The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-08-06
Hindooism. By a Brahmin.

his countrymen
He was dressed in the costume of his
caste-a single long white piece of linen,
EMBODIED curiously upon his person, in
such manner as to form pants, coat and
robe. He is but twenty-three years of
age, slight in person, with small hands,
large and rather square head, angular
features, trne Indian eyes. bronzed COM
plexion, slight side whiskers, and short
moustache. He is an Oriental scholar,
about two years from his native country,
and is student Of divinity in Unita-
rian Seminary of New England. He has
an imperfect acquaintance with the Eng
lish language. but like all foreign schol-
airs who learn the language at all, he
speaks what he knows of it chastely. He
is a young nan of reflective habit, aud
has very fine intellect His manner is
artless and simple. and bis spoken
thoughts indicate a youthful but agreea-
bic implicitly of mind. The lecture was
somewhat novel and on account of the
great interest now and lately felt in
everything relating to India, we give alb
Strdcts OF portions OF II :
"llindoo life cannot be understood at
all except through an understanding of its
essential characteristic, Caste, mystery
which the Christian world does not and
probably never can fully comprehend.
Caste is the vitality Of Society in India
indeed, it is Society itself. The Hindoo
believes that in the beginning, Brahma.
the First Cause, God, created four castles,
and decreed that they should have no
dealing one with another These castles
were, irst, that of the Brahmins or priests
-cnuIng from the mouth of Brahma
second, that inclusive of writers, clerks,
astrologers-from his body third. inclu-
sive of physicians, soldiers-from his
arms fourth, the laborers-from his feet.
The members of different castles might
not associate in any way, on pair of be-
ing out casted. In process of time, by
casting and intermarriage, other castles
sprung up, so that now there are, in Ben
gal, thirty six distinct castles, each as dis
inct from every other as distinct nations.
Every profession is a caste. The farmer
who produces milk is of one caste-the
man who sells it is of another. One caste
is composed of shopmen who sell fruits.
another of those who sell flowers, anoth-
er of those who sell confectionery. The
lowest caste is that of the wine-keeper
The shoemaker is also very low; so is the
banker and wine merchant. The black
smith is higher caste than goldsmith,
because he is more useful. Promotion is
impossible. No man can rise from low
caste to higher. The principle is, in
brief, once barber always barber, I'M
less one chooses to rollute himself and
become outcasted. He may go as low as
he pleases."
He cited several incidents to prove the
law memorable under all circumstances
showing how easy it is to lose caste, and
the utter impossiblity of rising to high
err caste than that in which one is born.
"Very little love is borne by the Hin
docs toward female children, but male
children are their special delight. The
birth of female child among the Hin.
docs brings a season of gloom and de-
spondency. The mothers natural affec-
ton makes her yearu for her offspring ;
but her superstition drags her from it ;
her left arm reaches for her child, but she
throws her right arm away in hatred.
The birth of male child is, however,
the commencement OF season OF rejoic-
ing and festivity, in which not only his
parents but the whole neighborhood join.
''Children of neither sex are dressed
till they are two years old-maiuly be-
cause Of the difficulty Of adjusting to and
keeping upon them the one piece dres,
OF the country. The children of Che rich
aud Loor are alike in this respect. though
the former are often almost laden with
ornaments. The girls are rarely allowed
to study anything. Male children des
tined to be Brahmins or Astrologers may
study all they please-destined to bt
physicians, may study some things
"Cbrist's doctrine of the New Birth
was known to the Hindoos fourteen cen
is phrase common TO the Sanscrit Ian
guage The boy child of a Brahmin mus
pass through this experience before b,
can enter upon the sacred duties and thu
privileges OF his caste. The New Birth
Is celebrated at the time of his consecra
ton to the priestly office, which take
place at the age Of twelve years.
"The preparation for the priesthood
and the ceremonies upon conservation
are great. Long seasons of fasting ant
PRAYER and seclusion prepare the boy TO
the event Of his life. The day is fixed
but if there is rain or thunder on the pre-
ceding day, it is postponed eight days
The boy is washed, amounted, invested
with his rings and cpnsecrated thread
then goes into the inner temple and re
mains three days, at the expiration o
which time bis discipline commences"
Mr. GangoOly displayed fac. smile o
the consecrated thread. 1t is worn upol
the left shoulder, and passes under tn
right arm, is somewhat curiously braide'
of twelve strands, and is the distinguish
ing mark or badge OF the caste. Il can
not be worn by member of any othe
caste, on pain Of death. Ii is the insigui
of power greater than that of royalty il
self. Mr. e. spoke at some length in re
lation to the lie of the Brahminic cast;
uub VIC uiuos otbie dHs tCpuit.
Marriage takes place at a very earl
age. The Brahmin boy cannot MARI
until he has entered upon his sacred o.
fice-or until he is over twelve but th
low caste boys marry at ten years of ag
and some of them even at nine. A DO
OF sixteen or seventeen is an old bacht
Tor, as girl of thirteen would be an oil
maid. On coming to this country Wi
much astonished to find girls of tlcent!
: fte and tlcenty si1. There is no courtiu
in India the engagement is made b
, the parents, and the parties do not Sc
3 reach other till the marriage ceremon
, commences. This is protractsd and v,
3 ried annoying and troublesome to Il
> groom jolly frolic for the boys an
3 girls; costly 10 the groom, and TO Il
2 father, who is obliged to give his daugl
{ tiers portions for their husbands"
i, Ia conclusion, Mr. Gangooly explode
e one Of the common fallacies of the d;
. concerning the drowning of children
S the Ganges. He said as long as he I've
: in India he had never heard Of it. Il
4 | nnf a cu<kor, there Rnk The cus,nru