Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1890-08-20
eoMeAY.s POLICE ORG.



Duties and characteristics of the "Finest"
India.
Perhaps some members of the St
Louis police force would like to know
how their confreres in India look and
how they perform their duties, writes a
correspondent of the st. Louis Globe
Democrat from Bombay. The Indian
police force consist of both white and
Sepoy members, the latter forming the
rank and file and the overwhelming
majority of the constabulary, as the
Europeans are mainly officers. 1t is with
the Sepoy finest" however, that this
letter has to do. and picturesque figure
he cuts, If not to the native. to the
European eye. The Bombay police
man, for example,, dresses in dark blue
uniform with bright yellow facings, yell
low cap and cuppals. He is also pro-
vided with brass number, a leathern
belt, a whistle and baton. During the
nonsoOns or rainy season, humane gov
eminent allows him an umbrella, COW
cred over with oilskin of that peculiar
shade of green which would have de-
lighted the heart of Bunthorne; but yet
policeman's umbrella is not pretty
article. When a drunken native is
charged before magistrate the remains
of an umbrella are always shown by the
Sepoy which the charge" is said to
have broken.
The "Sopoy finest" is required to do a
good many things, and he is also en-
joined not to do good many things; but
he exercises his own sweet will and
pleasure in keeping out of trouble. Like
his American colleague, he never inter
feres in free fight; he shuns an inebri-
ated white mariner as he would pest
house, and has the same faculty of APP
pearing on the scene when the trouble
is all over as the St. Louis finest"
Some of the restrictions placed on the
Sepoy's actions are invidious in the ex-
treme, and proof of his innate good
nature lies in the fact that he does not
complain of them, but accepts them with
apparent readiness, while he discovers
some means Of rendering them inopera-
tive. For instance the Sepoy policeman
is forbidden to purchase the articl es he
consumes at dinner while he is dressed
in uniform. The authorities are aware
that native has a great respect for a
police uniform, and they are also aware
that native is apt to try and win the
protection of such gifted beings with
little offerings in the shape of ghee,
dial and rice. The Sepoy does not re-
sent this reflection on his class. He
makes no purchases when dressed in
uniform. During the day, while in uni
form, he goes round to the shop and
after impressing the shopkeeper with
his varied and extensive powers says he
will purchase what he needs on his way
home. This he does with as much salts
faction and profit to himself after his
uniform is dotted as though he were ar
rayed in his full panoply.
Besides going on duty, or ''para," a
Sepoy is called upon to perform many
other functions. He has to beat q
bdtdkt. When any thing special has to
be communicated to the public by the
police authorities a Sepoy is intrusted
with copper utensil and is told to go to
the principal places in and around his
section, where, after collecting as large
a crowd as possible with beating on his
copper plate, he is to impart to them the
requisite information. When Sepoy
is intrusted with the beating of 6atak
great sadness seems to steal over him
He walks with his head bent down, the
copper utensil under his arm. Suddenly
he seems to recollect what he is required
to do, and with startling sudd enness be
gins beating his instrument long enough
to arrest the attention of four boys and
girl who are playing marbles. When
these are gathered around him he be-
gins reciting in monotonous and
wholly unintelligible manner what he
has to say. The boys and girls listen tc
him for a few seconds and then go back
to their marbles, and the Sepoy is left
to address the wall opposite to which he
Is standing. When he has finished he
walks sorrowfully away, and again re
peats the performance further down the
street.
There Is brisk trade carried on By
petty vendors in the streets of Bombay
1t has been sought lately to discourage
this street traffic and the Sepoy hal
been told to arrest as many of thu
vendors of fruits, vegetables, etc., as hC
can. Now the Sepoy knows that if hi
does so he will discourage trade, and he
knows that trade is good for country
so he walks up to street vender, say o
green-skinned plantains, and gently in
sinuates that he has received orders t.
take her into custody-to the ''chowkey.
He then talks on Indifferent topics for
few minutes, when the vender remark
that she has some particularly fine speci
mems Of plaintsins that day on which
she desires the Sepoy's opinion. Afte
tasting two or three plantains he give
his opinion, which is valuable to thu
woman, as the Sepoy has cultivated
palate in the matter of green-skinnet
plantains. Sometimes he meets will
vendors who are defiant and insulting
when he first introduces himself. Thes
people he arrests.