Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-06

F.om the INDIAN Mirror.
1t tbs not customary with Hindoo notions Of re-
speetability to go shopping. The bazaar is the
resort of the canaiile. You procure all that you
want through your factotum, the house-sircar
But the baptism of European usage has con-
verted the domestic economy of the natives, the
wheel Ofrespectability has turned and we have
begun to make our own purchases. For all that
ChinabaZaar and Chandney Chowk remain what
they were aquarter of IA century ago. or. if at
all changed. they are only shade worse Every
one who has been TO European shop knows the
studiOus courtesy with which he is treated. 1t
is in very exceptional instances that young
braggart shop-assistant Ofmixed descent would
treat native customer with rudeGess. Other
wise the European shop world has a fixed code
of manners and etiquette. from which no trades
man of standing ever cares to depart Every
one. again. who has been to the native bazaar
Knows the serious discOmforts to
which he is subjected. As sasn as YOUR
carriage has cleared the block Which is sure
to obStruct your way on entrance, and You have
turned into the lane where the bazaar COM
mences in right earnest. you are invaded Dy
hosts of lanky. bare-legged. dirty-iacketted I'M
prosperous beings. whose cries rend the atmOs-
phere. whose gesticulations bewilder YOU They
surround and run alongside of your vehicle or
you are on foot they make a ring around YOU.
One would hold a photograph TO your ewes.
another would thrust bundle of cheroots al
most into YOUR mouth, another would press n
bottle Of perfumery close to YOUR nose and
another would light luciter match under Your
chin. They howl, accOst. insist. gesticulate
pull push. jOstle and hustle YOU into any shop
Thus many quiet harmless people from the
Mofussel are worried out of their wits and made
easy victims. On special occasions of unusual
press and traffic downright rObberies take
place in the streets in broad daylight
Going inside the shop. the real work Of haggling
and feecing commences -Four times the prices
are asked of yOu bad aud damaged articles are
sometimes attempted to be palmed off upon Won
and unless You are well experienced and wide
awake you are sure to be done out of your
money. Nor is this the worst. Customers are
abused and iIl-treated. Sometimes open yio-
fence Is resorted to- Some classes of shop
Keepers are more rude and INSCRIPTIONS than
others. and some baZaars have worse reputa-
ton than others In this respect. Almost as
rule shoemakers and vendors of shoes. not
Cinnamon. but Mah0metans. are the greatest
offenders And the shOe-venders of Chandney
bazaar have a widespread nOtOriety. Not to
speak of our own experiences we have seen
even hated and trousered people treated
with seant courtesy. After you have
once entered the shop you are considered
very much like the shopkccper's property You
must accept his prices. you must not bargain
you must not find fault with the articles. if Won
have any fear OF ill-treatment Some people
we might say almost every new purchaser who
goes to the bazaar for the first time feels mpa-
tient under these circumstances He utters an
angry word or protest against the prices. or
wants to go away. Then comes the tug of war
He Is abused. held by the hand and detained
or, II ne ventures 10 resist, he isassaulted some
times severely. In this reckless and lawIess
course these shoemakers have persisted so long
that their community has come to hold such
conduct as a sort of commercial privilege. a
well-known observance departure from which
is likely to be injurious to trade. They all COM
bine in asking the same prices They have signs
and signals how to treat a customer. And they
always fi"ht together.