Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1855-10-20

1NSUkRECI1ON IN lNDlA.--A lOIlIludDlC 1nSuf-
rection has broken out against the British govern
ment in India. The insurgents are a wild, strange
race of people, called Santhals, whose character
and habits are thus described in the Delhi Gazette,
of August 4:
They are race little better than savages who
nhabit the lower slopes of the hills from Bangul-
pore to Drissa They are for the most part des-
ttute of firearms; but they in measure make up
for this disadvantage by their skill in the use of the
bow, which they do not hesitate to render more
deadly by the cruel device of poisoned arrows
Their religion is simple and barbarous idolatry-
the worship of stocks and stones without any of
those mystical reinements by which the idolatrv
of the Hindoos is overlad. Their mythology, COM
pared with that of the Hindoos, is almost blank,
and they have no notions of caste. Their food
consists of almost anything that be eaten from
toads and caterpars up to tigers and horned CATTLE
for the flesh of kline is not forbidden to them. As
to their vices, it is certain from their recent pro-
ceedings, that they combine cowardice with cruelty
to remarkable degree, for they war with women
and children as well as men; and, unlike the North
American Indian, who prizes most warriors SCALP
the head of woman to the Santhal is the most ac-
ceptable trophy that he can take away from the
village Of his enemy. But with all this, it is re-
markable that the Santhals are distinguished for
their love of truth, which exists nowhere else
among the natives of India. Their numbers are
said to amount to 100000 fighting men and if
they joined by the other tribes, the number of
Vindhyanhil men capable Of bearing arms against
us would become formidable indeed. 1t is not
supposed that any attempt will be made during the
present season to do more than drive the enemy
to the hills and keep him there Next cold season
will be the time for active offensive operations;
and most signal retributon for the damage done
must be inflicted if the shock which this affair has
given to our prestige is to be recovered from.
THE CUsToMHOUsE OFFICERS AND THE ENGLISH
STEAMER PAssENGERs.-The searching of the bag
gage and sometimes the persons of passengers by
the English steamers, says the Boston Traveller,
is often quite amusing, and occasionally leads to
queer developments. The lace &C., taken from
the under garment of one Of the female passengers
who was searched on the arrival of the America
on Friday night, filled barrel. One old gentle
man, belonging to Providence, had in his trunks
pantaloons enough to clothe nearly half the people
of his native city, besides supply Of handkerchief
sufficient for his own use and his children's for
generations to come. He was quite good natured
while the investigation into his personals going
on, and was let off upon payment of $75. Another
passenger had twelve dozen of kid gloves, which,
he informed the incredulous officers, were for his
own use In former years large quantities of goods
were brought into the country in this way by pas
sengers without paying duty, but the smuggling
business on board the steamers at least, will here
after be difficult operation.
EXTRAORDINARY SwIMM1NG.-Two of the sail
ors belonging to the schooner J.T. Grice, while
she was lying at her anchorage at Powder Horn
concluded to cross the Bay on hunting and
fishing excursion. They went over to Sand
Point in small boat, left her on the beach to
take hunt, and while they were out the wind
freshened UP and their boat blew off when
they returned and saw the boat some distance
out, one of them concluded to swim after it, he
failed to overtake it, and finding the sea too high
for him to attempt to get back, swan on, and ac-
tually make the shore at Stephens Bayou, dis
lance of 10 miles from where he started, and on
the opposite side of the Bay. Who'll brag on
the Hellespont after this?
IIud5duoLd (IirdSl Bulletin