New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-20
FEATURES OF LIFE IN INDIA
Castles AND MINUTE DIVISION OF LABOR
ANNOY FOREIGNERS.
Calcutta, February 10.

The greatest source OF annoyance, not to coy Sn~
convenience TO which the foreigner is perennially
subjected in this country Is the caste system, whch
every traveller imaSines he understands perfectly
until he attempts to keep house and live In some
degree of comfort among the natives. Even the
migratory American who is blessed with the fac
ulty of enjoying himself and being comfortable
under all circumstances must acknowledge thss -
India, at least, he is not complete master OF te
situation.
In the different religions, creeds, castles and So
cia classes there is infinite variety OF cliques,
from the leisure classes composed Of titled arsto-
Gratis and wealthy proprietors in their fine pei
aces with luxurious equipments and hosts OF ser
wants to the various grades Of laborng classes rang.
ing from skilled mechanics, who live in compara-
tive comfort, TO the coolies in their mud bungs-
lows. The line of social demarcation is so dis
tinctly drawn that it is than folly for tho
of a mechanic to cherish any other ambition
than to excel at his trade. II he has social asp-
rations he must smother them, for he has no %
portunity TO better his condition. II one inner
its wealth or title life Of ease is assn ed, but
it, less fortunate the inheritance is nothing but the
privilege of working for q living one might -
well he philosophicaly resigned to the situation.
Wages low that the workngman has NJ
opportunity 70 accumulate anything The sktlfuI
mechanic may command better wages than the
common laborer if he is shrcwd and may live
with less discomfort, but he will never become rich.
A frst-class carpenter rarely receives more than
ten rupees a month, and as a rupee u
equivalent to thirty-sx cents. three dollars and
sixty cents is good wages for thirty days work.
Common laborers receive from four to six rupees
q month. depending upon the class OF work. A
contractor pays for eight carpenters, nine aborers
one night-watchman and messenger tho
combined wages of one dollar and eighty-sx cents
per day. Notwithstanding that living is very
cheap in India, the real wages are probably lower
than in any other country in the world. An
American could not live such low wages: at
the end OF O month il all the substantias were
furnished, he would he in debt for his pepper and
salt In the simplicity Of India's economic
structure, the necessities Of living are reduced TO
minimum, and good illustration Is furnished
of not how much a man requires TO live upon,
but upon how little he can exist. Although the
natives not physically strong. they are 1.-THE
and active and are good workmen. small
retnue Of servants is necessary 20 administer to
the comfort Of a European or American who at
tempts TO keep house in India. sweeper ia
sweeper and nothing else, water-carrier Is
water-carrier and nothing else and so on through
the nnumerabe trades and occupations. body
servant will look after his masters clothes but he
will not sweep the room The chowktdar, or
piqht-wa lehman. could not he hired 70 open
door in the daytime. \ carpenter will make
post IL he has plenty OF assistants 10 wait upon
him, but il he wants piece Of timber turned he
will call carrier TO do it. Rolling timber Ia
not part OF his trade There is no Jack all
trades here, and the less each one knows Of other
occupations than his own, and the less he does
that the better for the remaining rice winners.
Each follows the trade Of his father and grand
father, and never aspires 10 anything else.
The trades are governed 10 great extent by
the castles, and TO a certain extent each caste
is limited 10 certain choice Of trades.
Thus Brahmln may be carpenter
or mason but he may not he
a waterman or a sweeper. II a chowkdar. for
instance, belongs 10 the Brahminical caste. he
has his own cooking utensils, and IL Mussuman
should touch them under any circumstances they
| would be defiled. and before they could he used
| again would have TO be ceansed by some nys-
| FERROUS and tedious process before the Brahmin
could use them without himself losing caste.
A chowkidar could not be induced to touch
sweeper's broom. 1t would be deflemcnt for
Hindu 10 receive food or water from the hands
of one of lower caste than himself. and drinking
water may only be received from Of higher
caste A carpenter will not take drinking water
from the water carrier VINO supplies the kitchen,
and a Brahmin must he employed for the special
purpose Of bringing water 10 the workman. Each
servant may get his water, but need not
bring any 10 the or RS as they would not take
any from him They would dry up and blow
away first.
About one-fifth of the population followers
OF the Mahometan faith. the great majority
Of the remainder being ITindus. while small
minority ire Parsees or fire worshippers who claim
Bombay az their home. The Mahometans are
better educated than the llindus. and would
abolish CASTE if possible. The number OF sects.
with their divisions and subdivisions. helps TO
make the system more complicated lt VIII ne
n long time before the Christian religion obtains
n permanent hold in this country except with
Furopcans and their descendants. The HINDU
would part with his life before he would give
M the system of caste which is the warp and
wool Of the social fabric of India. There are, OF
course. n great many Europeans in every town
of any importance. and in each foreign commit
nity there are or more Christian churchcs,
bur the best efforts TO convert the heather meet
with poor success.
The dress is a mark Of social position. The
"Nawab- j. clothed in silk or satin of the finest
quality with a little gold embroidered skullcap
and patent leather shoes. while the laborlng man
is happy in the possession of few yards OF cheap
muslin. which he wraps about him artisticaly.
He NAV wear a small cap or turban twisted about
his head. but the headdress is not CONSIDERED q
necessity A jacket is sometimes worn. but IL f"
of light material and scanty. .,
The women Of the higher classes are kept weas
secluded, and the young and pretty ones are
not on exhibition. Still one oceaslonalE casoa ne
simpe and invariably becoming. skirt reaching
to the ankles. cosettns Jacket ana madIc
covering the whole is the usual ontn' nan1 Srss
or low shoes are often worn, out gre He-
o on dispensed with The mantle serves ics
eadcoverng It may be of white from S' t ases
toi9ru r rards SQUARE. and the Indian lady knows
how ,ou 10 adns her healdress as effectively -
S"i s & red the ye fsaaS 'iay
T Sgmrel silks are worn. All. from the highest