The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-05-04
A ParsSe Journnllst.

One OF tho most curious books recently
printed In the English language comes to us
from Bombay. G,.jardt aud the Gujardtis. by
BEHRiMJI N. MALABARI. 10 a collection Of social
studies made In the Bombay Presidency by a
Parsee gentleman who. although he has never
been out OF India. has learned to write English
with remarkable correctness. fuency. and
vivacity. He has published volume Of poems
In Gujarati which he subsequently translated
into English verse. and he has undertaken to
reproduce the Hilbert Lectures In five Indian
vernRculars. and he has already issued
Gujarati version. His knowledge Of the history
and religions Of India is Attested by such
European authorities as Prof. Max Muller and
NJ. Darmssteter. He has also boon great
traveller. within the bounds. that ia to say. Of
the Indian empire. having traversed khe penin-
suls from Scinde to Assam. and from the Him.
alayas to Cape Comorin. His calling however.
IL that OF . journalist He has boon for many
years connected with one or another Of tho
newspapers printed in English. but writ
ten BY natives. and addressed to that
section Of the Indian population which
has learned tho language Of its con-
Querors. He Is at present the editor OF the
Indian Spectator. q weekly journal published
at Bombay. His faculty for observation is
strikingly demonstrated in the sketches Of
mon and manners collected In the book before
Us. In these essays he shows himself At once
reporter and critic. for. while no describes
scene or recounts story with great deal Of
eleverness. he Is careful to deduca the lessons
which he thinks suggested by the facts.
Mr.. Mslab&ri learned English. 1t seems from
tho missionaries. who failed. however. in the
attempt to make him . Christian. For that
matter. what propsgandist. Catholic or Profess
ton hoo af ~ ovip rtoNa Cd "A
Parsse1 In this pupil there was at least no
want Of curiosity. for after learning much about
tho doctrines Of Christianity. he studied Hin
duism. and then Islsmism. only to adopt at
last an advanced form OF Zoroastorlsm. as was.
perhaps. to be expected from one who can point
a. he informs US. to tho bones Of hundred
ancestors bleaching In tho awful chasms OF the
Towers OF Silence" OF religion however. we
hear little In these essays. except 80 far
a. II IL interviewer with the texture
OF Indian customs and creates the innumer-
able and probably insuperable obstacles
to cordial relations and genuine sympa-
thy between the English administrators and the
subject population. On the subject Of these re-
lations Mr.. Malab6ri discourses with notable
penetration. candor and impartiality. He NC
knowledges the great superiority Of tho British
method Of government over the precedln. ma
tional opportunities. Speaking OF the Western
Presidency In particular. no says: "EniiRhten-
cd and equitable administration OF justics
we-worked medical and educational agencies.
wise schemes OF municipal improvement
these are all tangible reforms. and
have q leavening tendency on tho al
most deadened national conscience" But
while he recognizes the fundamental con-
dition OF social well.being In tho fact that
the laboring and agricultural classes now have
ample security for person and property. yet he
doubts II they enjoy that progressive pros
perity which Is the true criterion Of settled
and enlightened rule" 1t seems to him that
tho English are dosing India with too much
law The laws are too many and too fine to be
equitable In q community OF mutually nntag-
onisticpclasses and conflicting interests unused
to complex machinery" And worse than the
laws themselves. 10 his opinion. Is the applica.
ton OF them. Evidently he Is u warm partisan
OF Lord Ripon's plan for making Engishmen
and natives equal before the law. by giving ma
tive Judges jurisdiction over Englshmen.
In chapter entitled "A Few Honest Growls. I"
Mr.. NalabAri examines. In good-natured way.
certain grievances that are keenly resented BY
the class analogous to what In European coun-
tries would DO designated as the gentry. Com
Ing to tho middle Glass;" he writes. what
strikes the observer most III this: tho rising
generation are given every facility and induce
ment for requirement OF y fairly liberal edu-
cation. Now. such education naturally widens
their visions aud gives play to their innate
aspirations. But whom they attempt to
assert their position n politically and So
cially the equals OF the English ONCE
holders. these natives are ridiouled for their
presumption. Not only are our educated men
20 many political pariahs. but In ordinary So
clsl matters Ihey are made to feel their inferi-
GRITTY. Those thousand little social charities.
which might. perhaps reconcile them to stand
ing political disabilities. are withheld from
them - mattsr OF course. In public. - well
- In psivses. he bsss Of NATIVES must know
HE plAcs vhsa b tAs pgsssass Of ~ Whits