Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-04-18
sinioa aud Smerifan.
, yIsIT To THE CHIEF BRAHMIN-
ORIENTAL CUSTOMS IN MODERN
DAYS.

HaV. Inc WTlteT says
1.-THE whole party proceeded on foot to
the residence Of Talia Maharaj. The walk
was neither a short nor an agreeable one,
and il was some minutes before the gate of
the Chief Brahmin's residence was reached.
Here, at a small door opening into court
ward, we were met by the important individ-
ual whom the Governor was about 10 honor
with visit He was little old man, ap.
parently about eighty years Of age, and
extremely infrm. he subsequently inform
ed us he was but sixty-fve. The Governor
then presented each member Of his suite by
name to the Chief Brahmin, who shook
hands with all. The joke Of this part Of the
ceremony was, that after the old man had
welcomed the Governor, and had all his
suite presented by his Excellency, he turned
round very innocently to the Oriental ip-
terpreter of the Government and asked.
Which is the Governor?
"The ceremony Of presentation in the
courtyard being finished, the Chief Brahmin
took the Governor by the hand and led
him into the house, all the suite and at
tendance following. All the Governor
domestics, dressed in scarlet and gold haf-
tans, and bearing long and massive silver
sticks with large knobs to them, entered the
courtyard and house with u.s. although
both Of these places were apparently filled
with native friends of the host, who doubtless,
had been invited to witness the honor done
TO their Chief Brahmin. The house was a
ramshaekle old place, not over clean, but
decidedly picturesque. The interior court
yard, or quadrangle, had been covered in
with canvas, and dozens Of elongated glass
lamps Of various colors we're suspended from
this temporary roof
"Round the center Of this extempOrized
room, leaving an open space in the middle
ofabout thirty feet by fifteen, sofas were ar
ranged, one being placed crossways at the
top as place Of honor FOR the Governor,
towards which he and the Chief Brahmin
advanced and took their seats there side by
side.
'The commander-in-chief was on the
Governors left, ON chair and the cores
ponding chair on the Chief Brahmin's right
was left vacant i entered the room, of
course, among the last; the Governor,
however, sent 10 request me to occupy the
vacant seat on the Brahmin's right, and
again introduced me 10 him; no doubt he
wondered who the guest was TO whom so
much honor was done.
"After few minutes conversation in Hin
dostani between the Governor and Chief
Brahmin, the Chief Brahmin's attendants
brought in about twenty silver dishes or
walters, on which were fruits and sweetmeats
aud placed them in the centre Of the floor
on a strip Of white canvas, which extended
along the carpet from the sofa on which the
Governor was..seated, to the end of the apart
ment. When the dishes were placed the
Chief Brahmin rose from his seat Ito effect
this however he had 10 be assisted by the
Governor, and steadied when on his feet
10 prevent him from falling). The attend
anto then placed in his hands small silver
vase with long neck, and sort of pepper
box top, filled with some peculiar scent /;
with this scent he first Amounted the Gov
ernor then the commander-in-chiefa and the
members of the council, and afterwards the
rest of the Governors suite, walking, or
rather lettering, round TO each, supported by
a couple of his people This part of the
ceremony ended, a dozen more servants
came in, each bearing large silver dish
filed with wreaths Of jsssamine, mixed with
roses. These wreaths were each about two
yards long, and sleeveless made after the
same fasion; also slaves about two feet long
of the same, with punches of roses at the top.
The old Brahmin, when these trays of
flowers were all brought in, recommended
p his labors OF Eastern hospitality. He invest
ed the Governor with the biggest Of these
wreaths, as thick as your wrist, placing it
over his head and on his neck. Then he
placed the smallest wreaths or sleeveless on
each of Sir Bartle's wrist, and finally gave
him huge baton of flowers 10 hold in his
hand, and then poured rosewater on the
bouquet of roses at the top.
II was irresistibly droll to see her
Maiestys Representatives dressed up in this
grotesque style and submitting to it all with
al mperturbahility Of countenance which
WIS admirable. We should have not laughed
at his Excellency, for we all had to submit
30 the same ordeal Fancy twenty grave
ard reverend seignOrs, governors, judges,
members of council, &c, dressed out like
chimney sweeps on May-day. After the
investiture with flowers, each guest was
given nuts and spices, neatly wrapped in
particular leaf. These you take, and then
hand 10 the servants and dependents of the
great man behind your chair, lde hole room
being crowded TO sufiocation with men in
every variety of turban. The fruits in the
dishes were then handed round in the like
manner, and similarly disposed of to the ser
wants, who seized the prohered gifts with
avidity. Not one of the guests partOok of
the delicacies (2) offered them
"Sir Bartle Frere was talking to me while
this farce was going on, and explaining TO
me all about it; he told me that his host was
hereditary Chief Brahnin. / then inquired
whether the little boy standing behind the
sofa was the Brahmin's son. No. was the
Governors reply, that is the poor old
mans grievance; he has no son to succeed
him, only nephew After the sweatmeats
and fruits had all been disposed of in
the manner | have stated, the old Brahmin
madea mother tour ofthe room, sprinkling all
the guests with rose water from large silver
vase These silver trays and vessels were
very handsome and curiously chased, but
they looked like lead, no attempt having
bcep made either TO clean or polish them.
AT last the governor rose 10 take leave
when simultaneous shout from the assem-
blage said something which was assured
was very complimentary 10 the Queens
representative, although Of course, ! could
not understand word. The Chief Brahmin
then took the governor by the hand and led
him out in the same manner rs he had
entered. The Chief Brahmin shook hands
with each Of us again ON leaving the outer
courtyard, and we marched out into the
crowded lane bedecked with the flowers that
had been heaped upon u.s. the etiquette
forbidding us 10 divest ourselves of them
while in the presence or close to the resi-
dence Of our host; before reaching our
carriages, however, we had disposed Of all
our trappings either 10 the servants in
attendance or 10 the children among the
thousand of natives that gazed on us with
wonder and admiration"
THE FIGHTING GENERALS VERSUS THE
WRITING GENERALs-Notlong ago a board
Of officers, consisting Of Generals sherman,