The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-08

A Representative HindOo- "Our'' Ciceronc In
Delhi-Gcucral View of the Ciiy--The Cham
din ChowlS and the People Ono Meets In
Is-The ssSwcii Natives'-The Fnnine--
Ercnes Around the Grain Shops--NIcinorics
Of the Mutiny--Ihe Story of the Kotwale-
Tao Kootuf BKinnr-The Jumna Musjid.
DELHI, Sept. Is, 1860.
Six days ago your correspondent. having ratified
over the noble iron bridge which has been constructed
across ne cred river Jumna was whired through
the OLD Ivr Of sellmgur and landed on the platform
Of the Delnt terminus OF the East Indian Railway.
He established himself without delay IN the only
hotel for Europeans in the city tkept by native,
who rcjoices IN the name OF Extraordinarily, and at
once conddcd himself to the care OF local cee'
rome, generally known as Baboo Budree Das Hin
200 OF the gshatrya caste, who subsists BY fasten
ting as GUIDE interpreter and servant upon passing
tourists. AS tho Daboo may occasionally figure in
the next column or Two, and as he deserves some
special notice. well to give ut the outset some
tden OIL what he IL hike.
qhe Baboo is the son OF native who was butler
TO the officers mess Of one OF the English regiments
and has enjoyed tie advantage OF having associates
from his very earliest years with the dominant
race lie speaks English, therefore, with ms
much nuency as his native tongue, and Is fair rep
resentatlve specimen OF the Hindoo as he has been
modified by the influence OF his present rulers.
Physically the Taboo approaches very nearly the
standard type OF the high caste Hlndoo. Rather
below the middle height among Europeans, he has
we'll shaped Ggure, somewhat too slender perhaps,
but Otherwise 1airly proportional HIS arms are
thin ana almost destitute of muscle and his hands
ana feet are femnlnely small. His features arc
regular AMI clearly cut; he has an aquiilne nose,
wei formed mouth and large, bright, black eyes.
His head Is small. but The forehead Is broad though
not very high. With the exception Of a
thick bristy mustache he is clean shaver.
In color he Is light brown. He Is
dressed in long white cotton robe, not
unlike Roman toqa, with girile OF coored SILK
netting In whose iods he keeps his money. huge
white turban serves him rs q headdress, ana when
he takes his walks abroad and only then, he slips on
his feet pair OF low shoes. with green coored
uppers, and the toes turned up. TO wear them IN
any room occupied by European would be an act OF
gross dsrespcct, sucn would ensure him kick 10
some tender part Of the body from an oitcial Eng
nshman, who believes In keeping 'the ID mig
gers in their placer His tuIDan, however, he must
keep on his mead; TO take it of would entail simi-
lar penalty.
Such Is the Daboo as he appears in his outward
and visible aspect, and in any street OF Delhi You
VIII lnd several thousand duplicate copies or him.
The figure thus drawn il, in fact the staple human
element OF the place. But 1t Ia only by careful OBJ
servation that you become acquainted with the
Baboo's inner character. intellectually be is ex-
tremey clever. You cannot talk to him for ten
minutes without being struck with the extent of his
information and the clearness and fuency with
which he imparts 1t. Watch him closely, however,
and you win discover taat he never ventures to give
currency to an idea OF his own manufacture
upcn any subject whatever. lie has or1glna! ideas,
certainly, but only By tne most sAilfui examination
can you drag them from him. To an American, nc
speaks with more freedom than he would 10 an Eng
llshman, but 1T Is only with fear and trembling that
he dlscioses his secret thoughts TO any man with
white face. Living under government which ig
rores altogether his wishes ana aspirations and
which Furnishes severely any expression o, discon-
tent ct even its routine regulations he has acquired
tho servlle virtue OF talking great deal without
betraying his opinions. But how does the govern
ment punish men Tor these impalpable offences, IL
may be asked? Nothing IS more simple. The Baeoo
has a brother who holds an Official position aud IT
no censure5 the authorities even in the ndest na1
ner, this brother loses lis post.
In the first place, tEen the Bahoo is b. habit and
necessity most sklliul adept In the useful art Of
dlssimulation. lie belongs TO an oppressed race
and the memory OF tho horrible massacrcs perpe-
trated by the British authorities during the mutiny
VIII never fade IRON his mind. But he is hopeless
OF obtaining redress cr these injuries, ana resolved
to make the best OF Ms present position. Intimately
acquainted with evsry shade 81 British character, he
plays his part OF nauerer with nipite Skin. AS
write Can hear him In tho next room asking gen.
uelnan whose IN ile IL, he says, the CONVEX
sion OF the poor bcnightel heather, TO read MIN
chapter IRON tho Good Book OF the
Christians. 1as H. OF course, the best
~,
OF getting little more than the customary pay OF II
guide. 1t Is certain, however, that he cares but
little about Tie Cool Book, only an hour ago he
was IN my ROOM urgently Request ins me 10 witness
nautcD, and he d uaL al an nduceMcnt mat II should
BIO or tue raclest possible character. clever, wen
Informed, hypoerIeal, avarlclOus, INSCRIPTIONS
a sAlliul lar prince among ndttCrers, tue BQboo
Is fair typical specimen OF large section OF the
native population. l refer to that secaQn 81 the
people whose interests depend on standing wei with
the powers tnat be- ana VINO, therefore, take pains
disguise their uatled OF their rulerB The rest OF
the natis oi the veiy rich and nearly ali OIL
the very p0or-nake no afectation Of loyalty; they
scowl AZ white race VITA uncOnceaied enmIty.
But what IS the baD0o's character In lls upper
veried slater Wen. ITS chief element IS unlalmg
good temper. lie mlght betray his best friend for
consideration; but nc would never be guilty Of o
discoariesy TO his greatest foe. To his wife and
children he Is slnauary gentle and alfectionae.
Where his interests arc not involved he 10 the most
well ana Ionucr stiil OF wearing lne rament and
valuable Jewelry. cut he never gets drunk or eats
meat. IL ne lccis mcineu Tor uebaucn tic stupoies
himself with Dang, Tho hasheesn about which M.
Dumas has written such wonderful nonsense; and
In all his actions and thoughts aud wishes
he IS inc aoJect slave OF tho ''customs
Of his people, Ais great ambition is TO be
exactly Ike the rest OF his race, to think
anu aress and cas- precisely as his father and every
Otner member or his caste nave done from the 10.
hottest antiquity. lie does not believe III tho fables
OF Brahmlnism the least; but he - as scrupuous
IN nis religious obse yanoes as II ne gave the at OF
winch they are the symbols the most implicit credit.
lie says that Christianity IS d very good religion,
and 1t Is. he THINKS III many oil It's features verf IKE
Hndooism; but why should he be CHRISTIAN when
he believes III nobhing ana was born llindoof
Such Is the BaDoo aud such, allowing something Tor
uinerepces vr caste and rank are tho great mass OF
the 20U, 900 of living hindoos. mere are rev,
very few among them wnom an Ang o-Saxon can
respect; but there are stl fewer whom he can help
hiking II to tafcs tho trouble TO understand them,
30 unIailng IL their cheetluness and 10 quick ana
clear their intelligence.
lhe name oil Delhi as an indian city ~ very, very
DID, Out the present CITY Is the ninth that has borne
u. Inose who beneYn N lhn Tendency OF prOlMecy