New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-02-10
THE MORALS or BRITISH INDIA.
Correspondence Of The N. Y. Tribune.

BURNtH, Nov. 1871.
There 10 one subject upon which European editors
,eye, cea.e 70 speak viz: Polygamy in Utah. And
,, INNS, confess that even the opposite SIDE Of
the globe An American bonn citizen cannot reflect upon
,h;. lepazed system Of niquty without feelings Of
horor IL makes one blush TO think that such foul
snot exists upon the American continent, even though
large proportion of the hormOns emgrants Fl ON
Europe But sense of shame is no sooner reused
by knowledge OF what exists in our cwn land than the
blush is deepened to redder hue by what eyes
daily behold Here, il lie true, we hive n heather
land Withthe exception Of English officers, merchants
and sesmen, few American Missionaries, and hand
full OF native Christians the people all heathen-at
least forty mine out of fifty But they are SAID 20 nave
Chrissn rulers; yes, Christian in nsme and Je" IN
deed but great majority of them, We are TO Judge
by their lives at heart better than the heahen
over whom they hold the iron scepter. While through
out England and America polygsmy in Utah is Justly
condemned as thing too vile TO be tolerated. system
of concubnage, which in point OF guilt, cannot be
regarded as second to that Of polygamy IS not only
tolerated but practced by EDglish officers and Others
throughout the entire East. As however, have lived
In no other part of India except British Burmah-a
small portion of the COmpanys possessions-l can
sneak from observation only of what have seen in
that part of the East. Judging, however, from the
large number of hafcastes that come over from the
Government, can but infer that It If no less common
there than here.
II a practice 30 vile were confined TO the lower
grades Of society it might be justly frowned down,
and the proper Representatives of the English nation
in the East saved from Teproach. But such is not the
case. The highest officers in the province, who hold
both civil and military trusts, are alike guilty From
the Colonel who has been hOn0red with the title of
Sir and Knight of the Garter, for military skill, TO
the lowest ensign ip the army; from the Commissioner
Of Provinces to the lowest writer in his court, all
allowed, and they choose, as many do can practice
this nearous sin. As it would be untrue to say that
every man in Utah has plurality of wives, so II
would he untrue TO say that every unmarried officer
of the East India Company keeps native woman;
but think that sin of deeper dye can be found 10
have been committed here than there. In Utah man
is allowed by law to marry sisters, but am yet TO
learn that man has taken his own daughter as
his copcubpe Yet such has been the case IN Burmah.
During the first Burmese officer OF the Madras
army took q Burmese woman, and by Aer became the
father Of an legtmate daughter Al the close OF the
wsr be returned to Madras and seems to have forgot
ten as too many do that he had child on the oppo-
site side of the Bay of Bengal In the course OF time
he was again stationed this coast and took yonng
halfcaste GIRL who was afterward proven to he his
swn daughter. -, ~,
who has seen the interior of Mormon life says that
no man is allowed TO marry more wives than he can
" show he il capable of supporting properly, and in
the humhest class, at least separate bed-chamber
for each wife is required. Men cannot divorce ex-
cent for adultery, DC. From Mr.. Chandess own
statement, them it will be that no Mormon is
allowed TO marry more wives than he can show ne Is
capable of supporting Pre- perly. But IN INDIA, man
NAV have as many concgbnes a. he can hire Tor
money or persuade by fair speech to enter his hare,
and there is no law to compel him to support them,
their children. l., 49, ....a
tho civil and military jurisdiction of India come out
single and probably q majority remain 30 untll they
retne from the service. Very few, IL any come gu.
with the intention of making this their permanent
home The system Of promotion and retremt nj on
pension Keeps up a constant huctuaton IN society.
Civil officers generally remain longer at one station
than the military, but the average stay ls only from
ak months 10 three years. Therefore, when an officer
changes the place OF his abode If he does not wish to
take his concubnes and hafcaste children with him.
be has only TO step off and leave them behind to look
out for themselves. Nor is this at all uncommon. IL
ia true that some provide food and clothing for their
legitimate children at least for time; but, for moral
training they entirely to the of their heather
mothers. Many of these picked up by benevolent
societies or Individuals and after much training attain
toposons of trust and responsibility among therown
class; and few instances have been known IN which
father has sent his to England to be educated
But these the exceptions; and what an Enghsh
education would be- under the circumstances, one can
easily imagine-without mothers care, and father
ashamed TO be known as such.
But by far the larger proportion Of illegitimate
children left unproyided and uncared for by their
unnatural fathers; and consequently, fare no better,
nor as well, as native children who have fathers
care, though he be heather. few uugarnished
facts that have under my observation the past
three years will prove this statement true.
Three years ago this present month, was informed
by Burman that young EngishInan had entered
the Of the priests and embraced the Bood
hist religion. / could not believe such statement,
and took no small pains TO look into the matter.
found TO my pressibe regret, that the casoh con
of an English gentleman had shaved his head put on
the yellow robes, and entered the Monastery ~ a
priest Of Boodh where he daily bowed before the idols
Of Gaudams, and worsbiped by the people as
himself god His father was-he knew not where.
During the same season, while travelling IN the Jun
gle, remote from any city, called at small village
where nv attention was arrested by a lad OF about
twelve years Of age under the Of priest and in
trimming for the priesthood He had the large Roman
nose, an intelligent forehead, brown hair and every
feature indicated that he possessed large share OF
English blood. j made INQUIRIES concerning his
yLtentage. He was the of an English officer, but
Lad never known his father. His mother died when
he an infant and but for the tender mercies of
the heather, he would have been EFT to perish. Ny
heSft yesrned for the poor boy. would gladly have
taken him TO my hearts home but he had been given
70 the priests who were unwilling 10 mart with an
valuable prize. j have never seen or heard from
him since.
About two years ago i was passing by market
pl.ee and saw two girls-perhaps should saw Young
isdee-of eighteen and twenty years OF age, selling
fish and variety Of eatabes. They were dressed in
Burmese costumes, but 40 strong were Their English
features th at inquired of man near by concerning
them. He said they were the daughters oil an En-
ehsh officer who left the place eighteen years ago,
when the Youngest infant. Their mother aied
soon after, and they had been brought up ey inen
grandmother, who was very poor lhey haa no
knowledge OF their father. Neither could sgeak OF
read word OF English. They were heather, atn1ugu
the daughters of nominally Christian Esther. lhey
lived, dressed and worsbipped as the hea'neh 10
slept on mat and ate with their hngeIs
called few days ago al the house OF nesd man
scOlecor of revenues in this city, His wife was the
daughter Of an English physician &c stationed mere