The herald., 1893-10-19
THE BLACK CHATTY.

1t was standing under the shadow of
thorn tree by the edge Of an Indian riv-
er-that gray stone which is the subject
of my story. The country is very full
of such marks and memorials. Some
times they are conical masses painted
red, with another fiat stone placed be-
fore them, upon which trivial offerings
of flowers, fruit or rice may be laid.
Sometimes they are carefully sculptured
stones, bearing the sign which shows
that a ''sati,n or Hindoo widow, has in
days past inundated herself on the sa-
cred spot. Sometimes it is merely an
odd shaped bowlder which has struck
the pious imagination of some peasant
or village priest, and he has daubed
patch of yellow or vermilion paint upon
it. after which the local deity is sup
posed to reside there, and everybody
filings little pebble in front of it or ties
a strip of cloth upon the branches of the
tree overhead.
But this little monument was very
special, established in the patch of aca-
cias and long reeds by the rivers bank,
and having carved upon its face the rude
picture of ''chatty," or common wa
ter pot. with. underneath that q wom-
ans name. Above it, among the little
golden balls of blossom which grow
upon the babul boughs, were futtering
numberless strips Of cotton and goats
hair stuff Of all colors. and the faded
flowers and stones lying in front proved
that it was popular shrine, which no
native of the district passed without
some small token of respect or pity.
The Indian rivers often appear very
beautiful-especially where they run, as
this great stream did, through wild
country, embroidering their path across
the sunburned plains with double rib
bon of verdure. From far off the trav-
eler or sportsman discerns these two
strips of green trees and bushes, and
coming closer the shining channel will
be full of refreshment and interest to
his eyes. Little or no traffic disturbs
that placid waterway, which, indeed,
very frequently is but chain of isolated
pools. Above them may be seen every
where lowering the muchi-bagh or fish
tiger" black and white kingfsher that
hangs motionlessly poised over the rip
pies, and then suddenly plunges like
stone into them to seize some gliding
fish.
In the deep parts the big mah-seer
sucks and grunts. On the shadows will
be standing knee deep the great gray
cranes with scarlet heads, and near to
them hocBs of pretty white egrets or
paddy birds, while flights of duck and
@ao al
and painted grouse settle suddenly on
the sandy margin in large coveys to
drink. If it be near a village the dhobee,
washerman of the community, will be
beating "saris" and "cholis" upon a fiat
rock by the nearest pool, and in some
quiet nook fisherman will be finging
his circular net into the water to catch
the little fry called ''havildar and ten,"
which are dried afterward in the sun
and make good relish.
There is no regular ferry at such
points. Should you want to go across
singly, you must swim over with your
horse or do as the natives do. They
stuff upthe mouth of chatty-an earth
enware water pot-with grass, and plac-
ing it under the chin embrace the vessel,
which supports them well out of the
water, while with their legs and feet they
propel themselves to the farther shore.
Or you may hold the chatty under one
arm and swim with the other, putting
your clothes in bundle upon your head.
By this means also the Indian fishermen
spread nets right across the stream and
traverse it at all times with ease and Sc
curity.
1t was one Of these, indeed, who ex-
planned the meaning of the old gray
stone by the bank of the river, sprinkled
with those golden balls from the babul
tree, and standing, SO lonely, with
"Sohni" cut upon it and the picture of
the waterpot. When the British laborer
rests Tor food in the heat OF the day, or
after spell of hard work, his first idea
Is to drink, but the Indian peasant has a
different habit. AT the hour of repose
his custom is to disengage from his tur-
ban and loin cloth small bag like a
"housewife," with partitions, tied by
string. This he unrolls deliberately, and
there are seen layer of green leaves
sse'ss the paAneg vine. lump Of lime.