The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-10-08
Lying and Honesty in India.


1t Is common expression on the lips
of those who have Travelled in India
"The natives have no regard for truth
it seems easier to them to lie, and tbnv
| prefer doing So" And vet no one can
| have much intercourse with the inhohi-
tants of India without finding out that
in many respects, they are an especiaIly v
trustworthy race. The explanation Of
| this apparent paradox may perhaps lie in
| the circumstance that the natives draw =
wide distinction between spoken and ac-
| ted truth For instance, it is a we'll
known fact that the fidelity of bankers
was so great before the English rule that
| a breach of trust in their case was quite
| unknown, and bankruptcy is admitted to
be transaction they have learned wholly
| from their cOnquerOrs. Indeed, all busi-
! ness dealings were singularly straight
forward and bona fide. But the unfor-
tunate notion seems to have prevailed
from the first in HindOOstan that language
was chiefly intended to conceal ones
thoughts.
Before a native of India answers a
question correctly he wishes to know why
it was asked. His first replies, therefore.
are eqUiyOcal; and when to this element
of caution is added the atmosphere of
miracles and wonder surrounding all in
tellects out there-deceiving as it does.
every -sense-two very fair reasons are
already forthcoming why spoken truth
should be far from a common PERFORM
ance.
But it is an undoubted fact, notwith-
standing, that with singular and sOver-
eign disregard for veracity, in the restrict
ed sense of the word, there do do-exist
fidelity to engagements and a staunch-
ness infultilling conditions, which amount
to not less than a national characteristic.
There is a high caste called Bhats, who
are now engaged in agriculture and serv-
ice, and have no speciality except singing
legends and relating stories; but in form
er days they were employed to carry Jew
elry or articles of value from place to
place. Absolute reliance could be put
on their trustwOrthiness; they fell back
on their religious rank to secure them
selves against marauders, as they would |
threaten to destroy themselves if mOlcst- |
ed and thus bring divine vengeance down |
on their assailants; and indeed have done |
50 when hard pushed. Property might, of |
course, be lost when the robber took his |
chance of being punished by unseen pow
ers, but embezzled or misapprOpriated it |
certainly never was. An instance of |
singular trustWorthiness in native serv-
ant, which occurred within the personal |
knowledge of an English writer, NAV |
here be mentioned. During the mutiny,
when preparing to leave his station, then |
on the eve Of outbreak, there was an old |
family seal he wished especially to pos
sess; but, unwilling to incumber himself |
with any valuables except money, he
asked domestic servant to take charge
of it as long as he could, though the
chances Of seeing it agaid seemed small.
1t was gravely taken with a peculiar
look, which indicated that the commits
sion was considered a sacred one. The
came, escapes and movings fol-
lowed, and master and servant were sep
aratcd for many months. At length the
former was settled pretty securely at
CawnpOre, and in time the cOmmunica-
ton with Agra was to Il certain degree
opened out, though the countryside was
still seething with confusion. One dav q
ragged fguTe-whO had forced his way
through villages tumultuous with riot,
and by OutpOsts at which every passer-by
was searched lest he should be travelling
n the English, and had at length reached
.he main road through fields which the
leavy rain had turned into swamps-
'ushed up to his master, who was sitting
Dut in an open space, and, kneeling be-
ore him, let down the long lock of hair
worn on the scalp, and from among its
olds produced the family eal!-AU the
Year R0uUE