Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-08-07
Publisher and Proprletor:
An East Indian Farmer at Home.


One of the English weeklies, in the
course of letter from the famine dis.
tricts in India, gives this account of
Kulloo, typical old farmer OF that
region:
He has a compact little domain-some
seven acres in all. A field of onions, a
field of rice a field of barley-on a little
hillock, well picturesque as 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 a plum
tree, under which he cooks his " chupat-
ties (rice cakes) for his one meal, after
sunset; and at night spreads his char
pay, and sleeps under the safe guardi-
anship of his fierce, lean pariah dog,
Certainly, it woald be mistake to asso-
ciate any idea of robustness with the
Indian agricultural laborer. Kulloo,
cur neighbor, is an old man. Natives
appear to live to an incalculable age
or is it that their bare, wizened, totter
ing limbs, and the contrast of sparse
white hair and shrivelled dusky face,
make senillity hideous2 Be this as it
may, fancy the most uncompromlsing
opponent Of the Darwinian theory
would feel his 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
is a patriarch, in his way. In his small
mud hut lives also his old wife, his son
and his wife, and any number of round,
dark limbed naked little ones (who
Initiating their grand-sires-squat also
habitually in the dust, their plump
knees level with their ears); also, two
mild-eyed, hump backed oxen, who draw
water from the well, drag the plow,
and. when need arises, act as 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 live out in the open
air, except during TIE fierce midday
heat; but no single member, except
occasionally the son at 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
primitive mill, OF the same sort as that
which, according to the prophecy two
women will be seated when the sum OF
earthly things shall be over and told
or else light their own fire and cook
chupatties for themselves and their chill
dren. But men, women, little ones and
hump-baeked oxen, all unite in
the field work, and appear alike
sun-proof and untiring. Just lately
two extra "hauds women Of low
caste-have had to be hired, to help cut
and gather in the barley crop. The sight
would have rejoicsd the heart of Mr..
Ruskin. No trace OF machinery, nor of
any diabolical contrivance to shirk the
primeval curse that men, and women
also, shall eat bread by the sweat OF
their brows; or at least, to produce 1t,
that others may eat The reapers,
some six or seven, labored two days,
armed with small siekles, not much
larger than carving knives. AT length
all was heaped together, and stacked
under the sacred plum tree; aud yes
actuallyl in honor of the occasion, all
the laborers were permitted to squat
around it and smoke their hoobahs."