The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-29
HI N d 0 S Ia N.
It's Institutions, Customs and People
Described.
Meeting Of the Geographical Society at Chick
erins Hall Last Night.

'sHindostann was tho subject OF . highly delightful
and instructive lecture by Major A. G. Constable
Der Of the American Geographical Society. delivered
before that body at regular meeting last night
Chickering Hall. The largo and cultivated audience
which assembled. despite the storm, was entertained
with some lively organ music by Mr. w. F. Carey unit,
the meeting called 10 order by Chief Justice Daily
resolution passed authorizing the Council of the
society to cxpend sums OF more than 81, 900.
This was TO enable that body TO take the
necessary steps toward the purchase OF ground
and the erection OF suitable building for the
use OF the association Thrty-two thousand dcllars
have been subscribed to fund for that purpose by
members 1t is estimated that the edince and ground
will cost at least $4,000, and 1t is expected that
amount will soon be obtained The trustees OF this
fund are Mcssrs George Cabot Ward, Royal Phelps
and Robert Lenox Kennedy. After the election Of
twenty four active aud two corresponding members
Major Constable introduced and hold the attention
OF his hearers captive for than hour At the
close OF the lecture he exhibited more than thirty
views illustrating the architecture relIsions and social
life Of the wonderful people which formed subject
OF his remarks.
In beginning his address the lecturer referred the
difficulty he experienced IN dealing with such vast
subject had been assigned to him in the short time
Of one hour. Having defined the word India
geographical term applicable 10 Hndosian, exclusive Of
Afghanisan and Beloochstan, Major Constable showed
that India exercises very powerful though
fuenco upon tho commerce Of the world The bal
ancc OF trade being its favor II absorbs all the
plus OF the precious metals not absolutely used In
uacure or currency Situated between the sixth and
thrtycghth parallels OF north latitude. It's surface d.
vershed by mountains that IN many places rise far
above the limit OF perpetual snow, India possesses
every variety OF climate Within the limits of the
pcninsuar 100 dialects spoken by tho 2ao 00o GOO
people who belong u great numbcr OF distinct races
and whose habits Of life to-day are essen
italy similar to those practised by their pre-.
dcccssors, 5000 years ago. III tho Macedonian
mad man, y said the lecturer had penetrated with his
conquering cohorts few miles beyond the Hydaspcs
1.-THE modern Gnoiuml he would have found communi-
ties living under recognized code or laws, obeyng
hereditary chictans, versed in many OF tho arts and
practising many Of the reinemcns OF social fc, to
which tho Anglo Saxons lay claim as the inventors
He would have probably heard the vcrnacular of
northern plains or India tho Sanscrit language do
scribcd by Sir William Jones' the great Oriental scholar
us beautiful OF all dead tongues-morc copious
than the LATIN more perfect tnan the Greek and more
IN q very striking way the remarkable contrast re-
spcct OF population. revenue, mode OF tenure and i'm
portance and convenience of territory between the
Russian and the British empires In Asia Three hun
drcd years Of labor In that Continent have brought
1000 000 souls under Russian sway The English in
one third OF that time, have extended their power
over $50, 100000
TisK REVENUE DERIVED BY RUSSIA
pOSscSSlOuS
that OF England exceeds S225 O00. 600 To secure her
hold upon her H. 600 900 Asnttc subjects Russia EN-
ploys army OF l64 600 men; TO- retain under her
sway $50 0C0, 600 III Indu England army OF
$50 900 men, OF whom only one-third are British
troops India lies tho direct line Of the trail Of the
world the lecturer said, and has tree intercourse with
four continents by the unmadc highways OF the sea-
Russia's dominons in Asa are hcmmed In by noun
tains and blocked up by deserts Instead Of midas
rivers and routes Asatic Russia has the sandy
track and the laboriously engineered military
OF the Indian steamship and railway she has the
caravan aud the camel In view Of such facts these
Major Constable did not believe in the designs OF
Russia and doubted whether the Great Bear would ever
he found occupying the position 81 the British Lion
Hndostan Major Constable drew SPECIAL attention to
the fact that the English OF India
tally civil and claimed that lie power is
cscd in the interest OF the people In enforcing this
position the lecturer referred 10 the Ryotwarreo sys
tcm under which the people lived together In village
communities invested to all ncnts and purposes with
the power Of self government and each lsndholdcr
was responsible 10 the ruling power for his holdngA
THE HCRNlSG or WIDOWS
is about as high treason During the
speakers residence in India for five years OF which
he had lived ut great distance from Europeans, no
heard Of only one case OF .suttoe." II occurred IN
1S49 the last ever brought to the notice Of
the British authorities Tho chief actors the tragedy
that instance, as in ALL immediately arrested,
tried and sentenced death, the sentence being sub.
scquently commutcd 10 transportation tor life. ssThug-
gee another barbarous institution that has dsap-
peared before the vigorous application OF Brtsh law
Most of the Thugs were members OF the aboriginal
tribes and formed secret society, with signs and pass
words, making murder In honor OF the Goddess
Bowunnee the business oil their lvoa Thcy were 10
be found all classes OF society. It was only 1928
that the British government obtained evidence OF the
actual existence VI such an organization Thereafter
the prosecution Of Thugs was carried on with vigor.
In 1884 many as 600 persons were imprisoned for
this CRIME and 500 Of these suffered the pen
atty OF the law. The lecturer gave graphic account
OF subsequent cccasion when zeal for the cruel
goddess brought thirty nine Hndoos TO tho galiowa
by these strong the practice has been rooted
out and tho mercy OF the ruling power going hand In
hand with justice, has provided for the children
OF the fanatical criminals reformatory schools
OF industry whcrc they arc trained 10 nobler
deeds In the Province Of khandee there but
REGIMENT OF NATIVE TROOPS
TO uphold the power OF England For hvo years
the lecturer had lived on the outskirts OF .
village Of LOCO inhabitants, and, though he had
the usual quantity Of silver plate belonging TO o
gcntlsans establishment he never had lock or bolt
on window Laborcrs could be hirod for 81 90
artisans for 50 per MONTH and yet SO lev were their
wants and abundant the natural provision for their
supply. that in the absence OF banks, these people
were able TO store up considerable sums OF money in
the form OF gold and silver ornaments. The descrp-
given BY tho lecturer Of the manner in which tho
simple villagers OF India spent their evenings
charming. The picture he presented OF tho women
gathered around the village tank indulgng gossip,
and OF tho sterner discussing the Affairs OF the
munty or disposed in groups engaged in .'checkcrs
.siox and geese, collected under grove Of dark
green mango trees, illuminated by myrads OF rcncs,
where they listened with brcathlcss attention while
one Of their number rctcs the adventures their boy
god Rama,v was vivid Two specimens OF the poetry
thus listened TO- which Mayor Constable rccited were
remarkable for their literary polish, and ideas
pressed. while they savcrcd OF tho panhcism peculiar
10 tho Hindoo philosophy bore at times strong re-
sefnbancc the profoundest truths OF Christianity
Tho lecturer bore generous testimony to tho excellent
character Of the Hindoos The wonderful strength OF
the religious principle the Hinaoo altestcd
by grand and numerous temples they have reared
TO the honor OF their gods. Tho stupendous rock
temples OF Western india said the lecturer In allusion
this part OF his subject 1.-THE magn nccnt and LOFTY
domcd opcs OF Ceyon the gorgeous sculpture covered
shrincs OF Southern India The tall cllpca temples OF
Orissa, the lovely and cxquisitcly designed Of
Guzerct, combine with Monammcdan mosques and
minarcts TO form an unsurpassabc exhibition Of archie
tectural art and skLu In anomalous contrast to the
ness Of the Idols they he Hndoo's awful
OF the supernatural renders the workmanship OF tho
idol thing Of no moment, and he bows down before
painted block Of wood or stone with deeper OF
The divine presence than had the Greek when standing
IN ccstasy before his sublime Zeus radiant Apollo
Major Constable referred also 10 the Zogecs Fakirs
and related several instances Of wonderful asccttcsm
that had come within his own observation as showing
the intense earncstncss OF the Hindoos belief In his
religion After Interesting description Of the great
idol Saganeth the place Of his abode and the OBJ
sl.A nkor -