The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-12-05
BY Rev. Father Younau, Of the
Paulisss, last Night.
The ARlON HALL WAS PACKED FULL
or People 60 Hear Talk on a Pic.
turesque and Interesting Country
by One who WAS Bora in it-The
Religions, Languages, Costumes
and Habits Illustrated.

repaid, Father Younan delivering a
very fine lecture on "India, and its
Life" The reverend gentleman is a
native Of India, having been born In
Calcutta.
The lecturer first gave a graphic de-
scripsion Of the life. habits and religions
OF the natives, and then followed with
stereopticon views illustrating his text.
He then gave talk on the beauties OF
the Himaayan mountains, the highest
in the world, and closed with views Of
mountain scenery. All through his
talk he deeply interested his large aud
ience, and with his charming wit kept
his hearers amused, and the talk on the
beauty OF the scenes was instructive
and entertaining.
The territorial extent OF India, said
the speaker, is about 100000 square
miles, and it supports a population OF
about 320,0O0,0O0 people. The language
spoken, however, is so divided that the
country has l07 distinct tongues spoken.
The soil is rich, and the climate is SO
diversified as to present every phase oil
temperature, rainfall aud meteorological
phenomena. In some parts the rainfall
averages 700 inches per annum. and in
other localities not drop OF rain falls
for six or seven years. The temperature
frequently reaches $50 degrees on the
plains, while in the mountains are SHOWS
that never melt and rivers frozen into
solid ice. The quality OF tho gems
found in India are Of such high grade
as TO stand pre-eminent in the worlds
production OF precious stones. The
pearls, diamonds, rubies and emeralds
OF India are marveis Of beauty and OF
large dimensions.
Father Younan said he had seen cups
cut out OF a single emerald as large as
his fist, and necklaces of pigeon blood
rubies worth millions Of dollars.
The leading religious beliefs OF the
Inhabitants OF India are Hindu, Mo-
hammedan and Buddhist. The Hindus
are idolators and the selections OF their
idols are not made with especial care.
A block OF stone, tree OF peculiar
shape or any peculiar object readily as
sumes the form OF deity. The Moham-
medan religion, followers OF the
prophet, is sensual in its character and
the only word that can portray its Or
ganization is corrupt The history OF
its cruelty and massacres are the most
shocking pages Of human history. Tho
Buddhist religion is mixture OF Con-
fucianism and other doctrines and the
followers OF this faith have many
curious manners OF propitiating their
deities. A wheel is inscribed with 4
sacred word and the faithful by turning
the wheel imagine their petitions are
being repeated; a prayer is written
upon q piece OF cloth and this sus.
pended from the branch OF a tree, and
the passing breeze swaying the cloth Is
sufficient means to relieve them from
the task OF repeating them.
The question OF dress Is one which
does not largely interest the lower
classes The cost OF dressing amounts
to probably twerty cents for year aud
half. The dress virtually consists oil
cloth around the loins and a short
skirt, while q turban surmounts the
head. This dress is practically the
same for the women, although q larger
amount OF cloth is used and the skirt is
somewhat longer. The rest OF the body
is covered with copious applications OF
mustard and coacoanut oil. The style
Of dress is varied according to the class
or condition OF the wearer, and a
natives locality can be recognized from
his dress. The condition OF these
clothes are largely in need OF washing,
as the question Of cleanliness is one
that does not enter largely into their
religious faith. The children under the
age OF twelve years are clad only IN
their natal garments.
The dress OF tine native princes, rulers
aud high classes, are, however. marVots
of richness and coloring. They show n
striking regard for jewels. the women
wearing jewelry totally covering the
hands and arms, while the an kies, lower
limbs and even the nose receive share
in the decorations.
The same differences existing in re-
gard to dress are likewise found in tho
matter OF living and honsos. The habl'
ta,ions OF the lower orders are mere
hnts made OF bamboo posts and covered
with mating, while the man who can
steal piece OF gunnysack for door
screen is the envied OF his neighbors.:
Some sleep upon tho bare ground and
others in the branches OF trees. Ihe
number OF snakes makes this out-oi-
door lie extremely dangerous. The
furniture oil tho interior OF the nuts Is
notable by its absence. Tue range IS
snbs;ituted BY hole in the ground ana
the collection OF kitchen utensils seldom
exceeds one pot. The bed may be
niece OF plank, or rope bed. The bed
Il generally occupied with host oil
other occupants which are not condu-
Give TO peaceful slumber.
On the other hand the palaces and
tenn ples of tho country arc among tue
richest in the world. He dwelt upon
the richness OF one OF the Mohammedan
tempIes. The interior is Iavi4hly decor
nted with mosaic work in precious gems
and the temple was surmounted Nv n
dome OF solid gold thlrty-iive leet in
diameter. He told a story III con-
nection with the illustration,
stating that the ruler under
whose auspices the structure was
erocted, upon its completion tore out
the eyes OF the architect to prevent
him from building finer one.
The bill OF fare presented at an Indian
BANQUET would not be one to win the
appreciation Of the gournand. Rice Is
the basis Of food, and this is added to by
f,h and lnent currles. A description
of The manner OF preparing tho currihs
inrnished moro amu'emont than appo..
li,u. The use OF knives, forks and
spoons is doamed unnecessary, ani tho
hands are used for the convNyal OF food
10 tho mouth. Tho hands nre' ilIat and
thon tho mouth, aud when required the
hand is used AZ u rammer to force the