Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-04-03
THE PAR1AH's REVENGE.

was once acquainted with a Frcnchman
who could smoke any two Germans down.
He was an artist and, when | knew him, an
exile, having got mixed up in some Of the
conSpiracirS against Louis Philippe; but he
always declared that his uncommon skill in
the art of consuming tobacco had been nc-
quircd during his residence in British India,
where he was employed for years in copying
sculptures and inscriptions from the ancient
tomhS and temples for the Institute OF France
OF his other experience in the land of the
Brahlnin> he was not inclined to talk much
on English ground: but one evening when we
sat together, and his long pipe was in full play
my friend was generally most fluent then
our conversation happened to turn on the cx-
tent of empire England had obtained in the
cast.
." y curious study they art" he said. "the
lIindoO and his ruler. Nature never intended
the two races to occupy one country; suppose
they were willing, it is an absolute impossi
biEty that they could ever understand
each other. The Oriental character and that
of the Anglo-SaxOn arc the opposite poles of
mankind hence the rule of England in India
has had 10 moral result. 1t has familariZcd
the natives with European commerce, and, to
certain extent, with European science too ;
but the Iiindoo and the Mt>sulnlan remain as
far from britain as their ancestors.
My response was about missions, and
schools, and time.
We'll, said my friend "wc would never
agree, and it's no matter; but Ill tell YOU an
adventure which rather enlightened me on the
subject wncn | was new in India"
This he did as follows:
Z" Ii was at Agra, the ancient calital where
the Sultans Of the Persian dynasty rcgned
and built before the days of the Mogul The
modern city is still of great Importance
There are holy places within its walls for
llindoo and MohammcdaA an English garri-
son, and considerable trade but all round
stand witnesses Of earlier power and Splcndor
temples and palaces, and regal tombs-
scattered for miles over the country, and in.
trrsucl Scd with ralm-grovcS. native hnmlctS,
and the bungalows Of the English residents.
! had full twelve months work among them :;
and, among other acquantanccS made in nv
percgrinationS, was that of an English family
named Jackson. They had what might he
termed strong position in uindostan. Mr.
jackson was high law officer for the prov
incc Mrs. JackSonS brother was at the head
OF the Agra custom-house, their son was n
captain Ill one of the regiments of that native
army "y which England keeps her hold ON
India, and their daughter was married to one
of the cOmpany's Judges in Calcutta. With
their family interest so well represented, and
titled connections in one Of the midland coun-
ties OF England, where they were born, you
may believe that the JacksonS were rich and
important people. They had house in the
city OF Agra, chiefly for the transaction of
business, and an extensive bungalow in the
outskirts, situated on the banks of q rivulct,
surrounded by garden full of Indian flowers,
shaded from the southern sun by tall palms,
and commanding glorious prospect ofsplon-
dld RUNS and eastern vegetation. There they
lived IN degree of material luxury known
only to the Anglo-Indan. Nothing was wan
ting that wealth could purchase, and they pos
sessed the love for elegance and taste; so the
great lawyer and his lady were considered the
elite of Agra society, and my acquaintance
with them could only be accounted for on the
ground that Europeans out of uniform were
rather scarce, that life is somewhat dull in the
company sterritory, that the Jackson's wanted
their portraits, and that was wanted to paint
them.
They had resided almost thirty years in
India, and believed themselves thoroughly ac-
quainted with it and its people. So they
might have been as regarded time and Oppor-
tunity; but unfortunately the Jacksons had
brought the English midland counties with
them, and never could get rid of tho burthen.
They reasoned on the dwellers by the Jumma
exactly as they would have done on those be-
side the Trent, and applied the rules of con-
duct laid down for Jim and Bill, in all the
rigor of their Angloism, to Ali and Ranou.-
MIR. jackson was an upright, honorable man,
with little depth and much narrOwness of
mind, OF his spouse will only premise that
she did not pretend to be interesting, and the
only part of her conversation recollcct is q
lament over the infcriority Of meat in India,
and a wonder that the IIindoos did not leave
on worshiping idols when they were told it
was wrong. Their son--of whom saw a
good DEAL his regiment being then in garrison
az Agra-Was handsome young man, with