowe be- 
 longing to a protestant Portuguese, as well as to 
 the natives in the bazaar, and beneath a large 
 peepul tree, where four roads meet, at the corner 
 of the old school grounds. Sebukram, a native 
 preacher belonging to the Serampore establish- 
 ment, had also for some years been actively en- 
 gaged at Seebpore and the neighbourhood, in 
 proclaiming the Gospel to his deluded country- 
 men. Still no regular plan had been followed for 
 preaching the word of life to the inhabitants of 
 Sulkea and Howrah. It was therefore proposed 
 by our brethren, that I should accompany Mr. 
 Carey to Howrah, with a view to the arranging of 
 matters, so that stated services might be held there 
 in future. Notice was accordingly sent to the 
 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 269 
 
 Christian friends at Howrah of our proposed visit, 
 and I shall never forget the cordial and hearty 
 welcome we received from them. As we were 
 crossing the river, Mr. Carey, pointing to the dis- 
 tant ghaut, said, " There are our friends waiting to 
 receive us;" and no sooner did the boat touch the 
 shore, than two good men (Messrs. Jansen, a 
 Dane, and Bonner, an Indo-Briton,) stepped on 
 board to greet us. Alas ! these kind friends were 
 soon removed by death, but the remembrance of 
 them is still dear. 
 
 The little bungalowe to which we were conducted 
 was speedily filled with British, Indo-British, and 
 Portuguese Christians, all desirous of hearing the 
 word of truth. I remember the text I preached 
 from was John xii. 21, "Sir, we would see Jesus." 
 After the service, at the request of all present, I 
 engaged to come over to them on the succeeding 
 Sabbath ; and from that time I continued to visit 
 them regularly on the Lord's day and Thursday 
 evenings. 
 
 Many were the perils I encountered in crossing 
 the river at all seasons, especially after service in 
 the evening, but mercy and goodness still preserved 
 me. One dark night, Mr. W. H. Pearce had kindly 
 accompanied me, to aid in the arrangement of 
 matters for the formation of an auxiliary Mission- 
 ary Society ; when, as we were returning, and had 
 just entered within the range of the buoys on the 
 Calcutta side (the freshes then running at the rate 
 of eight knots an hour), the boat ran foul of a haw- 
 
270 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 ser by which a pinnace was moored to one of the 
 buoys. In an instant, we were dashed alongside 
 the vessel ; when Mr. Pearce and myself provi- 
 dentially were saved from impending death, by 
 clinging to the shrouds of the pinnace, by the aid 
 of which we reached the deck in safety, and re- 
 ceived the congratulations of a Major in the Hon. 
 Company's service, who with his family was on 
 board, waiting to start with the morning's tide. 
 Our boatmen swam on shore, being most expert in 
 that art ; but the dinghey was capsized, and found 
 at the entrance of Tolly's Nullah the next day. 
 The boat of the pinnace soon conveyed my friend 
 and self on shore, grateful for our preservation. 
 
 At another time, late in the evening, when the 
 heavens were obscured by one of those dense black 
 clouds which presage a north-wester, so that no 
 object whatever could possibly be discerned, ex- 
 cept when the vivid flashes of lightning momenta- 
 rily revealed the dangers by which we were sur- 
 rounded, we heard a boat coming down the stream, 
 and supposed we w r ere entirely out of the reach of 
 danger. And so we were, as it regarded the vessel 
 that was approaching; but a flash of lightning 
 soon enabled us to discover that we were hasting 
 to destruction upon the bows of a salt vessel at 
 anchor in the stream, By a vigorous effort of the 
 manjee and dandies, the boat was brought to face 
 the current, and by the manoeuvre thrown into the 
 very course of the large bauleah, that was rapidly 
 coming with the stream, The consequence was, 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 271 
 
 that a concussion took place which must inevitably 
 have destroyed our boat, had it not been providen- 
 tially the case, that the very points of the prows of 
 both boats came in contact with each other, by which 
 means our dinghey rebounded with a shock that 
 threw the two dandies into the river, and laid me 
 prostrate on the deck, at the same time sending 
 the boat clear of both Scylla and Charybdis ; and 
 I was not a little gratified to find the poor boat- 
 men had been enabled to catch hold of their re- 
 spective oars, which still remained firmly shipped, 
 and thus they were enabled to scramble upon deck 
 again. We could not regain the way we had lost ; 
 and I was thankful to be landed in safety at a 
 ghaut half a mile below that to which we were 
 originally making. 
 
 I was once placed in a very dangerous situation 
 whilst crossing from Sulkea Puckah Ghaut to 
 Burrah Bazaar Ghaut, from the crazy boat into 
 which I had entered (an open dinghey) springing 
 a leak in the middle of the river. One of the bot- 
 tom planks had started, and the water rushed 
 through in torrents, so that in a very few minutes 
 the boat would have filled, and, as I could not 
 swim, this would in all probability have proved 
 fatal to me, had not my sircar, with more self- 
 possession and presence of mind than the natives 
 generally possess, pulled off his turban, and with 
 his feet forced its folds into the hole, and by stand- 
 ing upon it enabled me with my hat to clear the 
 water out, so as to reach the shore in safety. 
 
272 
 
 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 The dinghey wallahs were, from the circumstance 
 of being regularly paid the accustomed fare, with- 
 out those deductions which too many passengers 
 make, all anxious to take me over at any time ; 
 and this anxiety was often the source of, to me, 
 most unpleasant, but to spectators, most laughable 
 results. At the time of low water, the boats can- 
 not come within many yards of the ghaut, so that 
 passengers are obliged to be carried through the 
 mud of the beach by two boatmen, who bring a 
 small board, on w r hich the passenger seats him- 
 self, with his arms round the necks of both the 
 men, who, lifting the board, carry their fare in 
 what children call a king-coach sort of style, to 
 the dinghey. Before I was thoroughly initiated, 
 it would often happen, that men belonging to dif- 
 ferent boats would become my bearers, and, as 
 they approached the line of dingheys, one would 
 pull to the right and the other to the left, striving 
 to force me to their respective boats. On one oc- 
 casion the dispute ran so high, that I was really 
 afraid of being pulled limb from limb. Six men, 
 three from each boat, were hauling me different 
 ways by the arms and legs, and shouting in the 
 most furious manner, " I master's man ;" " Master 
 went in my boat before;" " I Padree Sahib's din- 
 gheywallah;" " That fellow's boat's a bad boat;" 
 " Now, Sahib, jump in my dinghey ;" till at length, 
 by main force they pitched me over into one of 
 the boats which belonged to neither party, the 
 owner of which immediately pushed off, and so 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 took the fare from them both. After this, I never 
 seated myself on their boards until I had ascer- 
 tained that both the carriers belonged to one boat. 
 
 In a short time after I had regularly visited 
 Howrah, I had the happiness of forming a friend- 
 ship with Mr. Thomas Davis, superintendant of the 
 docks and building-yard of Messrs. Vrignon and 
 Co., a good man, who afterwards became one of 
 the deacons of our church ; and from that period, 
 in all times of peril, he used to send a large 
 bauleah, well manned, to convey me to and from 
 Calcutta. Neither can I forget the kindness of 
 other ship-builders, who at all times cheerfully 
 furnished me with their boats gratuitously, for 
 any trip I wished to make ; and I should certainly 
 tax myself with ingratitude, were I to forbear to 
 mention the names of Messrs. Montgomery, Bas- 
 tard, Foster, sen. and jun., and my old and tried 
 friend Captain Ross, superintendant of the Hon. 
 Company's salt golahs at Sulkea, from each of 
 whom I received the most cordial assistance in all 
 seasons of clanger, by the ready use of their boats 
 at all hours. 
 
 The bungalowe in which we met for divine wor- 
 ship was soon found too small to accommodate the 
 number of persons who assembled, a large puckah 
 house was therefore rented, at forty-five rupees per 
 month, (or about fifty pounds per annum,) the hire 
 of which was cheerfully paid by the more respec- 
 table part of the congregation. Soon after this, a 
 part of the old Orphan School house, which had 
 
 N3 
 
274 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 been long vacated, was fitted up by Government 
 as a chapel, and one of the regular chaplains was 
 appointed to do duty there. On the first Lord's day 
 that it was opened for divine service, I was much 
 surprised on going to our place of worship, to be- 
 hold a huge bell mounted aloft, and a native toll- 
 ing it. I at once thought how the matter stood, 
 and was not deceived. A gentleman in the neigh- 
 bourhood, desirous of having a bell at the new 
 church, had bought a very large ship's bell, and 
 directed a native mistree to go and put it up at the 
 greejah, or church : the poor mistree knew no 
 other greej ah but ours, and there he fixed it, whilst 
 the man who had orders to toll it fell into the same 
 mistake : thus for that day we were favoured with 
 its call ; but on the succeeding morning when I rode 
 past it had vanished, and the next Lord's day it 
 was heard to emit its sonorous tones at the other 
 end of the village ; so that Howrah, from a state 
 of complete destitution, was speedily accommo- 
 dated with two places of Protestant worship. Our 
 congregation continuing mightily to increase, a 
 subscription was commenced for the erection of a 
 commodious chapel, and so liberal were the bene- 
 factions, that in a short time a neat edifice was 
 erected and paid for, although the cost was much 
 above a thousand pounds. Two bungalowes were 
 also built for native worship, one near the English 
 chapel, and the other in Sulkea bazaar; as also 
 school-houses in all the villages around, for the 
 instruction of native boys and girls, and I became 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 275 
 
 a resident at Howrah. It was then suggested how 
 desirable it was that an academy for the children 
 of European and Indo-British families, residing in 
 the neighbourhood, should be established. This I 
 also consented to attend to ; and in a short time 
 the school was formed and filled, as I received 
 children from almost all parts of Bengal, and soon 
 numbered between fifty and sixty boarders. None 
 but those who have lived in a tropical clime can 
 possibly form an idea of the toil and fatigue at- 
 tendant upon such an undertaking there. Besides 
 the vexations and trials continually arising from 
 the large establishment of servants of necessity 
 retained, the constant visitation of diseases amongst 
 the children is a never-failing source of disquietude. 
 Had I not been blessed with a vigorous constitu- 
 tion, I never could have borne up so long as I did, 
 under the fatigue of body and mind to which I 
 was subjected; especially as, from engagements 
 of various sorts in Calcutta, being Secretary to the 
 Calcutta Bible Association, and to the Calcutta 
 Bethel Society ; and also one of the Managing 
 Committee of the Calcutta Apprenticing Society, 
 &c. &c. 8cc. I had to cross the river, during the 
 intense heat of a meridian sun, several days in the 
 week, which incurs no small risk of danger, even 
 to those who are born in the clime. Indeed, 
 many of my contemporaries, who were not half so 
 much exposed to the sun as I was, fell beneath its 
 piercing rays, and were laid in the silent tomb, far 
 from the place where the bones of their fathers 
 
276 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 were deposited, and were thus deprived of the me- 
 lancholy satisfaction of bidding a final adieu to 
 those who had shared the scenes of their child- 
 hood ; but, thanks to a sparing Providence, I was 
 permitted, though enfeebled and exhausted, to 
 reach my native land once more, and to have the 
 pleasure of greeting and being greeted by those 
 most dear to me. 
 
 I trust my readers will excuse this digression, 
 as my " Indian Recollections" comprise the re- 
 moval by death of many fellow-labourers in the 
 cause of the Gospel, whose death -bed scenes 
 (many of them at least) I witnessed, and with the 
 whole of whom, excepting Messrs. Colman and 
 Albrecht, I had enjoyed pleasurable intercourse. 
 Yes the names of Chamberlain, Ward, Rowe, 
 Peacock, Colman, Burton, Harle, Keith, Bank- 
 head, Warden, Albrecht, Maisch, and Lawson, 
 will remain graven on my heart, till all earthly 
 scenes vanish away, and life itself decays. The 
 recollections of Lawson are still fresh upon my 
 mind. He was a genius of no common mould: 
 in all that he undertook he excelled; and the 
 longer you were conversant with him, the more 
 would admiration be excited. In the succeeding 
 chapter, I shall make a feeble effort to rescue his 
 memory from oblivion, by giving a brief memoir 
 of this talented man, the materials for which are 
 taken from a small periodical, of which he was 
 the editor, viz. The Calcutta Auxiliary Missionary 
 Herald, published in January and February, 1826. 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 277 
 
 Of the whole of the little band of worthies before 
 mentioned, it may with truth be said, that the fol- 
 lowing lines were the aspirations of their souls : 
 
 As the chill snows, when western breezes play, 
 Before their softening influence melt away; 
 As night's dark shades, when morning beams arise, 
 Flee from the reddening lustre of the skies ; 
 So might I view hell's mould'riug empire fail, 
 And the bright coming of th' Almighty hail. 
 But ah, too bold the wish in distant years, 
 In distant ages, that fair scene appears. 
 Ere that appear, these eyes in dust will sleep, 
 This tongue a long, a death-like silence keep. 
 Yet still, before that solemn day arrive, 
 Before I cease to labour, cease to live, 
 Though not to me the blessing shall be given 
 To see o'er earth complete the reign of Heaven, 
 Still may I, gracious Lord of life and light, 
 Snatch some lost heathen from eternal night ; 
 Plant the first church upon some pagan shore, 
 Gaze on its offsets branching into more; 
 Where undisturb'd thy great opposer reigns, 
 Make the first inroad on his dark domains ; 
 And see, before life's transient meteor flies, 
 On heathen lands the blessed day-star rise. 
 Oh then would others reap where I had sown, 
 Others would make this gracious cause their own ; 
 And I, exulting, view the dawning ray, 
 Though they might have the fuller blaze of day. 
 
CHAPTER XV. 
 
 " Oh ! happy was thy exit, blissful saint ; 
 No pining sickness tir'd thee care opprest 
 No grief domestic marr'd thy coming rest ; 
 Short was thy warning sweet thy dying plaint : 
 Calm, sunny were thy thoughts thine accents faint ; 
 By virtuous children lov'd, by friends carest, 
 Thy sorrowing flock thou leavest, peaceful, blest ; 
 Oh ! happy was thy exit, blissful saint. 
 
 So falls the goodly palm tree, as it grew, 
 
 With clustering dates, and graceful foliage crown'd : 
 
 Nor lightning scorch'd, nor age consum'd its hue; 
 
 Its dirge is sung, in most pathetic sound, 
 
 By grateful pilgrim, who had often staid, 
 
 Refresh'd and cheer'd, beneath its cooling shade." 
 
 SIGMA. 
 
 J3IRTH OF MR. LAWSON EARLY RELIGIOUS IMPRES- 
 SIONS MANIFESTS GREAT GENIUS ARRIVAL IN 
 
 LONDON RELIGIOUS DECLENSION IS MERCIFULLY 
 
 RESTORED JOINS THE CHURCH IN EAGLE STREET 
 
 OFFERS HIMSELF TO THE MISSION IS ACCEPTED 
 
 PLACED WITH THE REV. J. SUTCLIFFE MARRIES 
 
 PUBLICLY SET APART FOR MISSIONARY WORK SAILS 
 
 FOR INDIA Vld AMERICA ARRIVAL IN INDIA PUR- 
 SUITS THERE, AND HAPPY DEATH. 
 
 THE principal events which constitute the his- 
 tory of a nation are often few : those which form 
 the history of an individual are fewer still. The 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 279 
 
 life of Mr. Lawson may be summarily compre- 
 hended in a short space. He was born at Trow- 
 bridge, in Wiltshire, on the 24th of July, 1787, 
 and remained at the same place till the year 1803; 
 when he was removed to London, to gratify the 
 strong propensity he felt to become an artist. 
 Here, after being brought to a knowledge of the 
 truth as it is in Jesus, he was led to consecrate 
 his talents to the service of religion, and to em- 
 bark for India as a missionary, principally with 
 the view of being useful in the arts. After having 
 accomplished the chief work for which he visit- 
 ed that country, he was called to discharge the 
 duties of a minister and a pastor ; to which he 
 devoted himself with a steady perseverance till 
 the year 1825, when he died in the midst of his 
 usefulness. Though in the history of a man 
 pursuing such a track, a great variety cannot be 
 expected, yet there are some particulars in his 
 character, life, and death, which by his friends are 
 judged worthy of remembrance. 
 
 Mr, Lawson was early the subject of religious 
 impressions, and from a child was made acquaint- 
 ed with the Holy Scriptures. The impressions 
 produced by his mother's instructions were after- 
 wards strengthened by the kind attentions of the 
 master to whose care his education was intrusted. 
 This gentleman (Mr. Wastfield) often conversed 
 with him, and prayed with him in the most serious 
 and affectionate manner, which, under the divine 
 blessing, produced an indelible effect on his mind, 
 
280 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 and for which he afterwards felt more grateful 
 than for all his other favours. Under the care of 
 a person with whom he felt himself at home, he 
 soon began to manifest his prevailing genius. He 
 commenced cutting different figures on pieces of 
 wood, and without any assistance brought them to 
 such perfection, that those who saw them were 
 astonished, and convinced that the hand of nature 
 had formed him for an artist. His father being 
 made acquainted with this, and learning that no- 
 thing else would satisfy him, thought it prudent 
 not to cross his inclination, and therefore went to 
 London to seek out for him a suitable situation ; 
 and having succeeded in getting him articled to a 
 wood-engraver, returned home with a message that 
 delighted the heart of his son. All necessary ar- 
 rangements having been made, in June, 1803, he 
 took leave of his friends : at which time his father 
 requested of him two things ; the one was, to read 
 his Bible, and the other to attend divine worship 
 on the Sabbath ; which he promised to do. He 
 then received the parting benediction, quitted the 
 place of his nativity, and entered the " great town/' 
 where to him all was new and surprising. 
 
 After his arrival in London, he applied himself 
 diligently to his work, and made rapid advances in 
 the art. These labours of his occupation engaged 
 his attention all the week, and on the Sabbath 
 days new scenes and new companions invited him 
 to a kind of dissipation, to which before he had 
 been unaccustomed. Allured by these specious 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 281 
 
 baits, he forgot his promise to his father, neglected 
 to read his Bible, and seldom attended any place 
 of worship. In this course he continued for nearly 
 three years, though not without many struggles of 
 conscience, and resolutions to reform. In one of 
 these serious intervals, he was led to read his 
 neglected Bible, and to visit the forsaken chapel ; 
 and it pleased God by these means to convince 
 him of his sins, and soon after to deepen these con- 
 victions by affliction, and at length to make him 
 experimentally acquainted with the blessings of 
 salvation. He then offered himself as a candidate 
 to the church in Eagle-street, of which the Rev. 
 Jos. Ivimey was, and still is, the respected pastor; 
 and the following is the substance of the state- 
 ment, in his own words, which he made of himself 
 to that Society, when, according to the custom of 
 congregational churches, they required of him to 
 give an account of his Christian experience, and 
 his reasons for wishing to make a public profession 
 of religion. 
 
 " Being highly favoured by the providence of 
 God, I had the privilege and blessing of a reli- 
 gious education ; which so far influenced me, that, 
 if my memory fail not, I was the subject of early 
 conviction ; but no lasting impression being made 
 on my mind, I continued in a state of alienation 
 from God. In June, 1803, all necessary matters 
 being arranged for my coming to London, my 
 father, as I was about to take my leave of him, 
 
282 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 told me, he had put my Bible into the box, which 
 he wished me, as I valued my eternal interests, 
 to make my principal study ; saying at the same 
 time very affectionately : ' I hope now, as you are 
 going beyond the reach of a parent's eye, to a 
 place where you will be surrounded with snares 
 and dangers, you will not fail to attend the mi- 
 nistry of the gospel every Sunday, and I particu- 
 larly wish you to make Eagle-street chapel your 
 constant place of hearing/ My poor aged grand- 
 mother likewise gave me this necessary injunction? 
 with tears in her eyes. I believe I promised rigidly 
 to observe them ; but the event has proved, to my 
 sorrow, that I awfully broke my promise. 
 
 " On my arrival in London, I was introduced to 
 circles apparently strangers to the power of reli- 
 gion ; and Sundays being the only leisure times I 
 had, were usually spent in visiting, idle conversa- 
 tion, and, what I have since thought, dreadful 
 profanation, but not without some convictions ; for 
 I remember feeling rather uncomfortable at spend- 
 ing Sabbath after Sabbath without once entering a 
 place of worship. At last I formed a resolution of 
 constantly attending Surrey Chapel ; but after go- 
 ing twice, I was again attracted by gay company, 
 which I thought preferable to religion. Here I 
 must observe, that, on retrospection of my past 
 conduct, I cannot but admire the restraining grace 
 of God, whose power alone withheld me from 
 plunging into the depths of sin and wickedness, 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 283 
 
 which I well know was the natural bent of my 
 heart : often did I curse my folly for resisting 
 opportunities of running into the grossest sins. 
 
 " Thus I continued till the latter end of Febru- 
 ary, 1806. About this time, I resolved to read 
 my Bible, which had lain for nearly three years 
 useless. My mind was then seriously impressed 
 with the thought of my being in a lost condition, 
 which led me to private prayer, and to implore 
 God that he would show me the exceeding sinful- 
 ness of sin. Again I resolved to go to chapel : 
 accordingly I went, and expected in the course of 
 the sermon to be brought under the most dreadful 
 convictions, but found myself exceedingly disap- 
 pointed, and was very much afraid I should never 
 be converted. In about a fortnight I was visited 
 with a slight illness, which brought with it terror 
 and uneasiness of mind not to be described. If I 
 attempted to pray, my thoughts were filled with 
 horrid blasphemy against the Almighty, insomuch 
 that I was afraid of being struck dead immediately. 
 Oftentimes did I wish myself any thing but a 
 human creature, and as often was I ready to 
 charge God with injustice in creating me to mi- 
 sery ; for at that time I thought if there was an 
 elect people, it was not my own fault if I was 
 eternally lost. Every night brought with it new 
 horrors ; I was afraid to close my eyes, for fear of 
 waking in hell ; and then did I feel the dreadful 
 unbelief of my heart. I prayed earnestly to be 
 enabled to believe in Christ, but could not: I 
 
284 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 thought it impossible that the Son of God should 
 ever have died for sinners. In this state I con- 
 tinued for some time, being filled with the most 
 dreadful thoughts of God and religion, which I 
 endeavoured to suppress ; till one night, as I was 
 thinking of my unhappy condition, I happened to 
 take up my Bible, and opened it at the sixty-first 
 chapter of Isaiah: the following words met my 
 eyes : ' I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul 
 shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed 
 me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered 
 me with the robe of righteousness/ The effect 
 this had on me I cannot express ; I wished myself 
 alone to give vent to my tears and joy; and 
 thought then my proud, hard, and unbelieving 
 heart was effectually humbled and broken. With 
 joy did I meditate on the words; and knew then 
 that the righteousness mentioned certainly meant 
 the imputed righteousness of Christ, for I felt I 
 had none of my own. That night I slept in com- 
 fort; and whenever doubts and fears began to 
 arise, the above mentioned text would rush on my 
 mind, and convince me that I had God's promise 
 of salvation. 
 
 " With respect to making a public profession of 
 religion, it has been impressed on my mind lately, 
 that I am bound in duty and love, to declare to 
 the w r orld the change which I hope is wTought in 
 me. And after making professions of love and 
 attachment to the Saviour in private, why not 
 follow him in his appointed means of grace and 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 285 
 
 ordinances ? for the same that said, ' Repent/ said 
 also, ' Be baptized/ and ' Do this in remembrance 
 of me.'" 
 
 From this account, which was confirmed by the 
 evidence of those who had witnessed the change 
 which had taken place in him, the church, feeling 
 satisfied that his heart was renewed, and his 
 moral conduct reformed, agreed to receive him as 
 a member ; and he was afterwards baptized, with 
 seventeen other young men. Among the number 
 was Mr. Hoby, now a minister of the gospel, with 
 whom he formed an intimate acquaintance, and 
 whom he particularly remembered on his death- 
 bed. Some of his former companions in sin, at 
 a period not far distant from this, imitated his 
 example. 
 
 Soon after his admission into the church, his 
 mind became impressed with the importance of 
 missions ; and thinking that he might promote the 
 great work by the knowledge of the art he had 
 acquired, as well as by other means, he ventured 
 to make known his desires, and was recommended 
 to the attention of the Baptist Missionary Society. 
 Upon ascertaining the nature of his talents and 
 acquirements, and the important uses to which 
 they might be applied, the Society engaged his 
 services, and placed him under the care of the 
 Rev. J. SutclhTe, of Olney, with whom he entered 
 on a preparatory course of studies. These were 
 not carried to the extent he wished, through its 
 having been judged desirable for him to make 
 
286 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 himself master of punch-cutting, in order to im- 
 prove the different types used in India : this re- 
 quired his return to London, and nearly a year's 
 close application. 
 
 Some time previous to his leaving England, he 
 formed an acquaintance with Miss Frances Butter- 
 worth, whom he married on the 28th September, 
 1810, and who is now left his widow with eight 
 children. 
 
 The time appointed for his embarkation draw- 
 ing near, he was publicly set apart for his work, 
 together with Dr. Johns, at Carter-lane Chapel, 
 London. On this occasion he gave an account of 
 his design, and motives for wishing to engage in 
 missionary work, which to his venerable tutor and 
 all present gave great satisfaction. He stated the 
 deplorable state of the heathen, as the considera- 
 tion which first induced him to think of going 
 amongst them. Respecting his design, he ob- 
 served generally, that it was one worthy of 
 greater powers than he possessed; negatively, 
 that it was not to oppose by force, sentiments 
 conceived by superstition and cherished by bigot- 
 ry ; not to sow the seeds of disaffection to the 
 higher powers, nor by the exhibition of warped 
 doctrines to inflate the minds of the ignorant with 
 ideas inimical to the rights of civil government ; 
 but that it was positively, " to proclaim liberty 
 to the captives, and the opening of the prison to 
 them that are bound ; to proclaim the acceptable 
 year of the Lord," &c. Concerning his motives 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 287 
 
 for entering on this work, he remarked, that they 
 were, The command of Christ, the example of 
 Christ and his apostles, a strong desire for the 
 work, opposed to enthusiasm on the one hand, 
 and to indifference on the other, a door opened 
 by divine Providence for the accomplishment of 
 this desire; and the approbation and encourage- 
 ment of those worthy men whose judgments he 
 revered, and whose characters he loved. In- 
 fluenced by such motives, he finally declared, 
 that he was willing to make every sacrifice, and 
 to endure every hardship which the work required; 
 and that he should esteem it all joy to be counted 
 worthy either to labour or suffer for the name of 
 Christ. 
 
 The address delivered to him by his tutor, Mr. 
 Sutcliffe, was from 2 Tim. ii. 1. " Thou, therefore, 
 my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ 
 Jesus." From this passage, after having pointed 
 out the fulness of the grace in Christ Jesus, he 
 showed, 1st, The need of that grace in a mis- 
 sionary life ; 2ndly, The sufficiency of it for every 
 emergency ; and, 3rdly, The blessed effects of it 
 in preparing for usefulness, and insuring success. 
 The discourse was concluded with an exhortation 
 to go forth after the example of Christ, in the 
 spirit of Christ, with dependence on divine aid, 
 with faith in the promises of God, and with entire 
 devotedness to his service. 
 
 On this occasion his beloved tutor presented 
 him with a family Bible, on the reception of which 
 
288 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 he composed and inscribed in it the following 
 lines : 
 
 Though on the stormy sea of life I roam, 
 
 A weary mariner, that longs for home, 
 
 'Mid shoals and quicksands ; yet will I not fear, 
 
 For thee I love, my Bible ! ever true 
 
 As mystic needle when 'tis dark and drear 
 
 That points the unseen way. 
 
 On the 1st of November, 1810, he went on 
 board the ship Ceres, at Gravesend ; and on the 
 23d of December, after a very boisterous passage 
 across the Atlantic, arrived with his companions 
 in the United States, where they were kindly re- 
 ceived by Christian friends of various denomina- 
 tions. Having spent about two months in the 
 enjoyment of such society, they again set sail for 
 India ; but the vessel meeting with a violent gale, 
 was dismasted, and obliged to put back ; which, 
 together with some political misunderstanding be- 
 tween America and England at the time, laid them 
 under the necessity of remaining about a year 
 longer. While in the United States, Mr. Lawson 
 was very acceptable as a preacher, and often had 
 thoughts, if necessitated to leave India, of return- 
 ing to labour on that continent. During the last 
 three years of his life, he acted as the Agent to 
 the American Baptist Board of Foreign Missions. 
 
 On the 18th of February, 1812, Mr. Lawson 
 again took leave of his friends at Philadelphia, 
 and went on board the ship Harmony, in company 
 with Mr. and Mrs. Nott, Mr. Hall, Mr. Rice, Mr. 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 289 
 
 4 
 
 and Mrs. May, Dr. and Mrs. Johns, Miss Chaffin, 
 and Miss Green : several of whom are now united 
 with him in a world of perfect harmony and joy. 
 They all arrived in safety at Calcutta, on the 10th 
 of August, 1812. 
 
 Mr. Lawson was now settled at Serampore, 
 where the versatility of his talents rendered him 
 of essential service to the printing office and 
 school in that place. In connection with his other 
 engagements, he commenced the study of the 
 Bengalee language, and made so much progress 
 in it, as to be able to read and write it correctly, 
 though he never employed it as a means of com- 
 municating religious instruction. The great work 
 which he accomplished, and for which he is cer- 
 tainly entitled to the thanks of the religious public, 
 was the reduction of the types used in the Eastern 
 languages, particularly the Bengalee and Chinese. 
 The natives believed this an impracticable task ; 
 yet he not only accomplished it, but taught them 
 how to carry it on, in these and other characters, 
 without his aid ; so that now the effect of his la- 
 bour will be felt perhaps longer than his name 
 will be known. While occupied in this manner, 
 an order was issued for all persons, not licensed to 
 remain in India, to return home, and among others 
 Mr. Lawson was included ; but, upon a represen- 
 tation being made to the Government of his great 
 usefulness in the reduction of the types, he was 
 permitted to stay, while his friend Dr. Johns was 
 obliged to return. 
 
 o 
 
290 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 Soon after this, an accident occurred to his 
 eldest daughter, which rendered it necessary for 
 him to remove from Serampore to Calcutta, for 
 medical advice; and after he came to this city, 
 other events transpired, which opened to him a 
 new sphere of action. 
 
 He was now invited to become the pastor of a 
 church; and in the commencement of the year 
 1816, he, together with the Rev. E. Carey, was 
 ordained co-pastor of the first formed Baptist 
 Church at Calcutta, where for about three years 
 he continued to labour, with considerable accept- 
 ance and success. Circumstances having led to 
 the formation of a second Baptist Church, which 
 met for worship at a distance from the former 
 place, and Mr. Carey and Mr. Lawson having 
 withdrawn from the first church, Mr. Lawson was 
 unanimously chosen the pastor of this infant in- 
 terest, and within about twelve months, a neat 
 building was erected in the neighbourhood of the 
 Circular Road : the whole, or nearly the whole of 
 the funds for which were raised by the contribu- 
 tions of the inhabitants of Calcutta. This was the 
 last scene of Mr. Lawson's labours ; and it form- 
 ed, as he said upon his death-bed, " the happiest 
 part of his life." 
 
 In addition to the duties of his pastoral office, 
 he used at one time to preach very frequently in 
 the Fort ; and many soldiers who there heard him, 
 were reclaimed from a life of profligacy to a life 
 of piety by his instrumentality. It was a source 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 291 
 
 of grief to him in the latter part of his life, that 
 he was debarred all access to this sphere of use- 
 fulness. By the soldiers to whom he proved use- 
 ful, and who are now scattered in various parts of 
 India, the news of his death was felt like that of 
 a beloved father. 
 
 It may be also necessary to state, that in con- 
 nection with his ministerial engagements, he spent 
 a considerable portion of his time in the work of 
 education. About fifty young ladies constantly 
 received from him instruction in writing, grammar, 
 composition, and geography, and many in drawing. 
 He devoted also a portion of his time to scientific 
 pursuits. He was well skilled in music, and com- 
 posed a number of excellent tunes, some of which 
 are commonly sung in England, America, and 
 India. He had a very good acquaintance with 
 natural history, and compiled several numbers of the 
 History of Beasts for the Calcutta School Book 
 Society. His knowledge of conchology, mineralogy, 
 and botany was considerable. In the last class of 
 botany, which treats of cryptogamous plants, he 
 carried his researches to a great extent : perhaps 
 no one in India exceeded him in this department. 
 His drawings of these plants would be a valuable 
 acquisition to any one engaged in the same study. 
 
 In the discharge of his various duties, and in the 
 pursuit of general knowledge, he did not lose sight 
 of a favourite recreation, viz., the cultivation of 
 the muses. Between the years 1820 and 1825, 
 he published four works, Orient Harping, Female 
 o2 
 
292 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 Influence, The Lost Spirit, and Roland, with some 
 small pieces : besides which, he left behind him a 
 manuscript volume of miscellaneous poems, which, 
 with his Maniac, published originally in England 
 in 1810, have since been printed. The parts 
 in which he most excelled were the descriptive, 
 the pathetic, and the ludicrous. He was occasion- 
 ally led, under the inspirations of poetry, to turn 
 this delightful recreation into a principal employ- 
 ment ; and though he knew not how to avoid it at 
 the time, he afterwards felt sorry for such aberra- 
 tions, and in his last affliction confessed it, as one 
 of the errors, for which he hoped to be forgiven. 
 Such is the frailty of human nature, even in the 
 best of men, that their very virtues have their ex- 
 crescences. 
 
 About eight months before his death, a remark- 
 able change was observable in his whole deport- 
 ment. His mind seemed more spiritual, his temper 
 more amiable, his conduct more active, and his 
 preaching more heavenly. His friends viewed these 
 things as the hopeful signs of his more extensive 
 usefulness in the church militant ; but they now 
 look upon them as the effects wrought by the Holy 
 Spirit to prepare him for the church triumphant. 
 The night on which he last administered and last 
 partook of the emblems of the Saviour's death, 
 was a most solemn and affecting season to all the 
 members who were present. This took place on 
 the 4th of September, and on the llth he preached 
 his last sermon. He had been for several weeks 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 293 
 
 previous very unwell with an occasional pain in his 
 side, accompanied with a troublesome bowel com- 
 plaint, which he disregarded, apprehending it would 
 be of no consequence. On this day, however, he 
 felt very ill ; which Mrs. Lawson perceiving, en- 
 deavoured to dissuade him from preaching. He 
 said, however, that he must attempt it, as he felt 
 it would most likely be the last time he should do 
 it. His text was Hos. xi. 8, " How shall I give 
 thee up, Ephraim ? how shall I deliver thee, Is- 
 rael ? how shall I make thee as Admah ? how shall 
 I set thee as Zeboim? Mine heart is turned within 
 me, my repentings are kindled together." It was a 
 very affecting address, and seemed indeed as though 
 it was expected to be the last he should deliver to 
 his people. On the notes of the sermon he wrote 
 the date at which it was preached, with these 
 words, " very poorly indeed." Amongst the items 
 of Improvement in the sermon were the following : 
 " If afflictions tend to bring us near to God, let us 
 welcome them. How refreshing are the thoughts 
 of heaven, where complete emancipation from sin 
 is contemplated. There God will no more have 
 occasion, from the backslidings of his people, to 
 put the tender inquiries of the text." 
 
 He still continued very ill till Friday, the 23rd 
 of September, when, although very little better, 
 he was recommended to try change of air, and 
 came over to Howrah to spend a few days at my 
 house. Soon after his arrival, he wrote a note to 
 Mrs. Lawson, from which the following is an ex- 
 
294 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 tract : " I am obliged to say, that never was I in 
 such a state before. God alone knows what are 
 his plans respecting me. To him I desire to com- 
 mit myself for time and eternity. I am perfectly 
 convinced, that ' good is the will of the Lord con- 
 cerning me/ O may I be his, then all will be 
 well." On the day following, he wrote again to 
 Mrs. Lawson, describing his dangerous symptoms, 
 and then proceeds : " I am, I must say, very 
 anxious about myself for the sake of my dear fa- 
 mily. Still I desire to submit, and to acquiesce 
 in all that God is pleased to do with me. Farewell, 
 my dear. Let us be more wholly given up to God, 
 and then we shall be less anxious about our poor 
 selves. 7 ' 
 
 During the Saturday night, and on the morning 
 of Lord's day, September 25th, he felt a more se- 
 vere pain in his side, which gradually increased till 
 it became exceedingly distressing, and until he 
 could breathe only with great difficulty. He was 
 therefore brought home again, and the best medi- 
 cal advice obtained. It was now ascertained, that 
 an extensive inflammation of the liver had taken 
 place ; and a number of leeches, followed by a 
 blister, were applied to his side. By the use of 
 these and internal medicine, the pain in his side 
 was entirely removed, and his breathing became 
 easy again ; but the suppuration of the liver had 
 proceeded so far, that no medicines could perma- 
 nently check its progress. 
 
 From this time he appears to have indulged but 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 295 
 
 faint expectations of recovery ; yet his mind was 
 wonderfully supported in the affecting and over- 
 whelming prospect before him. He said at differ- 
 ent times : " I have great need of patience to bear 
 this long affliction as I ought; but I would not 
 have been without it for a world. I have had such 
 enlarged views of the suitability of the plan of 
 salvation by an almighty Saviour to the wants of 
 a dying, sinful creature, as I never possessed be- 
 fore. Should I live, I will preach more than ever 
 to my people of the infinite righteousness of Christ. 
 Jesus is the only foundation of a sinner's hope. I 
 have no elevated joys, but I have a good hope, 
 being fixed on the rock Christ Jesus. I have great 
 reason for gratitude; for though constitutionally 
 subject to extreme depression of mind, and in my 
 former illnesses grievously afflicted by it, I have 
 not this illness had a cloud cross my mind. All 
 has been tranquillity and peace." 
 
 In this state of mind Mr. Lawson continued, 
 daily growing weaker, till the 15th October, when 
 medicine producing no improvement in his symp- 
 toms, his medical attendants recommended his 
 going on the river, and eventually to the Sand- 
 heads. On this day he said to some friends, who 
 were grieved at seeing him so much reduced, " I 
 am very weak : but if God will, he can raise me 
 up again : yea, he is able to do exceedingly more 
 than we can ask or think." On Monday, the 
 17th, he was conveyed by Mr. Pearce on board a 
 boat to try the river air. The weather, which be- 
 
296 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 fore had been unfavourable, during the night be- 
 came very fine, and a delightfully cool breeze 
 sprung up, and continued till the close of the day 
 following ; so that the trial was made under the 
 most auspicious circumstances. Still, however, 
 his complaint was not checked ; but during the 
 Monday night, and the whole of Tuesday, con- 
 tinued to exhaust him as before. His usual me- 
 dical attendant, Dr. Browne, being again consulted, 
 stated, that he could entertain but very slight 
 hopes of Mr. Lawson's recovery. When this was 
 communicated to him, he said, " I am well aware 
 the Doctor is correct. I feel I cannot live long y 
 for I find a sensible decay of nature. But I can 
 launch into eternity without apprehension, relying 
 on the perfect righteousness of the Redeemer." 
 He now communicated his wishes respecting his 
 family and his church with the greatest compos'ure, 
 and then took leave of his friend Mr. Pearce, with 
 the most touching expressions of affectionate re- 
 gard. After this exertion, he fell into a doze, from 
 which when he awoke, not perceiving any one near 
 him, he began to pray, and used among others the 
 following expressions, which were committed to 
 paper soon after. 
 
 " Blessed Jesus ! I am a wretched, unworthy 
 creature; but I know thou hast purchased me 
 with thy precious blood, and hast entered into co- 
 venant relations with thy adorable Father on my 
 behalf, that I should not be hurt of the second 
 death. I am altogether polluted, but thou hast 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 297 
 
 covered all my defects with the spotless robe of 
 thy perfect righteousness. I feel that my flesh 
 and my heart are now failing but I know that 
 thou wilt be the strength of [my heart, and my por- 
 tion for ever. Blessed, blessed, blessed God ! I 
 have received from thee an intimation that I must 
 go up to possess a heavenly mansion. And shall 
 I decline the invitation ? O no : only grant me a 
 
 few days to warn my people, that " 
 
 Here his voice became low and indistinct. At the 
 conclusion, perceiving Mr. Pearce, he said that he 
 felt he could not survive more than three days ; and 
 then begged him, in the most urgent manner, to 
 make arrangements for his immediate return home. 
 He said, " I wish to see my dear family and friends, 
 and to speak to the members of my flock. I want 
 to leave among them my dying testimony to the 
 truths of the Gospel ; and can then die in peace." 
 Exertions were now made to gratify his wishes, 
 but it was doubted whether he would reach home 
 alive. Before leaving the boat, he said to Mrs. 
 Pearce, " I am fading like a flower." She replied, 
 " But to bloom again in an immortal paradise/' 
 He rejoined, " Yes, I am falling to the dust ; but 
 (with peculiar emphasis) I shall rise again." Through 
 the kind assistance of friends, Mr. Lawson, though 
 excessively weak and helpless, was conveyed 
 home with less difficulty than had been antici- 
 pated. It was, however, too evident, that, as he 
 expressed it, he came home to die ; and from this 
 o3 
 
298 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS, 
 
 time he, as well as his afflicted wife and friends, 
 seems to have considered his recovery impossible. 
 On Wednesday morning he addressed his chil- 
 dren and missionary associates with much propriety 
 and pathos ; and in his messages to absent friends 
 manifested much affection and divine support. He 
 said to Mr. Penney, " Tell Carey that I am now 
 passing through the valley of tfye shadow of death, 
 and that I have the presence and assistance of my 
 Redeemer. I have strength equal to my day." 
 He said to Mr. Yates respecting Mr. Hoby, " You 
 know Hoby. I knew him some time before you, 
 and I trust we both had the same spirit as to the 
 mission. He well knows what a poor trembling 
 and almost despairing creature I used to be ; but 
 tell him tell him that you saw me die, and that 
 I had peace in my last moments. Tell him that I 
 saw nothing frightful in death, but found light 
 and comfort while passing through the dark val- 
 ley." He remarked also : " If I must say anything 
 about the improvement of my death, I think I 
 should like it to be made from 1 Tim. i. 15, " This 
 is a faithful saying," &c. as most suitable to my 
 experience. And let nothing be said in the sermon 
 to exalt man, but let all be to exalt the Saviour I 
 feel that I am the chief of sinners ; but I have 
 preached Christ as an all-sufficient Saviour, and 
 now I find him so to me." At this time, when 
 asked if Mr. Yates should pray with him, he said, 
 " Yes, but let us sing first." He then selected 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 299 
 
 that beautiful hymn, " Jesus, I love thy charming 
 name," &c., and gave out and sang himself the 
 first two verses and the last. It was exceedingly 
 affecting to hear his tremulous voice, (in this his 
 last effort to sing on this side eternity,) repeat the 
 last verse, so very appropriate to his circumstances, 
 and congenial to his feelings 
 
 " I'll speak the honours of thy name, 
 
 With my last laboring breath ; 
 And dying, clasp thee in my arms, 
 The antidote of death." 
 
 On Thursday, our native preacher Paunchoo 
 came to see him, when he said to him, " Paunchoo, 
 I am now going into the presence of that great 
 Jesus, whose gospel I have preached, and whose 
 gospel you preach. We believe that the everlast- 
 ing righteousness of Christ can save sinners ; and 
 I beg you, when you go among your countrymen, 
 to tell them fully, that 'it is a faithful saying, 
 and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus 
 came into the world to save sinners.' ' In the 
 afternoon, Messrs. Warden and Gogerly called to 
 see him. When asked if he had anything par- 
 ticular to say to them, he replied, " No ; only, that 
 they abound more and more in the work of the 
 Lord." After this, he rapidly declined, and on 
 the Friday morning it was evident that his disso- 
 lution was at hand. Mr. Pearce intimating this 
 to him, said, he hoped he could say, " The will of 
 the Lord be done." He replied, " I would rather 
 
300 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 say, Now let me die. O Lord ! now let thy ser- 
 vant depart in peace." On his adding, "When 
 you walk through the valley of the shadow of 
 death, you need fear no evil;" he immediately 
 caught the allusion to the 23rd Psalm, and replied, 
 " No. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 
 He even now maketh me to lie down in green 
 pastures." To Mr. Penney, who asked him how 
 he felt, he said, "lam well. I have still a good 
 hope. I am on the foundation." To Dr. Carey, 
 Mr. Hill, Mr. Robinson, and other friends, who at 
 different times called to see him, he used similar 
 expressions. At one time he said, " I have not the 
 smallest idea of recovery, and therefore do now 
 most solemnly commit my soul into the hands of 
 my almighty Saviour. Blessed be God that he 
 ever called me by his grace." One of his friends 
 observed, " Yes, blessed be he indeed ; for where 
 he hath given grace, there he hath promised to 
 give glory. Whom he calleth, them also he will 
 justify and glorify." He rejoined, " Yes, he hath 
 loved me with an everlasting love, and therefore 
 with loving-kindness hath he drawn me." 
 
 I sat up with him two nights just before his de- 
 cease, and was, I hope, much edified by his pious 
 counsel and dying charge. His mind was perfectly 
 happy in the prospect of death, and he seemed 
 anxious for the hour of departure to arrive. 
 
 Soon after this, his mind, oppressed with dis- 
 ease, became incapable of thought, and he said 
 little more in the exercise of his reason before his 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 301 
 
 death, which on Saturday night at eleven o'clock, 
 admitted him to the joy of his Lord, and to the 
 keeping of that Sabbath which remains for the 
 people of God. 
 
CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 Shall we, whose souls are lighted 
 
 With wisdom from on high, 
 Shall we to men benighted 
 
 The lamp of life deny ? 
 Salvation ! Oh Salvation ! 
 
 The joyful sound proclaim, 
 Till each remotest nation 
 
 Has learned Messiah's name. 
 
 Waft, waft, ye winds, his story, 
 
 And you, ye waters, roll ; 
 Till, like a sea of glory, 
 
 It spreads from pole to pole : 
 Till, o'er our ransom'd nature, 
 
 The Lamb for sinners slain, 
 Redeemer, King, Creator, 
 
 In bliss returns to reign. HEBER. 
 
 BENEFITS RESULTING FROM MISSIONARY OPERATIONS 
 
 EXTRACTS OF CONVERSATIONS HOLDEN WITH THE 
 
 NATIVES ANECDOTE OF A RICH SIRCAR. 
 
 A FAR greater degree of good has already re- 
 sulted from the operations of missionaries in India 
 than can be made apparent to those, who limit 
 their ideas of success to the actual records of con- 
 verts gained to the Christian faith. By the trans- 
 lation of the sacred Scriptures, a facility of 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 303 
 
 * 
 
 imparting instruction to the inhabitants of the 
 various pagan nations of India, has been afforded ; 
 which, with the establishment of schools in all 
 the villages within reach of missionary stations, 
 has already accomplished great things in preparing 
 the way of the Lord in the desert. By the means 
 of preaching, millions have heard the Gospel, and 
 for the first time have entertained the idea that 
 the Hindoo religion is liable to suspicion as to its 
 divine authenticity ; and by the liberal distribution 
 of portions of the Holy Scriptures and tracts, they 
 have been enabled to compare Hindooism with 
 Christianity ; and in numerous instances, or I may 
 say in all cases they have been constrained to 
 admit the superior nature of the latter, although 
 their minds have not been so powerfully wrought 
 upon, as to induce them at once to renounce the 
 religion of their fathers, to embrace Christianity. 
 Still a vast deal of prejudice has been removed, 
 and a great change has been produced in their 
 mode and tone of thought respecting their idols. 
 And it is a pleasing fact, that all around a mis- 
 sionary station there is a less degree of brutal and 
 licentious feeling manifested at their several poo- 
 jahs, than where missionary efforts have as yet 
 not been made. When a mighty revolution has 
 been effected in the government of a nation, those 
 who have at length carried their wishes into effect, 
 have not had the pleasure of daily, weekly, or 
 monthly enrolling the names of the citizens as 
 converts to their views and plans. Very few have 
 
304 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 probably openly testified their sentiments, and all 
 things have externally preserved the same appear- 
 ance, until the period has arrived, when a full 
 conviction being generally entertained, that the 
 present system was wrong, and a new one desir- 
 able, the whole body of the people have simul- 
 taneously avowed their sentiments, and by one 
 vigorous effort fully effected the desirable change. 
 Just so I consider the moral revolution of India 
 in a very few years will be accomplished. The 
 schoolmaster is abroad in Bengal, and wherever 
 the Gospel has been preached, the parties who 
 have heard the tidings of peace and good will to 
 man, have not been content without seeking ano- 
 ther opportunity of hearing the same truths. Thus 
 a great deal of thought has been produced, the 
 effects of which have yet to be developed. The 
 circulation of the sacred Scriptures has often 
 brought many from distant villages to hear the 
 Gospel, and a very great sensation has been caused 
 generally, wherever the word has been preached, 
 so much so, that it is no uncommon thing to find 
 a group of persons assembled at the entrance of 
 a town, discussing the topics which have been 
 touched upon by a preacher that has visited the 
 place perhaps twelve months before. Neither is 
 it a rarity to hear even Brahmins themselves de- 
 clare, that the Hindoo religion must give place to 
 that of the Christian. 
 
 The methods by which missionaries endeavour 
 to communicate religious instruction, vary accord- 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 305 
 
 ing to local circumstances, but the following may 
 be considered as the manner pursued in common. 
 Either before or after the sun attains its meridian 
 strength, the missionary, accompanied by one or 
 more native Christians, goes forth to the bazaar or 
 to the bungalowe chapel, which is a small build- 
 ing composed of bamboos and cane mats, with a 
 thatched roof, the whole of the front of which is 
 then thrown open, and the attention of the passing 
 natives is engaged by a prayer or hymn. When 
 these are ended, the persons present are addressed 
 in a plain and familiar manner from some portion 
 of Scripture previously read, and all who wish to 
 dispute are requested to wait until the discourse is 
 ended, when a conversation generally takes place, 
 and oftentimes very pertinent remarks are elicited. 
 At other times a learned Brahmin perhaps will 
 require all the quickness and energy of mind 
 imaginable to cope with his specious and sophisti- 
 cal arguments ; but these will be better understood 
 by extracts of conversations being given ; and the 
 following are literally true, being copied from 
 journals written just after they had taken place. 
 
 I have principally availed myself of the journal 
 kept by Mr. Fenwick, a gentleman who lived close 
 to me at Howrah, and who was an invaluable aid 
 in native work. With him I enjoyed much fel- 
 lowship in the Gospel. His station very frequently 
 was beneath the large tree at the corner of the old 
 school grounds, where large congregations were 
 generally gained. 
 
306 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 One day, before the address was quite ended, a 
 decent looking Hindoo, after listening for a con- 
 siderable length of time with deep attention, said, 
 " Will you permit me to put a question or two ? " 
 jP. " By all means : tell me what you have got 
 to say, and I will endeavour to give you satisfac- 
 tion." A. "All that you have said, Sir, I fully 
 comprehend. You say that there are none right- 
 eous, but all are depraved that in consequence 
 of this, none can please God that therefore God 
 became incarnate, in love, to fulfil all righteousness 
 in man's behalf and finally, that he gave up his 
 life to make an universal atonement. All this I 
 declare is perfectly reasonable, and would be wor- 
 thy of credence, could you show us some sign or 
 token whereby we might ascertain what effect it 
 has had upon you, a professor of Christianity : 
 Can you do this ?" F. I will try. Suppose I was 
 to gain admittance into the palace of some great 
 king, and on my coming out, displayed to all I 
 met, a large purse full of gold ; and at the same 
 tune said, that the king had given it to me : none 
 would deny this evidence of the king's favour. If 
 I came out without the purse, I could not persuade 
 the people without, that the king had shown me 
 favour, and had been pleased with me ; but my 
 coming out with the purse, would be a sufficient 
 sign and proof of the truth of what I said. Thus 
 my friend, there is a testimony or token which a 
 true Christian possesses above all other men, 
 namely, the Lord in whom he has put his trust, 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 307 
 
 gives him the mastery over his passions. This is 
 a sign which you must, however, seek for. You 
 will not believe what I say : but if what you have 
 heard me preach to you appear just, and the only 
 obstacle to your believing is the want of a sign, 
 it will become you to search yes, examine the 
 conduct of true Christians, and you will be satis- 
 fied that they have been enabled by the grace of 
 God to beat down the body with all its lusts." 
 A. " I think if a man could get rid of his depra- 
 vity, he could do wonders ; he could fly over the 
 Bhyrub (a river hard by,) without any difficulty." 
 jP. " Depravity cannot be eradicated from us al- 
 together; but we may, if helped from above, be 
 able to subdue it. Now so long as an elephant is 
 in the jungles, he submits to no one; he is wild. 
 But when a mohout (driver) is on his shoulders, he 
 is submissive enough ; considering his strength, 
 wonderfully submissive ! Remember that the ele- 
 phant does not vanish, because the mohout has got 
 the better of him. It is expressly so with a true 
 Christian : he has overcome his elephant-like pas- 
 sions, which, though they do exist in his bosom, 
 do not predominate. This wonder no other religion 
 displays. Look to it, my friend. You know that 
 what I have preached to-day is reasonable ; don't 
 suffer minor considerations to oppose the salvation 
 of your soul," &c. 
 
 On another occasion, a Brahmin commenced his 
 opposition by asking, " Why has God created sin 
 and righteousness ?" F. " I deny that sin comes 
 
308 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 from God. But what do your Shasters say con- 
 cerning sin and righteousness? What do they 
 say of robbery ?" A." That it is a sin/' F. 
 " Well, if you commit robbery, is it God or your- 
 self that gave rise to it?" A. " Oh ! I am no- 
 thing : whatever / do, is done by the actuation of 
 the spirit that is within me. Now is not my spirit 
 and God identically the same !" F. "Certainly 
 not ; for if my spirit be God, and God commands 
 me not to commit robbery, and I by my spirit do 
 it, then it is God that does it, which cannot pos- 
 sibly be the case, seeing he denounces punishment 
 against sinners. He would be guilty himself; but 
 how could he punish himself? If he did not pu- 
 nish himself, his denunciations would be a sin, 
 which would bring a stain upon his truth. You 
 should not utter such a foul thing," &c. A. 
 "Who is it then that sins?" F. "Man, most 
 truly." I here related the history of the disobedi- 
 ence of all, and consequent depravity of man. A . 
 " If God knew what would be the result of 
 man's disobedience, why did he give him such a 
 commandment?" F. "I will illustrate this to 
 you by a parable. Suppose you were the servant 
 of any person, and that person forbade you to 
 touch one piece of his furniture, and let you freely 
 touch the rest ; and supposing you did do what he 
 forbade you in his presence ; and suppose he took 
 you to severe account for what you had done, 
 would you venture to tell him, Why did you com- 
 mand me not to touch your furniture ? No, no ; 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 309 
 
 you would be dumb in his presence, and liable to 
 punishment," &c. Soon after this, the Brahmin 
 went from the stand, and another Hindoo said, 
 "What is sin? Nothing at all. God is only play- 
 ing/' F. " Playing ! If a child handled any 
 filthy substance, would he not defile himself? In 
 like manner, were God to play with sin, he would 
 defile his character. Is he worse, in your opinion, 
 than a child ? O folly ! God is far too pure to 
 behold iniquity, &c." He spoke no more. 
 
 After the service was ended at the chapel in 
 Wellington-street, Calcutta, a middle-aged Brah- 
 min, who had been an attentive hearer the whole 
 time, commenced a conversation by saying : 
 
 " This way may be very well for you, but ours 
 is equally good for us; they are only so many 
 ways, which will at last all meet in the same 
 point; otherwise all our forefathers are gone to 
 hell, which we can never believe." We endea- 
 voured to convince him that God was one, and 
 that there was but one way of approaching unto 
 him ; and asked him, if he and we had to travel 
 on a flat and extended surface, as he supposed 
 the earth to be, to one place on a given day, whe- 
 ther, supposing that in the morning he should set 
 out for the east and we for the west, we should 
 meet in the evening? He readily granted we 
 should not. We then told him to search the 
 Scriptures, and he would find the way of salvation 
 marked out in them so different from any con- 
 tained in their Shastras, and of so different a ten- 
 
310 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 dency, that they could never lead to the same 
 place ; and that, if the one we recommended led 
 to heaven, his must necessarily lead to hell ; these 
 being the only two places which remain for us 
 after death. " Are then," said he, " all my fore- 
 fathers gone to hell ?" To this we replied, that it 
 was not for us or him to say what was their con- 
 dition; that God was just, and would judge them 
 according to the light which they possessed : but 
 that it was certain, if after hearing the Gospel he 
 despised and rejected it, he could not be saved. 
 We informed him, that in this respect he was not 
 differently situated from us ; for that many of our 
 forefathers had never heard this good news ; and 
 that, had we rejected it on that account, we should 
 still have been like him, idolaters, and exposed to 
 the wrath of God. We assured him, that this had 
 not always been the religion of our country ; but 
 that it was one, which, like the sun, was essential 
 to the happiness of all the inhabitants of the 
 earth. This discussion lasted more than half an 
 hour, during which time great numbers of people 
 were collected, and the place was filled. After it 
 was finished, we prayed, and they all quietly dis- 
 persed. 
 
 Whilst going along the road, I was stopped by 
 two persons, who desired I should read some por- 
 tion of the book which I held in my hand. Having 
 complied, I was asked by one of them various 
 things respecting the advantages that might be 
 gained by those who believed in the Gospel. The 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 311 
 
 other asked, " Is there one God : or are there 
 many ?" F." Only one." A." What does it 
 matter, then, whether I worship him as Horee, or 
 Kristno, or by any other epithet ?" F. " A great 
 deal, inasmuch as these are not gods, nor do they 
 possess those attributes which belong to the God- 
 head. Whosoever delighteth in impurity cannot 
 be pronounced God. Your several incarnations 
 were far from being pure, consequently it does not 
 become you to attach any importance to their 
 character." A. " Is Christ pure, then ?" F. 
 11 If by reading this book you find that he was 
 altogether holy, and possessed all those qualifica- 
 tions which characterise the Deity, you must allow 
 that he, and only he, can lay claim to divinity ; 
 and living perfectly pure and holy, it becomes you 
 to receive him as the only Saviour of sinners." 
 A. " But if I become a Christian, I must forsake 
 my parents ; I must eat with you ; I must lose 
 my caste." -F. " There is no necessity whatever 
 for your forsaking your father, and mother, and 
 relatives, if they do not drive you from among 
 them ; but you are to love .Christ more than them. 
 You may eat with us or not, it will not hinder 
 your salvation, if your heart is changed by the 
 grace of God. As to loss of caste, that is impos- 
 sible ; for could you from a man become a brute, 
 then you would lose your caste ; you would then 
 no longer be man : but so long as you are a man, 
 you cannot lose caste. If a lion were to eat straw 
 as the ox, or the ox to eat flesh as the lion, it 
 
312 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 would be the destruction of their caste, for it 
 would be a complete alteration of the characteris- 
 tic of their species ; besides which, such a circum- 
 stance would be the death of both lion and ox. 
 If your eating and drinking with Christians will 
 terminate in this, then may you well object to it. 
 You cannot lose your caste, my friend. You need 
 salvation : Christ Jesus is able to save you. I am 
 commanded to assert this to sinners. Believe, and 
 you shall be saved." We continued to exchange 
 questions and answers to the above purport for a 
 short time longer, when I left them. 
 
 There were others, however, who had something 
 to say against the Gospel. One said, " Have you 
 no sin, since you say that all are sinners without 
 exception ?" F. " Verily, I am a sinner, as great 
 a sinner as any one of you, and perhaps a greater. " 
 A. " Then why should we listen to what you 
 say ? What good can you do ?" F. 1 " Wretched 
 man ! you see that all are sinners ; all need sal- 
 vation, you yourself need it ; and because I am a 
 sinner, you refuse to hear the words which are 
 able to save you. Have you forgot that your 
 Gooroos, whom you reverence as gods, are sinners 
 like unto you and me ? Have you ceased to take 
 notice that your Gooroos and Brahmins are every 
 whit as prone to sin and impurity as any other 
 man ? And yet, with all this sure knowledge of 
 their character, do you not receive the Muntra at 
 their hands, without saying, You are sinners such 
 as we, why should we receive it from you, or why 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 313 
 
 should we fall down and worship you, and take 
 up your feet and place them upon our heads ? No, 
 these things you will readily do. O ! remember 
 that you cannot possibly please God in the way 
 you have adopted. And you see that those whom 
 you trust to for acceptance with God, are as great 
 sinners as yourselves. Such being the case, will 
 you reject the true Saviour? Will you refuse to 
 hear of Him who died to save ?" &c. 
 
 I had a multitude of hearers at Ramkristnopoor. 
 This is not a very populous village ; but the mar- 
 ket held here is usually very much crowded. The 
 first part of my discourse was heard with consi- 
 derable attention. At length, however, an igno- 
 rant Hindoo commenced putting questions, which 
 led to a conversation to the following purport. 
 
 A. " Cannot a person be saved without be- 
 lieving on Jesus ?" I hereupon stated my reasons 
 for concluding that it was not possible. A. " Is 
 not Bruhmo and Christ the same ? What signifies 
 it, then, whether we worship the one or the other?" 
 F. " If you can indeed worship him as you ought, 
 in that case you might urge an escape for not be- 
 lieving in the Lord Jesus Christ. But inasmuch 
 as you and all that now hear me, will be ready to 
 own that man is not capable of worshipping God 
 in an acceptable manner, there becomes a neces- 
 sity of seeking a medium whereby God may be 
 satisfied : in other words, without an atonement 
 for our sins, there is no possibility of pleasing 
 God. 7 ' A. " What does God command us to 
 
314 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 do ?" .F. " Various are the commandments he 
 has given to us ; but we have broken all, and lie 
 under his curse." I hereupon further detailed the 
 nature of man's depravity, and proceeded to show 
 that no external services could be acceptable to 
 God. A. " I can worship God with my heart." 
 F. " Why, then, so many offerings of flowers, and 
 kids, and fruits, &c. ? Why adore the Gooroos ? 
 and why do you worship images ? Now concern- 
 ing the adoration you pay to your idols, allow me 
 to ask you, would you please God if you were to 
 fall down and worship the earth ?" A. " If my 
 heart was devoted to God, it matters little whether 
 I worshipped the earth or any thing else." F. 
 " Then the worshipping the earth is a superfluity ; 
 for did you fail to do that, and at the same time 
 worshipped God with your heart, your purpose 
 would be answered. But I am certain you cannot 
 worship God with all your heart : examine it, and 
 see whether I take upon myself to assert too 
 much. And when .you have found, as you will 
 very soon, that it is not possible, remember what 
 I have this day spoken to you, remember that I 
 have preached a worthy Saviour to you, one that 
 is able and willing to save you/' &c. He held his 
 peace; and no other appeared to carry on the 
 controversy. 
 
 An argument used by one of the preceding 
 speakers, is a very favourite mode of repelling the 
 calls of the Gospel, viz. that all religions are alike 
 good, and terminate in the same end. I remember 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 315 
 
 a very rich and talkative sircar was constantly in 
 the habit of visiting me, for the purpose of bring- 
 ing any new argument he could find, against the 
 necessity or utility of our endeavours to promote 
 the spread of the Gospel. I was one day sitting 
 in the verandah, which overlooked the river, and 
 commanded a view of Fort William, with a class 
 of boys around me, when he entered and made his 
 salaam. I could perceive by his countenance that 
 his budget was full, therefore begged he would 
 wait until I had dismissed the class, to which with 
 much apparent difficulty he yielded, so eager was 
 he at once to commence his argumentative pro- 
 ceedings. When my ear was disengaged, he began 
 by saying, " Sahib, why do you English gentle- 
 men come so far, and leave your homes, and get 
 sickness, and die soon, to try to make the Hin- 
 doos become Christians ? I have often told you it 
 is all useless. Our religion is good enough for us ; 
 and the China man's religion good for him, if he 
 attend to it ; and your religion is the right for you ; 
 and the Mussulmans' religion good for him. I tell 
 you how it is, sahib. You see Fort William there, 
 and you can see the telegraph on the govern- 
 ment-house in the centre of the fort." " Yes/' 
 said I. " Well then," he continued, " I call that 
 house, Heaven. Now here am I, poor Hindoo, 
 want to go to heaven, so I go to the main-guard 
 gate I mean my religion, I call that the gate, 
 and I go in, and I come to the house I call heaven. 
 Well, here is a poor Mussulman, he goes in at the 
 
316 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 hospital-gate, very different gate from mine, but 
 he comes to the great house in middle of the fort 
 he get to heaven. Then comes poor China man, 
 he goes to the water-gate so reach heaven. Then 
 comes European, he go to Chowringhee-gate, still 
 he come to the great house in centre of fort. So, 
 sahib, all at last will go to heaven, if all do as 
 own religion tells us : only different gates, sahib ; 
 all lead into one place. Yes, yes, all shall meet 
 at last, sahib." I here interrupted him, by saying, 
 " Well, baboo, your new argument seems to please 
 you very much : let us try it, and see whether it 
 will stand even the test of your own figure, if fully 
 carried out. You say, heaven is like the govern- 
 ment-house in the centre of Fort William, and 
 that there are many entrances, so that if we go to 
 either we shall find our way to this said house. 
 Still, you must remember, that the number of gates 
 does not all interfere with the qualifications of the 
 party seeking admission; in this respect it is just 
 the same as if there should be but one entrance, 
 as every gate is well guarded ; and if a person is 
 not duly qualified to enter at the Chowringhee- 
 gate, it will be in vain for him to try to gain ad- 
 mission at any other; so that there virtually is 
 but one way into the fort, all the sentinels re- 
 ceiving precisely the same orders. Just so is it 
 with regard to the kingdom of heaven : there 
 are many religions, but only one way to eternal 
 life ; and Jesus Christ says, ' I am the way, the 
 truth, and the life ; and no man cometh unto the 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 317 
 
 Father but by me.' So that you see, baboo, by 
 your own figure you have established the truth 
 of our declarations, ' that there is no other name 
 given amongst men, by which we can be saved, 
 but the name of Christ Jesus/ ' After a minute's 
 silence, he rose abruptly, and said, " Ah, sahib, 
 you say fine words. Salaam, sahib, salaam." 
 And I did not see him again for many days. 
 
CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 " Thou didst not sink by slow decay, 
 Like some who live the longest ; 
 But every tie was wrench'd away, 
 Just when those ties were strongest." 
 
 BERNARD BARTON. 
 
 SANYASSEES MURDER OF A YOUTH BY ONE FEMALE 
 
 SANYASSEE AT SAHEBGUNG CONVERSATIONS WITH 
 
 HER DISCIPLES AMERICANA TESTIMONY TO THE 
 
 SUCCESS OF MISSIONS. 
 
 IT is no uncommon thing for divine honours to 
 be paid to those who exhibit any remarkable traits 
 of character, whether they may be on the side of 
 virtue or vice. A bold daring spirit is sure to 
 obtain the homage of the multitude : hence the 
 Fakirs and Sanyassees, who obtain reverential 
 worship from all, are, generally speaking, ferocious 
 and brutal to the extreme. Many of them are 
 evidently destitute of common sense, or completely 
 in a state of idiotism ; and the more extravagant 
 their conduct is, the greater is the veneration in 
 which they are held. One of these characters, 
 not long since, committed a cold-blooded murder 
 upon a young gentleman at Howrah, for which he 
 suffered the extreme penalty of the law. 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 319 
 
 William Beauchamp had been a scholar with 
 me, some time before I left India, and was a youth 
 of sweet disposition and great natural abilities. 
 He lost his mother soon after she had brought 
 him out from England to join his father, who filled 
 the office of assistant ship -builder in Messrs. 
 Vrignon's dock-yard, and was then placed with 
 me. Soon after I left Howrah, he was walking to 
 church, arm in arm with a young friend, when a 
 Sanyassee, or Fakir, came behind him, and with a 
 tremendous blow on the head, from a heavy club, 
 felled him to the ground, and would have struck 
 his companion too, if he had not instantly fled. 
 The poor boy died in a few hours. The only rea- 
 son assigned for this cruel deed was, that the 
 wretched man had lost a favourite boy by the 
 hand of death, and rashly vowed that he would 
 destroy seven other children about the same age. 
 William Beauchamp was unfortunately the first, 
 and happily the only victim to this rash vow. 
 
 Even women have, by their bold and enter- 
 prising spirit, been reckoned amongst those who 
 claim divine honours. At Sahebgung Jessore, a 
 woman of this sort resided, who had, by various 
 arts and contrivances, succeeded in establishing 
 her reputation as a Sanyassee, and consequently 
 was an object of attraction to all who journeyed 
 that way. When Mr. Fenwick visited Jessore, he 
 went to see her, and the following are the remarks 
 he makes on the interview. 
 
 ' Went this evening to see a certain woman, 
 
320 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 who has, by some means or another, made herself 
 to pass for " some great one." Some say she is a 
 prophetess, and others that she is the divinity 
 himself. She is known over a large surface of 
 country, extending from Jessore to Sylhet. She 
 has more than three thousand disciples, who are 
 scattered in most of the towns and villages in- 
 cluded in that tract of country. These are ever 
 coming to her with periodical offerings of money, 
 cloth, and any thing else they conceive would be 
 acceptable to her. She resides at the eastern ex- 
 tremity of Sahebgung, in a garden, where she has 
 a small straw house or hut for herself. Nearly 
 round this house there are others, built by her for 
 the accommodation of her disciples, who usually 
 put up here on their arrival at Jessore. The 
 money, rice, &c., which is given to her, is so 
 very considerable, as to enable her to feed a great 
 number of poor people, who usually remain about 
 her, and spread abroad her fame wherever they 
 go. Her other disciples do no less. It is said, 
 (and perhaps with truth,) that the Raja of this 
 place is her disciple, and visits her at night. She 
 appears to be of the age of seventy-five, and her 
 head is covered with such filthy locks of hair as 
 we see on those of Sanyassees. It is a figure alto- 
 gether original, and calculated to excite the fears, 
 and consequently the adoration of inconsiderate 
 idolaters. (It is said, however, that she has many 
 Mussulmans upon her list of disciples also.) 
 * In the course of conversation with the people 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 321 
 
 about her house, with whom we first communed, 
 I found that she was a worshipper of fire. This 
 element she keeps in the house, to which none 
 but herself have access. She sleeps near the fire, 
 and pretends that she eats nothing but dry rice 
 and salt. It is a fact, however, that there are 
 many articles which are brought as offerings, such 
 as fish, &c., which are never returned, upon the 
 plea that the fiery god had consumed them. 
 
 ' Upon telling her, that having heard a great 
 deal about her, I had come to see her, and con- 
 verse with her upon important subjects, she 
 immediately replied : " O, you do not come 
 without my having drawn you." jP. " In that 
 case you of course know who I am, and what 
 my name is : come, old woman, tell it me." A. 
 " Ah, you speak of worldly things. You could 
 not have come, unless I had drawn you." F. 
 " Pray why did you not draw me yesterday? 
 If I could get good by coming to you, you 
 should not have delayed till to-day. But come, 
 let us converse together among your people, that 
 they may see what sort of a prophet you are, 
 when brought in contact with the words I am 
 come to preach to you." She was too cunning, 
 however, to expose herself by entering into con- 
 troversy in the presence of her deluded ones. She 
 said, "If our object is one, and our hearts are one, 
 (meaning that there were no distinction of beings,) 
 why need I come out ? Speak on." F. " If you 
 think you are God, I must tell you that you are 
 p 3 
 
322' INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 very much mistaken. Indeed, your heart itself 
 will whisper to you that you are not. As to our 
 hearts being one, it is altogether wrong, for you 
 take a pleasure in deceiving these people ; I come 
 to undeceive both you and them. You pretend to 
 be a great one : I come to tell you that you are 
 not a bit better than those you deceive. You 
 would pass for a god : I am come to prove, and to 
 tell both you and your people, that you are a sin- 
 ful woman, as great a sinner as any one of them," 
 &c. I now turned to the people, and endeavoured 
 to shew them the folly of their trusting in this 
 woman for the salvation of their souls. The fol- 
 lowing is a specimen of the idea they have im- 
 bibed of the nature of the soul of man. F. "Why 
 has your mother, (the name of this woman is 
 Kungalee, and her disciples call her, Ma Kun- 
 galee, or Mother Kungalee,) put that red stuff to 
 the forehead of this goat?" A. " It is a matter 
 of ceremony." F. " Is this goat your mother's 
 disciple likewise ?" A. " Yes." F. " If that 
 be the case, then both you and this goat, with 
 these dogs, are all the same species of being." 
 A. " So we are; our souls are all alike." F. 
 " How do you prove that ?" A. " Can you prove 
 any thing to the contrary ?" -F. " Inasmuch as 
 neither this goat nor these dogs have understand- 
 ing, and are unable to express their thoughts by 
 word or any other means, they are decidedly in- 
 ferior creatures, and their souls different from that 
 of man." A. " They speak to one another, 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 323 
 
 though we cannot comprehend what they say/' 
 F. " If you cannot comprehend what they say, 
 how do you know whether they speak at all ?" 
 A. " Inasmuch as they have a voice, and make 
 a noise as well as ourselves when we speak, it is a 
 proof that they speak too." F. " You see, at 
 least, that there is no positive proof of their speak- 
 ing ; but, because they have a sound, you suppose 
 they speak ; but then that can be no proof, since 
 a watch also makes a noise, but we know of a cer- 
 tainty that it hath no soul." A. "We, however, 
 perceive it has action." F. " But its action will 
 not authorise you to say that it has a soul." A. 
 But it has a principle of life." F. " In that case, 
 that tree there must have a soul too, because it 
 lives." A. " So it has ; we see it grows, conse- 
 quently it has a soul." F. " Well, you perceive 
 then that sound is not the infallible sign of a crea- 
 ture's having a soul. You say growth is a sign. 
 What say you of an egg ; it has neither a sound 
 nor growth, has that a soul too ? When you are 
 examining an egg, you cannot say that it has a 
 principle of life in it, or that it is rotten. So that 
 neither sound nor growth is an infallible sign of 
 any thing's having a soul ; consequently you have 
 no proof of goats or dogs, which both have a sound 
 and grow, having souls." He held his peace, and 
 enabled me to preach Christ to those that were 
 about us. 
 
 * As we left this place, we saw a man lying 
 prostrate on the ground, with his face towards the 
 
324 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 abode of Kungalee; and was told that he was 
 worshipping her. A Commodus could not, with 
 all his power and dominion, accomplish more than 
 this woman has done. He got himself worshipped 
 by means of the sword ; but this woman by means 
 of the ignorance of the people. When this woman 
 has made a convert, she ties a wild boar's tusk 
 round his arm as a distinctive mark, whether they 
 be Mussulmans or Hindoos. She is certainly 
 very ignorant ; but certain expressions of self-im- 
 portance which she makes use of, and the habit of 
 giving medicines to those who will make a trifling 
 offering, and feeding of crows, kites, and martins, 
 have secured great celebrity to her. She was of 
 the Mussulman persuasion in the beginning; next 
 a swine-herd, and now is metamorphosed into a 
 goddess. She has, however, the assurance to give 
 out that she descended from heaven, to which 
 place, and into the bowels of the earth, she has 
 made several visits, and saw wonderful things ; all 
 which she makes the topic of conversation with, 
 and means of deluding, the ignorant of Sahebgung 
 and the adjacent country. 
 
 ' We next went into the temple of the Dosoma- 
 viddia, (literally the Ten Sciences,) or the Ten 
 Avatars, who were placed in a row, in rooms sur- 
 rounding an area of about twenty yards. Gunesha 
 was placed at the right, Kalee in the centre, and 
 another idol (unknown to us) on the left of the 
 whole troop. Various articles of sacrifice were 
 placed before Kalee in Brahminic order. I asked 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 325 
 
 a Brahmin what the name of the idol placed in the 
 middle was? A. " Her name is Tara." F. 
 " And what is the meaning of Tara?" A." It 
 means a saviour." jP. " Perhaps you meant to 
 say Nasak, (destroyer,) for those heads which 
 dangle about that idol are very poor emblems of 
 salvation. She evidently is intended as an em- 
 blem of destruction." A. " If any person offends 
 you, would you not strike him, or kill him?" 
 jP. " I don't think I would. Christ has taught 
 me a better lesson. He came not to kill, but to 
 save. He came in love, not in vengeance. He 
 came not to destroy, but to die for those who de- 
 served to be destroyed," &c. A. " Do you mean 
 to insult Kalee by ridiculing her?" F. " Why, 
 as to that, we cannot help calling any offender by 
 his proper name, for it would be the truth, and no 
 ridicule. It would be a humorous thing to hear a 
 robber say, you have insulted me by calling me a 
 robber. But you are angry : say, Brahmin, is not 
 that sin ? Do you not commit sin by indulging 
 anger?" A. " Anger is no sin; I have no sin." 
 F. " I can prove that you have, in a moment. 
 Now you know that that person who has sin, and 
 says he has not sinned, is a proud man ; and you 
 know that pride is the greatest of all sins. You 
 are enraged, and yet justify yourself in it." He 
 spoke not another word, upon which we left him. 
 May his conscience show him his folly. May 
 God open his eyes. 
 
 ' I am not certain whether the words Dosoma- 
 
326 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 viddia mean the Ten Sciences or the Ten Geniuses. 
 In either case, it is a striking illustration of the 
 ideas the ancient learned Hindoos had of the 
 Deity. They first formed ideas of certain things, 
 and those self-acquired ideas they were so much 
 taken up with, as to form them into the charac- 
 teristics of divinity. The next step was a com- 
 parison of visible objects with those ideas : the 
 last step was the formation of images. Hence 
 some of the modern Hindoos say: " We do not 
 worship these images ; they only remind us of the 
 nature of Bramho." Hence also the atheistical 
 sectaries among them trace these emblematical 
 images to the ideas that gave them birth, which 
 when they find to be mere non-entity, they stop 
 there, and say, " There is no God/' And " God 
 is that which we form an idea of in our minds," 
 say others.' 
 
 These extracts will serve to show the manner in 
 which the preacher has to combat and repel the 
 arguments of the heathen ; and it is universally 
 the case, that the simplest truths of the Bible will 
 stand the test of all the force which they can 
 bring against them ; so that after Brahmins have 
 been using all their powers of sophistry and logic 
 to controvert the speaker, the whole assembly will 
 unanimously exclaim, " These words are true, and 
 none can gainsay them." I have known the na- 
 tives even to rejoice and clap their hands, when a 
 Brahmin has been signally defeated by the speaker. 
 In fact, every thing in India unites in testifying 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 327. 
 
 that the period is fast approaching when the Re- 
 deemer shall go forth majestically in the Gospel 
 car, and constrain his enemies to submit them- 
 selves unto him. We are prone to look only at 
 outward appearances, and thus draw false conclu- 
 sions respecting the success of missionary under- 
 takings. But, as the Rev. J. Edwards of Andover, 
 in the United States, has justly observed in an 
 eloquent address at the anniversary of the Boston 
 Missionary Society, 
 
 "We are no competent judges of our success, 
 when engaged in a work connected with the sal- 
 vation of a world. We look only on outward ap- 
 pearances, and that at its very commencement, 
 and through a glass darkly. There was a time, 
 and it was the time when the Captain of our sal- 
 vation was conquering earth and hell, that men 
 said he had no success. Every man forsook him 
 and fled. But the eye which flashes through eter- 
 nity saw success, the greatness of which will be 
 celebrated in heaven, by multitudes which no man 
 can number, in songs of triumph, rising higher 
 and higher, and to every heart growing sweeter 
 and sweeter, to everlasting ages. 
 
 " When the missionaries in the islands of the 
 South Sea, after fifteen years' hard labour, were 
 driven off, and obliged to escape for their lives, 
 even they cried, ' No success.' And all Christen- 
 dom echoed ' No success/ Now they see, and we 
 see, and all Christendom sees, that the seed which 
 they sowed, and for fifteen years watered with 
 
328 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS, 
 
 their tears, was, at the very time when it appeared 
 to men to be lost, vegetating for an autumnal har- 
 vest. Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground 
 and die, it abideth alone ; but if it die it bringeth 
 forth much fruit. The bread which they cast upon 
 the waters, and which we, in opposition to the 
 declaration of God, said was lost, they have already 
 found. 
 
 " So it may be in other cases. The husbandman 
 has patience during the whole of seed time. He 
 does not expect to reap, till the harvest. Now the 
 harvest, said Christ, is the end of the world. Let 
 a man continue to labour, because Christ com- 
 mands it, and with increasing diligence, let ap- 
 pearances be what they may, to the close of life ; 
 and in the harvest he shall return with rejoicing, 
 bringing his sheaves with him. 
 
 " A missionary, from love to Christ, leaves his 
 native land, and goes to the heathen. With much 
 toil and labour, he learns the language. He 
 translates, and prints the Bible, preaches the Gos- 
 pel, collects missionary schools, visits families, cir- 
 culates religious tracts, and dies ; the world says, 
 it may be Christians say, and perhaps he says, 
 with no success. 
 
 " After he is dead, a man finds a tract, which 
 this missionary, in one of his excursions, left in a 
 native village. He reads it, and rises from the 
 perusal convinced of sin, of righteousness, and of 
 judgment. He wanders over the wide-spreading 
 desolation, weary and heavy laden, but finds none 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 329 
 
 to give him rest. At length he meets a Bible, 
 which this missionary translated, and which he 
 sent to a certain family shortly before he died. He 
 reads it, and there he finds ' the Lamb of God, 
 that taketh away the sins of the world.' And be- 
 lieving on him, he finds rest to his soul. He has- 
 tens back, and tells the wonderful story of God 
 manifest in the flesh, to his listening family. He 
 preaches him to the neighbourhood, to the town, 
 and throughout all that part of the country in 
 which he lives. He becomes himself a missionary, 
 spends his days in making known Christ and 
 him crucified, and when he dies, may say of mul- 
 titudes, as Paul did, ' I have begotten you through 
 the Gospel/ 
 
 " Will they say in heaven, where they speak of 
 things in their proper connexion, the first missi- 
 onary had no success ? No. There he that sows, 
 and he that reaps, rejoice together. 
 
 " I say then, we ought to labour, and with in- 
 creasing diligence to the end of life, to make 
 known the Gospel to every creature, whether we 
 are permitted, in this world, to witness the success, 
 or not. 
 
 " But, we are permitted to witness success and 
 success so glorious, that it has already been cele- 
 brated with ecstacy of joy, by every being in the 
 universe that has heard of it, and rejoices over him 
 that repenteth. 
 
 " It is but a few years since the present system 
 of missionary efforts began. Now you may wit- 
 
330 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 ness, on the first Monday of every month, members 
 of thousands of churches, in countries which ex- 
 tend half round the globe, assembled at the throne 
 of mercy, having agreed together touching the 
 thing that they should ask, and uniting in suppli- 
 cation that it may be done for them. And he who 
 hath said, ' Ask, and it shall be given/ is mani- 
 festing his faithfulness. 
 
 " Even now, almost at the very commencement 
 of their askings, and attending it with correspon- 
 dent efforts, you may witness, set up in heathen 
 countries, more than forty printing presses, all 
 manned, and in vigorous operation, furnishing Bi- 
 bles, school books, religious tracts, and various 
 other productions for the literary, moral, and reli- 
 gious improvement of the heathen world. 
 
 " You may see more than 250 missionary sta- 
 tions, at most of which are regularly organized 
 Christian churches, containing, in the whole, many 
 thousands of hopeful converts from the darkness 
 of pagan idolatry. 
 
 "On the distant shores of Otaheite, and its 
 neighbouring islands, where, forty years ago, the 
 name of Jesus was not known, I can show you, 
 every Sabbath, numerous congregations, averaging 
 more than 1000 souls each, all bowing before Je- 
 hovah, and rendering united thanks for his ' un- 
 speakable gift.' 
 
 "As you pass through their villages, at the 
 rising of the sun, you may witness numbers re- 
 turning from the forests and groves, who have 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 331 
 
 been out to pray to their Father who seeth in se- 
 cret. And you can often find scarce ten families 
 in a village, who do not unite daily in family de- 
 votion. 
 
 " In that small portion of the world, you may 
 count not less than 14,000 persons who can, in 
 their own tongue, read the Bible ; and more than 
 7000 who can, with the pen, transact the ordinary 
 business of life. 
 
 "You may go to their Sabbath school, and 
 there, at an annual meeting, witness thousands of 
 children. And as they sing ' Hosanna to the Son 
 of David/ you may see the tear drop down the 
 cheek of a hundred parents, as their hearts swell 
 with emotions too big for utterance, in view of 
 what the Gospel has done for their children. And 
 as you hear the deep groan break through the as- 
 sembly, ask, ' What is the matter ? ' And, with 
 streaming eyes, one will tell you, ' Oh if the mis- 
 sionaries had only come here a little sooner, I too 
 should have had children to attend the Sabbath 
 school ; but before they came, when Satan reigned, 
 and we were all in darkness, I killed them. 7 
 
 " You may see parents around the communion 
 table, melting in contrition at the dying love of 
 Jesus ; and parents too who have, with their own 
 hands, before they had the Gospel, killed two, 
 three, and in some cases, four of their own children. 
 Now, were they living, most joyfully would they 
 lead them to Him who took little children in his 
 
332 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 arms, and blessed them, and said, ' Of such is the 
 kingdom of heaven. 
 
 " You may go, in that country, to a missionary 
 meeting, and find collected together 7000 people, 
 bearing their offerings of joy and thankfulness to 
 the Lord of hosts. 
 
 " You may see the fond parent move with rapid 
 step, at the birth of his infant, to enrol his name, 
 as a member of the missionary society. 'You,' 
 he says, as he looks on his offspring, with feelings 
 which no parent born in Christendom ever knew, 
 ' if it had not been for the Gospel, might have now 
 been killed. And as the Gospel saves you, it is 
 no more than right that you should do something 
 that it may save others/ And very careful is he 
 to pay the child's missionary tax every year, until 
 the child is old enough to earn, and pay it himself. 
 
 " In short, there is throughout that country a 
 moral renovation. 
 
 " The wilderness and solitary places are glad ; 
 the desert rejoices, and blossoms as the rose. The 
 eyes of the blind are opened, and the ears of the 
 deaf unstopped ; the lame man leaps as a hart, 
 and the tongue of the dumb sings. A highway is 
 there, ' the way of holiness ;' and the ransomed of 
 the Lord are already returning, and coming home 
 to Zion with singing. Joy and gladness are found 
 among them; while sorrow and sighing flee away." 
 
CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 " When from the hills the torrents swift and strong 
 Deluge whole fields, and sweep the trees along, 
 Through ruined moles the rushing flood resounds, 
 O'erwhelms the bridge, and bursts the lofty bounds : 
 The yellow harvests of the ripen'd year, 
 And flatten'd vineyards, one sad waste appear. /f 
 While clouds descend in sluicy sheets of rain, 
 And all the labours of mankind are vain. POPE. 
 
 INUNDATION AT HOWRAH GREAT LOSS OF LIVES 
 
 NATIVES FLEEING OBLIGED TO LEAVE THE VILLAGE 
 
 MUSSULMANS CALL UPON ALLAH RETIRE IN AN- 
 GER ILLUSTRATION OF SCRIPTURE TAKE A BOAT 
 
 AND GO IN SEARCH OF SUFFERERS RESCUE SOME 
 
 FROM DESTRUCTION ACTIVITY OF A MAGISTRATE 
 
 HISTORY OF SUKHARREE, A NATIVE CONVERT HIS 
 
 HAPPY DEATH. 
 
 DURING the rainy seasons, it oftentimes hap- 
 pens that a great portion of the low land in Ben- 
 gal is completely inundated, and sometimes these 
 irruptions of water are very sudden in their ap- 
 proaches, when a great deal of property is de- 
 stroyed, and many lives necessarily fall a sacrifice 
 to the overwhelming flood. Such an inundation 
 took place at Howrah at the latter end of Septem- 
 
334 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 ber, or beginning of October, 1823, in consequence 
 of the bunds or embankments of the river, which 
 ran about twenty miles to the westward of us, 
 giving way, and the bed of the channel being 
 much higher than the level of the country in our 
 neighbourhood, the waters came rushing down 
 with prodigious force, sweeping all the cattle and 
 moveables before them. An immense number of 
 lives were lost, and all the mud-built habitations 
 of the natives gave way, after the water had sur- 
 rounded them for a few hours. The roads were 
 crowded w r ith natives, wading breast high in water, 
 with their little stock of clothes in baskets or 
 boxes on their heads, many of them pushing large 
 earthen pans, in which provisions, &c. were placed, 
 before them. Sometimes these would come in 
 contact with some substance either above or be- 
 neath the surface of the water, when, being shat- 
 tered, their contents would sink or be scattered by 
 the stream, on which occasions the most pitiful 
 cries would be uttered by those who were thus 
 despoiled. I was much interested in observing 
 the destruction of one of these frail barks, in 
 which a handsome cat was seated on the packages 
 of rice, &c. It was gently gliding on the surface 
 of the water, being pushed forward by a very in- 
 teresting female, evidently of the higher order of 
 natives, when it suddenly foundered, for no sooner 
 had the earthen pan struck the stump of a clus- 
 ter of bamboos, than it was shivered to atoms, 
 and all its contents washed away, the cat at the 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 335 
 
 same time swimming off towards the jungle with 
 all her might. The woman appeared for a moment 
 to be paralysed ; but observing the flight of the cat, 
 she left the contents of her handhee to the mercy 
 of the waters, and dropping a small bundle which she 
 carried on her head, swam after the cat. After a few 
 minutes' chase, the animal took refuge in a small 
 tree, to the body of which her afflicted mistress 
 clang, vainly attempting to ascend, in order to re- 
 cover her favourite, at the same time weeping and 
 crying in the most piteous manner. I sent one of my 
 servants to recover her bundle, and what he could 
 collect of the scattered contents of the handhee, 
 and then to endeavour to restore the cat to the 
 poor woman, as she seemed to prize that far be- 
 yond all her goods and chattels. After a great 
 deal of manoeuvring, he at last succeeded in 
 shaking puss into the water from the end of a 
 bough to which she had retreated, and whither he 
 could not follow her ; when her delighted mistress 
 siezed her with rapture, and was quite consoled 
 when I presented her with a stronger vessel to 
 bear her little treasure before her. From five to 
 six thousand persons passed my house in the course 
 of two days thus laden, and many of them very 
 aged, infirm, or sick. In my compound the water 
 at first made but little way, as the ground was 
 higher than the surrounding country ; but on the 
 second morning it rose three feet in a few hours, 
 and at length entered the house in furious torrents, 
 though the floor was four feet above the surface 
 
336 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 of the ground, as the house was built on arched 
 flues. Then we were obliged to flee. I sent for 
 boats, and in an hour's time the young gentlemen, 
 servants, self, and furniture were on our voyage to 
 Gusserah, which being more elevated, escaped the 
 flood. A house was there vacant, which I imme- 
 diately entered, and found it far more convenient 
 than the one I was obliged to quit, excepting that 
 it was at a greater distance from the chapel. 
 
 At the time the water was rising, a mosque 
 which stood near my dwelling, was surrounded by 
 about fifty Mussulmans, who, beating on their 
 breasts, incessantly cried, ' Oh Allah, Allah ! Oh 
 Allah ! And it was not until the water reached 
 their necks that they retreated ; when their devo- 
 tion turned to wrath against their Prophet, and 
 many were the angry speeches made. I gave them 
 some tracts, and conversed with them on the folly 
 of their proceedings. Some of them were so full 
 of wrath that they tore the tracts to atoms : others 
 received them cordially. During the time they 
 were calling upon Allah, I was reminded of our 
 Lord's exhortation : (t Use not vain repetitions, as 
 the heathen do, for they think that they shall be 
 heard for their much speaking;" and could but 
 think of Elijah's ironical address to Baal's wor- 
 shippers : " Cry aloud, for he is a god ; either he 
 is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is on a journey, 
 or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awak- 
 ened. And it came to pass, when mid-day was 
 past, and they prophesied until the time of the 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 337 
 
 offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was 
 neither voice nor any to answer, nor any that re- 
 garded." Many were the absurd ideas respecting 
 the cause of the flood, which the natives enter- 
 tained. Some said, Krishnu had again assumed 
 the appearance of a fish, and was lashing the 
 waters with his tail. Others attributed it entirely 
 to the power of the old fakeetf living beneath the 
 great tree, of whom I have spoken, as some coo- 
 lies had treated him with disrespect a few days 
 before. This afforded an opportunity of illustrating 
 the inconsistencies of idolatry, and of enforcing 
 the claims of the Gospel. 
 
 My good friend, Mr. Guthrie, suggested the 
 expediency of taking a boat, and going out into 
 the villages and jungles, to ascertain if there were 
 any poor creatures unable to escape. This I im- 
 mediately acceded to, and we took a large dinghey 
 and explored the country for some miles around, 
 and rejoiced in being able to deliver some from 
 imminent peril. As we approached the place 
 where a few cottages had stood beneath the shade 
 of a grove of trees, a feeble voice was heard crying 
 for help. It proceeded from a poor old man, who 
 with his wife had climbed upon the roof of their 
 hut, which had fallen, the mud walls having be- 
 come saturated, and so had given way. Even on 
 this elevation they were nearly chin deep in water, 
 and must soon have perished ; and so exhausted 
 were they, that it required great efforts to restore 
 them to animation. They were too infirm and 
 Q 
 
338 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 weak to swim for their lives, as others had done. 
 Most of the natives are very expert in the art of 
 swimming ; indeed, some of them may almost be 
 said to be amphibious, passing so much time 
 morning and evening in the tanks or rivers. 
 
 Not a great way farther, we came to the prostrate 
 dwelling of a younger man, who was also seated 
 on the roof of his fallen cottage. But no intreaties 
 we urged could induce him to come into the boat, 
 as he said all his property, consisting of some skins 
 of oil, and a box with a few rupees lay beneath the 
 ruins of his house ; and he had rather lose his life 
 than these. As he was able to save himself by 
 flight whenever he chose, we were not alarmed on 
 his behalf, and left him to guard his valuables. 
 
 It was very curious to observe pariah dogs, 
 jackals, Brahminy bulls, and other animals, all 
 swimming together, to reach the higher ground 
 for safety ; whilst many natives, holding their bul- 
 locks by the tails, were drawn along after them. 
 A great many cattle perished, and great loss was 
 sustained by all the farmers around. 
 
 The snakes took refuge in the trees, and proved 
 very serious foes to many who sought the same 
 shelter, as several persons died of wounds received 
 from these venomous reptiles. One poor fellow 
 had climbed into a mangoe tree, and a large snake 
 had twined itself round the body of the tree below 
 him. He was terribly alarmed; and was not a 
 little delighted, when as we approached the tree, 
 his fellow refugee glided into the water and disap- 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 339 
 
 peared. He came with us, and proved very useful 
 in directing our course through the bamboo jun- 
 gles. By the activity of the magistrate in ordering 
 channels to be opened for the retreat of the wa- 
 ters, the country in a very short time was drained, 
 when a mournful sight presented itself. All the 
 native huts had disappeared, and the whole neigh- 
 bourhood seemed to be a deserted, dreary morass. 
 I was much astonished at the rapidity with which 
 the natives returned, and the short time in which 
 all the cottages and huts were rebuilt. 
 
 It was apprehended that from the decomposition 
 of vegetable substance, a mephitic air would be 
 engendered, which might prove very destructive to 
 health. This in some measure was the case ; and 
 an epidemic fever raged for some weeks after the 
 parties had become settled in their new habitations. 
 Many of the puckah-built houses of Europeans 
 were totally unfit for habitation for a long time 
 afterwards, as the water having entered the flues 
 caused a dampness in the walls, which was highly 
 dangerous to those who slept in the rooms ; and 
 several persons at Howrah and Sulkea were seized 
 with aguish intermittent fevers in consequence, 
 which in some instances proved fatal. 
 
 Amongst the number of those who lost their 
 all, and were obliged to seek relief from the cha- 
 rity of others, was a poor washerman, named 
 Sukharee. This man had been injudiciously 
 persuaded by a gentleman in whose employ he 
 was, to become a Christian, whilst at the same time 
 Q2 
 
340 
 
 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 he knew not his own character, nor the need of 
 Christ as a Saviour. Having unthinkingly and 
 from interested motives taken up the profession, 
 as might naturally be expected, he was not solici- 
 tous of adorning it by a consistent and holy de- 
 portment. He took to drinking strong liquors, 
 and eating intoxicating drugs ; frequently quarrel- 
 ling with his wife, and abusing every one with 
 whom he came in contact. His master expelled 
 him his service, and for some time Sukharee led 
 a most vicious and dissipated life. However, his 
 former master coming to live at Howrah, brought 
 Sukharee with him, but with strange capricious- 
 ness of mind, soon left the place, and proceeded 
 to Beerbhoom, leaving Sukharee behind him! 
 Here he continued to live the same beastly life, 
 and was often found lying intoxicated in the ba- 
 zaars or streets. Some few months before the 
 inundation took place, Paunchoo, the native Chris- 
 tian preacher, paid me a visit, after which he went 
 to see a piece of ground belonging to him at Sul- 
 kea. While he was on the way, a person told him 
 that a washerman lived near who was a Christian, 
 and shewed him the house at his request. The 
 moment he entered the house, it began to rain. He 
 availed himself of that circumstance to speak to 
 him on religious subjects, and sing and pray. This 
 displeased Sukharee exceedingly ; and he reviled 
 Christians very grossly. Against Paunchoo also 
 he was very violent, accounting him an enemy for 
 the unwelcome truths he told him, (Gal. iv. 16.) 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 341 
 
 He found occasion, however, to alter his opinion 
 afterwards, "when he came to himself," (Lukexv. 
 17,) verifying those declarations of scripture: 
 " Faithful are the wounds of a friend ;" and " He 
 that rebuketh a man, afterwards shall find more 
 favour than he that flattereth with the tongue." 
 (Prov. xxvii. 6 ; xxviii. 23.) 
 
 Though the moral character of Sukharee had 
 not been altered by his bearing the Christian 
 name, yet by the unerring wisdom of Providence, 
 it was overruled so as to become one link in the 
 chain of events, which should lead to his conversion 
 and salvation, , 
 
 When the inundation had driven him from the 
 place, Sukharee went over to Paunchoo's house 
 at Chitpoor, in company with his wife and Bag- 
 chee, a barber. He received them into his house 
 very readily, on seeing their distressed and mise- 
 rable situation, and assigned them a room for their 
 residence. They represented to him, that they 
 had been plunged into great distress, having no 
 place to dwell in, and that all their property had 
 been swept away by the flood ; and that being 
 without food and clothing, and indebted to many 
 persons, they had come to him for protection. 
 Paunchoo promised to afford them all the assis- 
 tance his slender circumstances would allow, and 
 gave them six rupees for their present occasions. 
 In the evening he assembled them all together, 
 and improved the afflictive dispensation by preach- 
 ing to them from the history of Noah. Mr. Penney 
 
342 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 becoming acquainted with these particulars, gave 
 
 them six rupees more, on which they lived for 
 
 some time. Sukharee worked with great diligence 
 
 in his occupation as a washerman, " studying to 
 
 be quiet, and to do his own business, and to work 
 
 with his own hands, that he might walk honestly 
 
 toward them that are without, and that he might 
 
 have lack of nothing." (1 Thess. iv. 11, 12.) He 
 
 was enabled to discharge most of his debts by 
 
 his assiduity ; following the apostolic exhortation, 
 
 "Owe no man anything, but to love one another." 
 
 (Rom. xvii. 8.) The whole day he was employed 
 
 in his business ; and in the evenings and mornings 
 
 went to worship at the houses of Paunchoo, and 
 
 the Rev. Eustace Carey. The former frequently 
 
 entered into religious conversations with him, and 
 
 endeavoured to communicate that knowledge to 
 
 him which is essentially requisite to salvation. 
 
 Before this, he knew not how to pray; but he 
 
 learned now to pi-ay unto Him who heareth the 
 
 desire of the humble, and is nigh unto them that 
 
 are of a broken heart, (Psa. x. 17 ; xxxiv. 18.) and 
 
 to pour out his supplications before Him who 
 
 looketh to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit. 
 
 (Psa. Ixi. 8 ; Isa. Ixii. 2.) This evident change in 
 
 the conduct of Sukharee was viewed with delight, 
 
 in the hope, especially, that it was the effect of an 
 
 inward operative principle. 
 
 After many months had been thus spent, Suk- 
 haree was attacked by several diseases in June, 
 1824, which daily increased in strength. At first 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 343 
 
 he had severe fever, next the spleen, and then the 
 dysentery : by these disorders he was much weak- 
 ened and reduced. He went, notwithstanding, to 
 Mr. J.'s house in the Circular Road one day, to 
 see Mr. Carey, who was himself ill there. On his 
 returning home, Paunchoo asked him if he had 
 not become worse, in consequence of having gone 
 so far? He replied, "No, I have not become 
 worse : Mr. Carey is a dear friend to me, and I 
 have been to him, not knowing whether I should 
 ever see his face again/' 
 
 His diseases were daily confirmed ; yet he was 
 not careful to take medicines ; and those which he 
 took, being simples, as fruits and leaves, were of 
 no effect. And when Paunchoo desired him to 
 take some English medicines which he had with 
 him, he said : " I am not able, nor shall I be able, 
 for I am obliged to be always warm ; I only desire 
 you to call a native doctor." A native surgeon 
 was accordingly called, who performed an opera- 
 tion on the spleen, by perforating the diseased part 
 with a hot iron pin, which proved its cure. His 
 fever, however, increased ; so much so as to make 
 him unable to work any longer. From this time 
 he derived his support from the benefactions of 
 benevolent individuals. 
 
 His spiritual improvement was not neglected. 
 Paunchoo often conversed with him on religious 
 subjects; apprised him of death and eternity, the 
 miseries of unbelievers, and the happiness of those 
 that die in the Lord, (Rev. xiv. 13.) and endea- 
 
344 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 voured to ascertain the state of his mind. He once 
 asked him, from the words of our Lord : " O, 
 brother Sukharee, what shall it profit a man, if he 
 shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul ? 
 or what shall a man give in exchange for his 
 soul ?" (Mark viii. 36, 37.) Sukharee answered : 
 " The world is nothing ; all things are fruitless : it 
 is all dark when the eyes are closed, and this 
 world is an enemy's country, full of lying, deceit, 
 &c. I do not wish to live here : I hope to go unto 
 the Lord, and enjoy eternal felicity." Paunchoo 
 inquired : " Have you any merit or holiness by 
 means of which you shall enjoy eternal happiness 
 in the kingdom of the Lord ?" Sukharee replied : 
 " I am without merit or holiness, and worthy of the 
 deepest hell; but the Lord Jesus Christ is my 
 Lord and friend, both here and hereafter : he has 
 borne the weight of my sins, and died for my sake : 
 by believing in his death, I shall enjoy eternal 
 felicity in his kingdom." Another day it was in- 
 quired : " Brother Sukharee, how will you cross 
 the ocean of the world ?" when he said, " I shall 
 cross that ocean by making Christ's death a vessel 
 for my transport." Such was his faith and confi- 
 dence ; and he discovered much spirituality in his 
 prayers and confessions. 
 
 Towards the latter part of his life, the mind of 
 Sukharee was disordered for a short period, through 
 the power of his diseases. He did not, however, 
 continue long in this deplorable state of insanity ; 
 he recovered the exercise of his reason, as he ap- 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 345 
 
 preached to the close of his life. Like the setting 
 sun, that emerges from the clouds which obscured 
 his resplendence, and then displaying his glories 
 for a moment, disappears beneath the horizon, so 
 did Sukharee depart in triumph. On the night in 
 which he died, (Sept. 25, 1824.) calling for Paun- 
 choo, he told him that he desired to eat something ; 
 which being brought, he ate with great pleasure. 
 Paunchoo then looked at him, and perceiving from 
 the manner in which he spoke, and the cold which 
 had settled in his breast, that he would leave this 
 world in a few minutes, asked Sukharee : " In 
 what manner can your salvation be effected ?" He 
 replied, "Through the death of Christ." He asked 
 him again: " Is Christ your Saviour?" Sukharee 
 answered, " Yes." Paunchoo inquired further-* 
 " Do you love Christ?" " Whom shall I love,'' 
 said Sukharee, " if I do not love Christ ? Whom 
 have I besides ? and to whom else shall I go ? He 
 is my Lord and my God." Observing such pleas- 
 ing testimonies of his faith, Paunchoo called toge- 
 ther the brethren and sisters, and sung this hymn : 
 
 " Salvation thro' the death of Christ." 
 When the singing of the hymn was concluded, 
 Sukharee became speechless : he made signs, there- 
 fore, with his hands, pointing upward, that he was 
 going to the Lord ; and imitating the manner in 
 which a book is read, signified that the scriptures 
 should be read to him. Paunchoo read the 14th 
 chapter of John, which Sukharee heard with great 
 attention. Paunchoo prayed after reading; and 
 Q3 
 
346 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 j ust as the prayer was ended, the soul of Sukharee 
 departed from its tabernacle of flesh in peace. The 
 next morning Mr. Penney went to Chitpore, and 
 made arrangements for his decent burial. Prior to 
 the corpse being conveyed to the grave, they sang 
 the hymn commencing with 
 
 " He who yielded once his breath, 
 Sinful man to save from death, 
 O, my soul, forget him not." 
 
 The fifteenth chapter of the First Epistle to the 
 Corinthians was also read, and a prayer offered. 
 The people, both Mussulmans and Hindoos, who 
 had assembled to witness the funeral, were much 
 surprised at this, and said, " If any one of us die, 
 we do not have singing and prayer in this man- 
 ner : the Christians' ways are better than ours." 
 The corpse was then conveyed to the place of in- 
 terment, and committed to the earth, with singing 
 and prayer again, there to lie till the dawning of 
 the resurrection morn, when we hope Christ will 
 raise it a glorious body, like unto his own. 
 
CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 " O, pity that this world, a noble ruin, 
 Well worth recovery, should still abas'd 
 In ruin lie, a mutilated thing, 
 Its goodliness departed ; that fall'n man 
 Immortal, though corrupt, should yet remain 
 Prone ; in the very depths of wretchedness, 
 Crush'd in the cramping gripe of superstition, 
 Crouching in dust beneath her ponderous march, 
 Darkness her atmosphere, and ignorance 
 Her throne. Who aims to shake its solid base, 
 May boast of noble deed ; he stands confessed 
 The hero of the world, the friend of God." 
 
 LAWSON. 
 
 BROJOMOHON DEBOSHYO HIS ARGUMENTS AGAINST 
 
 THE WORSHIP OF IMAGES -STRIKING ADDRESS TO 
 
 HIS FELLOW COUNTRYMEN. 
 
 IN the month of May, 1820, a valuable tract 
 against the prevailing system of Hindoo idolatry, 
 was published by a respectable Hindoo, named 
 Brojomohon Deboshyo, who lived but a very few 
 months after its publication. Rajah Rammohun 
 Roy, the celebrated, learned, and respectable 
 Brahmin, now in this country, has given the fol- 
 lowing particulars to the translator of the tract 
 concerning its author. 
 
348 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 " Brojornohon's father was a person of respecta- 
 bility, and was once employed as dewan by Mr. 
 Middleton, one of the late residents at the court 
 of Lucknow. Brojomohon was a good Bengalee 
 scholar, and had some knowledge of Sanscrit. He 
 had made considerable progress in the study of 
 the English language, and was also well versed 
 in astronomy ; and at the time of his death, was 
 engaged in translating Ferguson's Astronomy into 
 Bengalee, for the School-Book Society. He was a 
 follower of the Vedant doctrine, in so far as to be- 
 lieve God to be a pure spirit ; but he denied that 
 the human soul was an emanation from God : and 
 he admired very much the morality of the New 
 Testament. Being suddenly taken ill of a bilious 
 fever, on the 6th of April last, he begged his friend 
 Rammohun Roy to procure him the aid of a 
 European physician, which request was imme- 
 diately complied with; but it was too late: the 
 medicine administered did not produce the desired 
 effect, and he died the very same night, aged 
 thirty-seven years." 
 
 While all who are engaged in promoting the 
 true welfare of India, must deplore the apparently 
 premature death of this valuable labourer in the 
 same cause, we cannot but be thankful to Divine 
 Providence that he was spared until he had com- 
 pleted this work, which is so admirably calculated 
 to subserve the interests of truth. The following 
 extracts from the work will shew the cogency of 
 the author's reasoning, and the keenness of his 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 349 
 
 satire. It boldly commences with the following 
 interrogation ? 
 
 " I would ask those Pundits, and their followers, 
 who are opposed to the worship of the supreme 
 God, and devoted to the service of images : ' Why 
 do you make yourselves the laughing-stock of all 
 sensible men, by considering inanimate images, 
 which are devoid of sense, motion, and the power 
 of speech, as the omniscient, omnipresent, and 
 Almighty God ? And why do you expose your- 
 selves to the scorn and contempt of all the world, 
 by regarding such absurd practices, as playing 
 with the fingers on the mouth, beating one's sides, 
 snapping the fingers, stamping with the foot on 
 the ground, clapping with the hands, singing ex- 
 ceedingly licentious and obscene songs, and bend- 
 ing and moving the body in various disgusting 
 ways, as spiritual worship ?' 
 
 " If you say : The worship of images is enjoined 
 in the Shasters ; accordingly we follow only these 
 injunctions by worshipping images. Thus it is 
 written in the Shasters : ' Those who consider the 
 image of a god as a mere stone will go to hell/ 
 And again : ' If an image is made properly, then 
 the god will dwell in it.' 
 
 " I reply : The very same Poorans, in which 
 these authorities in favour of the worship of images 
 are to be found, contain also passages in which 
 such worship is entirely reprobated, viz. ' All those 
 ignorant persons who consider God as an image 
 made of earth, metal, stone, or wood, only bring 
 
350 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 upon themselves bodily misery, and do not obtain 
 salvation.' Again: 'A person who through igno- 
 rance, forsaking me, the all-pervading Spirit, wor- 
 ships an image, does nothing but offer a sacrifice 
 upon ashes/ Accordingly I see that the Shasters 
 are at variance with each other. 
 
 " If you say : It has been proved by indubitable 
 facts, that, after the performance of the Pran- 
 protishtha,* the image is really animated by God, 
 and that which rests upon such evidence cannot 
 be rejected. 
 
 " I reply : Both you and we see clearly, that 
 the properties of stone, earth, and wood, which the 
 image had before the Pranprotishtha, it retains also 
 afterwards ; that, as the flies and mosquitoes were 
 before playing on it from head to foot, so they 
 do also afterwards ; that, as previously to the 
 performance of the Pranprotishtha, the image would 
 break to pieces, if it fell on the ground, so it would 
 also afterwards ; and that, as before it had not the 
 power of eating, sleeping, and moving, so it is also 
 destitute of this power afterwards. How then can 
 it be proved that the image is animated by 
 God ? The truth is, that, having heard from your 
 infancy various stories of such a supposed anima- 
 tion of images, you imagine at one time you see an 
 image laughing, and at other time you perceive 
 grief expressed in its countenance ; like the people 
 
 * The Pranprotishtha is a consecration of the newly purchased 
 idol, by the Brahmins, when the Hindoos believe the Deity takes 
 up his residence in the image. 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 351 
 
 called Garrows, who, because they have heard so 
 from their infancy, consider the cat as a godhead, 
 and see many wonderful things in that animal. It 
 follows from hence, that men entertain such absurd 
 imaginations, because their understanding is per- 
 verted by what they hear from their infancy. It 
 is singular, that, though we can never see an image 
 laugh, as you imagine it to do, our perceptions 
 agree with yours in all other things. But what 
 can be more shameful than that men, endowed 
 with the faculty of judging what is profitable or 
 unprofitable to them, should pray for children, 
 riches, and deliverance from sickness, to such as 
 have not the power of seeing or moving, and are 
 destitute of all feeling; and should present gifts 
 to such a senseless block, in order to obtain the 
 object of their wishes : more especially as you see 
 how many who offer these bribes, never see their 
 wishes realized? Nevertheless, with a view of 
 performing an act of worship, you vow again and 
 again to present such offerings, with whatever 
 expense and trouble it may be attended. 
 
 " Further, if you say : All these gods are not 
 different beings ; they are in reality but one being, 
 which only appeared in different shapes : 
 
 " I answer : If all these different gods, who had 
 different shapes, dwelling places, wives, and chil- 
 dren, pursuits, lusts, passions, &c., and who car- 
 ried on wars and concluded peace with each other, 
 can be but one being, why should not also water- 
 pots, carpets, men, beasts, &c., yea, all things in the 
 
352 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 world, be but one thing ? It is, therefore, impos- 
 sible, unless you renounce the use of your eyes, 
 ears, and all other senses, to consider many things 
 as one, whilst they differ from each other in form, 
 colour, dwelling place, pursuits, and actions. The 
 truth is, all these gods were born, and are subject 
 to death ; and are, in common with ourselves, and 
 beasts, birds, and all other things, of a finite dura- 
 tion. The only difference is this, that our life lasts 
 but a short time, and that they continue to exist a 
 little longer ; as it is written : < Brtihmo, Vishnoo, 
 Shivo, and other gods, together with all living 
 creatures, will undergo destruction : it is therefore 
 necessary to act so as to obtain final happiness.' 
 Like men and beasts, they are affected with lust, 
 anger, covetousness, and delusion, and continually 
 engaged in wars and quarrels with each other. 
 One of the fictitious Bruhmos, (Gonesh,) which are 
 revered by the advocates for image worship, had 
 his head cut off at the time of his birth, and after- 
 wards lost his teeth in a battle ; another Bruhmo's 
 (Shivo's) blood was shed in a battle, and he be- 
 came senseless; and another (Krishno) was de- 
 prived of his life by the deadly dart of a hunter : 
 another (Soorjyo) lost his teeth by a severe blow on 
 his cheeks ; and as you consider him as toothless 
 till now, you offer to him pounded rice : one ( Doorga) 
 died in consequence of a curse and of grief. But 
 if, nevertheless, you declare that which has been 
 clearly stated of the birth, death, beheading, rage, 
 envy, &c., of the gods, to be merely an illusion, 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 353 
 
 why should we not also consider the birth, death, 
 lusts, anger, &c., of men, beasts, fowls, &c., as 
 mere illusion? For if we judge of things as they 
 are in reality, the whole world is merely an 
 illusion effected by the Maya. It is therefore 
 altogether illogical to consider the desires and 
 sufferings of one body as illusion, and to regard 
 the sufferings and affections of other bodies as 
 real. 
 
 " If you say, that by worshipping these images, 
 many have obtained great power, and this power 
 is still exercised, how therefore can their divinity 
 be called into doubt ? 
 
 " I reply : How is it to be wondered at, that 
 such stupid persons as can consider a block of 
 stone, a heap of earth, and a tree of the forest, as 
 God, are persuaded by a fellow who wears long 
 matted hair, and has a broad mark on his fore- 
 head, turns his eyes in an unnatural manner, and 
 keeps his hands and feet in unnatural positions, 
 to regard such a deceiver as possessed of super- 
 natural powers? These deceivers gain among 
 the ignorant the reputation, that all things must 
 come to pass according to their word, and that 
 they are endowed with the knowledge of what is 
 past and future ; and nevertheless these foolish 
 people see clearly, that all these deceivers are 
 ignorant of a great deal of what is going on in 
 their own houses, and in their nearest neighbour- 
 hood ; or though they themselves, or their friends 
 and nearest relations, are sometimes greatly afflict- 
 
354 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 ed by sickness or poverty, yet they are unable to 
 deliver them from their sickness and poverty by 
 their words or charms. But when such impos- 
 tors attempt to play their tricks with sensible 
 men, their imposition is immediately discovered, 
 and meets with the treatment which it deserves. 
 Do you not see clearly, that in Calcutta and its 
 neighbourhood, where there are more well in- 
 structed men than elsewhere, such deceits are on 
 that account not very commonly practised ? Thus 
 in the neighbourhood of Calcutta, very few per- 
 sons are to be found, who pretend to deliver men 
 from the effects of witchcraft, and to drive out 
 evil spirits ; but in the forest of Vishnoopoor, the 
 eastern parts of Bengal, and in Assam, where 
 ignorance prevails, all these impostors are held 
 in great reputation ; and in all houses wonderful 
 stories of witches and spirits are told. The super- 
 natural powers of such persons as are reputed 
 holy by image worshippers may easily be put to 
 the test : tell only one of these persons to shew 
 his power in your presence ; then the matter will 
 be decided at once. You yourself say, that 
 Bruhmo, Vishnoo, and Shivo, are not able to 
 alter the order of nature; nevertheless, you be- 
 lieve, that such a reputed saint took away the 
 life of a man, and did not allow the sun to rise. 
 God has given you a human form ; therefore 
 think and act also like men. It is indeed me- 
 lancholy to see persons believe, that men can 
 act contrary to the laws established by God. 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 355 
 
 Moreover, why do you not consider that those 
 among you who are still more ignorant than you, 
 are devoted to the worship of various idols which 
 you do not respect, and pray unto them on all 
 occasions for those things which they desire ? 
 Thus the women and men of low caste, in addition 
 to those renowned images which you adore, wor- 
 ship such idols as Shoshthee, Makal, Kalooray, 
 Dokshinray, Olabibee, and others. Now, as you 
 deride several of the idols which these people 
 worship, so you would also in like manner deride 
 all those images, which you now consider as pos- 
 sessed of life, if you would but use your under- 
 standing a little. 
 
 If you say the worship of images has been 
 handed down to us by tradition from pious men, 
 and we must do what such pious men used to do. 
 I reply, it is " with you as with a herd of sheep : 
 if one sheep jump into a stream or well, all the 
 rest will do the same, and thus lose their lives. 
 Now if these sheep were asked why they did so, 
 they would answer (if they could understand the 
 question, and had the power of speech), ' God has 
 not given us the power of judging between good 
 and evil ; consequently, when we saw one sheep 
 jumping before us into the water, we did so like- 
 wise, without minding whether we should hurt 
 ourselves thereby, or even lose our lives/ Thus 
 also, if a young camel, who makes its mouth 
 bloody by eating thorns, were asked why he 
 did so, it would say (in case it could understand 
 
356 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 the question, and had the power of speech), 
 * I have seen my ancestors making their mouths 
 bloody by eating thorns ; therefore I eat thorns 
 likewise; for God has not given me the power 
 of judging what is right and wrong.' But what 
 can be more melancholy than that a child of 
 man, to whom God has given the power of judging 
 what is good and evil, right and wrong, when he 
 is asked why he pursues such a line of conduct, 
 whereby he makes himself ridiculous in this world, 
 and does himself exceedingly great injury in that 
 which is to come, viz., why he considers as spiri- 
 tual worship, and practises accordingly such things 
 as these snapping the fingers, dancing, playing 
 with the fingers on the mouth, beating his sides, 
 engaging at certain festivals in pugilistic contests, 
 and singing exceedingly disgusting and obscene 
 songs ; and why he dishonours God by describing 
 him as guilty of adultery, theft, deceit, voluptu- 
 ousness, anger, covetousness, and similar crimes, 
 should not be able to assign any reason for his 
 conduct, but should only answer, like such sheep 
 and camels, and other unreasonable beasts, ' Our 
 forefathers did so, and therefore we do so like- 
 wise :' I say, what can be more melancholy than 
 this ? For do not such delarations reduce men to 
 a level with beasts ? 
 
 " If you say, ' We can establish image worship 
 from passages in the Shasters ; consequently you 
 have no right to compare us to a herd of sheep : 
 
 " I reply, I have already refuted this objection, 
 proving that the Shasters permit image worship 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 357 
 
 only in order to meet the case of the ignorant and 
 stupid. Now you are always wise when the study 
 of the Shasters and temporal affairs are concerned ; 
 only in practising image worship you declare your- 
 selves stupid : you cannot therefore corrupt the 
 truth by such quibbles. 
 
 " If you say, how can the worshippers of Brahma 
 perform their worship without having a visible ob- 
 j ect before their eyes ? 
 
 " I reply, by considering the wise and wonder- 
 fully skilful construction of the world and the hu- 
 man body, we are convinced that an omniscient 
 and infinitely wise God is the author thereof; and 
 by attending to and meditating upon him, we ob- 
 tain the object of our desires : for the world and the 
 human body, all the members of which have their 
 separate use, and are most harmoniously connected 
 together, could by no means be constructed in such 
 a skilful manner, if they did not derive their origin 
 from a wise Creator. A proof of this you may find 
 in common life. A watch, or any other piece of 
 machinery, which is constructed with extraordinary 
 skill, could never owe its origin to chance, or to a 
 cause devoid of intelligence. Therefore, when we 
 see a work of great magnitude and skill, we con- 
 clude that its author must be possessed of extra- 
 ordinary power and skill ; but we do not, like you, 
 form in our minds, or by our hands, an image with 
 hands and feet, and waste our time by moving 
 our hands and feet, or our whole body, and by 
 dancing, singing, and jumping in honour of it ; nor 
 
358 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 do we play like children in order to please such 
 images. 
 
 " If you say, the first step to the worship of 
 Bruhmo is the observance of the rites and ceremo- 
 nies, (prescribed for the worship of images.) Those 
 who neglect to observe them cannot come to the 
 knowledge of Bruhmo, nor learn to worship him ; 
 just as no body can enter upon the study of the 
 grammar who has not previously learnt the al- 
 phabet. 
 
 " I reply, those who learn the alphabet, have 
 the intention to begin the grammar as soon as 
 they have learnt the letters ; and when they have 
 learnt the letters, and are qualified for the study of 
 the grammar, they do not spend any more time in 
 transcribing the former. Men continue ascending 
 on the steps of a staircase ; but nobody will ever 
 remain standing upon it. But I see that you act 
 in an opposite manner ; for you begin to practise 
 that false kind of worship, which you compare to 
 a staircase, and to learning the alphabet, in the 
 tenth year of your age, and do not leave it off till 
 your death, though you should become eighty 
 years old ; and although you have sufficient abili- 
 ties for understanding the nature of the supreme 
 God, yet you do not exert them, and you even hate 
 those who wish to excite you to it. By playing 
 with images from your fifth year till your death, 
 you throw away a human life. You waste your 
 time by expecting salvation from images, which 
 cannot keep away the flies from their faces, and 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 359 
 
 which cannot preserve themselves from being stolen 
 and melted down, and which break to pieces, if 
 they receive a blow ; and you are guilty of exceed- 
 ing great folly, by believing that various straight 
 and oblique strokes on your foreheads, and marks 
 on your body, and a burden of wood on your neck, 
 will save you from the power of Jomo. Therefore 
 I beseech you again and again, believe in the 
 supreme omnipresent Bruhmo, the author of the 
 world ; and being duly sensible that he sees all 
 which you do, abstain from that which is evil, and 
 take care not to follow those who for their own 
 advantage would lead you to play with images, 
 lest you make yourself ridiculous in this present 
 world, and bring upon yourselves exceedingly great 
 misery in the world to come. 
 
 " If you say, we do not consider the gods as the 
 supreme Bruhmo ; but we worship them, as ena- 
 bling us to approach the supreme Bruhmo ; just 
 as it is requisite to gain the favour of the porter, 
 when we wish to be introduced into the presence 
 of the king. 
 
 " I reply, those who endeavour to gain the fa- 
 vour of the porter, in order to be introduced to the 
 king, do not consider the porter as the king him- 
 self. But I see that it is with you quite the con- 
 trary ; for you consider those gods which you 
 worship, as Bruhmo. Further, it is certainly quite 
 right to endeavour to gain the favour of the porter, 
 in order to be introduced to the king, because the 
 porter is nearer than the king, and can introduce 
 
360 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 you to the latter, who is not so easily accessible. 
 But this simile is quite inapplicable in the present 
 case ; for the supreme God is an omniscient, all- 
 pervading spirit. What being, therefore, can be 
 nearer to us than he himself, that we should have 
 reason to consider him as a door by which we may 
 come to the supreme Being ? 
 
 " If you ask, why we are at such variance with 
 the worshippers of images ? 
 
 " We answer, in strict accordance with the truth : 
 It is utterly impossible that there should be any 
 friendship between such as differ from each other 
 in temporal and spiritual things, as widely as east 
 and west ; for how can we feel any affection for 
 you, while you dishonour him, whom we regard as 
 the infinitely holy, omnipresent, indestructible, su- 
 preme God, by declaring that he was born, or 
 that he died, or that he committed adultery, or 
 theft, or that he was engaged in wars, or that he 
 is under the influence of sensual lusts, anger, and 
 other sinful passions ? This appears from the fol- 
 lowing words of the sage (Vyas) : * In the Kolee 
 joog, wicked persons will ascribe unto the infinitely 
 holy supreme Spirit, birth, malice, lies, sensual 
 lusts, anger, theft, adultery, death, grief, and all 
 other kinds of imperfection and depravity.' Now 
 when we see you involved in various kinds of mi- 
 sery, we must of course pity you : for often, though 
 you have food, you do not enjoy it, under the idea 
 that God will be pleased thereby; though you 
 have a good opportunity and leisure for working, 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 361 
 
 you abstain from it, because you imagine it is an 
 unlucky hour for it, and spend your time in idle- 
 ness. You withhold alms from honest poor per- 
 sons who are real objects of charity, arid give them 
 to self-conceited rich deceivers. Flowers and other 
 things which have a good smell, you do not give 
 to those who have the power of smelling ; but you 
 throw them sometimes into a copper plate, some- 
 times into the river, sometimes before lifeless 
 blocks ; so that they are of no use. In the cold 
 season, you torment yourselves on purpose by 
 bathing in cold water, and in the warm season by 
 sitting between fires which you kindle. By day 
 and by night you are tormented by fears of ima- 
 ginary evils, as of spirits and the like. Deluded 
 by the erroneous idea that God is in some places, 
 and not in others, you travel about in various 
 countries, undergoing great troubles, and sometimes 
 even death itself. Though you have excellent wa- 
 ter, you prefer drinking and bathing in muddy and 
 brackish water. Some of you, by marrying many 
 wives, entail upon them misery, sin, and infamy, 
 and bring upon yourselves sorrow and grief. With 
 twenty or twenty-five rupees, which is not even 
 the price of a horse, you buy a block of stone or 
 earth, and call it your god. You acknowledge as 
 your-gooroos, proud, imperious persons, who are 
 full of pride, the worst of all enemies, and given to 
 lies and deceit. Further, you do not instruct your 
 children in the Soorjyo-shiddhant and similar as- 
 tronomical Shasters, in which it is shewn, that the 
 
362 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS, 
 
 earth is round, and suspended in the air ; and that 
 the eclipses of the moon are produced by the sha- 
 dow of the earth ; and that rain, hail, 8cc. arise 
 from the heat of the sun attracting the water : but 
 you teach them, like parrots, the fables contained 
 in the Poorans and other books, whose only object 
 is to inculcate ceremonies ; and tell them, that the 
 earth is three-cornered, and rests upon the head of 
 a serpent ; that Rahoo, being an enemy of the sun 
 and the moon, eats them up ; and that the male 
 and female clouds produce the rain ; and when by 
 the friction of the clouds thunder is produced, you 
 say, that the gods are roaring. If by chance any 
 body sneezes, or a lizard makes a sound, you say, 
 if at that time a person is engaged in any thing, he 
 will not be successful. These and a thousand 
 other such follies we see you continually practising 
 and teaching to others ; consequently we are grieved 
 when we see persons possessed of a human shape 
 thus acting like irrational beings. 
 
 " Another reason why we are at such variance 
 with each other, is this, that what you consider as 
 duties of religion, and the acts of worship which 
 you perform, we consider actually as irreligious 
 actions. Thus you regard blocks of earth and 
 stone, trees, fowls, beasts, birds, &c. as God : we 
 do not. You deem motions of the hands and feet, 
 dancing, and playing, carrying wood about your 
 neck, making marks of sandal wood on your fore- 
 head, &c. as productive of religious merit : we do 
 not. You say that drinking the water of particu- 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 363 
 
 lar places, and covering the body with the dust 
 and mud which is brought from peculiar spots, are 
 religious actions, which we deny. Some among 
 you eat in some instances food upon impure spots, 
 and with impure hands, considering it under such 
 circumstances as entirely pure, and productive of 
 religious merit, which we do not allow. Further, 
 some sects among you consider the eating and 
 drinking of all sorts of intoxicating stuff, the kill- 
 ing of living creatures, and bloody festivals, as spi- 
 ritual worship, which we do not. Some sects 
 among you declare the eating of that which pro- 
 ceeds from the body of a cow as an action produc- 
 tive of religious merit, which we do not consider 
 as a religious action. To burn women to death, 
 and to murder an aged father or mother by drown- 
 ing them in water, and dragging them upon stones 
 and bricks, you consider as religious actions, which 
 we do not. To collect large assemblies, and to 
 make them presents, you consider as a religious 
 act, which we do not. You consider the clapping 
 together of shells, the ringing of bells, dancing, 
 snapping the fingers, and such like practices, as 
 religious acts, which we do not. To fast at parti- 
 cular seasons, and to make others fast, you consi- 
 der as a religious duty, which we do not. Accor- 
 dingly we again exhort you : ' Believe in God, as 
 the all-pervading Spirit, who knows the deeds, 
 words, and thoughts of all men : follow his com- 
 mandments, and thus promote your own welfare 
 and that of others, and obtain salvation/ If, instead 
 
 R2 
 
364 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 of profiting by the instructions we have now given 
 you, you hate and revile us, we shall deem this a 
 matter of very little consequence ; for we cannot 
 suffer much loss, nor receive much profit from that 
 which such unhappy, ignorant persons say con- 
 cerning us, whose gods are earth, stone, wood, and 
 metal ; and whose objects of worship are monkeys? 
 bears, kites, jackals, and such like creatures. Ac- 
 cordingly, you are to us objects of pity, not of ha- 
 tred. We say again, ' Cease to play with images, 
 and believe in the supreme God.' 
 
 " In the year 1742, the 7th of Jyostho, according 
 to the Hindoo chronology, or the 19th of May, 
 1820, according to the Christian era. 
 
 "(Signed) BROJOMOHON DEBOSHYO." 
 
 The work from which these extracts have been 
 taken has caused a great sensation among the 
 learned Pundits and Brahmins, and several editions 
 having been circulated, we may hope that it will 
 have great effect in aiding to undermine the struc- 
 ture ojsuperstition and idolatry. 
 
CHAPTER XX. 
 
 " O ye whom Science chose to guide 
 
 Her unpolluted stream along, 
 Adorn with flowers its cultur'd side, 
 And to its taste allure the young. 
 O say, what language can reveal 
 TV exalted pleasures you must feel. 
 When fiYd by you the youthful breast 
 Disdains to court inglorious rest ; 
 And to the world's admiring gaze, 
 
 (Each precept into action brought) 
 In full reality displays 
 
 The liberal maxims you have taught ! 
 A transport this superior far 
 To all the bliss th' exulting conqueror feels, 
 
 When crowds triumphant hail him from the war, 
 And conquered nations crouch beneath his wheels." 
 
 UOSCOE. 
 
 LETTERS FROM ENGLAND EMOTIONS THEY CAUSE 
 
 BOITACONNAH VISITS OF FRIENDS MISSION FA- 
 MILY BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION THE MUNIFI- 
 CENCE OF GOVERNMENT TOWARDS IT JUVENILE 
 
 SOCIETY MRS. LUSHINGTON HON. J. H. HARINGTON 
 
 ADDRESS OF THE NATIVE BABOOS TO HIM CHA- 
 RITABLE FEELINGS IMPOSED ON NATIVE PETITION 
 
 LAWSUITS. 
 
 IT is quite impossible that those, who have ne- 
 ver been separated for a length of time and by a 
 
366 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 great distance of space from the circle of their 
 friends and scenes of their childhood, can conceive 
 with what anxiety tidings from home are expected 
 and examined by missionaries in the far distant 
 provinces of the East. Many of them are placed 
 in stations where only a very limited intercourse 
 can be enjoyed with their fellow-countrymen. To 
 such the arrival of a packet of English letters is 
 an event of the greatest importance. To it their 
 hopes have been directed for weeks and months, 
 so that it has been expected with a sort of feverish 
 impatience. But who can describe the varied 
 emotions of the mind when the long wished-for 
 packet really comes ? With trembling hand the 
 seal which secures the envelope is broken, whilst 
 the starting tear sparkles as the contents meet the 
 eye, and varied hues pass over the countenance, 
 just in the same manner as we see the face of a 
 meadow on a fine morning, when a brisk wind is 
 stirring, and large clouds disjoined are rapidly tra- 
 versing the sky, assume a brilliant and glittering 
 hue as the piercing rays of the unveiled sun are 
 reflected by the sparkling drops of dew, which as 
 yet are unexhaled, and then in a moment from the 
 shadow of a thick cloud, present a sombre aspect, 
 which forms a striking contrast to the former vivid 
 scene, until in a few minutes the cloud passes 
 over, and clear sunshine again gilds the surface of 
 the mead. Just so have I marked the alternate 
 changes which have been produced on the counte- 
 nances of my fellow-labourers ; and thus have my 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 367 
 
 own feelings varied when an English letter has 
 been delivered by the dawk. Should any of my 
 readers have friends in India, I beseech them by 
 their affectionate remembrance not to let them 
 mourn the dearth of news from Europe, for amidst 
 the debilitating effects of the clime they need 
 something to cheer and animate their minds ; and 
 I know nothing (secondary to the smile of a re- 
 conciled God), more calculated to effect this de- 
 sirable end, than a warm hearted letter from home. 
 When I became an inmate of the mission-house at 
 Boitaconnah, the family circle was of an evening 
 often cheered by the presence of some maritime 
 friend, who, though not from the neighbourhood of 
 either of our native towns, yet could tell us how 
 matters were going on at home ; and perhaps, in 
 the course of the evening's chat, the pleasing fact 
 would be elicited that he knew some person with 
 whom we were acquainted, when a new zest would 
 be imparted to the evening's pleasure, and the mi- 
 nutest details would be listened to with the most 
 earnest attention. Those were some of the happi- 
 est days I spent in India, and the recollection of 
 the evenings are still very pleasing to my mind. 
 The mission family at that time consisted of Mr. 
 and ' Mrs. E. Carey, Mr. and Mrs. Yates, Mr. and 
 Mrs. Penney, and self, at Boitaconnah, and Mr. 
 and Mrs. Lawson, Mr. and Mrs. Pearce, and Miss 
 Chuffin in the Circular Road, whilst Mr. and Mrs. 
 Adam occupied the mission bungalowe at Chit- 
 pore. Of these, Mr. Lawson, Mrs. Penney, and 
 
368 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 Mrs. Carey have been called to the upper and bet- 
 ter world. Mr. and Mrs. Adam have seceded 
 from the mission. Mr. Carey is most usefully em- 
 ployed in England ; and the others we hope still 
 continue their arduous labours in that pagan land 
 of darkness. 
 
 It was truly refreshing to the spirits, oppressed 
 by the clime, to meet so many kindred minds 
 around the hall table, after the duties of the day 
 were ended, as till then all were separately engaged 
 in various departments of labour, some in super- 
 intending the schools, others in native preaching ; 
 and those whose evenings were not employed in 
 English or Bengalee preaching, were closely occu- 
 pied in studying the language, or preparing for the 
 pulpit, until the signal for supper was given, when 
 each appeared at the frugal board, to rejoice with 
 those who had met with encouragement, and to 
 sympathise with others who had reason to mourn 
 the discouraging circumstances under which they 
 laboured; and in this instance we could testify 
 the truth of Solomon's declaration, " Two are bet- 
 ter than one." 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Penney were both most assidu- 
 ously engaged in the superintendence of the Be- 
 nevolent Institution, a charity which has been as 
 fruitful in doing good as any of which India can 
 boast. It was founded by the Serampore mission- 
 aries in 1809. The idea was suggested by Mr. 
 Leonard, on hearing Mr. Ward read a letter re- 
 specting the success which had attended the esta- 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 369 
 
 blishment of some schools at Birmingham, just 
 then received from the late highly respected Mr. 
 King, of that place. Dr. Marshman, about two 
 months afterwards, preached a sermon on behalf 
 of its establishment, when about 250 rupees were 
 collected. With this comparatively small sum the 
 attempt was made, but " who hath despised the 
 day of small things ?" The blessing of God rested 
 on the undertaking; the funds were increased, 
 and in a short time one hundred and thirteen boys, 
 brought out of the streets of Calcutta, were orga- 
 nised after the Lancasterian system; and in 1811 
 a girls' school also was modelled after the same 
 plan. 
 
 Dr. Marshman, in describing the benefits likely 
 to result from these schools, in a letter written in 
 December 1811, says : " There is another machine 
 moving in Calcutta, which I hope with the Divine 
 blessing, will do much hereafter for the cause of 
 God. This is what we call the Benevolent Insti- 
 tution, for instructing the children of indigent 
 Christians. Of these it is said there are in Calcutta 
 7000 families of the Portuguese, besides Armeni- 
 ans, Greeks, &c. The number of children now in 
 the school is 250, who are taught on the plan sug- 
 gested by Dr. Bell, and improved by Mr. Lancaster. 
 The parents of these children are many of them 
 four descents from European Portuguese, incapable 
 of reading a Portuguese book, or of understanding 
 a Portuguese sermon, so that they are all heathen 
 but the name. Hence, as all the service of their 
 
370 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 churches is performed either in Portuguese or La- 
 tin, they are in darkness thick as midnight with 
 regard to the way of salvation. Besides this, they 
 are literally the poor of Calcutta, and poor indeed 
 they are, beyond either Hindoos or Mussulmans. 
 Yet they are capable of great exertion. Brought 
 up in poverty and hardship, acquainted with the 
 customs, manners, and ideas of the natives, inured 
 to the climate, and familiar with the idiom of the 
 language, were the Gospel to gladden and conquer 
 their hearts, they are the persons beyond almost 
 any others to carry it through the country. Con- 
 vinced of the extensive advantages which the 
 cause of God might reap from this field, I deter- 
 mined to leave no stone unturned to forward the 
 undertaking. The object is to teach them reading, 
 writing, and arithmetic, both in English and Ben- 
 galee, and to make them familiar with the Scrip- 
 tures in both languages." However strange it 
 may appear, yet it really was the fact, that an in- 
 dividual advertised in the public papers against 
 the institution, warning the public against " the 
 injurious tendency of this Benevolent Institution," 
 and charging its conductors with an improper inter- 
 ference with the parochial children. This unpro- 
 voked newspaper attack compelled the missionaries 
 to defend themselves through the same vehicle, 
 which they did by proving that the children whose 
 cause they espoused, could not be admitted into 
 the established free school, and that they were 
 previously to their admission under no sort of super- 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 371 
 
 intendence, but were wandering in the streets and 
 lanes of the city, in a state of the grossest igno- 
 rance, and practising uncontrolled every vice within 
 their power. An application was also made to 
 Government by the same person, to issue an edict 
 against the continuance of the efforts of the insti- 
 tution, but in vain, as Government * refused to 
 interfere. The result was, that although a rival 
 society was established, the funds of the Benevolent 
 Institution were trebled, and the conductors re- 
 lieved from all the pecuniary difficulties under 
 which they then laboured. In fact, Government 
 became so well convinced of the utility and impor- 
 tance of the institution, that when at the close of 
 the year 1825, the funds of the society were ex- 
 hausted, and a weight of debt, amounting to 10,000 
 rupees, beclouded the prospects of the managers, 
 the Governor-General in Council was graciously 
 pleased not only to grant a sum sufficient to liquidate 
 the debt, but also to present 3000 rupees, for the 
 purpose of defraying the expense of those repairs 
 which the school-rooms needed. This munificent 
 donation, whilst it proclaimed the liberality of Go- 
 vernment, at the same time spoke volumes as to 
 the opinion entertained by Lord Amherst and his 
 colleagues respecting the utility of the institution. 
 The following is a copy of the letter transmitted in 
 answer to the application made for relief. 
 " To the Rev. Dr. Carey. 
 
 "Genl. Dept. 
 "REVEREND SIR, lam directed to acknow- 
 
372 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 ledge the receipt of your letter of the 24th ultimo, 
 and to inform you, that the Right Honourable the 
 Governor-General in Council, being satisfied of 
 the extensive utility of the Benevolent Institution, 
 and being desirous that an establishment so bene- 
 ficial to the indigent classes of the Christian com- 
 munity should be maintained in efficiency, his 
 Lordship in Council has been pleased to comply 
 with your request on its account for pecuniary aid 
 from Government. An order on the General Trea- 
 sury for the sum of Sa. Rs. 13,000 will accordingly 
 be issued in your favour, to enable you to apply 
 the amount to the purposes described by yon. 
 
 " I have the honour to be, 
 " Reverend Sir, 
 
 " Your most obedient servant, 
 " (Signed) C. LUSHINGTON, 
 
 Chief Sec. to the Gov. 
 " FORT WILLIAM, 
 " The 4th May, 1826." 
 
 At the last examination of the children at which 
 I was present, there were in the boys' school, 2 
 Europeans, 22 Indo-Britons, 102 Portuguese, 22 
 Hindoos, 7 Chinese, 3 Mussulmans, 2 Africans, 2 
 Armenians, and 2 Jews total 164, and 94 girls of 
 the same nations in the other school. These all 
 evinced by their improvement the great attention 
 bestowed by Mr. and Mrs. Penney on their edu- 
 cation. 
 
 It really was very interesting to witness such a 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 373 
 
 group of intelligent youths in the varied costumes 
 of their different nations, yet all marshalled in the 
 same classes, spelling the same words, and reading 
 the same Scriptures. By the side of a Hindoo, 
 whose white coppera was gracefully thrown over 
 his shoulders, so as to convey an idea of the classi- 
 cal costume of a Roman senator, stood a Chinese, 
 with his hair plaited into a tail, which reached to 
 his heels; and on the other side was a jet black 
 woolly-headed Negro, in short jacket and trowsers ; 
 whilst on the right and left of these were Mussul- 
 mans, in white vests, with small muslin skull-caps 
 bordered with tinselled glittering fringe,' Armeni- 
 ans, Portuguese, and Indo-Britons of all hues, 
 from the European roseate to the African sable. 
 Some of them recited portions of the English clas- 
 sics, with excellent emphasis and correct pronun- 
 ciation; whilst others solved the most difficult 
 problems on the globes with the greatest ease and 
 facility. The needle work exhibited by the girls 
 was peculiarly neat and clean. In fact, their spe- 
 cimens were such as would have done credit to 
 any ladies' school in Britain. At the close of the 
 examination it was pleasing to hear children of 
 such varied families joining in one song of praise 
 to celebrate redeeming love and mercy. The sa- 
 lutary effects of instruction imparted in this man- 
 ner, have been found greater than was at first 
 contemplated ; this instruction has proved capable 
 of attracting the minds of the children in a high 
 degree. Accustomed to little of delicacy in point 
 
374 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 of food and clothing beyond the other natives of the 
 country, they consider it an honour to attend school 
 under an English teacher, as also to familiarise 
 themselves with the first rudiments of that know- 
 ledge which they perceive held in general estima- 
 tion; both these ideas impart to their minds a 
 degree of pleasure, and confer on them a kind of 
 dignity, to which they before were strangers. 
 Hence a degree of energy is sometimes imparted 
 thereby, which operates on them in the same man- 
 ner as being sent to a grammar school does to a 
 poor boy in this country ; it awakens all the pow- 
 ers of the soul ; a new course of conduct is induced ; 
 scenes of idolatrous sloth and vice delight no more, 
 and the once idle degraded boy is transformed into 
 an active, persevering youth, seeking by his beha- 
 viour and further search after knowledge, to sub- 
 stantiate his claim to that new rank in society 
 which Providence thus seems to have opened to 
 his view. The writer has beheld these effects with 
 gratitude and joy. Many of the young persons 
 educated there are now formed into a society, 
 called the Calcutta Juvenile Society, whose object 
 is the dissemination of religious knowledge and 
 the production of religious feelings. 
 
 The following statement, written by one of the 
 members of that body, will best illustrate the na- 
 ture of their object, and display the talent they 
 possess : 
 
 " The diffusive nature of Christianity proclaims 
 its divine origin and superior excellence. Most 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 375 
 
 systems of religion that exist in the world, are en- 
 tirely local : they are intended for certain limits, 
 beyond which they appear unsuitable. The Del- 
 phic oracle, the mount of Olympus, and the fount 
 of Castalia are heard without veneration by the 
 inhabitants of the arctic and torrid regions. The 
 waters of the Ganges, the fane of Juggernath, and 
 the rocks of Himaloy altogether lose their charac- 
 ter for sanctity in the steppes of Tartary and the 
 plains of Africa. Nations remote from Greece and 
 India were precluded, by that guiltless circum- 
 stance, from the benefits of the religions of those 
 celebrated climes : they could not hope to hear the 
 oracle, or wash in the holy stream. There have 
 been systems, too, which were propagated by their 
 professors, but the mode of propagation banishes 
 from the mind every opinion that might have been 
 formed of their sacred character. The fire and the 
 sword are objects too terrible, to permit us to con- 
 template the religions which employ them, with 
 any feelings of complacency. At the unsheathing 
 of the sword and the kindling of the flame, every 
 appearance of good vanishes, every expectation of 
 a divine origin is annihilated. It is the Gospel 
 only that can justly claim the character of univer- 
 sality. It addresses men, not as distinguished 
 into nations and tribes, but as comprising one 
 great family, and standing equally in need of the 
 promise of mercy and the hope of eternal life. Its 
 doctrines and precepts contain no exclusive refe- 
 rence, nothing but what is applicable to men of 
 
376 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 every name and climate, under every circumstance 
 in which it is possible for them to be placed. But 
 if the Gospel aspires to universal dominion, it re- 
 commends no. equivocal means of effecting that 
 end. It requires not bloody offerings, but a living 
 sacrifice. Its instruments of conviction are not 
 fire and the rack, but the word of power, the sword 
 of the Spirit. 
 
 " This system, so diffusive, and so calculated for 
 universal advantage, is left to the exertions of those 
 who have felt its power to be extensively dissemi- 
 nated. Willing as celestial natures would be, to 
 be, as they were at the birth of the Saviour, mes- 
 sengers of peace to the inhabitants of the earth, 
 that office is imposed by God on his own people, 
 however unfitted by their sins and weaknesses for 
 the performance of the duty. What obligations 
 are there to constrain God's people to declare his 
 salvation to sinners ! And with what force may 
 they, who have been made to perceive the dangers 
 of their situation, who have received mercy, and 
 now possess a good hope through grace, represent 
 to sinners the misery of their situation, and urge 
 them to fly to the refuge ! 
 
 "Such are the objects of the CALCUTTA JUVE- 
 NILE SOCIETY objects common to other institu- 
 tions, but attempted in a particular manner. As 
 the provinces of an extensive empire are divided 
 into governments, and distributed to several indi- 
 viduals, so the charge of different modes of opera- 
 tion, in the kingdom of the Gospel, must be under- 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 377 
 
 taken by particular classes of men, with a view to 
 bring their energies to bear more efficiently on 
 distinct divisions of the same glorious work. There 
 are various descriptions of people, to whom the 
 Gospel must be addressed with some changes, not 
 indeed in its essential character, but in its external 
 circumstances. 
 
 "The CALCUTTA JUVENILE SOCIETY have oc- 
 cupied their ground. They have taken the cir- 
 cumstances of the place into consideration, its 
 wants and capabilities, and they have directed 
 their efforts to its cultivation. The field is large, 
 but waste ; their aim is to render it fruitful, to con- 
 vert the barren wilderness into a garden of the 
 Lord." 
 
 The members of this promising society are young 
 men, who have received the truths of the Gosp'el 
 not in word only, but in power and who are de- 
 sirous that a great reformation should take place 
 amongst the hundreds of country-born youths who 
 swarm in Calcutta; with this end in view they 
 hold weekly meetings in a neat bungalowe chapel, 
 when some one before appointed delivers an essay 
 or lecture on some important subject, and devo- 
 tional exercises are carried on. On stated occasions 
 the Rev. W. Yates gives a theological lecture, 
 which is always well attended ; during the week 
 they hold prayer meetings in all parts of the city 
 and suburbs, sometimes in the houses of the Por- 
 tuguese Roman Catholics, by which means many 
 have been led to renounce the errors of popery. 
 
378 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 Attached to the society is a small library, which 
 continues rapidly to increase, one of their number 
 is annually appointed librarian, and any youth in 
 the city desirous of reading is gratuitously provided 
 with the means. The establishment of Sunday 
 Schools is another object steadily pursued by these 
 youthful champions of the cross and in one of 
 their annual reports now lying before me, there are 
 interesting accounts of the happy deaths of two of 
 the scholars. It is by means similar to those pur- 
 sued by these Indo-British youths, that we hope 
 to see India evangelized. They find their way into 
 habitations where the missionary has not access 
 and born in and inured to the clime they do not fall 
 a sacrifice to active exertions, as the Europeans 
 must do. Thus these young men will stand preach- 
 ing to the natives in the bazaars and crowded 
 streets, beneath the rays of a mid-day sun, which 
 would prove fatal to others. 
 
 These are the first fruits of the schools : what 
 the future harvest may be, we know not; but I 
 consider that vast blessings will eventually result 
 to India from the establishment of them, as the 
 youths educated there are sent to all parts of the 
 country as writers and superintendents ; and very 
 pleasing accounts have been received of the zealous 
 efforts of some to instruct the children around 
 them. 
 
 Mrs. Lushington, the lady of the Honourable C. 
 Lushington, was always a staunch and liberal 
 friend to the Benevolent Institution, supplying the 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 379 
 
 girls with clothing, and constantly stimulating 
 them to industry, by bestowing rewards on the 
 most deserving. She generally attended the exa- 
 minations, as did also many of the most respect- 
 able inhabitants of Calcutta. 
 
 The Honourable John Herbert Harington, was 
 one of the greatest friends to philanthropic 
 societies that ever existed in Calcutta. No plan 
 for the amelioration of the miseries of the human 
 family but was sure to receive his hearty approba- 
 tion and support. His breakfasts were a sort of 
 levees, to which all who required his aid or counsel 
 had free access. I had the pleasure of breakfast- 
 ing at his table more than once, and was quite de- 
 lighted with the urbanity of manners and benevo- 
 lence of mind which he displayed. Subsequently 
 I enjoyed the privilege of meeting him at the resi- 
 dence of my kind friend R. Barnes, Esq., at Gus- 
 serah, where he sj)ent some days in retirement from 
 the busy scenes of public life, and could not but ad- 
 mire the ardour and zeal with which he spoke of 
 those concerns connected with the religious and mo- 
 ral improvement of the inhabitants of India. Who 
 could know him without loving him? Even the 
 native mind could not be insensible to his worth ; 
 and a desire was manifested by many rich Baboos 
 to place his portrait in the Suddur Dewannee. The 
 following is a part of the address presented to him 
 on that occasion. The whole is too long for inser- 
 tion, but I am induced to give this portion, to ena- 
 ble my readers to form some idea of the oriental 
 
380 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 style of address. The language is couched in the 
 third person, although Mr. Harington is the person 
 addressed. 
 
 " ADDRESS TO Mr. HARINGTON. 
 
 " To the distinguished and virtuous friend of the 
 rights of the poor, and of the maintenance of 
 justice, no less than the scourge of the op- 
 pressor. 
 
 " The worthy and respected 
 
 John Herbert Harington, Esq. &c. &c. 
 
 " In whose person is exhibited the substance of 
 all the virtues of life, which, whatever may be said 
 of them by the able pen of the eloquent, far out- 
 strip all description ; while in recounting the least 
 of the numberless of that universally amiable ob- 
 ject of esteem, the memory, hand, and tongue of 
 each individual must alike fail. 
 
 " To say that his enlightened and penetrating 
 genius would remove all difficulties and dispel the 
 mists of ignorance, is but the naked fact, and 
 merely to be expected. Neither can the genero- 
 sity of a ' Hatim Taee/ or the liberality of ' Mounn 
 (bin) Tueedah/ be brought with propriety into 
 comparison with his own. That the proof of these 
 assertions exists on evidence the most clear and 
 conclusive, will presently appear. 
 
 " Whensoever any of the learned have proposed 
 some kindly question on a given subject, scarcely 
 has he made known the nature of his inquiry, 
 when the true state of the case flashes instanta- 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 381 
 
 neously into his mind, and by its communication 
 removes all doubts on every subject, however in- 
 tricate, besides throwing farther lights upon the 
 point which had never been anticipated by the 
 propounder of the query. 
 
 " In every transaction connected with the re- 
 venue and judicial affairs of government, from the 
 first period of this gentleman's arrival in the coun- 
 try, so ably and successfully has he entered into 
 the spirit of his duties, that the experienced native 
 officers, with all their acuteness and practice in 
 these matters, bow with implicit acquiescence in 
 his superior penetration; while his judicious regu- 
 lations serve as a standing code to the intelligent 
 on all occasions. In the preparative arrangements 
 for the establishment of the latter, he has identified 
 the interests of the Honourable Company with the 
 happiness of their subjects ; and so happily has he 
 combined equity and justice with the chastise- 
 ment of the oppressor, that by simply complying 
 with the dictates of the enactments, right and 
 wrong are readily discerned ; and (according to the 
 proverb) a creature defenceless as ' an ant is se- 
 cured from the attacks of his neighbour, though 
 venomous as the snake ; and the tender rose leaf 
 from the piercing thorn.' In no instance is the 
 advantage of the state sought for, incompatibly 
 with the security of the people. 
 
 " So general is the applause excited by the 
 justice and integrity of this upright character, 
 whom a Nowsherwan might have envied, that 
 
382 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 throughout the existing annals of the historic page, 
 not one among the noble of former times is men- 
 tioned as equal or comparable to him : yet in all 
 ages men are wont to acknowledge the maintenance 
 of equity and repression of injustice as the ultimate 
 design of all law. 
 
 " Of no former judge is it there recorded that he 
 left the conflicting parties mutually satisfied in the 
 end ; though such has been the result in matters 
 which have come before this sagacious and prudent 
 personage ; and not as was usually the case, viz. 
 that the successful party should be gratified, while 
 the vanquished remained dissatisfied. 
 
 " No other recommendation is required to the 
 notice of this amiable personage, than that of 
 knowledge and private worth ; while on the other 
 hand, those of low or infamous character find no 
 passport to his doors. Such is the integrity and 
 uprightness with which he fills his station, that the 
 execution of his public duties is at all times con- 
 sidered of prior importance to the satisfying of his 
 personal wishes ; and in spite of occasional bodily 
 infirmities, he never declines trouble for a moment. 
 
 " In short, since the attempt is vain to count his 
 numberless good qualities, we confine ourselves 
 merely to stating the object of the present address, 
 which is this ; 
 
 " We, the inhabitants of these provinces, who 
 have universally participated in the benefits of his 
 salutary regulations, and experienced the advan- 
 tages of their protection, and especially the law 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 383 
 
 officers of the Suddur Dewannee and Nizamut 
 Adalut, who more particularly have long been the 
 objects of his kindness and support, and through 
 various depressions have been raised by him to 
 respect among our equals, express but one desire, 
 namely, that his Honour may ever continue to 
 preside, as the ornament of the bench, over the 
 judicial administration of these provinces ; the firm 
 supporter of the relations of good order, and the 
 certain enemy of every disturber of the public 
 peace. 
 
 " Adverting, however, to the revolutions of time, 
 whose property it is to shake the ease and affect 
 the prosperity of men, the fulfilment of this wish 
 is plainly incompatible with its most uncertain 
 movements. 
 
 " We are willing, therefore, to rest satisfied with 
 some small token of that estimable personage : 
 that is, we desire to have prepared a likeness of 
 him, to be set up in the Suddur Court Room, that 
 it may continue as a memorial of him present and 
 future. This may afford, in some degree, a source 
 of consolation for the deep regret of us, his sincere 
 well wishers, (in his absence,) as well as some 
 satisfaction to those who will be interested about 
 this most estimable character. 
 
 " A hope is indulged, that by compliance with 
 this request he will greatly honour his faithful 
 servants." 
 
 Here follow names and subscriptions of a great 
 
384 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 number of the most respectable native gentlemen 
 of Calcutta. 
 
 In no place, probably, are subscriptions to any 
 case of distress so liberally given as in Calcutta. 
 For instance, when the sad news of the famine in 
 Ireland, and the consequent distressed state of the 
 poor inhabitants, reached Calcutta, a subscription 
 was immediately opened, and in a few days nearly 
 a lac of rupees, or ten thousand pounds, were col- 
 lected. After going round to the inhabitants of 
 Howrah, I thought it desirable to preach a sermon 
 on the subject, and make an extra collection; and 
 our friends in Calcutta did the same. The follow- 
 ing letter, received in answer to the remittance 
 made to the Committee, will testify the humane 
 exertions then made. 
 
 " SIR, 
 
 " In acknowledging your letter of this date, 
 together with a remittance of one hundred and 
 seventy-five rupees, the amount realized of a col- 
 lection made after a charity sermon preached by 
 you at Howrah, where subscription lists had been 
 previously in circulation, I am requested by the 
 Honourable Sir Francis Macnaghten and the Com- 
 mittee to offer you their sincere thanks for your 
 humane and voluntary exertions on this occasion, 
 and to assure you of the gratification they have 
 derived from your benevolent aid in promoting the 
 great work of humanity, in furtherance of which 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 385 
 
 they have been assembled. The success that has 
 hitherto marked the proceedings affords a pleasing 
 proof of the general sympathy of all classes in this 
 country, natives as well as Europeans, in the ap- 
 palling sufferings of the unfortunate Irish ; and it 
 will be seen, on reference to our lists, and the 
 amount contributed, (Sa. rs. 100,000,) in the short 
 space of a month, that it is not the magnitude of 
 the individual donation, but the spirit of benefi- 
 cence, and the means from which bestowed, that 
 enhance the value of the charity, and tend most 
 effectually to bring such a general subscription to 
 a fortunate issue. 
 
 I remain, Sir, your obedient servant, 
 
 B. ROBERTS, Treasurer." 
 Calcutta, Nov. 8, 1822. 
 
 It is the case in India, as in England, that cer- 
 tain individuals avail themselves of this charitable 
 feeling to impose upon the benevolence of the Eu- 
 ropean. I knew one man who lived in very good 
 style, entirely by appealing to the liberality of 
 every new comer from the upper provinces, as a 
 ruined indigo planter. Such appeals generally 
 brought fifty or a hundred rupees into his pocket ; 
 as, when persons have been detained up the coun- 
 try for a length of time, and thus deprived of 
 European converse, their hearts glow with cha- 
 rity to a fellow countryman in distress, and their 
 hands are instinctively extended to his succour. 
 There was another noted character, who used to 
 
386 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 come to Howrah about once in a quarter of a 
 year, to see if there were any new residents ; if so, 
 he would go to their houses in a palanqueen, at- 
 tended by servants, and by false representations 
 generally used to extract a gold mohur, or even 
 fifty rupees, from their purses. Petitions, as I 
 have before stated, are presented every day, and 
 sometimes on the most trivial occasions. I have 
 given a specimen of one in page 114; I will now 
 add another, from a native living close by the 
 Mission Bungalowe at Doorgapore, who had re- 
 ceived much kindness from Mr. Eustace Carey. 
 He had a small piece of ground near my house, 
 which he cultivated by keeping a mollee. The 
 native who owned the next piece, cut a small 
 branch of a Guava tree down, which hung over 
 his garden, and when the mollee went into his 
 premises to abuse him for the act, he ordered him 
 off the premises. This circumstance gave rise to 
 the following petition, which I have copied faith- 
 fully, both as it regards composition and ortho- 
 graphy. 
 
 " Doorgapore, 17 th June, 1826. 
 
 " Reverend Sir, 
 
 " With due submission I regreat to state before 
 your Reverences Goodness that since Revd. E. 
 Carey w r as in the Countrey by whom I was pre- 
 tected and my poor family, but, since his depar- 
 ture to England for his health I am left quite 
 destitute of a friend support and all. Which has 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 387 
 
 induced me to crave your reverences goodness for 
 a protector. 
 
 " A man who is well known in the court of 
 suberbs of Calcutta & twenty-four Pergunnahs, 
 this very man who has taken that freedom to come 
 & cut the fence of my ground which is the other 
 side of the water at Sulkea near the bazaar and 
 also presumed an attempt to chase after my Malley 
 with an axe who through the violence & seem to 
 observe that he was outragious being alarm made 
 his scape. 
 
 " Therefore I hope your Reverences goodness 
 will take in your consideration and be gracious 
 good to inspect in to this for me and I appeal to 
 your judgement weather is Laughful or Unlaughful. 
 
 " This kind Humanity will ever be remembered 
 with profound humble gratitude and thankful and 
 I hope Reverend Sir Prayers of this Petition will 
 be effectull and your Petitioner will ever offer up 
 his prayers for your Reverence's Heath Weath and 
 further Wellfar P. C." 
 
 Lawsuits would often occur amongst the rich 
 natives, (who are all fond of litigation,) from simi- 
 lar occurrences to that which this petition refers 
 to ; and they have been known to spend a hundred 
 thousand rupees in an equity cause about a small 
 fence. I need not say, that the barristers and 
 attorneys generally make fortunes in a short time. 
 Some splendid sums have been realized by bar- 
 risters, who have become popular in the course of 
 s2 
 
388 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 a few years. Such was the case, I believe, with 
 Messrs. Fergusson and Turton, and indeed many 
 others. The solicitors of Calcutta are respectable 
 in their profession, and have very large practice 
 generally. 
 
 The Court House is a noble building, on the 
 side of the Esplanade, near to the Town Hall. 
 Every means is used to keep the air cool, by the 
 use of tatties and punkahs; yet still it is most 
 exhausting and fatiguing for judges, counsel, and 
 attorneys, who have to remain long in court, espe- 
 cially in the hot season, from the number of natives 
 who crowd the place when any particular cause is 
 about to be decided. Indeed, at that season, a 
 breath of cool air would be a luxury any where. 
 So true is the remark made by Colonel Pennifig- 
 ton to Bishop Heber, viz. " that the real luxuries 
 of India are cold water and cold air, when they 
 can be procured." 
 
CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 *< Come on yet pause behold us now 
 Beneath the bamboo's arched bough, 
 Where, gemming oft that sacred gloom, 
 Glows the geranium's scarlet bloom, 
 And winds our path through many a bower 
 Of fragrant tree and giant flower; 
 The ceiba's crimson pomp displayed 
 O'er the broad plantain's humble shade, 
 And dusk anana's prickly blade ; 
 While o'er the brake, so wild and fair, 
 The betel waves his crest in air." 
 
 HEBER. 
 
 MORNING'S RIDE BULLOCKS FRIGHTENED GIGANTIC 
 
 CREEPER JACKALS MANGOOSE AND SNAKE IDOL 
 
 TEMPLES SQUIRRELS PADDY FIELDS BIRDS 
 
 ELEPHANT LOADED TODDY TREES DHOBEE WASH- 
 ING PAWN GROUNDS SIRCAR ? S HOUSE SCHOOL 
 
 DEVOTEE RAJAH AND TRAIN NATIVE SCHOOL BOYS 
 
 V A RIOUS TRAVELLERS CON VICTS BAZAAR 
 
 NATIVE CHAPEL SERMON AND CONVERSATION. 
 
 To rise early and enjoy the cool air of the morn- 
 ing, by taking a ride before the sun attains its full 
 power, is considered highly important and benefi- 
 cial by all classes of Europeans in India. Soon 
 as the morning gun is fired, the ghorawallahs or 
 
390 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 syces begin to saddle the horses, and prepare the 
 coach, buggy, or chaise ; and whilst it is yet quite 
 dusk, (the gun being fired the moment the first 
 gleam of twilight appears in the horizon,) the 
 sleeping sahib is roused by the gruff voice of the 
 sirdar bearer at the chamber door, announcing 
 the hour; and in a few minutes the neighing 
 or trampling of the horse is heard at the door. 
 Whilst objects are as yet indistinctly viewed 
 through the partial twilight, the parties begin to 
 move; the white dresses of the horsemen being 
 most conspicuous objects amidst the gloom which 
 reigns around; the light rapidly increases, as the 
 twilight is much shorter than in England. At 
 Howrah the scenery is far more rural and strictly 
 native in the ride than it is on the Calcutta side. 
 For no sooner do we leave the puckah road of 
 the village, to enter the lanes and jungles, than all 
 traces of European population are in a few minutes 
 completely lost; as the road for a few hundred 
 yards leads through a thickly planted grove, be- 
 yond which the plantations and rice fields are seen. 
 Perhaps my readers will go with me in idea 
 whilst I retrace a morning ride. As we turn into 
 the glade, see how gracefully the tall bamboos 
 overarch our path ; the fertile plain we have just 
 passed on our left is called the old school ground ; 
 the large four turreted building at its extremity is 
 the Orphan School House, now deserted ; it is the 
 same edifice that presents so striking an appear- 
 ance as vessels approach Calcutta. The lower 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 391 
 
 building on the eastern side is the place fitted up 
 for divine service. Some part of the large build- 
 ing is still used as a custom house, towards which 
 these heavy laden bullocks you see approaching 
 are going. Those large leather bottles which they 
 carry are filled with oil : the packages contain 
 calico and muslin. Ah ! there run two of the bul- 
 locks into the jungle. Probably they have never 
 met Europeans before. See how they plunge 
 through the thicket ; they have left their packages 
 behind them. Let us strike into this path a mo- 
 ment, whilst the others pass. 
 
 Behold that gigantic creeper, with what luxu- 
 riant foliage and blossoms it decks the palm tree 
 around which it clings. The leaves are all fallen 
 from that tree on your left ; but how richly has 
 the deficiency been supplied, by the beautiful large 
 rose looking flowers which cover its branches, 
 and the blue parasite which decorates its trunk. 
 Though the stem of the parasite is so large, yet a 
 much larger is to be seen at the back of the pre- 
 mises I occupied at Gusserah. In about three 
 years it grew so rapidly as to lift the cocoa-nut 
 tree by which it was supported out of the ground ; 
 there it still holds it, as an emblem of ingratitude^ 
 for whilst the creeper exhibits verdure and beauty, 
 the cocoa-nut tree is withered, and affords a strik- 
 ing contrast to the luxuriant appearance of its 
 ruthless destroyer. The caravan is now gone by ; 
 we will return to the beaten path. See, there are 
 several jackals skulking at a lazy pace through 
 
392 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 the jungle; they are just returned from their 
 night's carousal. See how full that large mangy 
 fellow appears ; he seems as if he could hardly 
 move. Probably the tide has left a body on the 
 beach, or a bullock may have died. There are 
 eight or ten more, all coming from the same ditch. 
 Aye, there lies the skeleton of a cow, the bones 
 are all well picked. But what is that terrible 
 rustling hissing noise we hear ? It proceeds from 
 that large snake ; it seems to be killing some ani- 
 mal what is it? It is a mangoose killing the 
 snake ; but the mangoose flees, and his antagonist 
 skulks away. There he comes again: look, he 
 has seized the snake by the neck, he has got him 
 fast now. But we must hasten on. 
 
 Those two small buildings like granaries con- 
 tain two large idols. See, that man stops to 
 salaam as he passes. The door of one is open ; 
 how hideous the idol looks, with an elephant's 
 head, four arms, three eyes, and sitting cross- 
 legged, that is Goonesha. There stands the car 
 used at Juggernath's festival ; it has four gal- 
 leries. Stay not to look upon it, for the figures 
 carved around are obscene, they are too gross for 
 Christian eyes to dwell upon. 
 
 Yonder runs a squirrel : there are many of them 
 popping in and out of that hollow tree ; how pret- 
 tily they are striped. They are not much larger 
 than an English rat, and nearly the same shade, 
 except where the beautiful black stripes run. 
 
 But we now enter the paddy fields : we must 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 393 
 
 hasten through them, as there is a heavy damp air, 
 something like a fog, hanging over them. How 
 swampy they appear. Those men (with a kind of 
 sieve) are catching some very small fish, something 
 like white bait ; they abound in the stagnant 
 waters which the flood has left. Those graceful 
 white birds, standing upon the edge of the lake, 
 are called paddy birds. How diminutive do they 
 appear by the side of that large adjutant, which is 
 thrusting its huge bill into the pool, if haply it 
 may seize a helpless fish. Those men and women 
 knee-deep in water are planting rice. But here 
 comes an elephant: what a burthen of boughs 
 and branches of trees it bears ; these are for its 
 own consumption; and mark how it brushes the 
 flies from its sides with one carried in its trunk. 
 It belongs to a rich native, who is gone over to 
 Calcutta, as elephants are not allowed to travel 
 there, for fear of accidents arising from horses 
 being frightened by them. 
 
 In the centre of that elevated mound is a large 
 tank ; the tall trees around produce the toddy, of 
 which the natives are particularly fond. The 
 toddywallah is now collecting his store : how cle- 
 verly the man ascends the tree. The little earthen 
 pitchers you see fastened to the branches have 
 caught what has distilled from slits cut in the 
 stems during the night. Do you hear that noise ? 
 It proceeds from a dhobee, or washerman. Yes, 
 now you can see him, beating the cloth against a 
 large board on the edge of the tank: how he 
 s3 
 
394 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 swings it round his head, and accompanies every 
 blow with a grunt, just the same as some men in 
 England use when they are grubbing. His wife is 
 
 J 
 
 spreading the clothes which he has washed out on 
 the grass to dry. But see, we reach the inclosures. 
 
 These groves are composed of mango and pum- 
 plenore trees ; how regularly the former are planted. 
 The small bushy trees in the hedges are guavas. 
 See what an impregnable fence that prickly pear 
 makes : not even a tiger will dare to storm that. 
 Those plantations on your right, which appear 
 rilled with rows somewhat resembling peas just 
 stuck, are pawn grounds. Beneath the branches 
 of bamboo, and within the reeds thus placed on 
 either side, grows the plant. It requires this 
 shelter, and is one of the most valuable produc- 
 tions of the soil, as the leaves, which are about 
 the size of a large ivy leaf, will sell for about two 
 shillings the thousand. The birds which sit chat- 
 tering upon the rows are minas ; when confined, 
 these birds will talk much the same as the English 
 starling. 
 
 That large heavy looking brick building belongs 
 to a sircar ; there he is, coming out in his palan- 
 queen, to go over to Calcutta, whence he will 
 return about five o'clock. You may see five or six 
 other buildings of the same sort close by. Strange 
 as it appears to Europeans, still the natives prefer 
 such situations for their houses ; swamps all around, 
 thick foliage on either side, and a dirty tank in 
 front. Observe, there are very few windows to- 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 395 
 
 wards the road, and the few that are seen are so 
 small as to appear like loop-holes ; how they dis- 
 figure that otherwise noble building. As the gate 
 is open, you can see into the quadrangle. That 
 room supported by pillars, which fronts you, is 
 the place where poojahs are performed ; the family 
 idols are placed there ; and over head is the large 
 hall where visitors are entertained : that dirty 
 looking narrow staircase is the only way to the 
 splendid room. Yonder are several women bathing 
 in the tank ; see how they flee at our approach : 
 yet there are some who have not been fortunate 
 enough to escape as we pass they dive. Let us 
 hurry on, to release them from their fears. 
 
 Do you hear the clamorous sounds which issue 
 from that long shed ? There the village pedagogue 
 holds his lordly sway. The boys are repeating 
 their lessons in a song, all speaking together ; as 
 we pass they rise and salaam. This schoolmaster 
 refuses to admit the Scriptures to his school. But 
 yonder is the village to which we go. Another 
 paddy field lies between. What can that man be 
 doing in the road he gets up and lies down, gets 
 up and lies down, at every step ? Oh ! he is per- 
 forming a vow he is measuring the road from his 
 native village to Juggernath's temple, or some 
 other holy place, by the length of his own body. 
 See, he carries an iron nail in his hand, with which 
 he scratches the ground as far as he can reach ; 
 then he puts his toes to that mark and scratches 
 again. Poor creature ! how emaciated he looks ; 
 
396 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 he will most likely die on his pilgrimage. But 
 what noise is this we hear ? It proceeds from that 
 camel, which has just emerged from the village. 
 It ceases. Oh, no as the rider meets yonder 
 gToup it begins again. It is the herald of some 
 great man proclaiming his master's approach with 
 kettle drums and cymbals. What does he say? 
 Why, that Rajah Rada Chunee Mowshumsabud, 
 the light of all the nations, and giver of bread to 
 the hungry, the rewarder of merit and bestower of 
 gifts more splendid than those which Acbar gave, 
 is coming. The poor camel looks half starved, 
 and does not in the least corroborate the aptitude 
 with which its master's titles are chosen. But, 
 lo! here comes the Rajah: before him a troop of 
 horsemen ; the horses certainly appear to be fine 
 animals, and how well they are managed ; but how 
 filthy their accoutrements seem to be. Their riders 
 are clothed in gay attire, yet they look very little 
 like warriors. But stay a moment let them pass. 
 They are followed by about twenty men on camels, 
 each with a soldier carrying a matchlock sitting 
 behind him : then follows the Rajah, in that gaudy 
 palanqueen ; he is completely shut in. What a 
 number of peons and chuprasses surround his pa- 
 lanqueen, and how many bearers and banghy wal- 
 lahs attend his steps, and what noble elephants 
 bring up the rear ; they bear the tents, as well as 
 other luggage, and seem unconscious of their loads. 
 But see, here come several more palanqueens, sur- 
 rounded by chuprasses: in them are his wi\ 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 397 
 
 How closely they are shut in, and with what care 
 are they guarded. The whole village seems to be 
 on the look out. See how the women all run, now 
 they discover our approach. Hark, how that lordly 
 Brahmin rates them, because they do not flee faster. 
 He takes no notice of the poor coolies, who salaam 
 as they pass by him. But yonder is the school. 
 
 We will dismount here, as these tamarind trees 
 will shade our horses, and these coolies will mind 
 them. No, they refuse ; they say they are not 
 syces. We will ask this hackreywallah : " What 
 buckshish shall I get ?" he cries. The bargain is 
 made now let us enter. " Salaam, sahib, sa- 
 laam," all the children cry; whilst some few, who 
 can say an English word or two, exclaim, " Goot 
 marning, Sare." The schoolmaster himself adding, 
 " Glad sahib's come." " Kali khaw, gaw ghaw," 
 is then heard in faint accents all around. But 
 really one did not expect to find the boys so neat, 
 and their copperahs so clean, nor to hear them read 
 the Gospels so fluently. Their writing, too, is far 
 beyond what one could have supposed they would 
 have attained in so short a period. I will explain 
 why this is the case. The schoolmaster has been 
 under the tuition of Mr. Penney, in the Benevolent 
 Institution. See those four elder boys approach ; 
 do you ask why they wear those strings ? they are 
 Brahmins, and have assumed the poita, which is 
 composed of seven threads, and is the distinguish- 
 ing mark of their order. They wish to repeat their 
 tasks. With what correctness have they learned 
 
398 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 them. Give them each one of these new tracts. 
 See how pleased they are to get them. This man 
 who stands salaaming at the door wishes his boy 
 to be admitted. See how the little fellow grins ; 
 take him in. 
 
 We must now return, as the sun begins to shine 
 with power. We will go a nearer cut, through 
 Sulkea Bazaar. The road we are now got into is 
 the high road to Benares ; that neat looking bun- 
 galowe on your left has been built by Government 
 for the accommodation of travellers ; there is a si- 
 milar one at the end of every stage, all the way 
 along the road, which is a great convenience to 
 Europeans, as the native caravansaries are totally 
 unfit for their accommodation. See what a num- 
 ber of men with long staves in their hands, and 
 immense baskets on their heads, are trudging along 
 at a slow run before us ; they are carrying vege- 
 tables to the Calcutta markets : and here come a 
 lot of mutcheewallas, with baskets of tank fish 
 carried in banghies, going to market likewise. But 
 where are those men in such numbers going off to 
 the right, with their heads wrapped round with 
 cloths ? They are the workmen belonging to the 
 ship-yards. Do you not see the chisels and other 
 tools stuck in their cummerbunds? There are 
 above a thousand employed daily, as six of them 
 will not do the same quantity of work as an 
 English shipwright would perform in the same 
 time. See how chilly and cold they appear. This 
 is rather earlier than they generally start; but 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 399 
 
 there is urgent work to do some ship that wants 
 to get quickly out of dock and they will get 
 buckshishs for the extra hour. Those two men 
 with rough black heads and dirty cloths round 
 their loins, carrying spears, and sauntering along 
 before us, are the village chokedars, going to make 
 their report to the thannadar. That huge Brahminy 
 bull, which thrusts his nose into the rice mer- 
 chant's shop, is about to help himself freely. See 
 how the poor merchant strives to coax him away ; 
 and there is another of the same animals devour- 
 ing the vegetables in a basket, which a gardener 
 has just set down to rest his head. The poor man 
 is taking a whiff from a banyan's hubblebubble, 
 quite ignorant of the fate of his load. Ah ! but 
 now he spies the thief. See how he storms, but 
 dares not strike the sacred animal, who still con- 
 tinues to pull whole roots from the store, until the 
 basket regains its station upon the poor man's 
 head. 
 
 How fast this palanqueen seems to move. It is 
 a gentleman going to Benares by dawk. Those 
 two men carrying baskets suspended from the ends 
 of a bamboo placed across the shoulder, are called 
 banghywallas. They carry clothes, provisions, 
 &c., and are relieved in like manner with the bear- 
 ers, at every stage where others are waiting to go 
 on with the palanqueen, having been ordered by 
 the dawk, some days before. Yonder is the puckah 
 tank, built by a rich native a few years ago. See 
 what a noble flight of steps down to the water. 
 
400 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 There are many women fetching the daily supply 
 for their families, and resting the large coojahs on 
 their sides. But we must turn homewards here. 
 That building is the thannah, or gaol. See the 
 convicts are coming to work on the road. How 
 their fetters clink. Some of their backs are very 
 deeply marked with the strokes of the rattan, and 
 most of them appear to have been flogged. These 
 fetters, too, seem to gall their naked legs, as they 
 walk along. In the paddy field to the right hangs 
 a man in irons. He murdered his wife, by cutting 
 her throat in the night, in a cottage, near where 
 the gallows stands. But here is the bazaar. What 
 a confusion of tongues. See how earnestly that 
 woman is begging to have a few more cowries 
 given for some fish she offers ; whilst the buyer 
 clamorously declares the fish is not worth half 
 what he proffers. Look at that boat just going- 
 off from the ghaut, so crowded with passengers, 
 that they seem to be packed on each other, with 
 the baskets of vegetables piled all around them. If 
 one of them move but a little, the lives of the 
 whole will be endangered, as there are no less than 
 forty-six passengers in so small a boat. There 
 should be a law to regulate the number according 
 to the size of the boat, as the cupidity of the boat- 
 man will not suffer him to consult the safety of 
 his passengers. Behold the awful effects of Hin- 
 doo superstition ! See that poor man lie gasping 
 on the beach. He is brought there to die ; and 
 his son is actually stuffing mud into his mouth 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 401 
 
 and nose. Yonder, close by, lies a poor woman. 
 The water reaches to her shoulders, and in a few 
 minutes the flowing tide will terminate her life. 
 That fire burning a little lower down is consuming 
 the body of a rich banyan; and there are two 
 other bodies just brought to the ghaut to be burn- 
 ed. But here is the native chapel. How earnestly 
 do the natives listen. It is a converted Hindoo, a 
 native preacher, who is addressing them. He has 
 just read a part of the tenth chapter of the Gospel 
 by Matthew. Listen awhile to his discourse. 
 
 " It is said that the Ganges cleanses from all sin ; 
 now as this act is easily performed, it would be 
 very acceptable if it were true: but the same 
 Shaster says again, that many expensive rites, sa- 
 crifices, atonements, and the like, are absolutely 
 necessary in order to obtain the pardon of sin : 
 thus you plainly see, that washing in the Ganges 
 will not do. These atonements, however, might 
 be performed with some satisfaction, were it not 
 that the Shasters positively affirm, that do what 
 you may, resort to a thousand expedients, after all 
 the punishment of sin must be endured. Now, 
 my countrymen, you see, your own Shasters aver 
 that atonements, &c. are ineffectual. Why do you 
 not understand this? Why depend for salvation 
 on Shasters, which exhibit such contradictory doc- 
 trines ? Why not come to the true Shaster, the 
 word of Bruhmo? You will there find an all- 
 sufficient atonement for sin through the Lord Jesus 
 Christ ; an atonement which God accepts, because 
 
402 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 Christ, in offering himself a sacrifice, endured the 
 chastisement our sins deserve : and the knowledge 
 of this he sends to us, because he would have all 
 men every where repent, and because he loves 
 Hindoos as well as sahibs. Believe, then, my 
 dear brethren, in the Lord Jesus Christ ; render 
 obedience to him, and be eternally saved. The 
 diseases of the body are emblematical of the dis- 
 eases of the soul. Man by nature is spiritually 
 blind, lame, deaf, dumb, and even dead in sin. 
 Being blind, he cannot distinguish between evil 
 and good : he calls holiness, sin, and sin he deno- 
 minates holiness. Being lame, he cannot walk 
 in the paths of duty and holiness, although he 
 can run in the ways of sin. He is deaf: ears in- 
 deed he has, when obscene songs invite his atten- 
 tion; but tell him of God, his holiness, and the 
 purity of his commands, and he turns a deaf ear. 
 Tell him to speak the praises of God, to thank 
 him for his goodness, and to speak the truth 
 with his neighbour, and he is dumb ; while unpro- 
 fitable conversation, evil speaking, and the like, 
 are perpetually in his mouth. You know all this, 
 my dear countrymen ; your consciences, I am per- 
 suaded, bear testimony to its truth. Will you 
 know more ? Is he not dead to spiritual things ? 
 He is like a stone, insensible, inanimate. God 
 commands, he cannot obey God calls, but he 
 cannot hear, God thunders in his ears; he neither 
 trembles, nor regards. God invites him to partake 
 of heaven and happiness ; he values it not. Sin, 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 403 
 
 like a mountain, presses him to earth, and will 
 shortly, if he do not repent and believe the Gospel, 
 impel him over the precipice of earth to the unfa- 
 thomable abyss of hell; while yet he does not 
 groan under its burden, nay, he does not feel it. 
 When a man dies, you take him to the side of the 
 river, and bum his body in fire. Do you forget 
 that the unquenchable fire of hell is prepared for 
 sinners, that die without pardon ? Oh my brethren ! 
 remember these things, and fear; flee from the 
 wrath to come, lest condemnation overtake you 
 while unprepared. As the Lord Jesus Christ, in 
 the text I have read to you, sent forth his disciples 
 to heal the diseases of the body, so he now sends 
 his word, which contains a precious medicine for 
 the soul which is diseased, as I have described. 
 Come, then, dear fellow-men ; delay not, that your 
 souls may live. Do you ask how Jesus Christ can 
 heal the sin-sick soul ? I will tell you. Christ's 
 death atones for sin, because he bore the penalty 
 it merits ; his blood is the medicine, and faith in 
 him is its reception. His Spirit implants a new 
 disposition in the heart, and prepares the soul for 
 glory, and everlasting happiness beyond the grave." 
 Here are the syces come to take the horses ; 
 and as the people seem inclined to converse, we 
 will stay and listen, and if needs be, support the 
 preacher in his arguments. But hark what that 
 aged Hindoo says to his neighbour. " I am verily 
 persuaded that this is the true religion, which our 
 Shasters say will eventually prevail over the whole 
 
404 INDIAN 7 RECOLLECTIONS, 
 
 world. There is no end to systems among us, but 
 it is a fact, that no two agree in fundamental 
 points. We find nothing in any of them satisfac- 
 tory. At Nuddea there is Gourangadev, of modem 
 date. What effectual good is produced by his 
 worship? All are still liars, cheats, adulterers, 
 &c. Where then is any system among us that 
 will bear comparison with this, or that approves 
 itself to our reason as this does ? I really think, 
 brother, that this is the religion that will ultimately 
 prevail ; and though perhaps not in our lifetime, 
 yet our sons will receive it." Turning to the 
 preacher, he says, " We think you are right." 
 "Then," says the preacher, " I pray you receive 
 the truth : if it be true, as you suppose, and we 
 firmly believe, the consequence of its rejection 
 will be awfully important, because irrevocable and 
 eternal." But here comes a proud Brahmin. B. 
 " Do you talk of salvation ? Why the mere 
 pronunciation of the name of Huri procures salva- 
 tion." M. "Does a creditor release a debtor 
 from a bond, from the mere pronunciation of his 
 (the creditor's) name ?" B. " Why should he do 
 that ?" M. " Or does a prisoner obtain his li- 
 berty from merely pronouncing the judge's name .'" 
 B. "By no means." M. "Then why should 
 you suppose that God, to whom we are all debtors, 
 and who will be the great judge of all, pays less 
 regard to the principles of justice than man? Is 
 not God perfectly holy ? Is he not a God of spot- 
 less purity?" B. " Yes, no one can deny that." 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 405 
 
 M. "Then must we not have holy dispositions 
 and pure hearts, before we can hope to enjoy the 
 happiness of his kingdom ?" B. " It appears 
 necessary that we should." M. " Do light and 
 darkness assimilate?" B. "No, Sir, that they 
 cannot do." M. " Then, after pronouncing the 
 name of Huri, or bathing in the Ganges, do you 
 ever find a hatred to sin produced in the heart? 
 Do not the same evil propensities still predominate 
 as much after as previously to such observances ?" 
 The Brahmin is silent. Hear another Hindoo cry, 
 " I am afraid there is some truth in that." M. 
 " If then the cause of actual sin, a depraved heart, 
 be not removed, will not the effect remain ? Will 
 not sin continue to be committed, so long as its 
 parent depravity has its seat and reign in the heart ? 
 Suppose a young Brahmin is desirous of being a 
 Pundit, ought he not to be diligent in his studies?" 
 H. " Without doubt, or he would not obtain the 
 object of his wish." M. "Were you desirous of 
 becoming rich, would you not by all lawful means 
 endeavour to be so?" H. "Of course I should, 
 or be content to remain poor." M. " Can a man, 
 who lives in the habitual practice of notorious sins, 
 expect to be esteemed a holy man ?" H. " Im- 
 possible." M. "Then if to obtain an earthly 
 blessing, the means must be adapted to the end, 
 can we suppose that a blessing so great as the en- 
 joyment of eternal unalloyed happiness after death, 
 will be obtained by any but corresponding means?" 
 The sun has now attained such power that it is 
 
406 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 prudent to withdraw ; and the hour of domestic 
 worship is arrived, before which we must bathe 
 and dress. Thus our morning ride is ended. 
 
 I believe the foregoing to be a very faithful 
 picture of the scenes generally beheld. The sermon 
 and conversations are literally correct as they did 
 occur. 
 
 In the messenger who preceded the native raj ah, 
 I found a striking illustration of the character of 
 John the Baptist, who proclaimed the approach of 
 Messiah, according to Malachi iii. 1. " Behold I 
 will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the 
 way before me," which John did, by proclaiming 
 the glory and majesty of the Saviour, saying, 
 " One cometh after me, who is mightier than I, the 
 latchet of whose shoe I am noteworthy to unloose." 
 
 The general impression in the native mind is, 
 that the Hindoo religion must shortly give way to 
 one which will be universal. Who amongst us 
 but will pray, " Thy kingdom come, thy will be 
 done upon earth as it is in heaven. Let the people 
 praise thee, yea, let all the people praise thee." 
 
 How different then will be the aspect of India. 
 Idols and castes, Brahmins and Soodras will have 
 passed away " like the mist which rolls up the 
 mountain's side, before the rising glories of a sum- 
 mer morning, while the land on which it rested, 
 shining forth in all its loveliness, shall from its 
 numberless habitations send forth the high praises 
 of God and the Lamb. The Hindoo mother will 
 gaze upon her infant with the same tenderness 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 407 
 
 which throbs in the breast of a British parent ; 
 and the Hindoo son will pour into the bosom of 
 his widowed parent the oil of peace and consola- 
 tion/' The missionary object will not cease to 
 need our efforts, prayers, and support, until 
 
 " One song employs all nations ; and all cry 
 Worthy the Lamb, for he was slain for us. 
 The dwellers in the vales and on the rocks 
 Shout to each other ; and the mountain tops 
 From distant mountains catch the flying joy, 
 Till nation after nation, taught the strain, 
 Earth rolls the rapturous hosanna round." 
 
CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 ' 'Tis the abode of one, 
 A heathen once, but now a humble saint. 
 He greets with placid gaze the fresh'ning breeze, 
 And lifts his eyes to heaven solemn and glad, 
 In silent adoration. At his door 
 He sits attired with decent nicety, 
 And reads with inward joy the sacred page, 
 Outspread upon his knees. Who is he ? say. 
 The holy volume answers, * 'Tis a brand 
 Pluck'd from eternal burnings.' O the cross 
 Hath triumph'd o'er the sinning soul, and won 
 A slave from Hindoo darkness. Blessed change ! 
 A worthy theme for angel minstrelsy. 
 Yea, angel praise could not express such change, 
 Produc'd by grace divine." LAWSON. 
 
 NATIVE CHAPEL OPENED IDOL GIVEN UP EFFECT OF 
 
 ITS REMOVAL PERSECUTION OF NATIVE CHRISTIANS 
 
 THEIR DELIVERANCE MESSRS. BENNET AND TY- 
 
 ERMAN HINDOO FABLE REV. MICAIAH HILL'S 
 
 SPEECH MUSSULMAN MOONSHEE BAPTIZED HIS 
 
 HISTORY REV. MR. WAYLAND's OPINIONS. 
 
 DURING the time that the deputation from the 
 London Missionary Society was in Calcutta, a 
 very pleasing circumstance occurred, which was 
 no other than the opening of a native chapel, 
 where an idol temple before had stood. The day 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 409 
 
 was indeed a hallowed festival, and Messrs. Ben- 
 net and Tyerman seemed highly to enjoy it. It 
 was the celebration of a signal victory obtained 
 over the powers of darkness. This chapel was 
 situated at Rammakal-choke, a village about nine 
 miles south of Calcutta. Ramjee, a land-owner, 
 was the proprietor of the temple, which had been 
 erected by his forefather, in honour to, and as the 
 residence of Sheeb. This man heard the Gospel 
 preached by Mr. Trawin, one of the missionaries 
 from the London Missionary Society; and such 
 was the effect produced under the Divine blessing, 
 that he determined to destroy the temple, and give 
 up the idol to the missionary, to be sent to the 
 Museum in London. On the 20th of March, 1825, 
 the idol was hurled from its throne, and given to 
 Mr. Trawin, thus fulfilling the prophecy, "The 
 gods who made not the heavens nor the earth, 
 shall perish from under those heavens and from 
 off that earth." The effect of its removal was, as 
 might have been anticipated, most peculiar. The 
 officiating Brahmin stood as if petrified with hor- 
 ror ; and raising both his hands, expressed himself 
 almost literally, in the language of Micah, when 
 his Teraphim was stolen : " Ye have taken away 
 my god, and what have I more?" The people 
 ran together, some crying one thing, and some 
 another ; but all its wretched and deluded votaries 
 seemed with one voice to say, " Great is Sheeb of 
 the Hindoos." 
 
 Whoever reflects on the nature of idol worship 
 
410 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 in general, and on that which is paid to the idol 
 Sheeb in particular, which consists not merely in 
 stupidity and folly, but in the most disgusting 
 obscenity, the most libidinous revelry, and the 
 most savage and merciless cruelty, must with ad- 
 miration exclaim, " This is the Lord's doing, it 
 is marvellous in our eyes." 
 
 The zemindar, or native officer in the village of 
 Rammakal-choke, commenced an outrage upon 
 the native Christians by levying from each a fine of 
 ten rupees, for destroying, as he termed it, the 
 village. Refusing to pay this unjust demand, 
 they were apprehended, and severely beaten with 
 a shoe, a mode of punishment exceedingly abhor- 
 rent to the feelings of a Hindoo, to whom it is 
 expressive, more perhaps than any other chastise- 
 ment which could be inflicted, of degradation, de- 
 basement, and scorn. After various other insults 
 and injuries, such as stripping their trees of the 
 fruit, robbing the ponds of the fish, &c., he put 
 them in close confinement, where they were de- 
 tained for some days, until application being made 
 to the magistrate, they were liberated, and have 
 since enjoyed unmolested their freedom and their 
 faith. 
 
 The zemindar afterwards apologised for his con- 
 duct, and expressed his desire to dwell in peace 
 with his Christian neighbours. Ramjee also pre- 
 sented a piece of ground large enough to build a 
 school-room, as well as a chapel ; and when the 
 day arrived on which the opening took place, all 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 411 
 
 the inhabitants seemed to say, " It was never so 
 seen in our village before/' Messrs. Bennet and 
 Tyerman were anxious to see the person who had 
 made so great a donation to the cause of truth, 
 expecting to behold some great man, with flowing 
 robes; but they were much surprised when their 
 attention was directed to a plain-dressed Hindoo, 
 sitting at the feet of the preacher, the tears flow- 
 ing down his swarthy cheeks, whilst he seemed 
 to eat the words as they fell from the speaker's 
 lips; so that when told that this was Ramjee, 
 they almost seemed to doubt it. The villages all 
 around this place present a cheering aspect, and 
 indicate that the Gospel morn will soon be ushered 
 in ; the streaks of light already appear in the ho- 
 rizon, and most of the natives in this quarter seem 
 prepared to hail its approach. Farther still to the 
 south, the Baptist missionaries have been highly 
 encouraged by similar tokens of the divine recog- 
 nition of their labours, amongst the inhabitants of 
 the islands around the salt water lakes, and the 
 borders of the Sunderbunds. The prejudices of 
 the native mind seem swiftly to have passed away. 
 This has been the case generally throughout the 
 whole of India, where opportunities have been 
 enjoyed of hearing the Gospel. The efforts of the 
 Church Missionary Society have been crowned 
 with great success ; and the labours of the Seram- 
 pore and Calcutta missionaries, in translating and 
 circulating the Scriptures, have been productive of 
 vast results. The great moral revolution of India 
 T 2 
 
412 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 must be effected by legitimate means, by those 
 prescribed by the great Founder of Christianity 
 himself. And as we depart from his directions, 
 (however human wisdom may point to the use of 
 means apparently more fitted to attain the great 
 end,) so far shall we prevent the success of the 
 object in view. As Mr. Wayland, of Boston, in 
 America, observes : " It is by going forth and tell- 
 ing the lost children of men, ' that God so loved 
 the world, that he gave his only begotten Son to 
 die for them ;' and by all the eloquence of such 
 an appeal, to intreat them for Christ's sake to be 
 reconciled unto God, that we may expect the 
 world to be evangelized. This is the lever by 
 which the moral universe is to be raised : this is 
 the instrument by which a sinful world is to be 
 regenerated." The triumph at Rammakal-choke 
 was not effected by the coercive weapons of war, 
 but by the attractive influence of the Gospel : not 
 by a desolating army, but by the quickening ener- 
 gy of the Spirit of the living God. The Hindoos 
 believe, many of them, that the world when first 
 formed was placed by him who created it, far 
 nearer to the sun than it is in its present situation; 
 but that from a certain period, it has continued, 
 by a retrograde motion, to verge from that lumi- 
 nary, and that all the calamities now experienced 
 are to be attributed to this circumstance. They 
 believe also, that, as this retrograde motion still 
 continues, the period will soon arrive, when the 
 orb of day, in its size, its heat, and its light, will 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 413 
 
 resemble a star ; that darkness will then envelope 
 the nations, and the world become a chaos, in 
 which confusion, death, and oblivion must reign. 
 I remember that the Rev. Mr. Hill, at a public 
 meeting held in Calcutta, in the month of May, 
 1822, referring to these opinions of the natives in 
 an eloquent speech, of which I have preserved a 
 copy, said: "Now suppose what is thus fabled 
 were true; suppose the earth removed from the 
 sun, and the light of day dwindling to the gloom 
 of midnight ; suppose barbarity and vice propor- 
 tionably increased, till man had almost annihilated 
 his species ; suppose, also, that when the world 
 was thus verging on ruin, that some heavenly 
 beings, lamenting its condition, should descend, 
 and, setting their shoulders to the globe, should 
 bear it aloft to its pristine situation, and thus re- 
 move its calamities, and restore its felicity, how 
 godlike would be the design how noble the ef- 
 fort how infinite the obligations due to such be- 
 nefactors ! Now what is thus fabled, concerning 
 our earth, is literally true in reference to the moral 
 world. This, by a retrograde motion ever since 
 its creation, has receded from the sun of right- 
 eousness, from the fountain of felicity, from the 
 source of wisdom. The natural consequence of 
 such a departure is, that man, from a holy being, 
 has become the greatest savage in the universe, 
 having destroyed more of his own species than all 
 the beasts that inhabit the forests. He has lost 
 the knowledge of God, for ' he has changed the 
 
414 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 glory of the incorruptible God into an image made 
 like to corruptible man, and to birds, to four-footed 
 beasts, and to creeping things.' Parents forget- 
 ting they are human, sacrifice their offspring to 
 devils; and children, destitute of affection, first 
 administer poison, then stuff the mouth and nos- 
 trils of their aged parents with mud ; and lastly, 
 plunge them into the flood, or leave them a resist- 
 less prey to the next flowing tide. The yellings 
 of superstition have roused from their subterrane- 
 ous caverns the monsters of the deep, which now 
 annually wait on the banks of the Ganges to satiate 
 themselves with human gore. The priests of Jug- 
 geraath have stolen a brand from the bottomless 
 pit, and kindled the flames of hell on the plains of 
 Hindostan. Demons in human shape urge for- 
 ward the thoughtless youth, who launches the 
 being that gave him birth on a fiery stream, and 
 laughs as he sees her floating to a gulf of un- 
 quenchable fire. Obscenity blushes not when 
 seen ; cruelty becomes sport ; and madness, devo- 
 tion. Thus if one moment Idolatry madden her 
 votaries with lust, the next, as though envious at 
 their flitting joy, she strikes with her magic wand, 
 and reverses the scene: blood flows from her 
 altars, death rides in triumph, and the grave fol- 
 lows in his train; for 'hell is naked before her, 
 and destruction hath no covering.' Say then, ye 
 that have bowels of compassion, if ' darkness 
 cover not the earth, and gross darkness the people.' 
 " But where can beings be found, who will un- 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 415 
 
 dertake the task of restoring man to his former 
 station ? and if such be found, in what way can a 
 fulcrum be obtained? and if obtained, who will 
 construct a lever which can elevate a world ? The 
 questions are answered, the difficulties are removed. 
 Missionaries have commenced the work, the ful- 
 crum is found, the lever is in operation, and the 
 whole moral world is in motion See, it rises 
 look at its elevation. Compare it with its situa- 
 tion a century ago, and instead of questioning its 
 progress, amazed at the rapidity of its motion, 
 you will be ready to prognosticate, that in fifty 
 years hence it will have resumed its former bles- 
 sed station, in which ' mercy and truth will have 
 met together, righteousness and peace have em- 
 braced each other ;' where i truth shall spring out 
 of the earth, and righteousness shall look down 
 from heaven/ 
 
 " We have heard much concerning the difficul- 
 ties attending the conversion of the Hindoos; but 
 what have difficulties to do with Omnipotence, or 
 intricacies with Infinite Wisdom ? The work is 
 not- ours, but God's ; the victory is not ours, but 
 the Lord's. Yet even the difficulties of which we 
 hear may be the prelude to future success. 
 
 " Much exertion is required at first to stop the 
 retrograde motion of the earth, and after this much 
 more to give it an impetus in the opposite direc- 
 tion ; but when once an impetus is gained, and the 
 same exertion continues, that impetus will assist 
 future exertions, till impetus beget impetus, strength 
 
416 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 augment strength, and the motion of the world be 
 so accelerated as to cause a rapidity in its pro- 
 gress towards the Sun of Righteousness unequalled 
 in any former age, and beyond the anticipation of 
 the most sanguine in the present. And though we 
 may not, yet the next generation shall see it fly 
 toward the source of wisdom, as a comet urges on 
 its flaming car ; for precisely in this way is the 
 progress of divine knowledge. Truth is exhibited 
 year after year, yet the retrograde motion pro- 
 duced by vice still continues. At length, perhaps, 
 one person is converted in a year, and probably 
 two during the next. The number now multiplies, 
 and soon a general awakening ensues, when thou- 
 sands are converted under a sermon, and a nation 
 born in a day : for great is truth, and it must pre- 
 vail. I will point, in confirmation of what I say, 
 to the South Seas. There, in a group of islands, 
 for twenty years the servants of God have laboured 
 without success. Some were murdered, others 
 died; some were hunted from place to place, 
 others were driven to different islands ; one made 
 shipwreck of faith and a good conscience, and the 
 few remaining were discouraged : but in the mo- 
 ment of despair, a spark of divine grace fell from 
 heaven, and the billows of the Pacific Ocean could 
 not extinguish it. The truths which had been 
 scattered amidst persecution, desertion, banish- 
 ment, and blood, it kindled into a flame ; it burned 
 all around ; the altars of superstition crumbled 
 into ashes ; the idols fell before it, or rushed into 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 417 
 
 the sea for a retreat from its fury. Some few, in- 
 deed, have escaped to England, not for divine 
 adoration, but for a spectacle of derision, or of 
 triumph to the Redeemer's cause. Infidelity no 
 longer rears her crested head, and asks, i Hath a 
 nation changed its gods?' Nation after nation 
 destroys its idols, island after island becomes 
 evangelized ; and, for aught we can tell, the flame 
 is at this moment stretching to the New Hebrides, 
 thence it will soon reach Lord Mulgrave's range, 
 the Ladrones, the Philippines, and lastly the con- 
 tinent of Asia falls within its grasp, when ' the 
 kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms 
 of our God and of his Christ, and he shall reign 
 for ever.' ' 
 
 In the month of May, 1824, a Mussulman 
 moonshee, of respectable character and attain- 
 ments, was baptized in the river Ganges, at the 
 Ghaut before my house at Gusserah, by Mr. Yates. 
 This event was a source of much astonishment to 
 the natives, and produced a powerful effect upon 
 the minds of many. " Wah ! wah !" said one to 
 another, " this is strange, passing strange, that 
 one of our teachers should become a Christian ! 
 A Brahmin was baptized but the other day, and 
 now a Mussulman moonshee follows in the same 
 path." " Why we must all be Christians by and 
 by, for, as our Shasters declare, one new religion 
 shall eat up all the old ones," said another Hindoo, 
 partly in j est and partly in earnest. Hundreds of 
 natives lined the banks of the river, and behaved 
 
 T3 
 
418 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 in the most orderly manner, whilst Soojatalla, the 
 moonshee, seemed deeply affected by the solemn 
 ordinance. He was a person of great suavity of 
 manner, and first heard the Gospel in the Native 
 Chapel at Row Bazaar. Bagchee, a converted 
 Brahmin, was preaching in turn with one of the 
 missionaries, and he perceiving that Soojatalla, 
 though desirous of hearing the word preached, 
 seemed not to understand the language in which 
 it was delivered, (the Bengalee,) when the service 
 was over, addressed him in Hindoostanee, explain- 
 ing what had been before stated. Soojatalla was 
 so impressed with the truths delivered, that he 
 went home with the Brahmin, and remained an 
 inmate of his house for some length of time, daily 
 receiving instruction from the missionaries, and 
 constantly studying the sacred Scriptures, by 
 which means light broke in upon his mind rapidly, 
 and he made astonishing progress in the know- 
 ledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Seeing 
 this, his relations became seriously alarmed lest 
 he should apostatize from the Mahomedan faith, 
 and . entail disgrace upon himself and family by 
 embracing Christianity. At length, when their 
 messages proved ineffectual, and failed to bring 
 him away from the mission premises, his mother 
 came to fetch him, declaring, with the most violent 
 threats, that if he did not immediately leave the 
 Christians, she would destroy herself. From a 
 sense of filial duty, he complied, and accompanied 
 her home to Howrah, where, after a short time, lu 1 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 419 
 
 was assailed by the solicitations of his wife, mo- 
 ther, sisters, and other relatives, and the argu- 
 ments of several learned Mussulmans, employed 
 by them to re-establish his faith in Mahomet. 
 Withstanding the one, however, and fairly over- 
 coming the other, by a comparison of the Koran 
 and the New Testament, he was afterwards en- 
 abled to maintain a temper and conduct so con- 
 sistent with the faith he had newly embraced, that 
 by degrees he overcame the opposition of his rela- 
 tions, and they gave their consent to his professing 
 Christianity. In due time, therefore, after giving 
 a very satisfactory account of his faith, he was 
 received as a candidate for Christian fellowship, 
 and, as I have before stated, was baptized in the 
 Ganges. 
 
 After this, the natives could no longer ask, with 
 the Jews of old, " Have any of the rulers believed 
 on him ?" Such an event was calculated to cheer 
 the hearts of the missionaries, and to stimulate 
 them to renewed exertions ; and really they need 
 such encouragement, being surrounded by natives 
 on one hand, who do all they can to impede the 
 good work in its progress, and on the other by 
 Europeans, who constantly declare that they never 
 can succeed in the object of their pursuits. If, 
 indeed, we looked to our own resources, we must 
 fail, because, as our transatlantic friend before 
 quoted eloquently says, " we shall frequently 
 interfere with the sordid interests of men ; and we 
 expect them to increase the difficulties of our un- 
 
420 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 dertaking. If we can turn the heathen to God, 
 many a source of unholy traffic will be dried up, 
 and many a convenience of unhallowed gratifica- 
 tion taken away. And hence we may expect that 
 the traffickers in human flesh, the disciples of 
 mammon, and the devotees of pleasure, will be 
 against us. From the heathen themselves, we 
 have the blackest darkness of ignorance to dispel. 
 We have to assail systems venerable for their 
 antiquity, and interwoven with every thing that is 
 proud in a nation's history. Above all, we have 
 to oppose the depravity of the human heart, grown 
 still more inveterate by ages of continuance in 
 unrestrained iniquity. In a word, we go forth to 
 urge upon a world dead in trespasses and sins, a 
 thorough renewal of heart, and an universal re- 
 formation of practice. 
 
 " This enterprise requires consummate wisdom 
 in the missionary who goes abroad, as well as in 
 those who manage the concerns of a society at 
 home. He who goes forth unprotected, to preach 
 Christ to despotic or badly governed nations, 
 must be wise as a serpent, and harmless as a 
 dove. With undeviating firmness upon every 
 thing essential, he must combine the most yield- 
 ing facility upon all that is unimportant. And 
 thus, while he goes forth in the spirit and power 
 of Elias, he must at the same time become all 
 things to all men, that by all means he may gain 
 some. Great abilities are also required in him 
 who conducts the mission at home. He must 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 421 
 
 awaken, animate, and direct the sentiments of a 
 very large portion of the community in which he 
 resides, whilst at the same time, through a hun- 
 dred different agents, he is exerting a powerful 
 influence upon half as many nations a thousand or 
 ten thousand miles off. Indeed it is hazarding 
 nothing to predict, that if efforts for the extension 
 of the Gospel continue to multiply with their pre- 
 sent ratio of increase, as great abilities will, in a 
 few years, be required for transacting the business 
 of a missionary society, as for conducting the 
 affairs of a political cabinet." 
 
 In the commanding simplicity of the means 
 devised by Omniscience to effect the evangelization 
 of the globe, we behold indubitable marks of the 
 agency of the omnipotent God. The means which 
 effect his greatest purposes in the kingdom of 
 nature are simple and unostentatious, while those 
 which man employs are complicated and tumultu- 
 ous. How many intellects are tasked, how many 
 hands are wearied, how many arts exhausted, in 
 preparing for the event of a single battle, and how 
 great is the tumult of the moment of decision. In 
 all this, man only imitates the inferior agents of 
 nature. The autumnal tempest, whose sphere of 
 action is limited to a little spot upon our little 
 world, comes forth attended by the roar of thunder 
 and the flash of lightning ; while the attraction of 
 gravitation, that stupendous force which binds to- 
 gether the mighty masses of the material universe, 
 acts silently. In the sublimest of natural trans- 
 
422 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 actions, the greatest result is ascribed to the sim- 
 plest, the most unique of causes. " He spake and 
 it was done, he commanded and it stood fast." 
 
 In seeking to benefit Hindoos by the imparta- 
 tion of the Gospel, we anxiously desire that their 
 minds and conduct may be regulated by the pre- 
 cepts of that Gospel, which Jesus himself hath 
 summed up in the single command, Thou shalt 
 love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and thy 
 neighbour as thyself. We expect to teach one 
 man obedience to this command, and that he will 
 feel obliged to teach his neighbour, who will feel 
 obliged to teach others, who are again to become 
 teachers, until the whole world shall be peopled 
 with one family of brethren. 
 
 Animosity is to be done away by inculcating 
 universally the obligation of love. In this manner 
 we expect to teach rulers justice, and subjects sub- 
 mission ; to open the heart of the miser, and loose 
 the grasp of the oppressor. It is thus we expect 
 the time to be hastened onward when men shall 
 beat their swords into ploughshares, and their 
 spears into pruning hooks ; when nation shall no 
 more lift up sword against nation, neither shall they 
 learn war any more. 
 
 With this process, compare the means by which 
 men, on the principles of this world, effect a meli- 
 oration in the condition of their species. Their 
 almost universal agent is threatened or inflicted 
 misery. And, from the nature of the case, it can- 
 not be otherwise. Without altering the disposition 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 423 
 
 of the heart, they only attempt to control its exer- 
 cise. And they must control it by showing their 
 power to make the indulgence of that disposition 
 the source of more misery than happiness. Hence 
 when men confer a benefit upon a portion of their 
 brethren, it is generally preceded by a protracted 
 struggle to decide which can inflict most, or which 
 can suffer longest. Hence the arm of the patriot 
 is generally and of necessity bathed in blood. 
 Hence with the shouts of victory from the nation 
 he has delivered, there arise also the sigh of the 
 widow, and the weeping of the orphan. Man 
 produces good by the apprehension or the inflic- 
 tion of evil. The gospel produces good by the 
 universal diffusion of the principles of benevolence. 
 In the former case, one party must generally suffer ; 
 in the latter, all parties are certainly more happy. 
 The one, like the mountain torrent, may fertilise 
 now and then a valley beneath, but not until it has 
 wildly swept away the forest above, and disfigured 
 the lovely landscape with many an unseemly scar. 
 Not so the other : 
 
 " It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven 
 Upon the place beneath ; it is twice bless'd, 
 It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes." 
 
CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 " The west is flush'd with loveliest streaks of red, 
 Faint and yet fainter dwindling, as the noise 
 Of day subsides, and all the quiet joys 
 Which stealing eve doth ever gently shed, 
 Charming are felt, but not express'd. The bed 
 Of the calm river stretch'd like polish'd skies, 
 Bears the straw laden boat with equal poise, 
 Seeming suspended, while high over head 
 And deep beneath is seen a heaven of light." 
 
 LAWSON. 
 
 AN EVENING RIDE TRAVELLERS REPOSING NATIVE 
 
 WEDDING SHIPWRIGHTS BAZAAR VILLAGE 
 
 BELLE NAUTCH GIRLS FAKEER DAROGA ILLUS- 
 TRATION OF SCRIPTURE KINGFISHERS BOTANICAL 
 
 GARDENS BISHOP'S COLLEGE STEAM VESSEL 
 
 CASTOR OIL PLANTS COCOA NUTS FISHING MAN- 
 GOES ALBION MILLS PLANTATION S INDIGO 
 
 INDIGO PLANTERS. 
 
 AFTER the fatigues of an Indian day, it is de- 
 lightful to catch a breath of air which does not 
 seem as if it came through the medium of a fur- 
 nace. Sometimes for weeks together such a luxury 
 cannot be obtained, whilst during many months of 
 the year, you can generally find it on the banks 
 of the river, after the sun begins to approach near 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 425 
 
 to the horizon ; but at all seasons, except when it 
 rains, an evening ride is a great relief. I have 
 conducted my readers through one of the morning 
 rambles, let me now have the pleasure of their 
 company during an evening ride. We will follow 
 the same path till we get to the school ground. 
 We went to the right, by that large peepul tree 
 before. Beneath its shade there are several tra- 
 vellers reposing. That man has several large pea- 
 cocks in the coop, which he has caught in the 
 jungles, and is taking over to Calcutta for sale. 
 The other cage contains parroquets. How they 
 scream for their liberty. 
 
 See, here comes a hackrey laden with bricks. 
 How it creaks. The native driver is smoking his 
 hubblebubble very contentedly, whilst his poor 
 bullocks are terribly galled by the hard beam 
 against which their humps press. There are large 
 quantities of bricks made on the ground by the 
 side of the river. The whole country hereabouts 
 produces excellent brick earth. But what strange 
 figure is this on horseback, decorated with some- 
 thing like a fool's cap ? How much he resembles 
 a chimney-sweeper in England, on the first of 
 May: and what hideous noise the music before 
 him makes. It is a low caste native (a mather) 
 going to fetch home his bride. See what a poor 
 half starved tattoo he has borrowed for the occa- 
 sion, and how awkwardly he sits upon it. The 
 retinue are some of the same caste ; most of them 
 are intoxicated. What hideous gestures they use ! 
 
426 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 Do you observe what a large gaudy umbrella is 
 carried over the bridegroom's head. But they 
 stop before that mud-built cottage ; and what a 
 riotous noise they now make with their tomtoms 
 and cymbals. The bride lives there. 
 
 Who are all these men with large burthens of 
 wood on their heads ? They are shipwrights re- 
 turning from their labour, with the chips they 
 have made in the course of the day as their per- 
 quisites. They are all examined by two chuprasses 
 at the gate, as they come out of the yard, or other- 
 wise they would hide nails, copper bolts, or other 
 valuable articles, in the midst of the chips ; and 
 even with all the care that is taken, they do con- 
 trive to bring a great many such articles away ; 
 for this when detected they are often flogged 
 in the yard ; yet such is their propensity for thiev- 
 ing, that when opportunities of robbing their em- 
 ployers occur, they cannot resist them. Beneath 
 those large bamboos is the place where they sell 
 their burthens : that man who lifts the bundle to 
 weigh it is a dealer, buying the wood for the 
 Calcutta market ; see how many bundles he has 
 bought already. 
 
 We will now turn to the right, up this bazaar. 
 Look at the beads, combs, small looking glasses, 
 all exposed in tempting array, upon the mat be- 
 fore that fat swarthy looking female. See how 
 she coaxes that young woman with a patch of red 
 paint on her forehead, and a large ring through 
 her nose, with bangles four deep on each leg, to 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 427 
 
 buy a glass. She is the village belle. Now she 
 sees us, she draws her coppera over her face and 
 runs into the hut close by, but still the old woman 
 keeps talking to her. Those green leaves spread 
 out upon that stall, with something white laid 
 upon them, are pawn leaves, with betel nut and 
 chunam, ready for the women to chew. When 
 taken into the mouth the saliva becomes of a 
 bright scarlet colour. See how vermilion the lips 
 of the woman who sells them appear. That man, 
 with something like a burthen of wood on his 
 shoulders, is bringing sugar-canes to sell. The 
 man on your right is drinking the juice of a cocoa 
 nut; there are hundreds of them lying there for 
 sale ; the price is a pice each, and a very cooling 
 refreshing liquid it is which they contain. Those 
 white balls laid out so regularly are meethies, or 
 sweetmeats, made from butter, sugar, ghee, and 
 milk. See how eagerly the lad devours those he 
 has purchased. 
 
 This is the village where Sebukram the native 
 preacher lived. He was an eminent Christian, and 
 the means of doing much to lessen the prejudices 
 of his countrymen against the Gospel. His end 
 was peace and joy, through believing in Christ. 
 The large building before us is the residence of a 
 native banker, and would be a magnificent looking 
 place, if plastered over as the houses of Europeans 
 are. The windows, though many, are too small to 
 be uniform with the size of the building. There 
 are four small cannon placed before the gate, and 
 
428 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 a stage for fireworks erected. There is to be a 
 grand nautch held there to-night. See, the native 
 musicians are just going in, and here come the 
 nautch girls. How impudent their gaze, and how 
 gaudy their attire. Their turbans glitter, but it is 
 not with gems, but tinsel. Here comes a troop of 
 buffoons; what debauched creatures they seem 
 to be. How great the contrast between their ap- 
 pearance and that of those three neat clean dressed 
 sircars who are passing. But see, the sircars ac- 
 tually salaam to the ground to that beastly looking 
 creature, with scarcely a rag of clothing, and his 
 body all rubbed over with cow dung and ashes. 
 He is a fakeer. See, they give him alms. He 
 hardly condescends to notice them, and seems 
 quite stupid with liquor. 
 
 But here comes the police daroga, with his 
 venerable grey beard, attended by a body of chu- 
 prasses : they are guarding four prisoners. Hear 
 how those women who follow them are screaming. 
 A murder has been committed on a young girl, for 
 the sake of the ornaments she carried on her arms, 
 legs, nose, and ears ; and they are taken up on 
 suspicion of being concerned in the affair; and 
 perhaps to-morrow twenty or thirty more will also 
 be arrested. Such as can afford to pay a compli- 
 ment to the daroga will speedily be discharged, as 
 most likely this is the end for which the daroga 
 has seized them. 
 
 Those gardens on our right are kept in nice 
 order. The mollees are just beginning to water 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 429 
 
 them; they are opening the little trenches with 
 their feet; these trenches intersect each other at 
 right angles; and when one has received enough 
 of the refreshing fluid, the foot again closes the 
 aperture, thus illustrating Deut. xi. 10. " For the 
 land whither thou goest in to possess it is not as 
 the land of Egypt from whence ye came out, where 
 thou sowedst thy seed, and wateredst it with thy 
 foot, as a garden of herbs; but the land whither 
 ye go to possess it is a land of hills and valleys 
 and drinketh water of the rain of heaven." There 
 are two men busily employed in raising the water 
 from yonder well, to supply the trenches. 
 
 This is a large tamarind tree. The red bird with 
 white neck and head, which sits perched upon it, 
 is watching the fish in the little tank beneath. 
 This is a sacred bird with the Hindoos. It is 
 much like a Brahminee kite in its shape, and is 
 called by that name by Europeans sometimes. It 
 lives entirely on fish. But look, the large king- 
 fisher has disturbed the shoal which the bird was 
 watching, aye, and has carried off a good sized 
 fish ; but see, the prey is taken from him by the 
 Brahminee kite which bears it off in trinmph. We 
 have no such large species of the kingfisher in Eng- 
 land ; there are here twelve different sorts ; most 
 of them exceedingly beautiful. On the top of the 
 palm tree before us sits a mangoe bird; see how 
 its golden plumage glitters above the green branch 
 on which it perches. The yellow feathers of its 
 
430 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 tail are highly prized by the natives who pick them 
 up when the bird moults. 
 
 In that cottage you may see a bullock going 
 round in a mill ; it is an oil manufactory ; see, there 
 are four large leathern bottles which will hold ten 
 gallons each, standing before the door. Yonder 
 is the road which turns to the Botanical Gardens, 
 which we must pass : this large prickly pear fence 
 belongs to the Gardens ; those large groves, as 
 as they appear to you, are each a single banyan 
 tree. To the right, beyond the thick shrubbery, 
 you can just see the top of a large white house ; 
 that is the residence of Dr. Wallich, superinten- 
 dent of the gardens, which is most pleasantly si- 
 tuated on the banks of the river. The smoke that 
 you see curling up those tall trees arises from the 
 bobbageekhannah of the deputy superintendent. 
 The grounds are beautifully laid out, and thickly 
 planted with every specimen that can possibly be 
 procured of the different orders of plants, shrubs, 
 and trees, from all parts of the globe : there are 
 some splendid beds of large flowering shrubs and 
 bulbs from Australia, Birmah, Penang, and the 
 islands of the Eastern Ocean. Dr. Wallich has 
 spared no trouble or personal fatigue to collect 
 them. Any respectable inhabitant of the country 
 may obtain an assortment of plants, free from all 
 charges, except for the pots, &c. in which they are 
 placed. By writing to the superintendent, I re- 
 ceived a beautiful assortment a few days after the 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 431 
 
 application was made. That large grove at the 
 eastern extremity is a plantation of teak trees, but 
 they do not thrive well in Bengal. There are some 
 fine trees to be found amongst them ; still the soil 
 does not exactly suit them. Notwithstanding the 
 teak is considered equally strong and durable with 
 the English oak, and ships built with it are pre- 
 ferred to all others, yet there is hardly any wood 
 so brittle when growing, as a very little force ap- 
 plied to a stout bough will snap it in two. Hence, 
 when I wish the large teak trees growing in the 
 front of my house to be trimmed of the lower 
 boughs, it affords fine sport for the young gentle- 
 men, two or three of whom laying hold of the ex- 
 tremity of a large branch, by a united effort will 
 break it off close to the trunk. In the centre of 
 the garden there is a large nutmeg tree, which 
 bears fine fruit. When gathered, they appear 
 much like a walnut, but on removing the outward 
 husk, the mace is discovered entwined around the 
 nut, insinuating itself into all the convolutions of 
 the surface. 
 
 The large path which leads from the ghaut to 
 a small temple at its extremity, is perhaps one of 
 the finest walks in the world ; at least I have never 
 seen it excelled. 
 
 But we will now tnrn to the right, and take a 
 view of Bishop's College, which stands to the 
 north of the gardens. It is only a little way be- 
 yond the bamboo grove. There now it opens to 
 view on our left. We will go in front of the build- 
 
432 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 mg, as it forms three sides of a square, the side 
 next the river being left open. That gothic edi- 
 fice in the centre is the chapel, to the left of which 
 is a large hall. The wings are the residences of 
 the principal and professors. It was founded by 
 the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, and 
 commenced and nearly completed by Bishop Mid- 
 dleton, who devised the plan, and spent much of 
 his time in superintending its progress. There are 
 several young gentlemen already entered as stu- 
 dents, and many more are desirous of being ad- 
 mitted when the necessary preparations are com- 
 pleted. But the funds as yet are very inadequate 
 to accomplish the design of the founders. Neither 
 are the statutes of the college made public, so that 
 many persons who otherwise might be induced to 
 aid in its support, are prevented through ignorance 
 of its statutes. But if you turn your view to the 
 river, you will see the Comet steamer towing a 
 large vessel up the stream. If you will observe, 
 the steamer is lashed alongside the ship. It re- 
 minds me of what I had often witnessed in Eng- 
 land, a little dog, which having seized a large sow 
 by the ear, gallantly conducts her out of the yard. 
 It is a vessel from England. There are several 
 cadets on deck. See how rosy and blooming 
 they appear. If they are spared a few years, what 
 a change will be visible. The rose will fade, and 
 premature wrinkles will appear. There are many 
 recruits on board. How pleased they seem at the 
 idea of soon escaping from the confinement of the 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 433 
 
 ship. Those large brimmed straw hats which 
 they wear, have been bought of the bum-boat 
 merchants in the river. 
 
 We will now return to the road, as we shall 
 soon traverse the banks of the river for some dis- 
 tance ; and as we shall cut off the angle which 
 the river forms in its course a little way beyond, 
 we shall gain time of the vessel. Observe the 
 fine-looking plants in that inclosure. They are 
 castor oil plants (the Ricinus Palma Christi.) The 
 berries or pods which they produce are very sweet 
 to the taste, and by no means unpalatable. The 
 first officer of a free trader walking in my garden 
 not long since, mistook one of these plants for a 
 species of Indian fruit, and ate of them very plen- 
 tifully, and from the effects produced a few hours 
 afterwards, was much alarmed, until pointing out 
 the tree from which he had gathered the fruit, we 
 soon eased his mind respecting any fatal results. 
 A few of the pods eaten in the morning, are a 
 most excellent aperient medicine. 
 
 That man beating cocoa nut husks is preparing 
 coir, for spinning into ropes and cables, which are 
 preferred generally by Indian commanders, as ca- 
 bles made from this material are far more elastic 
 than those made with hemp, and consequently 
 enable a ship to ride much easier in a rough sea ; 
 besides, for running rigging it is much lighter, and 
 requires no tar, which is a great saving of expense 
 in rigging a ship. The salt water, which proves so 
 pernicious to hemp or flax, unless well tarred, has 
 
 u 
 
434 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 comparatively little effect upon coir. Indeed, Capt. 
 Humphreys told me, that it rather strengthened 
 that part of the cable which lay under water, by 
 making it tougher. 
 
 That field contains bang, (or common hemp) ; 
 but this is not sown with an idea of raising a crop 
 to be spun into twine or cordage, but merely for 
 the purpose of procuring an intoxicating ingre- 
 dient, to mix in the tobacco which some of the 
 lower castes of natives use, and which operates 
 very much after the manner of opium. Sometimes 
 oil is extracted from the seeds, but probably the 
 fibrous plants will be thrown away, instead of 
 being manufactured into ropes. 
 
 But here w r e come to the river side again. Those 
 small canoes, gliding along the edge of the stream, 
 containing two men each, are fishing canoes. They 
 are catching mangoe fish. This is a small species, 
 which comes in season now that the mangoes are 
 ripe, from which circumstance the name is de- 
 rived. They are full of spawn, or roe, which con- 
 stitutes the delicacy. Epicures will give a large 
 price for the first dishes of them which are taken. 
 I have heard of a rupee each being paid for four 
 dozen, which, considering they are not so large 
 as a fresh herring, but rather the size of a 
 good gudgeon, must be called a very extravagant 
 price. But this circumstance occurred, when mo- 
 ney was much more plentiful amongst Europeans 
 in India, and when luxury reigned more tyranni- 
 cally than at the present time. Then he that 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 435 
 
 could procure a dish of mangoe fish on his table 
 before any one else, was considered a happy man. 
 The tope of mangoes on your left is richly adorned 
 with fruit. The trees are noble in appearance, 
 very much resembling the English oak, except 
 that their foliage is much thicker, and the colour 
 of the leaves a far deeper green : and how beauti- 
 fully is the dark colour of the branches contrasted 
 and relieved by the rich tints of crimson and yel- 
 low which the fruit presents. There are many 
 sorts of mangoes. One caste, as the natives call 
 them, is very far superior to all others, having a 
 sweeter taste, more like the peach, whilst all 
 others have a taste very much allied to that of 
 turpentine, but which by use is completely relish- 
 ed. In fact, all persons who have long been resi- 
 dent in the country, are exceedingly fond of them, 
 eating a great number daily, whilst in season. 
 Excess in feasting upon them produces a great 
 eruption of the skin oftentimes, and many large 
 boils ; otherwise they are considered as very 
 wholesome food. In shape they very much re- 
 semble a sheep's kidney, but they are rather 
 larger. 
 
 What would some of our English epicures say, 
 to see those fine large pine-apples growing on that 
 bank, the very pigs not thinking them worth eat- 
 ing ? Those superb looking ones will probably be 
 sold for two or three pice each, as, in the bazaars 
 of Calcutta, you can obtain the finest fruit at one 
 anna (or twopence) each. 
 u2 
 
436 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 Those large buildings on the right are called 
 the Albion mills. They are the produce of an 
 Utopian scheme, and an immense sum has been 
 sunk in their erection. A great portion of the 
 building is unfinished, and only a small part of 
 the structure is used as warehouses and godowns. 
 Do you observe those large water melons growing 
 in front of that mud cottage ? See to what a size 
 the fruit has attained. That one is surely larger 
 than any lace making pillow. They contain a 
 soft pulp, w 7 hich, when taken into the mouth, dis- 
 solves. This fruit seems peculiarly adapted to the 
 climate, from the cool refreshing nature of its 
 contents. That native actually seems to bend 
 beneath the large bunch of plantains laid upon his 
 shoulder. This fruit does not appear till the se- 
 cond year after the stem rises ; though, as the 
 plant itself is perennial, it bears fruit annually, as 
 the shoots appear every year, and those which 
 sprang last season will bear fruit this. This is 
 certainly one of the most useful fruits to the na- 
 tives that the country affords, its produce is usually 
 so great, that the natives eat plantains instead of 
 bread ; besides which, the stock is made into 
 curry, and the leaves are converted to many pur- 
 poses. The shopkeepers wrap many sorts of goods 
 in them, and most of the natives use them as 
 plates. In cases where blisters are applied, they 
 are used instead of linen to dress the blister ; and 
 what is very remarkable, I have been told, that 
 whilst one side of the leaf will heal, the other will 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 437 
 
 serve to keep open the blister. Still the plantain 
 does not become so generally useful as the cocoa- 
 nut tree. Look at those graceful trees rising from 
 the mangoe tope, and crowned with graceful plu- 
 mage. The trees are used for making canoes, and 
 oftentimes as bridges across small nullahs. The 
 nut yields not only a delicious kernel, nutritious, 
 and most grateful to the native palate, but also a 
 sweet fluid, calculated to allay thirst in this parch- 
 ing clime better than any thing else they can pos- 
 sibly drink. The shell yields a fine aromatic oil, 
 the husk makes strong cordage, the leaves 
 thatch their cottages, or form fences to their gar- 
 dens, whilst the besoms which the sweepers use 
 are made from the fibres of the branches; and 
 every native is indebted to the cocoa-nut for the 
 hubble-bubble through which he constantly in- 
 hales such clouds of the smoke of tobacco. Many 
 domestic articles are also formed of the shell. See 
 that man is measuring his oil by a cocoa-nut, that 
 woman is carrying home ghee in half of a cocoa- 
 nut shell, and that shopkeeper throws the pice he 
 takes for his goods into a cocoa-nut shell. But 
 the evening shades prevail ; and how swiftly has 
 the light passed away. We will now hurry home, 
 as a heavy dew begins already to fall; and at 
 another opportunity resume our remarks. Those 
 large chests on the hackries, which we passed in 
 the village of Seebpore, contain indigo, and are 
 about to be shipped for Europe. The culture of 
 the plant which produces it is a great source of 
 
438 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 employ to thousands ; and immense fortunes have 
 been made by European indigo factors. It is a 
 precarious speculation, as so much depends on the 
 season. Sometimes for years together a remune- 
 rating crop cannot be realised ; whilst on certain 
 years, so rich a harvest is housed, as to enrich the 
 factor. Very many indigo planters have been 
 thus successful, that is to say, have realised two 
 lacs of rupees, or twenty thousand pounds, some 
 even triple that sum ; but not content, they have 
 said, We must get another lac, and then we will 
 return to old England, quite satisfied. The next 
 year they have probably expended ten times as 
 much capital as before, hoping to gain ten times 
 as much profit. But, alas ! a bad year has en- 
 sued, and instead of being worth twenty thou- 
 sand pounds, they are from five to ten thousand 
 pounds in debt, and never afterwards can rise 
 above this weight of debt, which presses hea- 
 vily upon them. I have known several instances 
 where this has been literally the case; and all 
 hopes of revisiting their native land have been 
 completely banished from the minds of those, who 
 a few years before possessed ample funds to live 
 as gentlemen in any part of Great Britain. In 
 the culture of indigo, Europeans certainly excel 
 the natives, as the latter will not embark capital 
 sufficient to carry on the manufacture properly. 
 Very frequently you will find a native indigo planter 
 who raises a thousand acres of the plant, without 
 any sheds or buildings on the estate whatever, as 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 439 
 
 he causes the whole produce to be steeped in large 
 earthen pans : whilst the European factor builds 
 vats, drying houses, godowns, &c., and spares no 
 expense, that the article may be well made. A 
 great deal of trouble often arises in procuring the 
 plant, as Europeans cannot hold land to raise it 
 for themselves. (This I think is a very foolish 
 law, and the sooner it is repealed the better.) They 
 are obliged, therefore, to contract with the native 
 farmer to raise such a quantity as is necessary, and 
 bring it home to the factory at a certain price, and 
 then the European must advance half the money 
 before the farmer can proceed. So poor are they, 
 that nothing beyond a few acres could be obtained 
 without such advance ; and as a maund of indigo 
 (eighty Ibs.), will on an average require ten acres 
 of land to produce it, an immense number of acres 
 must be raised to supply a good-sized factory. 
 The process of making the indigo is this : When 
 the plant is brought in, it is placed in a large vat, 
 filled with water, where it is left to steep, until 
 the colouring matter is extracted, which is soon 
 done, when it begins to ferment. The time of its 
 steeping varies according to the heat of the wea- 
 ther. Great skill and judgment are necessary to 
 know when to let off the water into the vat below. 
 This liquor, being fully impregnated with the co- 
 louring matter, is then beaten by the natives with 
 large oars, until it appears almost like curds and 
 whey. It requires great experience to know when 
 
440 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 it is beaten enough to let the particles of colour 
 sink to the bottom of the vat. When it has thus 
 been beaten, it is left to settle ; and when this is 
 accomplished, the water is drawn off, and the se- 
 diment is carefully taken jout, and spread into 
 cakes, which are cut into squares, and dried.- 1 - 
 When completely dry, these cakes are packed 
 in chests, and sent to market. There are several 
 shades of colour ; but the dark blue is more valu- 
 able than the violet-coloured. Indigo is often 
 selected as a profitable remittance, when the ex- 
 change is in favour of England. The indigo planter 
 is subject to many inconveniences. Probably his 
 factory is some score miles distant from any Eu- 
 ropean station: consequently, he can enjoy no 
 intercourse with hi$ fellow-Christians, and is to- 
 tally debarred from the privileges of the sanctuary. 
 It is no wonder, therefore, that many indigo plant- 
 ers fall a prey to the vicious examples of the rich 
 heathen around them, and totally neglect the im- 
 portant concerns of eternity. Still there are many 
 moral, pious Christians to be found amongst in- 
 digo factors, scattered over the plains of Bengal. 
 I had many opportunities of judging in this mat- 
 ter, and therefore must endeavour to rescue the 
 character of that important body of men from the 
 aspersions which too many have sweepingly cast 
 upon them. It is true, there are some amongst 
 them who are as heathenish as the Hindoos 
 around them. But shall a whole body of men 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 441 
 
 be judged by the conduct of a few? If so, what 
 profession, what trade, what order of beings can 
 escape with impunity ? Amongst many other tes- 
 timonies to corroborate my assertion, I would refer 
 my readers to the following extracts from a letter 
 which I received just before I left India, from an 
 indigo planter, whom I had met at a friend's house 
 at Gusserah, during the time he came down to 
 sell his indigo. After kind inquiries, he says 
 
 "The principal object of my now addressing 
 you, after inquiries regarding your health, is to 
 request a favour of you, which I am satisfied you 
 will cheerfully undertake ; and I am the more 
 desirous of making application to you rather than 
 than to any other person, from a conviction of 
 your being better qualified to carry my wishes 
 into effect than any friend I possess. In short, 
 friends I have but few ; nor should I. know where, 
 nor to whom to apply, had not my stay at Gusse- 
 rah given me the pleasure of your acquaintance, 
 and emboldened me to number you amongst those 
 few. I will briefly say that I am now in a situa- 
 tion which enables me to lay up a small store from 
 my monthly income ; and as my wants are not nu- 
 merous, I find I can spare a little out of the 
 bounty which Heaven has blessed me with, for 
 charitable purposes. Will you then, my dear Sir, 
 allow me to request you to become the dispenser 
 of my mite ; and in asking this, I leave it entirely 
 to your control to apply it to such purpose as you 
 
 TJ 3 
 
442 
 
 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 may deem most beneficial. There is, I believe, 
 more than one society established in Calcutta for 
 the propagation of the Gospel ; and in this divine 
 work, surely every man who knows how to value 
 its inestimable blessings, ought to strive to contri- 
 bute ; and as this appears to me to be a superior 
 object to any other worldly concern, I would 
 beg to suggest that the sums I can occasionally 
 send you be devoted to this purpose. This is, 
 however, a mere suggestion, and not meant to fet- 
 ter you in the smallest degree in its appropriation; 
 for I must candidly tell you, that I am so much 
 out of society here as to be quite unacquainted 
 with what is passing your way ; and it is possible 
 there may be other pursuits which I know nothing 
 of, to which you would like to contribute, so that 
 I make it my earnest request you will be pleased 
 to distribute it as you think fit : but in no case let 
 the channel be known from whence it comes. To 
 guide you in your intentions, it may be as well to 
 mention, that every second month I will transmit 
 you one hundred rupees ; and this sum is now in- 
 closed for a beginning, out of the first money I 
 have received out of my income. I send only the 
 half of the bank note for security sake, and the 
 remaining half shall go by to-morrow's post." 
 
 This was not a solitary instance, but several 
 indigo planters expressed to me the greatest con- 
 cern for the salvation of the heathen around them, 
 and proved their sincerity by liberally supporting 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 443 
 
 the cause of missions and schools ; and I have no 
 doubt, did not distance prevent, many amongst 
 them would be found to be most zealous co-ope- 
 rators in all the laudable, charitable, and religious 
 institutions with which Calcutta abounds. 
 
CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 " What is the world ? A wildering maze, 
 Where sin hath track'd ten thousand ways, 
 
 Her victims to ensnare ; 
 All broad, and winding, and aslope, 
 All tempting with perfidious hope, 
 All ending in despair. 
 
 Millions of pilgrims throng those roads, 
 Bearing their baubles, or their loads, 
 
 Down to eternal night : 
 One humble path, that never bends, 
 Narrow, and rough, and steep, ascends 
 
 From darkness into light. 
 
 Is there a Guide to show that path? 
 The Bible : He alone, who hath 
 
 The Bible, need not stray : 
 Yet he who hath, and will not give 
 That heavenly guide to all that live, 
 Himself shall lose the way." MONTGOMERY. 
 
 CALCUTTA BIBLE SOCIETY NATIVE ROMAN CATHOLICS 
 
 UNION OF ROMISH CEREMONIES AND PAGAN SU- 
 PERSTITIONS APPLICATIONS FROM NATIVES FOR 
 
 BIBLES BIBLE ASSOCIATION NUMBER OF COPIES 
 
 DISTRIBUTED LETTER OF REV. HENRY MARTYN 
 
 REV. D. SCHMID EUROPEAN FEMALE ORPHAN ASY- 
 LUM OTAHEITAN YOUTHS SICKNESS IN INDIA 
 
 AND RETURN. 
 
 THE distribution of the Sacred Scriptures has 
 been carried on in India by means of the Calcutta 
 Bible Society, to an extent little apprehended by 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 445 
 
 the friends of the Bible cause in England. That 
 society was established on the 21st of February, 
 1811, John Herbert Harington, Esq. being presi- 
 dent, and the Rev. David Brown, secretary : since 
 which period it has been constantly increasing in 
 its operations ; and tens of thousands of Bibles 
 and select portions thereof have been circulated 
 throughout the various kingdoms of the East. 
 One principal cause of the establishment of a 
 Bible Society in Calcutta was, that vast numbers 
 of the natives on the coasts of Coromandel and 
 Malabar, as well as of other parts of the continent 
 of India and Ceylon, were found to be nominal 
 professors of Christianity, but entirely destitute of 
 the Scriptures, or very inadequately supplied with 
 them. It was also found, as might be expected 
 under such circumstances, that among nearly a 
 million persons bearing the Christian name, the 
 greater part dishonoured it by their ignorance and 
 vice. At the same time, there were, in the very 
 heart of Calcutta, thousands of Portuguese Roman 
 Catholics totally destitute of the Holy Scriptures 
 in their vernacular tongue. The Rev. Henry Mar- 
 tyn, in a sermon which he preached at Calcutta, 
 on the 1st of January, 1811, with a view to the 
 formation of the society, observed, " That there 
 were at least 7000 of Portuguese Roman Catholics 
 in Calcutta, and not less than 36,000 on the Mala- 
 bar coast, and 5000 in Ceylon, besides those which 
 were resident in the different settlements all along 
 the coast, from Madras to Cape Comorin, and all 
 
446 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 the principal towns on the Ganges and Jumna. 
 Besides these, it was computed that not less than 
 150,000 native Roman Catholics, speaking the 
 Malayalim language, as also 50,000 Syrian Chris- 
 tians, were entirely destitute of the lively oracles 
 of truth. The consequence was, that when the 
 Rev. D. Brown visited them, he observed, in one 
 of his letters from the coast, 
 
 " At Aughoor, near Trichinopoly, there is a 
 union of Romish ceremonies and pagan supersti- 
 tions. They have their rutt, or car. I examined 
 the rutt. It is built in the usual manner, with their 
 cables to pull it, only that instead of the Hindoo 
 devices, it has got hell and the devils on the lower 
 part, heaven and the blessed in the higher, and 
 above all, the pope and cardinals. The priest is 
 so ignorant, that he did not seem conscious of any 
 impropriety in having the rutt. I asked him how 
 many thousands of Christians attended the festi- 
 val. He said, generally about 10,000, which num- 
 ber corresponds with the report of the collector of 
 the district. 
 
 ' At Manaar, I embarked in an open boat for 
 Ramisseram. A storm arose, and I went on shore 
 at a fishing village, situated near the north-west 
 extremity of the island Manaar. They were all 
 Romish Christians, and I slept in their church. 
 The priest was absent, and his catechist had never 
 heard that there was such a book as the Bible. 
 My own boatmen were Christians, but had never 
 heard of the Bible. 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 447 
 
 " The rutt is attached to the church of Tutyco- 
 rin, as at Aughoor. The priest told me he walked 
 before it in procession. In the Hindoo temples it 
 is usual to ring bells and strike gongs, the moment 
 the idol is unveiled. In analogy to this, bells are 
 rung and drums beat at Tutycorin when the Virgin 
 Mary is unveiled." 
 
 To supply these destitute Christians was there- 
 fore the first great object which the Calcutta So- 
 ciety had in view ; and no time was lost in printing 
 or procuring the necessary store ; and great indeed 
 was the avidity with which the Scriptures were 
 received by them, as the following extracts from 
 letters will testify : 
 
 " Dewopirayer Njonamutter says, the divine 
 word is more precious than riches, gold, silver, or 
 gems ; but he has never had the book which 
 shows the good way ; asks for a New Testament, 
 which he will hold as a lamp to his feet and a light 
 to his path all the days of his life, and will read 
 and study it, and walk according to the manner 
 which it directs. 
 
 Sandapper states, that his spiritual guide being 
 "a Roman Catholic, he cannot get from his own 
 Romish minister a New Testament, which was ap- 
 pointed by the Saviour Jesus Christ for his salva- 
 tion. He therefore petitions for a New Testament 
 for to save his soul, and he promises to use it for 
 that purpose, and will take the utmost care of it. 
 
 " Rayapen Sandapen, assistant catechist, says, 
 through the paternal compassion of Mr. HohlhofF, 
 
448 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 he has been placed in the vineyard, which the 
 living God has planted in this country ; but can a 
 vine, without pouring water upon it, grow in a 
 flourishing manner so as to give ripened fruits ? It 
 is impossible; therefore the petitioner thirsteth 
 very much for the spiritual waters of the Holy 
 Bible so very needful for salvation, and he prays 
 for all heavenly blessings on the honourable Bible 
 Society. 
 
 " Pakyanaden Arulopen says, the Holy Scrip- 
 tures awaken every one to piety and good works ; 
 he is athirst for them. On receiving them, he 
 shall pray the Lord God to bless the society ac- 
 cording to his promise in the words of his prophet 
 Daniel xii. 3. ' They that be wise shall shine as 
 the brightness of the firmament, and they that 
 turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever 
 and ever/ 
 
 " Sandapper, a schoolmaster, in his address for 
 a New Testament, says, Reverend Father, have 
 mercy upon me ; I am, amongst so many craving- 
 beggars for the Holy Scriptures, the chief craving 
 beggar. The bounty of the bestowers of this 
 treasure is so great, I understand, that even this 
 book is read in rice bazaars and salt bazaars. 
 
 " Another says, My heart is now like a lamp 
 without being trimmed. Now I intreat you, Re- 
 verend Sir, will trim it by giving me an Old and 
 New Testament, which I will read to the edifica- 
 tion and comfort of myself and family, and to my 
 Roman Catholic neighbours. 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 449 
 
 " I approach you, Reverend Fathers, with hun- 
 ger and thirst after this sacred book ; by granting 
 the same, my poor heart will be exceedingly com- 
 forted, and praise God for this benefit. There is 
 an heathen youth, named Sandavarayer, with me 
 in the same service, and he is a three-quarter 
 Christian ; he has read the Bible, and is acquainted 
 with the best part of it. He desires daily my ad- 
 vice whether he can come and request the same. 
 He is very anxious to know whether you give this 
 book to heathens. I recommend him much to 
 you, Reverend Father." 
 
 The field of labour open to the view of the So- 
 ciety was great indeed, but they entered upon it 
 with spirit ; and aided by the numerous versions 
 of the Holy Scriptures translated and printed by 
 the Serampore missionaries, and large remittances 
 from England, they formed a depot of some thou- 
 sands of copies of the inspired writings, in almost 
 every language of the East. On the removal of 
 the Rev. D. Brown, the secretaryship was filled 
 by the Rev. T. Thomason, with whom were after- 
 wards united the Rev. H. Townley and the Rev. 
 Dr. Marshman. Incalculable as were the benefits 
 arising from the operations of the Calcutta Aux- 
 iliary Bible Society, still the want of a Bible Asso- 
 ciation was much felt by those who entered deeply 
 into the state of both nominal Christians and hea- 
 thens in India, as the efforts of the former were 
 too gigantic and weighty to admit of the views of 
 the officers and committee being directed to the 
 
450 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 lanes and gulleys of Calcutta, where a great dearth 
 of the Sacred Scriptures prevailed. Accordingly, 
 on the 7th of June, 1822, a Bible Association was 
 formed. The meeting was held in that splendid 
 edifice, the Town Hall, and most respectably and 
 numerously attended by ladies and gentlemen. 
 Having been appointed minute secretary to the 
 association, I communicated the formation of the 
 society to the secretary of the auxiliary, to which 
 we were desirous of becoming affiliated. The 
 following is an extract of the letter received in 
 answer : 
 
 "MY DEAR SIR, 
 
 " At a meeting of the Committee of the Cal- 
 cutta Auxiliary Bible Society, this morning, I had 
 the pleasure of reading your letter respecting the 
 recent establishment of a Bible Association in this 
 place. It cannot be necessary to add, that the 
 communication was most acceptable to all present; 
 they hailed this accession to the Bible cause with 
 joy and thankfulness. Inclosed is a copy of the 
 resolution passed on the occasion. 
 
 "'Read a letter from the Rev. Mr. STATHAM, 
 Minute Secretary of the Calcutta Bible Associa- 
 tion, announcing the establishment of that Insti- 
 tution. 
 
 " ' Resolved That the secretary, in replying to 
 the above communication, do express the high sa- 
 tisfaction of the committee in the enlargement of 
 Bible operations by the formation of this new So- 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 451 
 
 ciety, and their fervent hope that it may prosper, 
 and be abundantly blessed to the advancement of 
 religion in this populous city. The committee, 
 being persuaded that such an institution was 
 greatly wanted, and must give extent as well as 
 efficiency to their own labours, anticipate much 
 good (by the Divine blessing) from the local co- 
 operation of a Bible Association conducted on the 
 principles adopted at home ; and therefore cordi- 
 ally accede to the request conveyed in the letter, 
 that the new association be supplied with the So- 
 ciety's books from the depository at cost prices, 
 and will always be happy to facilitate to the ut- 
 most the objects of a body, which they deem so 
 valuable an auxiliary to the common cause. 
 
 " ' True Copy, 
 "'(Signed) T. THOMASON.' 
 
 " Having been for many years engaged for the 
 Bible Society, I know by experience how much 
 need there existed for such an association. The 
 multitude of my own avocations has not allowed 
 me to give that minute and laborious attention to 
 the detail of business, on which the efficiency of 
 every Society is found by experience to depend ; 
 and I have long wished to see an institution form- 
 ed amongst us, whose express object should be 
 that of district and local co-operation. It will 
 always afford me pleasure to assist, in any way 
 that may offer, your important labours, and I pray 
 that the intercourse thus happily opened may be 
 productive of the best fruits. Looking round on 
 
452 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 the large and increasing population of this city, I 
 contemplate many advantages as likely to arise 
 from the plan of district labour, and personal in- 
 spection. Many scenes of wretchedness will be 
 explored; many wants brought to light; much 
 zeal elicited; and important collateral benefits, 
 connected with the advancement of true religion, 
 must result from a system of patient, affectionate, 
 and judicious visiting of the people. The direct 
 consequences will be apparent to all. The society 
 will gain much more extended support ; and the 
 Bible will be more generally known and valued. 
 Who can reflect on these probable effects of your 
 labours without thankfulness to that Providence, 
 by which your hearts have been disposed to unite 
 in such a cause ? May you prosper abundantly, 
 and may the word of the Lord have free course, 
 and be glorified !" 
 
 The effects produced by the labours of the com- 
 mittee were great. Of this my readers can form 
 some idea when I tell them, that during the five 
 years of my connexion with the association, the 
 following was the number of the copies of the Sa- 
 cred Scriptures or Gospels distributed by their 
 agency : 
 
 1822-3 . . . 1,578 copies 
 
 1823-4 . . . 3,500 
 
 1824-5 . . . 4,147 
 
 1825-6 . . . 3,915 
 
 1826-7 . . . 3,553 
 
 Total 16,693 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 453 
 
 These, upon referring to the account then taken, 
 I find were above half in the Bengalee language. 
 The residue were in the Hindoostanee, Nagree, An- 
 glo-Hindoostanee, Greek, Armenian, Portuguese, 
 French, Danish, Italian, German, Hebrew, Malay, 
 Arabic, Persian, Sanscrit, Orissa, Hinduwee, Te- 
 lingu, Mahratta, Shikh, and Mooltan characters, 
 with one Irish and one Welsh Bible. Every, lane 
 or alley of the populous city was visited, as the 
 whole was divided into districts, and the visitors 
 entered every dwelling. Thus the good seed of 
 the word was abundantly scattered ; and we trust 
 it will be proved that these 16,693 grains shall 
 produce an abundant crop. 
 
 Having had occasion in a former chapter, as 
 well as in the present, to refer to a man whose 
 name will ever be dear to every friend of missions, 
 I mean the Rev. Henry Martyn, I would here in- 
 sert a copy of a letter addressed by him to the 
 Rev. Dr. Marshman, Serampore. It is dated from 
 Dinapore, March, 1807, and will prove gratifying 
 I have no doubt, to all those to whom his memory 
 is dear, and also corroborate the sentiments ex- 
 pressed in page 51. 
 
 DEAR BROTHER, 
 
 " I little intended to let your letter remain so 
 long unanswered. Your expressions of brotherly 
 love, and animating suggestions, deserved an early 
 acknowledgment. I begin with blessing God, and 
 congratulating you on the progress of the transla- 
 
454 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 tions, particularly the .Sanscrit and Chinese. I 
 truly long for the dispersion of the Scriptures. It 
 will be the dayspring from on high to these poor 
 benighted souls, and the labours of faithful preach- 
 ers superadded will bring on the day. After all 
 that is said of the impossibility of converting the 
 natives of this country, we may safely say, that 
 the experiment has never been fairly made till the 
 present day, except on the coast, and there it has 
 answered. 
 
 " You do not specify which Hindoostanee you 
 have in the press, the Arab, Persian, Hindoosta- 
 nee, or the Hinduwee, nor what parts of the Scrip- 
 tures are translated in them. Respecting the 
 Hindoostanee (/. e. Arab-Pers.,) I think you will 
 have no difficulty in determining the style in which 
 that should be done, for Mussulmans, and well- 
 educated natives from all parts of the country, 
 that I happen to meet with, speak much alike, 
 and their language may be said to consist of a 
 veiy small number of Arabic plirases, a small 
 number of Hindee words and phrases, and a very 
 large proportion of Persian words. The language 
 taught by Gilchrist seems to be precisely this. 
 Fitrut in his translation seems to have too many 
 Arabic words. The Hinduwee will, I fear, con- 
 tinue to give trouble. The problem respecting it 
 is, Which dialect of it will be most generally un- 
 derstood ? And nothing will determine this but a 
 visit to the different parts of the country, or speci- 
 mens sent from them. C has procured for 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 455 
 
 me pieces professed to be written in the dialects 
 of Benares and Bettia, but the language is so 
 intermixed with the words and grammatical nice- 
 ties of the polished Hindoostanee, that they are not 
 to be called specimens of Hinduwee : but, however 
 your Hinduwee translation be made, I have no 
 doubt of its being easily understood by the bulk 
 of Hindoos every where. I speak, you see, as if 
 I knew a great deal more than I do. You know 
 the extent of my opportunities of information, and 
 will therefore qualify some of my bold assertions. 
 I think there can be no doubt about adhering 
 strictly to the genders, &c. in the Hindoostanee, 
 for those niceties are a part of the grammar of that 
 language, and do not at all tend to render it less 
 intelligible. Respecting the old disputes about 
 too, tyn, and myn, I have to say that myn, occurs 
 repeatedly in an old Hinduwee translation of the 
 Ramayun ; and a moonshee at Buxar, a Hindoo, 
 who never heard of Gilchrist, both used it himself 
 and said it was always used by those who knew 
 how to speak respectfully ; he said we were right 
 in saying hum, because we were masters. I think, 
 however, that to avoid the danger of mistake, hum 
 should not be used alone for the plural, but hum 
 sub, and, to prevent the inelegant recurrence of 
 this awkward phrase, humon in the oblique cases : 
 and in the dialect of the country people, such as 
 the little book of the Parables is written in, ka, 
 ke, kee, and ko, are all expressed by ke, and kya, 
 by ka. 
 
456 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 "Gladwin gives little hope of being able to 
 help ; the work he is at present about will employ 
 him for six months to come. Beg Mr. Brown to 
 forward one copy of the Hinduwee translation by 
 the Bangee. There are a great many Mahrattas 
 in Patna, to whom, by and bye, I shall be able to 
 give the Scriptures by you ; and a college of Sieks. 
 If I am called down to Calcutta this summer, I 
 shall be ashamed to appear before you to be ques- 
 tioned about the Sanscrit. To be sure, I have 
 been doing other things, but you will not allow 
 any thing else to be of such consequence, and I 
 am heartily of the same opinion. I have a new 
 congregation to take care of, namely, the women 
 belonging to the soldiers, for whom I have trans- 
 lated the Church of England service, and am ob- 
 liged to write out the Gospels as fast as possible 
 
 to read to them. What would R H say, 
 
 if he heard of my bigotry and guilt in transporting 
 the Church of England beyond the seas ? All I 
 can say in extenuation is, that it appeared to me 
 the best thing I could do. The first Sunday, I 
 had a congregation of two hundred women, Portu- 
 guese, Mussulmans, and Hindoos ; but not a sin- 
 gle person but the soldiers' women, has yet ven- 
 tured to appear. 
 
 " I much wish, if possible, to make a journey to 
 the south east. On the western border of Bengal, 
 I may perhaps find some use for your Bengalee 
 tracts. Your moonshee is dreadfully bitter : his 
 contemptuousness and disrespect sometimes sur- 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 457 
 
 prise me. In order to get the Parables done, I 
 had left the translation of the Scriptures. We had 
 finished the Epistles of John, Jude, and the 1st of 
 Revelations. I shall now go on again with that 
 delightful work, though only at my leisure, be- 
 cause I do not consider it as assigned to me. He 
 speaks of that translation of the Acts he made 
 with you as bad. With love to Mr. Ward, and 
 all the brethren and sisters, tell him that I shall 
 answer his letter when I send him my book to be 
 printed. I suppose you enjoy much delightful 
 communion, particularly since Dr. Buchanan's re- 
 turn. I sometimes long to make one at the long 
 table at Aldeen, but the best place is that appoint- 
 ed by the Master. May He ever be with you all i 
 
 " Yours affectionately, 
 "(Signed) H. MARTYN." 
 
 Associated with me as Bible secretary in the 
 association, was the Rev. Deocar Schmid. His 
 heart was thoroughly engaged in the work. To 
 all who knew him, this testimony will be needless. 
 He was truly indefatigable in his exertions to pro- 
 mote the great objects of the Society, and was the 
 means of stimulating myself and others to more 
 active exertions than I consider we otherwise 
 should have made. He was chaplain to the Eu- 
 ropean Female Orphan Asylum, a noble institution 
 for the reception and education of female European 
 orphans, principally those of the King's regiments 
 in India, only those children being admissible 
 
458 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 whose father and mother are both Europeans, such 
 orphans being received, however young they may 
 be, and the whole is conducted under the ma- 
 nagement of ten ladies, Mrs. Schmid was peculiarly 
 well qualified for the situation of mistress ; and 
 many of the young women educated beneath her 
 care have been married to missionaries and re- 
 spectable tradesmen, and have proved most ami- 
 able, pious characters. The most industrious habits 
 are inculcated, as all the business of the house 
 (as far as practicable and expedient) is performed 
 by the orphans of proper age in rotation, to the 
 exclusion of a host of native servants. 
 
 The reasons originally assigned for the esta- 
 blishment of the institution, were the following : 
 
 1. It had long been observed, by persons whose 
 situations had enabled them to know the state of 
 the children in the King's European regiments in 
 that country, that those who became orphans at a 
 very tender age, being usually left to the care of 
 careless nurses, and in many cases altogether un- 
 provided with nurses, were very seldom reared to 
 maturity, through the ignorance, indolence, or cru- 
 elty of those who were entrusted with their ma- 
 nagement. An asylum, therefore, for the reception 
 of such orphans, would tend to the preservation of 
 many lives which would otherwise be lost through 
 the neglect or mismanagement of nurses, or the 
 want of nursing altogether. 
 
 2. Those who were happily preserved through 
 the dangers of infancy, manifested, as they grew 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 459 
 
 up, all those corrupt principles, which are naturally 
 cherished by the vices abounding in barracks. If 
 nurtured in vice, and always conversant with 
 scenes of profligacy, it is scarcely supposable that 
 any female should prove a virtuous character ; but 
 the education of orphans in barracks is subject to 
 peculiar disadvantages. Deprived of a parent's 
 eye, they live in a manner at large, and the actual 
 consequences are such as may be easily foreseen. 
 Several persons, well informed on this subject, 
 have declared, that during their long acquaintance 
 with the regiments to which they belonged, the 
 orphan girls have, without one single exception, 
 when arrived at maturity, given themselves up to 
 dissolute habits. A second important benefit, 
 therefore, resulting from this institution, is the 
 snatching of these helpless children from scenes 
 of temptation, in order to the training of them up 
 in habits of industry, and bestowing on them the 
 blessing of a good education. 
 
 3. The dangers from exposure to bad examples 
 in a barrack are, in the case of European orphans, 
 peculiarly to be dreaded, because they are for the 
 most part friendless, being far removed from all 
 their relations, in a strange country, left to the 
 casual mercy of individuals, who are often compel- 
 led, by their own necessitous circumstances, either 
 to desert their charge entirely, or consign it over 
 to another equally unable with themselves to use 
 permanent vigilance in the work of superinten- 
 dence. The dangers of such a changing, ineffici- 
 x2 
 
460 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 ent, and often capricious control, are obvious. 
 Those who are peculiarly subject to it, therefore, 
 possess peculiar claims on our compassion. 
 
 4. An establishment for European orphans, af- 
 fords, therefore, peculiar advantages to the chil- 
 dren and to the parents : to the children, by their 
 receiving that mode of education, and enjoying 
 that treatment, which is most suitable to them, 
 and which they would have enjoyed in their na- 
 tive country ; for they are brought up independent 
 of servants, and taught to wait as much as possible 
 on themselves, and receive that sort of instruction 
 in the management of a house, and care over 
 younger children, which will render them capable 
 of earning their own livelihood in any way the go- 
 vernesses may think proper to dispose of them : 
 to the parents, by the comfort they derive from 
 the reflection, that should it please God to leave 
 their children orphans, they will be suitably pro- 
 vided for and educated. This is a prospect which 
 must cheer our soldiers under the gloomy appre- 
 hension of leaving their children destitute ; and in 
 a country like that, where the spirits are so often 
 depressed by the climate, must add materially to 
 the comfort of their lives. 
 
 Government liberally contributes two hundred 
 rupees monthly in aid of its funds, the remainder 
 being supplied by voluntary subscriptions, the ex- 
 penses averaging about a thousand rupees month- 
 ly. When I left Calcutta, there were eighty girls 
 in the school, all rescued from infamy, and training 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 461 
 
 up in, the fear of the Lord. Several of the elder 
 scholars had been engaged to superintend native 
 female schools. Thus, instead of degrading the 
 Christian character in the eyes of the natives, as 
 prior to the institution of the asylum, many sol- 
 diers' orphan daughters had done, they are instru- 
 mental in removing the veil from the eyes of their 
 dark minds, and messengers of mercy to their 
 dreary dwellings. Freely have they received the 
 blessings of instruction, and freely do they impart 
 it to others. May they be blessed in the deed ! 
 
 Several ships, sailing from the port of Calcutta, 
 trade to the South Seas, and visit the islands 
 where the Gospel has obtained so glorious a vic- 
 tory over the powers of darkness. One of these 
 vessels, lying at anchor off the island of Otaheite 
 in the year 1822, was visited by many of the inha- 
 bitants in their canoes, amongst whom were three 
 intelligent youths, about the age of fifteen or sixteen 
 years. They appeared to be much delighted with 
 all they saw on board, and it was with difficulty 
 they were persuaded to leave the ship at night. 
 Each morning, as soon as the light dawned in the 
 East, they were alongside in their canoes, waiting 
 to be received on deck. They became particu- 
 larly attached to the captain, and would endeavour 
 to do any thing they considered he desired to be 
 accomplished. They had obtained a little smat- 
 tering of English, and in broken sentences con- 
 versed with the crew. When told that the ship 
 was about to sail on the morrow, they begged very 
 
462 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 hard that they might be allowed to accompany the 
 captain in his voyage, promising to do all they 
 could to make themselves useful. When this was 
 refused, they appeared very much grieved, and 
 wept sorely, and it required some trouble to dis- 
 miss them at night. The next morning they did 
 not make their appearance as usual, which the 
 captain was glad of, as he anticipated some pain- 
 ful feelings in forcing them from the ship. About 
 ten o'clock A.M. they weighed anchor, and pro- 
 ceeded on their voyage to New South Wales. 
 The next day, about dinner time, the captain was 
 informed that the three Otaheitan youths were 
 found secreted in the hold. They were too far 
 from the island now to re-land them, therefore the 
 captain was under the painful necessity of taking 
 them with him. 
 
 During the voyage they conducted themselves 
 with so "much propriety, that the captain and 
 officers determined, when they reached Calcutta, 
 to place them at school, in order that they might 
 receive an education to qualify them to fill situa- 
 tions superior to those of common seamen. Having 
 been applied to, I agreed to receive them, and ac- 
 cordingly the chief mate brought them to Howrah. 
 One of them was named Toowha, another Titteroo, 
 and the third Tarwharree. But the captain had 
 given them Christian names : Toowha was called 
 William ; Titteroo, Thomas ; and Tarwharree, John. 
 The last named youth was possessed of far greater 
 talent than the others, consequently made greater 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 463 
 
 progress in his studies. They became very atten- 
 tive to the great concerns of religion ; and by their 
 quiet, inoffensive, and mild demeanour, won the 
 hearts of all their school-fellows, whom they used 
 often to amuse by practising some of the pastimes 
 of their native island, such as throwing the spear ; 
 this was done very cleverly, by placing the end of 
 the spear on the toe, and, by the combined efforts 
 of hand and foot, they would throw it to a great 
 distance with peculiar force, generally striking the 
 mark at which they aimed. Some of their war 
 cries were also often given, as well as a war dance ; 
 and many strange ceremonies described, which they 
 had been accustomed to see performed on various 
 religious and other occasions. So that they proved 
 very acceptable companions to the young gentle- 
 men, who in return behaved very kindly, in pre- 
 senting them with left-off clothes, &c. 
 
 In the year 1825, a society was established in 
 Calcutta, called the Apprenticing Society, for the 
 purpose of placing out those Christian lads who 
 were indigent and destitute of employ, as appren- 
 tices to some respectable tradesmen of Calcutta. 
 This desirable object, however, nearly failed, from 
 the aversion which even the poorest European or 
 Indo-British youths have to any thing approxi- 
 mating to servitude The three Otaheitan youths 
 were (under the auspices of this Society) placed as 
 apprentices with Mr. Kyd, the respectable ship- 
 builder of Kidderpore, by their own desire. They 
 expressed great delight in the anticipation of re- 
 
464 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 turning to their native land, to teach their country- 
 men how to build ships. But, alas ! the hand of 
 death fell upon them, and they were not permitted 
 to enjoy the fulfilment of their hopes. They were 
 living when I left Calcutta, highly delighted with 
 their situation, and much respected by their kind 
 master ; but I have since learned that, one after 
 the other, they fell a sacrifice to bilious fevers. 
 
 During the time that they were with me, an 
 epidemic fever raged ; the three Otaheitan youths, 
 in common with the other scholars, were affected 
 with it, and were the most patient and tractable of 
 all that were seized with the malady, which was a 
 violent aguish intermittent fever. So completely 
 still and passive were they, that the doctor used 
 jocularly to say, " How are the three South-Sea 
 automatons to-day?" They never spoke, unless 
 questions were asked them, although they lay on 
 cots beside each other; neither did they move 
 hand nor foot, without being told. Whether this 
 is a natural feature of their character in sickness I 
 know not ; but it appeared so to me then. I had 
 thirty-six of the young gentlemen all ill with the 
 epidemic at the same time, so that the house much 
 resembled an hospital. In a short time, through 
 mercy, all recovered. 
 
 Sickness in India is rendered far more distress- 
 ing to many, from the want of kind friends to at- 
 tend upon and nurse them, as, when left to the 
 tender mercies of servants, it is hardly ever the 
 case that any attention is paid to the poor invalid. 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 465 
 
 I have known instances of servants entirely leaving 
 their masters to perish, without the least aid, whilst 
 they have been ransacking the drawers or trunks, 
 to pilfer any thing valuable. The natives gene- 
 rally entertain a great antipathy against waiting 
 on the sick, Oftentimes servants will leave their 
 employ rather than do this ; and when there is no 
 person but the sick man to order or command, it 
 is next to an impossibility to get them to do any 
 thing for the patient. I remember visiting a Scotch- 
 man, who was grievously sick of a bilious fever, 
 and he complained that all his servants had for- 
 saken him and fled. I engaged two others to wait 
 upon him, which they did for the first two or three 
 days ; but soon got weary of the office, and then 
 began to examine his trunks, &c. before his face. 
 I had been to see him in the afternoon of the third 
 day after these men had entered upon his service, 
 and finding him very dangerously ill indeed, pro- 
 mised to see him again when I returned from Cal- 
 cutta, whither I was going to preach in the even- 
 ing. It was late before I returned; however, I 
 fulfilled my promise, and went to see him. As I 
 approached the small bungalowe in which he 
 dwelt, I could hear his hollow groans for some 
 yards before I reached the place; and when I 
 entered, the poor man was lying upon his cot, with 
 nothing but a pair of loose cotton trowsers on his 
 body ; the sheets were gone from his bed, and all 
 the wearing apparel carried off from his trunks. 
 He could but just articulate, "Servants robbed." 
 
466 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 I gave him a little lemonade to moisten his mouth, 
 and did all I possibly could to make him comfort- 
 able ; but the stream of life was ebbing fast away. 
 He motioned me to pray with him. I did so; 
 and after that he appeared to be in earnest mental 
 prayer. I supported his head for about half an 
 hour, when he fell back and expired. I do hope 
 it was to exchange a world of sorrow for a world 
 of bliss. It was then about three o'clock in the 
 morning. I closed his eyes and laid him straight 
 on the cot, and then securing the door of the bun- 
 galowe, to keep out the jackals, I went home; 
 and rousing my servants, sent to let a friend of the 
 deceased know of his death, who came imme- 
 diately, when I conducted him to the bungalowe ; 
 and having obtained the help of some persons in 
 the neighbourhood, I went in search of the two 
 men who had robbed him. They were not then 
 found ; but the stolen articles were discovered in 
 the hut of one of them, and the men were after- 
 wards punished for the theft. 
 
 It was my happiness to receive the kindest 
 attention from my dear missionary brethren, dur- 
 ing the time of a grievous affliction, or else I never 
 could (humanly speaking) have escaped from the 
 malignant fever with which I was visited ; and I 
 shall ever remember their unwearied watchings 
 and attendance with the liveliest emotions of gra- 
 titude. In all cases of illness, the European needs 
 constant fanning : this the natives will do, when 
 there are persons to superintend them, but not 
 
INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 467 
 
 otherwise. How often have I seen many gasping 
 for a breath of air, with no kind friend near to 
 procure it by the aid of a punkah ; but this was 
 not the case with me : every attention was paid by 
 friends around, and, by the mercy of God, I was 
 permitted so far to recover as to be able to em- 
 bark for Europe. Three of my native servants 
 accompanied me in the steam vessel to the ship, 
 which lay at anchor at the Sandheads, and when 
 I went on board they wept like children. Their 
 accompanying me was no small sacrifice for them 
 to make, as, according to their customs, they would 
 be obliged to fast until they reached the shore 
 again, which could not be in less time than thirty- 
 six hours. We had a very pleasant voyage, as 
 some of my friends, regular attendants on my mi- 
 nistry at Howrah, came with me, and we had the 
 privilege of public worship the whole of the pas- 
 sage. In consequence of springing a leak, we 
 were obliged to put into the Cape for ten days, to 
 repair; during which time I had an opportunity 
 of visiting Stellenbosch, and of enjoying pleasing 
 intercourse with Christian friends in Cape Town. 
 We reached England on the 29th of May, 1827, 
 after a very speedy passage from the Cape ; when 
 I had the happiness of again visiting the scenes of 
 my childhood, and the friends of my youth, and of 
 meeting with those most dear. By the providen- 
 tial hand of God, I have been called to settle in 
 my native town, and to take the oversight of the 
 church, of which many of my dear relatives are 
 
468 INDIAN RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 members. I am surrounded by kind friends, and am 
 blessecfljjv'ith renewed health and strength ; so that 
 on revie wig the way in which I have been led, I can 
 onjp- say with David, " Bless the Lord, O my soul, 
 and forget not all his benefits." And my fervent 
 desire and constant prayer still shall be, " God be 
 merciful unto us, and bless us, and cause his face 
 to shine upon us, that thy way may be known 
 upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. 
 Let the people praise thee, O God: let all the 
 people praise thee." 
 
 " O, thou high wrestling faith, put forth thy might. 
 Till the calm breakings of diviner light ! 
 
 Already as thy power prevails , 
 
 I hear the deep presaging gales 
 Blow, as from heaven, to bless expecting earth, 
 While morning stars together sing 
 Her nobler second birth. 
 
 Hail, hail, O glorious day, thy orient gold 
 I see with rapture, as by seers foretold. 
 
 Come, day-spring, come. Rise, Israel, rise ! 
 
 His chariot fires the ruby skies. 
 The prayers of millions came before his throne ; 
 
 The tears of Zion have prevailed, 
 
 And Faith the crown hath won." LAWSON. 
 
 THE END. 
 
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