National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-02-26
FROM THE ORIENT.
ABOUT THE HINDoo NEW YEAR.
The Dewalli FestiIal-HindOO Ornaments-BOna.
bay NOtes-AnniTersary Of the PrOclamA-
tiOn Of Queen Victoria Empress
Of Indis-Wales' Regiment.

NneH the hluUOO snOpkeepSIs ana treQeSmen bal
ance their books, settle their accounts, examine
their bank deposits, and endeaycr TO enter upon
the New Year with all things in order. If they
were Europeans and Christians they might at
tempt to do what so many of us strive to accom-
plish at our New Year, namely, to turn over
new leaf but, as they are pagans and idolateFs,
they Worship Lakshmi, the god of prosperity, and
invoke his blessing for the coming year. Perhaps
this is as successful new leaf for, if they
add works TO the faith which they undoubtedly
possess, abundance must crown their efforts. The
brilliancy of the Dewal festival is said to mark the
financial success or failure Of the year. Before
Bombay was visited by financial depression
the Dewall festival was characterized by great
magnihcenee and brilliant illunnatons i'll the
buildings ofthe HindoO quarters in the Kalbade-
VIC During the last few years there has been Il
great deterioration in the spleEdor of the festivals
but Judging from the display and extent of the
Examinations which marked the last festival to
the god LakShmi the year 1853 has been asuceess-
full and prosperous one in Bombay. The signs of
the times point to still greater cheer III spite of
Mother ShiptOn's prophecy in 1881 The Dewalli
festival also marks renovation and tranSfOrma-
ton in the Hindoo houses Just before this festival
their annual house cleaning takes place. The
houses are swept, cleaned, secured, and
garnished, and fresh paint is applied both inside
and outside. The illuminatons OF 1880 did much
shmi. Parsees and Mohammedans joined in the
general rejoicings and the Europeans looked upon
the festival from their carriages. The streets were
filled with picturesque crowd. The quaint COS
tunes OF the people, the balconies reaching over
into the streets, the curious teak carving of the
bazaars, and the glare OF the burning cOeOanut
oil from myriads Of lamps presented beautiful
picture, resembling antique painting colored
by the hand of an old master
ORNAMENTS OF The NATIVES
Some years ago there appeared in the columns
of the Washington REPUBuCaN some severe COM
ments on some rather extraordinary verses which
were quoted. have forgotten the author of the
verses. or the comments. but they commenced
something like this:
Lay aside the little trousers our darling used 10
wear,
For he has gone to climb the golden stair" &c.
When 4 little Hindoo boy dies his par
ents do not say, in the words of that
poet, Lay aside the little trousers" but
substitute for trousers little ankIets or little
glrdies II isa naked fact that many of the Hin
doc children of the lower Glasses are simply clad
might say very simply clad-with pair of golden
orsilVer anklets or a chain around the waste No
drapery, no folds pieces Of cloth disigure their
classic forms; but sometimes noSe-ring is added
TO complete their costume. a correspondent of the
Bombay Gazette, writing from BhwOnagar saws:
The people of that place we'll clad. Even the
children are clothed, which seems 10 BOmbayite
strange, and indicative of mauncrs aud customs
different from the more southcrly parts of the
presidency" 1t is much the fashion with wealthy
orientals to carry all of their possessions upon their
person. Instead OF buying houses. lands or stocks
they invest in diamonds and costly iewelry The
custom of adorling young children with Jewels,
even when their intrinsic value j. small leads to
crime. The cases are OF frequent occurrence
where children of six or eight years have been
robbed in the street. while playing of their aukIets
or chains. Sometimes murders result from the
came causes. Their love of ornamental display is
IN evil for which there is remedy until ciriza
ton in her onward march eradiCates the barbaric
from their nature.
BOMBAY NOTES.
After one has gazed into the beauties of the
caves of the Elephanta admired the wonderful
and curious articles in the stores and bazaars and
listened, fine evening 10 the band plsyine on
the esnlsnade. he has nearly exhausted the
pleasures OF bombay. The strange looking houses,
the beautiful trees, flowers, and tropical fruits
soon become matter of everyday life You grow
accustomed 10 the picturesque dress OF the native
servants, and the undress OF the lower classes
You readily fall into the INDECENT habits which the
climate engenderS, and find yourself quite willing
10 have even your smallest duties per-
formed by the ob5equiOus servant who is ALWAYS
III Waltillg- 1Ou are ali the more willing 20 be
served by these servants, because they so readily
adopt your ways and humor your peeuliaritiss
They seem 70 know your desires by instinct and
do Just what will please you most. Their powers
OF imitation are wonderful, and they equal, fthey
do not surpaSS, the Chinese in this respect They
can fashion any kind of 4 garment from a model,
no matter how intricate il is in its design
Many q gentleman employ native tailor
who sews for him solely by the month
for very trifing expense. Outside
of the military and official circles there is no
society i'll Bombay. The ladies' dresses are made
OF thin and light material and are, as much US
possible, Of goods that will laundry The majority
of the European residents being English, English
customs and costumes are, Of course, followed and
the latter are mostly imported from London.
Ladies' have their mantua- makers, their shoe
makers their milliners, and c0rset-makers III Lon
don, who know their size, style, and taste and who
will, with few general directions forward them q
box Ofartieles desired at the commencement Ofeaeh
season. Large wardrobes, many costumes, ora large
supply OF any articles of clothing save underwear
are not fashionable customary in Indie Ants,
moths, and dampness are enemies which make the
preservation of clothing not only difficult but al
most impossible The only article which ladies
indulge in to any extent IS the number and va
Fieiy of their hats; and, if yOI wish 10 be con-
sidered fashionable. these must he very fine and
stylish.
DRINKS,
To ascertain the fame of American DRINKS one
must go abroad. In London there are several pub
lies who base the excellence of their liquors on
The fact that they compound american dEinks, snd
indorse this fact in gilt letters the plate glass OF
their windows. In Bombay Apollo Bunder, who
keeps q tiiin 1unch) and billiard room. and IS
puryeyOr TO the Bombay Gymkhana announces
that he keeps q noted house for American drinks.
There are several native papers edited in Bombay
which show not only considerable skill in
the newspaper art q believe am right in calling
it art the failure all along the line of those
who did not have the true skill viii testify, but
much sound reason and good sense. These papers
rejoice in such names as GajNyGti, KahiTG, Idrt-
man, Rosrid HpmbGi &c. The GltdrGi seems ia
verge little on the wOmsn's rights order and
says in a recent issue: II Is brutal and barbarous
to measure human worth by physical strength.
There is only way to the elevation of our people
in the scale of nations and that is by the emanci-
patton and education Of women All of the
troops stationed at Bombay were oIt to- day with
flying colors, and promenaded through
the streets 10 martial muse in honor
of the fact that it was the anniversary
of the proclamation of Queen Victoria as
Empress of India. Sir James FERGUSON. governor
Of Bombay. has been travelling through the west OF
India. At Nusseerabad be reviewed the Second
Bombay Grenadiers 1.-THE Prince Of Wales own
regimenO and presented them with new eolOrs 10
is eighty-fo years since this regimen: first
organized and fl is renowned for the bravery Of
its members. The signal service of this regiment
at the battles of Kirkee, Koregaum, in Egypt,
Abyssnia and during the Indian mutiny viii
long be remembered by the English people. On
presenting the colors, his exeellency remarked
that he trusted that they world long be faithful
to their colors and be worthy TO bear the name Of
the heir to the throne" The old colors or the
regiment are 20 be sent 10 SaRdringham, al the
Prince OF Wales request. LURA MCNALL.