The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-15
THE PASSING THRONG.

Col. F. F. Hilder, formerly of the British army
IN India, who Is in the city, gives many interest
ing "reminiscences of Indian life. "Would you
believe it," no said yesterday, "that all the prog
ress of ages toward the breaking down of caste
distinctions in India has been as nothing COM
pared with few years OF one modern material
invention? I refer to the locomotive. When
the English first began building railroads in
India they were troubled by the fact that tho
Brahmin, or priestly caste, the highest in the
country. would not ride In the same cars with
their interiors: the companies resolved not to
put up with this nonsense and today you can
see Brahnins and even the despised Pariah
caste sitting shoulder to shoulder in the car
riages, apparently unaware Of any improperly.
The mistake of the old East India company in
regard to caste was one OF the things that con-
tributed most to the mutiny OF 1857. 1t was the
company's soldiers that did the revolving. For
years the soldiers had had things pretty
much their own way. The company did
not expressly ordsin that only Brahmins should
be enlisted; but when the Brahinins once got
control Of the native regiments, or In large ma
iority at least, they managed to make 1t mighty
uncomfortable for the outsiders who might get
in, with the result as have said. Today the
recruiting goes on without regard to caste But
this Is not all: The regiments are held for ser
vice in such a way that there shall be no chance
for fraternizing between citi-ens and soldiery.
For instance, the Punjaub tribes from the North,
the Gland OF the Eve rivers" are Mohammedans
Regiments are recruited there and sent some
place else, among a Hindoo or n-Mohamue-
dan population where they cannot even speak
the local language. A Sikh regiment will be sent
TO the Marietta country and vice versa the
English thus proftng by these tribal and re-
llgious differences 10 keep the country at peace
and loyal 20 the crown 1t is an open secret, ono
which the natives themselves are by no means
slow to admit. that the moment the strong hand
OF England was removed the old feud between
the Mohammedans and Hindoos would
break out In terrible force, and any
one who knows how Orientals carry
on war. knows what promiscous murder
and outrage that means. England has 40 COO ma
tive troops in her pay in India. not counting
those in the direct service OF the native prjnoes
and they get along very well with the English
sodiery. too. In these regiments the native
languages must be used, and as there are about
fifty languages. not To spesk OF dialects in the
country from the south TO Nepaul, you can i'm
agine the officers have to learn a good many
tongues The English have established legal
code for India and under its provisions n-o,ect
the natives in the free exercise OF their worshin
Ii an Englishman goes into q Hiudoo ternnIe
without taking of his shoes, as is the euston,
there, he Is held In an English court and MN.
ished. IL has been found, however, that tina
laws IN use in England do not fl. the Hiutoo.
in all cases. For instance. the value and
necessity of telling the truth Ia 90 liz.
tie understood that special arrangements have u
be made in cases OF perjury, different from
those in the home country. remarkable in
stance OF this is TO be noted in the well.xrowr
English and American law rule whereby tho
dying declaration Of a man Is believed in svi
dence in certain cases. IL is deemed by Eng
l!shmsu and Americans that the presence %,
death known TO she deciarant Is sufficient guar.
sntee that he viii tell the truth, IL wss torno
that this would not work at all In India Thsro
when a man came 10 die, understandings ,h.,
the courts of Justice would accent HIS dxing
declarations "a evidence, lie would take tho 90.
casion TO get square with tho psonle sgs,ns,
whom he had pre-. giicss or g-rdees o: eour..
the English RUE o: evidence could not ha nsr.
United 80 remain IN force
Capt Thomas Hooper, a noted mining man
OF Detroit. Mich. is stopping at the Northern
lie is a gres, tsaysle.. aud is ous hers for .ha
be1ens OF his health Hs has been absent ,,Iu,
home Tor about ten weeks, aud in that TINA IA.
been np and down the Rocky mountains frnm
Durango, IN Old Mexico, to Montana From,
Montana he came through Idaho On horxahsok
taxing 10 the salmon river country On hi.
Route in order TO visit brother In that section
On bis way he stopped at Salmon CITY. tbs
home Of United States Senator shoup. who 4.
en- ole friend OF tie captain and whom he fauna
very Ill While coming through the mount.
ANS, the captain met with very p.in
iGi accident HIS horse stumbled ana
teI. the captains leg being cauxh.
between the animal and . rock, ana
sustaining very painful injury. "rhe salmon
''Ssf sounsfy. sad lie, rs very dull. They