The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1870-09-30
FREMONT SANDUSKY COUNTY OHIO FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 3d. 1870

as this is announced by the little
boys ringing the bells, all assembled
prostrate themselves before it and
worship it. The remainder of the
night is spent in feasting and revel-
ling. The next evening the crowd
comes together again, and the priest
with a few words dismisses the di-
vinity, who, on his permission,
leaves the image and returns to heav-
en-. The Jewels are then taken of
and attended by crowds of men and
boys, it is carried and thrown into
the Ganges. The clay, though not
sacred in itself, has become so by
| the presence of the deity, and to
prevent it's ever being polluted, it
must be thrown into the sacred riv-
er. May we not call that an apos-
tate church, which, protesting to be
Christian, yet models itself after the
customs and practices Of the vilest
religion on earth? For much as
missionaries may tell, it is impossi-
BILE for any one who has a particle
/ of modesty to tell the utter vileness
Of the Hindoo religion.
1t is only gradually that 1 am
learning the customs Of this land.
I suppose now that we are getting
into the homes of the Hindoos, we
shall shortly know more Of the man
ners and customs of the Hindoos
than werhave ever been able to learn
before, because hitherto, except
among the very lowest classes, the
families never could be entered.
l before said that after marriage q
woman could be seen byno man but
her own father or husband, or ser
vants-these last are never consider
ed as anybody-but this is not exact
ly so. In the fathers house they
may be seen by all the men there
fathers, uncles, cousins. These last
are always called brothers. There
is never any intermarriage even in
the most remote degree of consan-
guinity. But in her husbands fami-
ly she may see no one but her hus-
band's younger brothers, OF nephews
those who were little boys when she
entered the family. She must never
be seen by her father-in-law, or any
male member of the family who was
over fourteen when she entered the
house. So if by any chance any
man should wish to enter his wife''
or mothers room during the day, he
stops outside the door leading into
the Zenana, and there makes a great
coughing and shuffling with his feet
Instantly every woman except hi
wife and mother, draws her ch 1ddat
over her face and flies to her Owl
room, shutting the door. His wife
draws her veil close over her and
covers down l1e a frightened dove
When he goes out he bangs the dool
with a tremendous slam, and then
the women one by one come out oi
their holes.
1t is the custom for each woman
to cook the food for herself, her hus.
band and her children. They may
have plenty of servants who do other
work; but she must do the cooking
as it would break their Caste to eat
food which had been touched by 8
person of lower Caste than them
selves. They have two regular meals
day. These consist of rice, and
different kinds of curry. The FRS
meal is about half-past ten in the
morning, the other at ten at night
Between times, however, they eat
various kinds Of fruit and sweet
meats.
Unless for something very impor-
tant, it is very improper for mar
to go into the Zenana during the day
therefore his wife is never his com
panion; she is simply female slave.
When his food is ready, it is sent
into the mems compartment; there
he and his unmarried sons over four
teen, sitting on a mat on the floor
devour such portions as they like,
all eating with their fingers from one
dish The remainer is then sent to
the mother and the rest Of the chill
dren. Their cooking vessels gen
orally, and also those from which
they eat and drink, are of brass, kept
cleaned and bright.
A young officer, short time ago,
was quite sick, and he told his
khansamer-the man who provided
his food-to make him some jelly,
and to come to. him for flannel to
strain it. After some time the ser
want brought the jelly, but it looked
rather cloudy. His master said:
"Why, you never strained thisP
ooh, yes, sahib' 1 did"
"But, you rascal, you did not; you
never came to me for the flannel"
"Oh, but I did sahib."
"Nhat did you strain it with?"
"Why. sob:b, I teoA one or you
stockings"
The officer started from his couch
"You rascal, you!
"Oh, sahib, don't, don't be angry
I took a dirty one"
"You can't imagine how he relish
ed the jelly.-Chicago Interior.