The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-20
INTERESTING FROM INDIA AND EGYPT.
More Letters Of our Correspondent
"YOung America"
The Gardens Temples and Monuments
of Calcutta.
TRAE,E END AMUSEMENTS.
STEAM VOYAGE TO EGYPT.
SYNOPSIS Of INDLAy HISTORY,
30, DC, DC.

oINOTNS ~ 1hDAA WSIUkx,
\ DO, &c, DC
Our East India Correspondence.
CALCUTTA, March 8, 1864.
Botany and Natural History al and from Bos~-
rackpore-A- Visit 10 the Gardsrs-H Hndoo Tt--
pies, Piety ssd Worshippsrs- Burning Of the
Dsad-Eu~cspon Isudesmen IN Calcstfa-Na.
4 ffSe 0SHd6'hga14w UeasHsNMx nnuunSs-.-A
Look at the CITY from the Top, sc.
Ny trip to BarsscLpers-some twelve miles BY the
7ver-I was much, pleased with, for our party was
jOvial one, cornposed Of Americans and English
men, and the day was cool for the season. native
boat and a native crew, q fair tide and flowing
sheet took us to" our laading place in two hours
time and, with umbrellas over our beads we passed
the day in walking through the extensive grounds Of
she Governors country park and residence. and
could but admire the art tiat made the grounds 50
much resemble De.ure The forest trees are dotted
over the green lawn, which rises and falls through
plains and hills, with irregular tassefulneS. Yua
can hardly believe that al has been done by ma.
Many Of the treas were ef great size, and the
bamboo clusters covered large spaces Of land. The
menagerie was thsMagnet that brought Us here snd
that, of course, claimed the most Of our attenl,a
Van Amburghs, collection psled before the GuyeS-
nor Generals, notwithstanding that many OF the
cages are empty. Most of the animals here | have
seen IN the JaEdn dss Plants, at Paris and the Zo-
gica Gardens in. London; but the chief attraction
was to see the native animals on their own ground
Tigers, bears, leonards jackals, &c. and other In
dian animals, wers. growing under the, excessive
heat of their cages while the monkeys kept up tue
most ncessant cha.aerng and the parrots and beau
tiful Indian brds were striving to make their
voices heard amid the noise. There were
two rhinoceroses, of most unganIy dimensions.
and their ugliness was only exceeded by their ferocy
l don't know which animal is the most uncain,
when you start them on the run--the rhnOceros &c
the girafte-eithos are as awkward as can be i'm
agned. Yhere were ssane twenty elephants, for
war and other purposes, some Of which twere Of
gigantic size; th.y were not piling timher by the
for should like to see such huge monsters show
their sagacity. lust opposite to the park is the
Danish settlement. which recently has changed
hands. On grass plot. under palm tree,w found
our pic mic spread; and appettes were sharp
eped by the exercise and long fast, we did JUS
uce TO the repast, while birds were sweeping over
our heads and near our food with unpleasant amii.
arity. The wind was against US, returning and il
was dark before we got to Calcutta bu. Il was in
| time for the dinner party.
| Yesterday l. visited the Botanical Gardens where
for many years large sums OF money have been ex-
pended to make It worthy Of the Bengal public.
Here saw tho great banyan tree, which at once
book, in miniature, when went to worrans school,
IL would be worth half million in Walstseet and
ISarnum Ia just the TO import il anj
make i.n another :s fortune u Is an imposing spec
er1ng more than an acre OF ground. aud is ons
OF the great objects OF interest in Bengal n
Is noble work OF God, standing proudly BY itself
giving shade TO hecatomb OF cat.A o. a regiment
OF soldiers-the proud monarch of the Indian
forest, who lives to grow old, typo OF man with
sons and aushters grand childrsn and great great
md Axpn rnuutr ..xI -
parent trunk with an affection and socitude more
than human, for the marriages and in!ermarriaQes
never break up the household but only strengthen
the links that bind them together: wherever there
is a weak point in the extended arm OF the parent
tree, out shoots sprout forthwith and fastening In
the ground afresh, another suprors and new life Is
thrown into the mammoth trunk; and no storm.
however terrible no convusic9 save an earthquake
can shake its centre or njure q single memler Of
the family when each gives strength and support 70
the other. An the Indian trcos and flowers. and
many from abroad, are growing with all the luxu-
| ~ OF cultivation. | saw tso, poen-a species OF
the sycamore-the pecpul, tho tamarind, the am.
herstianobls from Burmah in 1ower-named for
Lord Amherst-and other umtsageous fruit trees
and specimens Of fruit innurcsrabe. But there was
nothing more TO my fancy, Than the great banyan
But Taylor has seen them larger In the valley
The same day went. Though several Hindoo
temples, seeing oil that WINS permitted 10 scs and
that was enough to disgust one with their ur seemly
sight. Before rcached the temple saw In seycr.l
sheds long rows Of kid, connected by q line-a
| comical sight. The poor little wrctches 40 inpo-
cent OF the fate that araitaa them looked "A meek
and contented as possible II was some religious
festival ard largs conoourse blocked the avenues:
/ but We were permitted 70 push our way along
| where we soon saw where the kids were dis.
posed Of. About ffty were lying with their
heads OF, all sizes and all coors, a lell ringing
from the temple at the dropping of every head one
man more religious. than those about han, brought
in young bufHio, and great was the rejoicing; the
| bell rung several times, and the singing shouting
and QpaflCuatiOug Grated the
some OF the priests desirous thft should Of.
fer up goal but Y declined joining in the cere-
mony, for the whc,s performance YES most revolt
ing. II was, however, not half SO disgusting, nor
was II so strangely peculiar as the ceremony which
saw going on In several OF the mailer temples.
! must read agan-for u ever knew IL, il had gone
| out Of my memory, but once scen II will not 40
easily be forgottan. Yelled females are continually
passing in and out but the singuarty Of tho wor-
| ship there srst made me laugh and then contem-
plate. The temple has within a Hindoo god that
represents the creative power Of man. and the cere
mony OF the loFigam Is supposed 10 be the cure OF
barranness and sterilty. There are certain days OF
The rear that Andoo wives who have been so unfor.
fortunate as never to bring any addition 10 the
household o. their honored lard resort 20 this tenn
pla of the lsad but although IL has been the cus.
ton o. ages, . am not swrIe Whether i has 10 any
ferent dos IN different parts Of InAis bu3 believe
| that mono have proved 80 efeciual ss the Brah.
minis. believe 4 is ge1erally Known sAat in some
| ed sincs far back in tie countrys history. There
the wife lives In common with her sevsral husbands
as wsssvard Of the Mississippi, whers polygamy is
| acknowledged by the deluded followers of Joe
| Smith and Brigham Young, the husband
| lives in common with his several wives.
Ain one respect they do not h,Iow out the Nor
mon custom, for the idea Of hos,iality that influ
enses these poor natives Of the mountain passes ia
that the stranger should shave the nuptial coueh.
and 70 refuse would be the worst a insults say those
who have observed their manners.
Also rode down 10 the NEning Ghaut and Wit
messed, tAl a almost made me sick with nausea the
| disgusting sight cf burning their dead The smoke
was rising from the dying enhers Of several bodies
| and in Ahree Instances The funeral pile was iust
lighted. After having been brought on the banks OF
the river where they left TO die II their friends
have the means OF purchasing the wood and paying
for the ceremony, they are at once placed upon the
oesls and covered up with the burning timber, ull