The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-03-25
VOL. IX-NO. 81.
Indian Sketches,


We recommend the perusal OF the follow.
ing sketches to all those who are desirous of
knowing something Of the domestic charac.
ter Of the present rulers Of India, at the same
time vouching for the accuracy Of the pic
lures of Indian life that are drawn by our
old friend and brother chip, JoHS LANG.
ON THE ROAD.
Our friend is travelling towards the upper
provinces Of India, and is thus persuaded
to accompany 6ghthearted subalterD, in
charge ola treasure party.
"Send your bearers away, and spend the
day with me-" said the lghthearted Lieu
tenant. "You can get other bearers at any
Of the villages in the neighborhood or, If
you are not in violent hurry, march the
whole distance to Agra with me- ! can stick
your palkee and boxes on the top of the
treasure, you know
Iaccepted the invitation with pleasure,
and entered the tent, where we found tea
and biscuits ready. After pertaking of this
refreshment we threw ourselves down on
charpoys native bedsteads) and soon fell
fast asleep.
We slept till ten, when we arose, had
breakfast, consisting Of-the old story
grilled fowl, curried fowl, and eggs, with
beer instead Of tea and then we went out
and sat under the mungo trees, which formed
dense shade over the encampment. The
Lieutenant had with him pallet bow, and
was shooting at the squirrels, which abound
in the upper provinces OF India. While he
was thus employed sepoy-a Brahmn
called out, "Sahib, yon have no right to do
that. II is written in the general orders
that you must respect the religious feelings
Of the HiDdoos, and here are you wantonly
destroying the life Of animals in our pres.
ence. shall report this to the Colonel,
Sahlb, when we return to the regiment
From the tone in which the sepoy spoke,
l thought ne was in earnest. The lieuten-
ant, however, assured me that he was only
ridiculing one of those absurd general or
deral orders which frequently appear but
Of which, bad and discontcnted sepoys often
take advantage. Ere long, this Brahmin
observing that the light Of the lieutenants
cheroot was extinguished brought him some
FIRE The lieutenant gravey shook his head,
and said, " No, Ii is written in general
orders that no officer shall employ for his
own purposes sepoy who is a soldier and
not servant, and that any officer so Offend
ing will subject himself to b. tried by
court martial. Then, taking the fire from
the hand Of the Brahmin, he remarked to
me, The consequence OF that ordcr--ior
which there never was the slightest occa-
sion--is simply this : those men who are
wiling'to obige their officers, laugh at II,
while the disailectcd will insol5 ntly quote it.
il required only to pick up glove or
walking-stlck. Many an Cilicer has been Sc
verely reprmandcd for asking sepoy to
carry letter for him Ia the pos,oii
II was very pretty scene, that encamp-
ment. The tents the arms piled in front
Of them the horsr under tree, and his
syce seated near him the old buggy and
harness not far of the scpoys, in groups,
employed in cooking their TODD for the mid
day meal the nnmbcrs OF brass vessels ly-
ipg about in all directions the score Of
squirrels hopping from branch to branch, or
running up and down the trunks Of the
trees the crows the minars and the spar
row on the look out for crumbs the bul-
locks, taking their rest after the fatigues Of
the past night and then before, Us well as
after the meal, the men crCwdlng round the
WE'LL and washing themselves from head to
foot, and also washing their under garments
which are speedily dried in the sun Of that
climate. II is Impossible TO witness and not
admire this part Of tine llndoo and Mussu-
man religions.
Afttr enc O'Clock, when every man had
jOyed his smoke there was scarcely soul
except my.ef and tie leutcnsnt, awake in
the encaInpmeat. Al were fast asleep in
the open air The As.atic must sleep after
his md day meal, If It b. ob.y fgr half an
hour. The loss Of thi. little -ieep IL a very
severe prvatlon.
At three O'Clock the encampmcnt was
again all lie. Some Of the Sepoys wrestled
AMI exhibited amazing skiI aud strength IN
the art To an Enropean II ia a mystery
how men Who live upon nothing bat farjna-
oous TODD canbe 40 muscular aud powerful.
Othcr. smoked thrr pipes small hookAh-)
and played a. native g-ae called pachesee
resembling lotto whl- a goodly number
oorgrrya,e,i arouUd a MIssUiman, who va
! reading aloud ti.e Bat.-O Baliar, Hindoo.
.au,o work o' great celebrity. Two or
;hr-e o' tie company Trre musical, and
p. y.t .l'.ru-t''y ~ 'hcs;afrC (Dat!yc gu
: tas ur sio.I. accompanied b. TIE TIN ton
! 'u.t.., 4sJm ani TIE yoioe. # those who
/ s,.- disposed s0d able 10 sing A. ior ,aa
Ln.a."ua0t aai my-.1i W. isguilsi tss tlme
! 1ouverS,iion a0d with escarte Tosari.
su1-ei pa.ko, OAK carriage was reported
| 70 le ia sighl coming 35wa tie road -ii5o
! -ay cyied the ljsl,eul1t. "Coine slo'g
! 20 "a bard him. am in wan; Of feS
sual matters.