The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1850-11-06
&A5A9c3o 3oOuaCaye
The Hindoo at Home.
BY T.. DE w. WARD.

The wealth taste, and rank Of the
owner or occupant have, Of course, to
do with the size, material, ani elegance
OF the Hindoo house, though no, rs much
rs with us. will select, for illus,rati
The home Of Il na'ivc belonging 10 the
medium rank Of society. His house is
made Of mud, hardened bv the solar
bent, or Of unburnt brick, nbout thirty
fee, square, one story in height, covered
with Tiles placed upon raficrs OF bamboos
or palmyra trees, spli, to the necessary
size. Along the entire front Of the
building is veran,lah about four icet
deep, sheltered by the projecting roof,
sSwhile in the wall are triangular inden-
4tations where lamps are placed when
tho o-streetnr building is to be illnnina.
ted. Entering the low door, which oc-
cupies central position, we see OH
either side n. small vcrandnh or nlcovc,
formed Of baked clay; where the in
male receives visitors, or waits the pre-.
para,ion Of the meal. Passing on, we
remurlt&ihnt the centre If the house is
an opcn cour,--unprotectcd from the
r sun and rain by any roof--upon the
sides Of which are rooms, small, and
lighted bysgrntcd windows, which serve
little purpose but 10 make "durkncss
more visible" One Of these apart
mcn,s is appropriated TO The idol-(hc
Roman "Penates.") and the rest TO the
various members Of The household. The
articles OF furniture are a few stools--a
low wooden bedslcad--a loose mat
and a tox for clo,hing, books. and orna-
ments: In the kitchen may be seen
several earthcn vessels (callcd IN south.
crn India chaii,cs) some for cooking. and
others for holding The food when made
ready----a few small brass drinking
unhullcd rice, with stone mortar and
heavy poun'ler 10 prepare it for usc.--.
brass pedestal to which is attached u
lamp Of eastern style. and sometimes n
table Of Limited size and height, oil of
the mos, simple kind. Some Of the ma
hobs Of Calcutta and Madras, 81 I
mode Angiais." keep large pier glasses,
chairs. couchcs, pictures, and the like.
but these pertain not TO n purely llinGoo
dwelling, and often contrast. most anus
ingly with surrounding objects. One
apartment in the house of the rich Hn-
doo is appropriated 10 purpose rather
singular, g. which, ifrigh,lv used might
be admired, thou rs employed by them
Of questionable utility. 1t is called the
room Of anger or the angry When n
wife is much displeascd she runs to this
room & shuts herself up, there remain
ing TIL her husband comes, to learn the
Cause other dsplensure, and if possible,
remove it. But her cIagriD most frc
qncnlly arises from her not having the
The lnxurics of eating, dress, and equip
age, which her more favored ncighbor
enjoys, and, until Tint is provided for
her, he must eXpec, 10 be dcbarred the
society Of his nmlable spouse. If il
were not for fearing to imputc 10 the
husbands Of our western continent less
p!ancv than their uncivilizcd brethren
Of the East manifest, the writer would
be disposed 10 express fcnr, TINT many
wives Of America would be allowed to
remain in their selfimprisonncn,, with
their demands ungralificd, until hunger
and ihonghtfulncss bad appeascd their
irritation. Blu, ihis by the way.
We have seen the lIindoo at the resi-
dence of a foreigner, our eye has been upo,
him when walking the street--though
allowed to enter his dwelling, we may, ,hr,
the eyes Of others. view him at home
The |ahors Of the day arc over. and he has
returned 70 partake Of the evening meal anr
enjoy nights repose. His wife, during
his absence, has hccn preparing his foor
which, to a large extent, consists Of disl
jamlliarly called "rice and curry" and may
he thus briefly described: In an earthcr
,esseI quantity Of rico is boiled, while il
another. Of sionller Dimensions, is cooked
in ghee chicken, fish, or piece Of mutton
to wbirl, are added from two 10 four or five
spoopfuls ofa powder composed Of thcs>
among Other ingredients: ginger, saffron