Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-11-01
The Hindoo at Homo.
By +. DE W. WARD.
vanished


The wealth. taste. and rank of the owner or occu-
pant have, of TO do with the size. material
and elegance Of the Hindoo house though not as
much as with US I will select, for illustration. the
home of native belonging 10 the medium rank OF
society. His house is made of mud, hardened by the
solar heat. Of unbIrnt brick, about thirty feet
square, story in height covered with tiles pla-
ced upon rafters Of bamboos palmyra trees split
to the necessary size Along the entire front OF the
building is a ycrandah about four feet deep shelter
ed by the projecting roof while in the wall are tri-
angular indentations where lamps are placed when
the building is to be Illuminated. Enter
ing the low door which occupies a central position
either side small verandah or alcOTe-
formed Of baked clay. where the inmate receives TSl
tors, waits the preparation Of the meal. Passing
remark that the centre Of the house Is an open
court unprotected from the and rain by any
r0Of-upOn the sides Of which are rooms small, and
lighted by grated windows, which serve little pur-
pose but TO make darkness more visible. One OF
these apartments Is appropriated 10 the idol-lth
Roman Penates, and the rest TO the various men,
bers of the household. The articles of furniture are
few sto0ls-a low wooden bedstead-a loose mat
and a box for clothing. books, and ornaments. In
the kitchen may be seen several earthen vessels
(caled in southern India ehces,) some for cooking
and others for holding the food when made ready
a few small brass drinking dshes-an earthen barrel
contain the unhulled rice, with stone mortar and
heavy FOUNDER prepare 1t for use-a brass pedes-
tai which is attached lamp Of eastern style, and
sometimes table Of limited size and height-all OF
the most simple kind Some Of the nabobs OF Cal
cutta and Madras, "a Ia mode 4ngiGIs," keep large
pier glasses chairs couches. pictures and the like
bat these pertain not TO purely Hlndoo dwelling
and often contrast most amusingy with surrounding
objects. One apartment in the house Of the rich
HIndoo Is appropriated to purpose rather singular
and which if rightly used might be admired though
employed by them, Of questionable utility 1t Is
called the of anger. TIE angry. " len wife
is much dspleased she runs to this room and shuts
herself up. there remaining till her husband comes
4
remove it. But her chagrin most frequently arises
from her not having the luxures of eating dress and
equipage. which her more favored neighbor enjoys,
and, until that is provided for her. he must expect
to be debarred the society Of his auiable spouse 1t
it not for fearing to impute TO the husbands OF
western continent less PLAINLY than their unclv
lized brethren Of the East manifest the writer would
be disposed to express fear that many wives OF
America would be allowed to remain in their self
imprisonment. with their demands unqualified. until
hunger and thoughtfulncss bad appeased their irrI-
tation. But this by the way.
We have seen the Hindoo at the residence of for
eigner eye mas been upon him when walking
the street-thOugh not allowed to enter his dwelling,
we may. through the eyes Of others, view him at
home. The labors of the day over and he has
returned to partake Of the evening meal and ENJOY
nights repose. His wife. during his absence, has
been preparing his food. which, to large extent
consists Of dish familiarly called rice and curry
and may be thus briefly described In an earthen
vessel quantity of rice is boiled, while in another
of smaller dimensions. is cooked in ghee chicken
fish, or piece of mutton to which are added from two
to four or FIVE spoonfuls of powder composed Of
these among other ingredients: ginger, saffron
cummn. coriander anniseed- red pepper, tamsrind
tumeric, garlic made liquid in cocoaGut milk. tht
amount of these ingredients depending upon the pal
ate and custom of the person. The meal being, pre-
pared small quantity is placed before the idol Il
propitiate his favor. The wife then puts upon tn
hoor of an interior room a brass plate, or what Il
more usual lar re leaf. 1.-TWO more sewed togeth
err if one be not of sufficient size.) upon which
goodly quantity of the boiled rice is then piled an'
above it the before-nanned fragrant and deliciou
{ 1rry Having brought dish for her lord to laV
his hands be takes his Iowly seat for the enjoym
/ of his repast Then f,llows brief prayer--whlcl
foreigners insinaatc 1t would be well for American
TO follow. As there were wanting tabie, char Pgt'
or eIefb. what need of knife, fork. or spoon In
Hindoe has what is far more natural and eonsesieh
his fagers! With these upon ms T'7a' has'o' b