Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1869-02-19
Railroads in India.

Here, however, rs in Europe, it was
soon apparent that the railway is sad
leveller of social distinctions; so that in
short time Brahmans of the purest st,ain
of blood were TO be seen penued up in the
cattle.ruck-lilte vehicles which form tile
third class carriages of Ind a. in close and
contented contact with Paria,s, whose very
presencr under the same roof would in
former times have been held to involve
pollution.
As curious instance Of conversation
for these tendencies towards weakening tn.
Influence of taste and other social tram.
mels OF the H,ndu faith, il is worth while
noting resui, OF MI Opposite character
which the railways threaten to bring about;
by which. in TACT, certain interests Of ,ha,
creed seem likely to be pr, no'ed iu coll
siderable drgree. We a!lude to the
facilities afforded for visiting the many
shrines which the country contains {;
certain Of which, indeed, are believed to
possess virtues, extending 10 the eternal
salvation OF such Of the faithful as visit
them an end fo' merly att~inable in few
instances by fa'-"tf resiHents-by none,
indeed, bu, sturdy fellows who could walk
the weary way which led to their remote
SITUATIONS, or by rich men who could meet
the large outlay incurred by palanqnins or
other means Of conveyance adapted for
the difficult county that had TO he ,rav-
er>ed..
Now days devo,ees Of all degree, Of
wealth or s,rspg,h have cheap means OF
car'y'ng out ruch rigrImages, and in eff
they do avail l,en selves Of this 10 large
extent
Or certain sacred dnys Of the Hindu
calendar more than one Indian railway
provides special trains for purposes OF this
kind on which occasions, moreover, the, Q
is frequently hell Holy Fair, whvre
large numbers OF people dispose of ,hs
past years produce. and lay ~ tile next
years supply Of clo,hng and co"kin. pots.
Ranged side by side may there be seen the
wares Of Europe, India, China, and Central
Asia.
The despatch Of train from any large
station of an Indian railway is a scene Of
Confusion Of n very picturesque kind. The
brightly colored dresses Of The crowd striv.
ing to secure places the various costumes
and demeanor of those composing it, the
rapid ge.ticula,ions Of the nervous Hindu,
contrasting with the dienified repose OF the
Mos1sm g"ntleuan the loud shouts Of lost
friends looking Tor each other the effnrts
Of the waddlipg women TO drag along their
screaming children, and a, the same time
veil their faces from the eyes Of strange
men; all these make up for the moment a
very Bahel Of sights aud sounds. Here
the jsalouSly guarded inmate of Zeuana
is carried in a palsnquin cluse up 10 the
entrance Of carriage, and shot out on is
floor much afer the manner Of treating a
sack Of -four; the operation being over.
looked by hurly Nabian with singularly
shrill voice, and aided by a shrivsllsd up
old woman, who busies herself 10 carefully
closing the venetian blinds Of the reserved
compartment. occupied by her mistress, and
in arranging on its door the Persian rugs
and cushions required TO make the lady
comfortable, not forgetting :be callsoo"
Che watsr.pipe) and ssse,meats which
assist 30 largely in willing away the time
Of these lights Of. the Hsrem.
A little further along the platform the
crowd is being cleayed asupder by white.
robed men girt with broad red shoulder
belts, who. with shouts and sticks, clear a
passage for an eminent official Parsonage
who is to travel by the train. In his w-ke
follow half 4 dozen other messengers,
equipped like those who wen, before iiip.
aud bearing brass breast plates on which
are blazoued In large letters tue title Of the
Office which ihe master holds. Intv. the
carriage which be- enters they place an
array Of red morocco leather covered des
patch boxes, filed With paper, wLsrewi,h
to bsguii. 'she journey-papers probably
relating q 81 SOFIA Of subjects, from wea
sages in cipher regarding The most imp"r-
tani poli,icsf AFFAIR.". to long aud ,rrfl'ng
oorre*pondenc*s concerning the pay Of
some unfortunate subal'ern. ST. oonpre.
hensive are the questions which claim the
attention - even the highest Government
officers ii Iadis, Of even the v,csroy him.
self.
,wbiIs jast !. the train is about 10
start, tbsgs strives a party OF oar, country,
men. boqssd, spurred and Otherwise equip.
ped IN Indiaa spostsIpan fsshion, on their
way 70 As meet of : hog han. q |. neigh.
boring assiya % % thsiins,; Wsii provided
too, .hsy sssn, With ptoysadsr, judging BY
the tnnsk kson, basksts ihsir servants carry,
aud, Tn shich tbs hssks ~ vaflonus
bo,,i rs ss sssn % protfade. But ptscaa.
,ioss y sthis md srsz bsrts absolu,sly
nsssssss rsiFssb ropass bsipa aaliaas,
Fankndsss;. Or 81 bsat bnk lid Yssrssnt kodtea,