The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-04-18
Visiting =. "Raboo. /"

i
The "baboo," called by Burke, in his
invective against Warren Hastings, the
"banyan," is native trained to trade.
and speaks English. Like the conaprG-
dor in China and Japan, he attaches
himself to a mercantile house, to an
| official contractor, to some other bust
ness concern (either native or foreign, J
and negotiates commercial matters, re-
ceiving commissions from one party or
! the other, according to circumstances.
He often rises to wealth and influence.
One of this class solicited visit from
Mr.. Seward, adding that, while the ba-
boo and his sons would receive him, the
ladies would be welcomed by the zera0-
ma. Such a courtesy is rarely, if ever,
extended to foreigners.
The foundation of this baboo's for
tune was laid by his father long ago, in
connection with an American house
and the present incumbent, who is sew
enty years old, has added to his wealth
and Importance He has now his fif' b
wife. We visited him to-day. The
house, though more cheaply built tlian
those of the wealthy class which we
saw at Canton, is of the same model
1t is three stories high, and covers the
sides of a square as large as one of the
blocks of Philadelphia. The area with
in is used for fountains and baths. A
group, consisting of the baboo's three
sons and their sons, received us at the
| gate, very obsequiously. They showed
us the way to grand hall, having q
vaulted roof and double colonnade. A
few elegant chairs, with yellow-satin
cushions, placed on scarlet-velvet rug
in the centre of the room, constituted
| the furniture. Here the eldest son well
coined Mr.. Seward in a eulogistic En-
| glish Grafton, and then presented his
several brothers and each of the lads in
attendance. Brightly dressed servants
meanwhile stirred the air with large
peacock-fans, mounted on massive silver
handles five feet long; others, to the
great prejudice of the ladies' dresses,
| sprinkled us from head to foot with
rose-water from silver vases; others,
again, covered us with garlands and
| boquets and yet others held before us
silver vases containing the altar of roses
for perfuming the hands. These cere-
monies over, we ascended to the baboo's
room, in the third story. Quite infrm,
he was dressed as a valetudinarian,
though richly. He welcomed Mr.. Sew
ard as the "great father of the greatest
of nations" The baboo conducted
us then to an adjacent drawing room,
and ordered that all the children of the
house, not excepting the youngest, girls
as well as boys, should be brought in
by their GyGhs (nurses) Twenty in
fants were brought in, gaudily dressed.
| The little ones acted their proper parts
with entire truth to Nature; some shrank
backward; many screamed; one or two
shrieked while others extended their
small hands, and bashfully performed
sGtGGn1s. After this came an order.
from the baboo, as unexpected as it was
unprecedented In that family. It was
that all the women of the family, ex-
cept the widows, should now enter the
apartment. Receiving this command,
in their different rooms, the women in
quired of a messenger whether they
were to be seen by the ladies only. The
baboo imperiously replied: They
must all be presented to Mr.. Seward,
and receive him as friend. He is a
friend of mankind he shall see us Just
as we are, and see all that we dove
will have no secrets from him.
There was sound of pattering feet,
and gentle rustling was heard. It
was followed by the entrance of eight
little women all ;wer dressed in gauzee
of gold and various colors-only gleam-
ing Jewels could be seen through their
veils-they trembled like so many as
pens as they approached gracefully,
lifted their slender arms-almost COW
cred with gold-and extended to us
their little nervous hands. The baboo
was not yet content. He requested us
to raise their wells. We did so gently,
and looked upon gazelle eyes and pref
ty features, but the wearers were so
abashed that, in tenderness for them,
we soon let the wells drop. In answer
to our compliments, they spoke not one
word. The gentlemen now withdrew.
Mr. Seward was then shown through
seventy-fve rooms, including a family
chapel-the furniture of all very mea-
gre and plain, the stairs steep and mar
row, and the corridors dark and per-
picking
The women, being left alone with
their visitors, now voluntarily commu
nicated, through lady interpreter, all
the family secrets the number of wives
each of the baboo's sons had married
and lost; the number of children of
each wife; and the number and value
of the jewels each possessed. The wife
of the eldest son presented her daugh-
ter-a bright and laughing maiden be-
decked with jewels-who, having at
tanned the advanced age of eighteen
months, has already been married to a
little gentleman who also was present,
and who claims the experience of ten
years. He has been elected to the hon
or of this marriage because he is the
presumptive head of the caste to which
this family belongs. According to the
custom of the country, he has been
brought into the family of his bride to
be educated. There are eight pairs of
such permaturely-married people In this
family, which consists of seventy-fve
persons.
The windows of all the chambers of
the zenana, or harem, are darkened and
made secure with iron bars, as In pris-
ON. The widows, even more secluded
than the wives, inhabit the meanest and
dingiest of the chambers. The women
showed, with perfect freedom, their
sleeping rooms, baths, and the contents
of their wardrobes. Each woman has
three garments. These being woven In
the shape required, there is no need of
mantau-maker or milliner; the only
care bestowed on this property is to
hang them up and take them down.
The care of the children is devolved on
the ayahs. As the wife neither sews,
nor reads, nor writes, she has absolute
ly no occupation but to talk with her
companions of the zenana; and, as
might perhaps be expected, domestic
discords are frequent. The guests Tin
the zenana) were then served with cakes,
comfits, and betel-nuts, tie latter hrok-
en- in small bits and fol,'ed n silver
foil. The interview closet with the
same ceremonies with which we had
been received, newly tanning the guests
with peacock's plumes, sprinkling them
with rose-water, and perfuming the
hands with the altar.
"A sportsman was seated with his
servant on bank, consoling himself
under the fatigue and disappointment
of unsuccessful pursuit. "Well, Pat"
said he, this is expensive work. I've
been calculating that every one of these
birds has cost me above fifty pounds. +"
Faith, your honor" said Pat, throw
;oor q dash of humor into the sympa-