The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-05-08
From ARpleons Ne'c Americon C,copadia, Vol. III
BANYAN

BANYAN
Banyan is Hindoo merchant, broker or bank
er, having dealings with foreigners. The term isby
several authorities derived from the Sanscrit Janij
or banik, signfying trader dealer, and applied
to the whole shopkeeping fraternity of Hindostan.
others again, tracing it to the same origin, apply
the word to that particular class of Hndoo traders
who, departing from the ancient custom of their peo
pie, push their commercial operations into strange
countries. These give the name bonyan to those
Hindoos whom Marco Polo found among the foreign
merchants at the fair of Tabriz, and the port of
Aden to those traders from India, who, in the mid
die ages found the Eastern coast of Afr-
ca; to those banyans, called, who at different
periods have formed considerable and influential
mercantile communities in the principal trading
towns of Arabia and Persia; and to those
enterprising merchants who, in later times
have carried on an extensive trade, by caravans
from Bombay, Surat and Cambay, with the
interior of Asia, even venturing so far as the
frontier of Russia and China. 1t is said that
the Por tuguese were driven from Muscat by the
treachery of banyan, who instigated the uprising
in resentment for an atlront offered to his family.
Again, by a number of writers the banyans de-
scribed as distinct caste, 'believng in themetemp
sychosls, and abstaining from the of tiesh-meat
or OF any food that has had life;" whereas,
they do not at this day constitute separate CASTE
nor are they so considered in any Hindoo code,
by the Bramnical priesthood. Several travellers
among whom are Taverner and Ludoph) use the
term Danyan as synonymous with |dishya, the
name OF the entire great caste OF merchants and ag
lOf TINS tnere is no oriental au-
thority. Tavernier and Ludolph, suppOsng them to
be cast of vegetarians have gone so far as to de-
line the word banyan as some innocent and without
malice;" and DR.. Noah Webster, in defining ban
yam days. in seamens language, as days in Il week
IN which the sailors have no flesh meat served out to
them, says: 'The of the term seems to be
borrowed from the banyans in Asia, who belicv-
ing IN metempscychosis will eat no flesh, nor
kill noxous animals" In this the photographer has
adopted prevailing of ship masters and sail
ors III the East India trade who when the inter
course of Europeans with the natives was almost
wholly restricted to particular class of merchants
and brokers, naturally ascribed to the banyans,
caste or Sect those religious and social customs to
which they hold in common with all wOrshippers of
Drama and Nishnu, the creator and the preserver.
The explanation sufces for the various errors
oftraveers. In Bengal, the banyan derives his title
from bdnigd, Hlndostanee, banker, and claims
accordingly the superior status of financier, cap
italist, and Spectator, broker in foreign com
mcrce; he manages the money matters of the Euro
pean merchant, and serves him in the capacity of
interpreter. In fact, the same man is styled in
Madras, dobash, corrupted from d,ci bd&hi, ''2
languages" and signifying any one who can speak
languages. Thus, the banyan proper will
explain to you that the banyans are a caste,
but mixed craft; and, with the Hindo's par
TALLY for common origins, will you that
they are sprung from father of the medi-
cal and mother of the commercial class, not
caste. This notion takes practical form in the
fact that many OF the banyans practising physi-
clans. Some banyans osentatiously usurp the
title of stle1ran, which implies an imposing order
of delegated power; under the emperors of Hin
dostan and even within very late years, at Luck
now and Delhi, the dewan's was Il confidential
Office, filled only by persons in high favor who
enjoyed peculiar access to the monarch
The banyans are invariably Hindoos pos
sessing almost without exception, large estates and
extensive credit and influence. So generally is this
the case, that it is but few years since every de-
scription of Government contracts was under the
control of 20 or 30 banyans. If government job was
to be undertaken by any one not in the companys
service, the banyans became his securities condi
ton ofreceiving per centage; and appointing their
friends and dependents to such duties might
troll the principal, and guard themselves against
loss. If, on the other hand, "company's servant"
civil or military, was DESTROYS of deriving benefit
from some contract in the disposal of which he had
vote, and which, consequently, he could not OBJ
tain in his own name-then the banvan became the
principal, and his foreign friend either received
share, or derived advantage from loans, which an
swered his purpose equally WELL Frequently the same
person was banyan to several European houses,
whose affairs, thus become unreservedly known
to him. discussed with more or less vivacitv at
those meetings; which the banyans of Calcutta for
merl held when the active business of the day was
over. The English and American branch houses
in the three presdences, and especially at Calcutta
are established by junior partners confidential
clerks, deputed for the purpose by their principals
in London or Boston, as the case may be. These
gentlemen assisted. in duties so novel to them,
by banyans who, like the compradors in China, sup
ply the merchandise and control the funds-buying
cargoes, and cashin@ acceptances Naturally shrewd
and apt to learn, sharpcned by various practice
among traders from every coast, they soon become
familiar with the strangest commercial usages, and
expert in the tricks of trade; only the willy Greek
and the astute Parsee, competent to cope with
them IN regulating exchanges and managing prices,
putting the market up and down as if for pastime.
Nowhere are they so comfortably in their element
as amid the Kaleidoscope concourSe of heated spec
ulators drawn together by the monthly opium sale.
When banyan is retained by an English or
American house, which relies upon him for cash
advances, he seats his employees at the desks,
and manages the details Of the office by his conden-
tial srcars, native clerks Indeed, he to a GER
tain degree rules the office, entering it with but
slight ceremony, making rather careless salaam.
and never doffing his slippers. He goes attended
invariably by srcars and hurkarus-that is clerks
and messengers; he seldom condescends to visit the
baZaarS, but sends a broker; and he transacts his
business generally BY means of messengers and
chits notes.
In fact, the banyan is aware of his Importance and
makes the most of it, England has acknowledged
her Indebtedness to this class for her extended trade
IN the fabrics of Dacca, in the sugar of the Western
and Northern districts in indigo throughout the
country and in several other branches of commerce
which, but for him, must have dwindled. The ban
yam often reaps large profits from the futile specu-
lations of his employer. In Calcutta the principal
banyans to American houses are the Baboos Kalidas
and Ralinda Dutt. AshoOtas Dev who died in 1855
had transacted an extensive business directly with
Boston houses for many years; his ready capital
was said to amount to 0lacs ofrupees 81 500 0O0)
His business has fallen to his nephew. Ashootas
Dey was the only native merchant who received
important orders direct from the United States; the
same may be said of Ram Gopol Chose on English
account-wise and honorable men, and not to be in
Guided in the same category with those unscrupu-
lous money lenders of the presidencies, to whose
arts the foolish young civilian so easily succumbs.