The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-20

commerce ana commercial u6aRes. NATURALLY snhrp
and quick to learn, by being brought in contact
with business men from every coast, after gradual
ing from the Engfish school, they become familiar
with all the tricks of trade. If they wish to pur
chase, they appear before you As seller; if they
have indigo to dispose Of, they will inquire for
seeds, and if freight is to be engaged, they will
offer you ship. Intuitvey they understand all
the clap trap of the Stock Exchange; with astonish
ing cleverness they put the market up and down
with as much ease as the most experienced bulls
and bears of the West and before or after the arr
val of mail, you meet them where you least expect
it-always little in advance. No Europeans were
equal to cope with them in managing prices, in regu-
lating exchanges in lodging round sharp corners,
till the Greeks dropped down among them; but
since SO many Of them have appeared in Calcutta
the natives have had to keep their eyes WIDE open.
In many Of the European houses the Banyans work
the machinery furnishing seears, or native clerks,
managing the details Of Office, and Of government,
and in the American trade, furnishing capital, or
rather, buying cargoes, cashlng acceptances, and
keeping the wheels on the turn till the credit be
realized after the cargo is on board. These men
accumulate fortunes, while their employers work
on without meeting with the same success. Baboo
Ashootss Day, Cor the frm) and Baboo Rajendur,
and Kaledos Dutt are the great American Banyaus,
and manage the business Of most Of the American
houses The former house almost since the commence
OF the century, has done an extensive business
direct with the Boston merchants, and was among
the first called upon, when received the intelli
gence Of his death, some weeks since; but the bus
ness still goes before, by his nephew and sue
cessors, while the extensive property OF the late
BabOo has brought out rival claimants, and report
says that the court clerks fattening expecta
ton. Aslootas Day and Baboo Ram Gopol Chose,
believe, are the only two native merchants who
receive any extent direct orders from abroad the
former for American the latter on English account
The business Of Calcutta seems TO be done through
the medium of chits and brokers-the merchants
seldom meeting. for you never find any one at the
exchange. This reserve creates jealously, and Cal
cuta is ahead of China in that respect for in China
you meet over the dinner table, in the gardens at
The reading rooms. Even the Banyans and native
merchants employ brokers, and seldom 60 to the
bazaars; but the Greeks always on the alert Pro-
duce passes through many hands before 1T reaches
the ship, and each party eves and collects his toll
The custom that prevailed in England in Cromwells
time, Of return commissions, drawbacks, &c., Is
understood in India; and the Banyan, the broker,
the mahajun, all depend upon thar durstooree in all
heavy transactions, as your bearer or khidmutgar,
expects bis return commission when you send hun
tor q candle or a bunch Of matches
The Bengal Banyan is not the China comprador,
and yet they are not so much unlike; each manages
the merchants and each handles the treasure, and
each appears to be commercially on intimate relations
with the foreign merchants. / visited the resi-
dence Of the Dutt family, where all the opulence
and Injuries that wealth commands Is scattered
about the rooms. Paintings and engravings, mo-
eaic from Rome and porcelain from Sevres, English
and French furniture, and everything Indian and |
European that they can get hold OF, purchased to
sdorn their residences. The large rooms Of valu.
able merchandise resembed more ill-assorted
pawnbroker's shop in London than anything
else / could think OF. ! found the Babos al
almost naked, in his bedroom, on the floor, pun
kah over him. and in his hand an English history OF
h0 p
nished, but the pictures that adorned the walls |
showed the licentious taste OF the Bengaee de was
most familiar with the geography, the commerce,
the politics OF other nations-wanted TO know the
effect Of the late wonderful production OF gold, and
how il would operate on the silver coinage-asked IL
the losses still continued heavy In the Australian
trade as at first and II cotton crop IN the States
would exceed three millions Of bales and If In
case of peace clipper ships would depreciate. His |
religion, he said, would not allow him 70 go abroad
but nothing would be more pleasant TO him than TO
visit Mount Vernon. Ashootes Day had beauti. |
full place. and before his death gave most expen |
sive ncutch combining the immoralties OF the Eu- |
Korean with the luxuriant and yoluptuous habits OF /
the natives He denied himself nothing that mo
ney wouL give him. The careless way IN speaking |
OF him that he had been burnt up some months
siDcc-makes one stu more repugnant TO their Idol
worship. was also entertained by Baboo Rajen
doc Mulick. whose pnnceiy estates aud great
wealth are noticeable over many others. Durz
Place Is far less extensive, for Baboo Mullck lives
the gentleman and devotes his time to ornanenting
his house. by purchasing everything that comes from
other parts. The expensive the article the bet
ter Is be Pleased. Animals and birds filed the garden
and his aviary contained the feathered tribes OF
every land, from the ostrich 70 the emue-the man
DARN duck Of China - the bird OF paradise. The
late Earl Of Derty contributed something 10 the
collection.
saw several goats from Cashmere. the kind from
whose wool the celebrated shawls are made The
goats thrive poorly out OF the mountains and there
were only five left out Of some two hundred that the
Baboo owned. The Baboo Is most gentlemanly IN
his manners and well informed in ancient and mo-
dern history, speaking English with remarkable
fuency. He has several Laos invested N the com.
pany i paper. few weeks since he gave most
magnificent ndufch. The large area Ia the centre
was covered, AND lights and lanterns shone over the
expensive fountain and the ornamented stage.
These naufchss are peculiar 10 India, and, when
given ~ a king prince, or millionaire, dsstn-
guished foreigners are often invited. l had the
chance Of being present al one on small scae got
up for the amusement OF young Bostonlln IRON
friends. The music a. times j. harsh. ard theu dies
% With soothing harmony. The musicans were all
seated, and the guests, native and foreign, were
provided with lounges, sofa chairs. Re- The enter
iainment was given at q natives house, fer
miles cot % town, and the dancing Erls were en-
gagged day or two before. Ges;icuiaiion, action
AID the elastic movements Of the body marx the
regularity 81 the dsncc-C0nrnr ncing wlth SLOW,
graceful notion scarcely moving their feet, bat
working their hands and arms, then becoming more
animated with a livelier chant, their whole form
keeping time 70 the tune, till they appear much ex
cited and thfir movements, 1T first cbaste, become
olrltunus and the music inspiriis 70 still more
powerful excitement till the dance y terminated
with louder strains and more lascivious motions.
Other dancers then take their place, but The dance
j. unchanged Two Of the girls ouly appeared At the
same time. All Of them we're covered with Jewels.
counted many fifteen gold and silver bra 'elcts
on one arm and necklaces and chans-bells on their
ANGLES and rings on their fingers, icwolry In th'ir
ears. and hanging In rings from th'ir nose, gave
them a most original appearance, and simply shows
how fond these natives are 81 ornament All they 4
can make an they can get and save and above
their rnaints nance, goes for ornaments; aud many
Of those who seem the poorest have valuable ewelry
on their persons. Coolies, even who can ave a few
rupees invest in buying jewelled ornaments for their
children; and hence robbery and murder occur
where the inaueement Is conspcu0asy advertised.
Outside Of their own residences and oil the espla \
made, foreigners have little 70 amuse themselves /
With Tor theatrcas and concerts lectures and exLi