New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-07-05
a Picture Ii India.

The following ID extracted from one of Mr. RUSSELL
letters to the London Times
Our camp indeed presents the most picturesque
groupings In the world. At night when the camp
res light up the swarthy faces Of the native follow
eis OF The moonlight falls on their motioness bodies
wrapped in shr0udlike folds Of white each lying by
his camel his bullock, his elephant or his masters
tent, and thckly that one can scarcely step with
ont roasng a slumberng Hindo0--in the heat of the
day when the trees cast their dark shadows on the
parohed yellow plains; and afford shifting shelter
for the syces bheestes kelasses, and all the various
tribes dependent on the march OF armies-at every
hour all around rs, there are objects which possess
that extraordinary combination OF form and color
which hasindaced so many to deceive themselves
and Others and to tell u1trnths about the gorgeous
East that Orientalisnl which begins In Turkey in
Europe and ceases with Bnrmah and China. What
tits cannot describe but feel and know that it
exists. Just before my tent at this moment there is
group shat could not be met with in any part Of
the world beyond the regions Ihave indicated. Suke
ram, the syce, is experimenting the shoeing OF a
horse. In 0rderto do SO he has complicated himself
with that animals hind legs in fantastic and ira
ditionai manner wonderful to behold.
He has seated himself on bis launches as only an
Oriental can between the horses legs one OF which
he has pulled over his shoulder as to present the
hoof to the farrier while his disengaged arm is
passed ronnG the other leg of the animal which Gac-
cepts the situation" as It has been handed down to
him for thousands Of years.
EukeTanl Is a grave, handsome fellow, with white
turban on his head one end OF which floats over his
shoulders. and white piece OF cotton wrapped round
his oius leaving his brown body aud legs to shine in
the blazing sun. He looks as intelligent as most
Englshnen but in reality he has no idea will not
have one, of any earthly duty beyond the care Of
that horse whose tail he has just fastened ID strap
passed round the fetlock
His wife-for be has faithful attendant in all his
marches whose arms are covered with brass rings
from wrist to elbow, and on whose ankles juggling
bands 81 metal make pleasant music as she walks ID
mixing up his rice and curry in bright brass pot,
covered in one ngfoldof cotton, 80 that only her
arms and feet are visible and on her hip small imp
is perched ehstreperous for his meal and see he gets
IL u eicately and decenty that our ladies at home
might envy the process fora fold Of the robe is open.
ed the tawny body disappears inside, and is covered
by the robe and only pair Oh legs are left visible,
which soon, BY their easy modulations, give tokens
Of the satisfaction Of The youthful proprietor with the
treatment lie is receiving inside.
The smith, hrawny fellow IN short pair Of
drawers and yellow turbani whose muscles stand
nat like those OF bronze Hercules is using the most
extraordinary looking implements OF farriery with
great skill but any motion Of the hofsea heel must
inevitably catch him right on the bridge of the nose.
A young man, WHO may be q perpetual outdoor
apprentice Of the smith, and whose only business
seems to be the abstraction Of smoke ffoma huge
pipe is seated on the ground watching the operation
But watching is an act On the due performance Of
which every Oriental operation in great measure
depends, it Is not left to apprentice al0nea tame
monkey and parrot take an intense interest In it,
and great tall Sikh, all black eyes and whiskers,
moustaohes aud beard and shining white teeth with
a real sWash huekIer sWagger and stride, is coming
over to join them Judging By his tuFban, he is one
Of Wales Horse. Light limbed, sineWy and active,
the air of those fellows makes appreciate the yaor
of those Englishmen who crushed the race Id battle
have meyer seen finer men, SO far as the look
goes than many OF those Irregular Hoisemen or
troopers Of the Punjaub Cavalry but if an anato-
mical, though net equestrian, objection might be
made tothenl it would DO that theirlegs and thighs,
though exceedingly straight, are thin aud SMALL and
that theif calves are not we'll developed.
Many OF them are exceedingly handsome, and all
have fine eyes aud teeth they divide their boards at
the Chin and plat them with their Whskers, which
they turn np and knot in bunch on the top of the
head under the turban to prevent the ends Of the
haF splitting, and on state occasions they comb ont
these masses Of black hair OF which they are very
proud Their shoulders are broad aud square, their
arms muscular, their hands and feet very small and
well shaped, The general dress and equipment of
these TFegu0rs are large tnrban, the color Of which
denotes their regiment tnnie OF cnrky, blue Oh
gray, fastened at the waist by sash and belt, from
the latter Of which depends broad carved sabre
keen as razor which will op of head Or thigh at
euti the former bears at least pistol, and oveI
the shoulders Is slung eatbine, eFrie, and eartouet
box.
Their legs arc cased In jacE-boots but some regi
ments still allow the men to wear their nationa
trousers fitting close to the skin from the hips to tht
ankles. Our friend the Sikh, however snot popular
in the shooting circle and after some attempts
70 get into conversation in which he is more success
fnl with the parrot than with any other member o
society, he walks of, taking with him few nails chs
loss OF which Is presently discovered wherenpen the
Sikh is called many names (behind his back aud ou
OF heartngl, and becomes more unpopular than ever
ea-------
Jgvnp ountAt.t1z Ttprtys IL Ia stnto3 ~ p,,I