Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1892-11-30
SOME QUEER CUSTOMS OF 1HE
HINDOOS.
BIZ ELLA BARTLETr s1MMoNA

zone half of the world surely does
not know how the other half lives"
We had accepted the above as 3
somewhat stale truism until we our
| selves had made the half circuit of the
| globe. Then did it become q burning
reality. We Americans have really no
idea how the natives of India do live
until We visit that country and make a
conscientious study Of their habits and
customs.
No country on the face of the earth
is more poverty cursed than this, and
none would have greater resources If
properly developed.
But theirs is stationary civilization.
They are bound down by the iron bands
of caste.
Nowhere in the world was il ever OBJ
served with such rigidity as in Hindu
stan. From birth to the funeral pile
it directs every movement. The Hindoo
is always under its pervading influence.
Indian caste is derived from birth
alone. 1t cannot be transferred from
one class to another. There were
originally but four castles: Brahmans,
Ksuatiyas, Naishyas, 5 udras, but at the
present time they may be counted by
the thousands, each little craft or
profession constituting different
caste. Each son must follow directly in
the footsteps of the father.
Be the father a weaver, all the boys
and girls as well ,.must learn to weave,
and nothing but this work must ever
be done by them. They must marry
weavers and none but these must at
tend the wedding. In fact will never
eat with or in anyway associate with
those belonging to different caste.
We have in one of our mission
schools, bright little girl who was
disowned of her parents for eating
"ChOppattie" (pancake) given by q wo-
man belonging TO another caste.
They viii let stranger die at their
~ door if he is not of their caste.
This institution causes them to be cru
ell to others and works q hardship to
each man on his own account. 1t pre-
vents the full development of his fac
ulties.
For three thousand years the Indian
plough has been little better than a
forkcd stuck. Their methods of per
forming work of whatever nature be
longs to the primitive ages. There has
been no advancement.
Ii Is IN accordance with caste re-
quirements that brass or copper uten-
sis should Q moved from place to
place, but an earthen vessel once used
for cooked food or water must not be
transported to another locality. Loads
may be carried on the head by some
castles, on the back by some, and not at
all by others.
The poorest Hindoo family do not
wash their own clothes or sweep their
own floor, unless belonging to the
"dhobe' or meter" caste. If Hindoo
we're touched by a man of an inferior
caste while eating, if, indeed, the
shadow fell upon his person or food, he
would not only throw away all the pre-
pared food, but would even spit out
" hat might chance to be in his mouth
at the instant. The accumulation of
purity is astounding.
The slightest variation from caste
rules is at once visited with fines or
punishments, while the graver offences
become the ground of expulsion liter
ally from ali human society and of dis
abilities in business and disinheritauce:
and, believing in ancestor worship as
the Hiudoo does, and that the happI-
ness of his departed relatives Is de-
pendent on his performing the
''manes, the additional curse comes
upon him of being disabled from per-
forming these ceremonies because of
caste impurity.
The caste policy of India checks
genius. 1t has been the great him
drance to all progress, civil, political,
religious or social. Through this in
stitution the Hindus are opposed to
innovations.
Their broom is still a hsndleless
bundle of twigs.
Their houses are low, dark and lily
ventilated. The higher caste families
live IN rooms surrounding an open
court, one room to a family, the
el ire relationship occupying these va
rlous apartments.
a married son always brings his
wife home to live.
Their houses are literally unfurnish-
ed. They have none of the comforts of J
an American home. A low bed stands |
in one corner, a home made mud stove \
III another, a box in the third, that
constitutes the house furnishings The !
houses have no chimneys; when the !
smoke fills the room, the women go !
out doors. The walls are covered
with cobwebs, it being sin to kill q |
spider. The high caste women are |
kept in seclusion, the low caste work !
very hard at their daily toll. Whether |
is hard.
This subject will be treated Of in my |
next article)