Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-03-12
THE PARIAH'S REVENGE.

was an artist, and, when knew him, an exile
having got mixed up in some Of the cOnspir1-
cies against Louis Philippe; but he always de
eiared that his uncommon skill in the art of
consuming tobacco had been acquired during
his residence in British India. where he was
employed for years in copying sculptures and
inscription from the ancient tOmbs and temples
Tor the Institute of France OF his other ex-
periences in the land of Brahmins, he was not
inclined TO talk much on English ground but
one evening when We sat together and his Ion .
pipe was in full play-my friend was generally V
most hCent then-Our conversation happened
to turn on the extent of empire England had
obtained i'm the last
"A curious study they are he said. "the
HindOo and his ruler Nature never intended
the two races to occupy one country; suppose
they were willing, it is an absolute impOssbili-
ty that they could ever understand each other.
The Oriental character and that of the Anglo
Saxon are the opposite poles of mankind; hence
The rule of England in India has had 10 moral
result. 1t has familiarized the natives with
European commerce, and, to n certain extent,
with European science toO but the HindOo and
the MuSSuiman remain as far from Britain az
their ancestors
NV response was about missions and schools,
and time
Well, = said my friend, q We would never
agree and its no matter; but Ill tell YOU an
adventure which rather enlightened me on the
subject when l was new in India This he
did as follows
1t was at Agra, the ancient capital where
the sultsns of the Persian dynasty reicned and
built before the days of the Mogul The modern
clty Is still of great Importance. There are
holy places within its walls for Hindoo and
Mohammedan, an English garrison, and con-
siderable trade; but all around stand the wit
nesSes of earlier power and splendor-tcmples
and palaces, and regal tombs-scattered for
los tho
paim-Sroves, native hamlets, and the bun
salowS OF the English residents. 1 had full
trelvemonth work among them; and among
other acquaIntances made in my peregrina-
tons, was that of an English family named
jackson, They had what might be termed a
strong position in HindoStan. Mr. jackson
vas high law-oficer for the province: Mrs
Jackson s brother was at the head of the Agra
custom-hOuse; their son was a captain in one of
the regiments of that native army by which
England keeps her hold on India: and their
daughter was married to one of the Company's
judges In Calcutta. With their family inter
est 80 well represented, and titled connections
IN one OF the midland counties of England,
where they were born, you may believe that
the JacksOns were rich and important people
Ihey had house in the city of Agra, chiefly
Tor the transaction Of business, and an extern
sive bungalow in the outskirts situated on the
banks of rivulet, surroun nded by garden full
OF Indian flowers, shaded from the southern
sun by tall palms and commanding glorious
prospect of splendid ruins and Eastern vegeta-
tiOn. There they lived in degree of material
luxury known only TO the lO-Indian.
Nothing was wanted that wealth could pur-
chase, and they possessed the love for elegance
and taste so the great lawyer and his lady
were considered the elite of Agra society and
nv acquaintance with them could only be ac-
counted for on the ground that Europeans out
OF uniform werc rather scarce, that life is some
what dull in the Company territory, that the
Jacksons wanted their portraits, and that was
wanted to paint them.
They had resided almost thirty years in
India, and believed themselves thoroughly ac-
quaiDted with il and its people. So they might
have been as regarded time and opportunity
but unfortunately the Jacksons had brought
the English midland counties with them, and
never could get rid of the burthen. They
reasoned ON the dwellers by the Jumna exactly
as they would have dsne on those beside the
Trent, and applied the rules of conduct laid
down for jim and Bill in all the rigor Of their
AnsloIsm, to Ali and RanOu. Mr.. jackson
was an upright, honorable man, with little
depth and much narrowness of mind. OF his
spouse viii only venture to premise that she
did not pretcad to be interesting and the only
part Of her conversation Tecollect is lament
over the lnterlori:y of meat In India, and Il
wonder that the HindOOs did not leave off wor-
shipping idols when they were told it was
wrong. Their son-of whom | saw good deal,
his regiment being then in garrison at Agra
was handsome young man. with very red
whlskers, and a great, though silent esteem Of
himself; and Of their daughter know only
that she was young married lady OF remark
able propriety. and had two really beautiful
children, twIn-bOys, around whom the whole
family 5 affection, and much Of its pride was
gathered.
Inc letters from Calcutta were full of them
their sayings, their doings. and their general
progress. They were the theme to which Mrs
jackson returned from the two leading subjects
L have mentioned-the topic to which the law
yer came down from his official dignity, and on
which the Captain condescended to unbend his
mind. The twins were now in their fourth
year, but the old people had not seen them
since their first summer. The distance between
Agra and Calcutta made the visit Of the judges
lady to her parents rather raro. However, in
the third quarter of my acquaintance with the
Jacksons, II was publicly announced that Mrs
Lester WIS coming with the dear children, and
L was engaged to paint their portraits
Like most families of distinction in British
India, the Jackson caught a considerable
retinue. The acquisitions Of caste, which
always limit the Hindoo labor, and the indo-
lence superinduced by tropical climate con-
tribute to augment the number of these house
hould troops. My friends had servants of all
sorts and Sizes but among them there was none
IN more esteem or trust than a native girl, who
acted as Mrs. Jackson's own maid, and held
beside sundry important Offices, such as the
charge Of the household linen and the dealing
out of the spices. They called her Zellc and
when her good mistress was in a hurry, it be-
came Sally sometimes, but believe her proper
name was Zelleya. She was a Pariah, at least
she did not object to do OF touch anything; but
her appearance had something Of high caste in
It, Tor that peculiar institution Of India has the
advantage of making the cla - known without
the help of dress OF equipage
Zelle had the tall, slender figure the features
of that fine mould which might be termed the
classical Of Hindostan-the upright carriage
and elastic grace, the long, shining hair and
pure olive compile xion, which distinguished the
Brahmins daughter She was young, tool
think not more than seventeen. by the way,
that is not counted extreme youth in the East;
but there a cold glitter in her black eve
which, in spite Of 50 much beauty. would not
have charmed NE. 1 thought Captain Jack
son had come To n different conclusion The