The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1874-07-23
An East Indian Farmer at Home.

One OF the English weeklies, in the
course of n letter from the famine dis
tricts in India, gives this account of
Kulloo, a typical old farmer of that
region
"He has a compact little domain
some seven acres in all. A field OF
onions, q field Of rice, a field Of barley
OF a little hillock, a well picturesque
ms are all wells in this part Of the world,
with broad leaved plantains, curved and
split by the wind, waving slowly above
its mud pillar; finally, in front OF his
small hovel, space enough for n plum
tree, under which he cooks his 'chIpat-
ties (rice cakes for his one moll, after
sunset and ut night spreads his char
pay, and sleeps under the safe guardi-
anship Of his fierce, lean pariah dog.
Certainly, it would be a mistake to ASSOC
ciate any idea Of robustness, with the
Indian agricultural laborer. Kulloo,
orr neighbor, is an old man. Natives
appear TO live to an incalculabIe age
or is it that their bare, wizened, totter.
ing limbs, and the contrast Of sparse
white hair and a shiiyelled dusky face,
make senilIity hideous? Be this as it
may, ] fancy the most Incorporating
opponent Of the Dlrwiniln theory
would fee bis assurance shaken could
he behold the ancient Kulloo at even,
seated, like some gaunt bird, upon his
launches, his chin between his skinny
knees, as he watches the red cracking
fire, and his precious chupatty slowly
browning among the embers. Kulloo
IL n patriarch, in his way. IL his small
mud hut lives also his old wife, his son
and his wife, and any lumber Of round,
dark. limbed naked little ones Cwho
initiating their grandsire-squa also
habitually in the dust, their plump
knees level with their ears; also, two
hump bacied oXer, who draw
water from the we'll, drag the plow,
and, when need arises, act az cart
horses. As seems natural enough, con
sidering the Dimensions Of an Indian
hut, and that it lacks windows and
chimneys, the low door being the only
aperture, the family, 1--we out,in theopen
air, except during the fierce mid day
heat but 10 single member, except oc-
.casionally the son ut supper time, ven
lures to invade the old mans sacred
spot, beneath the plum tree. The
women squat Immediately in front of
the hut and there they grind their
corn-at n primitive mill, of the same
sort M that which, according to the
prophecy, 1.-TWO women" will be seated
when the sum of earthly things shall
be over aud told-or else light their own
aud cook chlpatties for themselves
md their children. But men, women,
little ones and ~hump-backed oxen, all
unite in the ield-work, and appear alike
'nn.proof and untiring. Just lately
,wO extra "hands"-women of low
,aSte-have had to be hired, to help cut
md gather in the barley crop. The
lght would have reioiced the heart of
Ruskin. No trace of machinery,
nor of any diabolical contrivance to
the primeval curse that men, and
women also, shall eat bread in the sweat
If their brOws; or ut least, to prod zee
+, that others may eat. The reapers,
ome six or seven, labOred two days.
with small s~icKlCs, not much
than carving knives. At length
was heaped together, and stacked
Inder the sacred plum-tree and yes ,
in honor of the occasion, all
he laborers were permitted to squat !
round it and smoke their hoObahs. =