Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-06-28


existence. Life Is a dreary waste, judging
it by the standards which prevail in all
countries with which we are most familiar.
In no respect does the Gospel of Christ
exert more Transforming influence upon
the human family, than in developing and
Sanctifying the social element, in making
all who are brought under its saving in
fuence feel that they are one in Christ
Jesus, and in spreading abroad among a
community a feeling OF sympathy in each
others lives The gospel creates such an
element even where it did not appear to
exist before, as in the case of the Hindoos
or Mohammedans Of India.
1t is not for the want Of people that
| there is no society in India. Within the
compass Of 900 miles in one direction
and l,500 in another, taking the dia-
mond shaped country in Its greatest length
and breadth) there are two hundred mil
/ lions of people thrown together The
most numerous of these are the Hindoos,
who compass three-fourths of the popula-
ton, or about l500U0,OO0. Then come
! the Mohammedaus, who number about p
/ 100000. The remaining eighth is made
up of the aboriginal tribes, whose immedl-
ate descendants still number several mil
lions, the Parsees, the Buddhists. the Jews
and the Christians There Is also the
same sprinking of other nations, which Is
to be found in almost every part OF the
world where an exclusive system has not
prevailed
The Hindoos are not TIE original pos
SCISSORS Of the soil. When they came into
the land, some thousands of years ago,
they found it already occupied by peo-
pie who had strayed over there not long
after the dispersion. These tribes, after
some twenty five or thirty centuries. may
still be found a distinct people in Orissa
and other parts OF India Bat they are
50 small . part OF the population, that the
Hindoo may be regarded as the native
race; and not merely because the most
numerous, but because it has for 20 long q
period given character to the country
Though rot always the reiguing element
among the people Of India, the Hludoo has
been the pervadIng element: his religion
the Brahm Meal. has been the Catholic
religion; and the great feature of Hiudoo-
ism, caste, has stamped itself upon the
country as is prevailing type, a social
system Of greater power than any that mas
appeared III our world, save only the di-
vine system ct Chris ianity, which Is deS-
tined To triumph over all.
The Nohammedans, who, many ccntu-
rics before the coming of European COM
merce and power, established themselves
hy successive conguestS, and Mt length be-
came the ruling class. retain their religious
characteristics. though adapting them
selves In many OF the habits Of life TO the
country OF which they took possession.
They introduced a sp1cndor OF architecture
and a gorgeous style OF life, which cu'mi-
mated In the magnlicence that marked the
NOgul dynasty, the monuments OF which
have not passed away with the destruction
of their power in the East. Il is one Of
the maryes of oriental life that in 50
many cases races have not only different
religions, but those which are diametrieal-
'y opposed, have lived together with 50 lit
tie outbreaking hostility The HindooS
are the groSsest idolators that ever existed
Their forms Of idol worship and service
have reached the lowest depths Of degra-
datiOn and Of ti.thiae>S, anu yet the Mo-
hamme3ans. whose religion is essentially
protest against idolatry, have lived
with them for long centuries, and each
have maintained their own religion intact
The Nohammedan power came into India
with its chief weapon Of conversion, the
sword, in hand, and for a time 1t was piled
not without effect. Some succeeding En-
perovs exhibited the spirit of proseIytism,
hut as a general thing Mohammedans and
Ilindoos have lived together with remark
able tolerance of each others antagonjstic
faith.
The Skhs, which were once powerful .
community in the North Of India-power-
tui with their swords, and now physically
the finest race in all the land-were as a f
people the product OF an attempt to com +
blUe the two religions After this new
religion had been well established, it end
ed Ia attacking both Hindooism and Mo-
; but though it developed
hardy, warlike community, who are still
as soldiers, it has never had
any great influence upon the religious
thought or faith of the country.
Ofthe Parsees, the followers Of Zoroas-
ter, and descendants Of the ancient fire
worshippers of Persia. who are confined .
chiefly to the city and vicinity Of Bombay.
[ shall speak in another place.
This brief enumeration of some of the
constituent elements of the population of
India will give little idea of that curious
piece Of mosaic upon which one looks
when he lands in that interesting country.
In Eastern Asia, in China or Japan. for
instance, everything is Of one type The
japanese or Chinaman that you meet on
entering his country is the japanese or
Ihinaman that you meet everywhere
His face Is the same His form is the
ame. HIS dress is the same. But every.
hing Is different in India The mixed
,rowd that we saw on the banks of the I
-loogly as we reached Calcutta, with their |
-arIed costumes of diverse colors, was only
picture of the great multitude that one
ees in travelling through the country.
The very aspect of the people is a study
II which one never grows weary, it is so
diversified. The many languages that he ;
.ears will remind him of the confusion of
ongues AT an earlier period of the race t
The occupations of the people, so different I
rom those to which he has been accus- q
cmed, will be to him an endless source of
musement, if not of instruction. If he B
oes into their bazaars and market places, d
is curiosity will be still more excited. t
heir habits and customs, as far as he is B
flowed to observe them, will keep awake 5
II his powers of observation Their re-
gion, too, especially that of the Hindoos.
ill be to him matter of mingled wonder =
nd disgust and pity as he becomes more (
nd more acquainted with it, and sees its v