The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1896-12-17

Ceylon and other portion of India,
while this wind blows, the percipita
ton, perhaps, exceeding that of any
other coast in the world. The north
western monsoon, commencing about
the third week in October, brings rain
from the Bay Of Bengal along the east
coast of India, and dnring this season
the opposite, or west coast, has fair
weather and agreeable temperature.
There is little rain from DecemberStills
June, and during this time the heat is
excessive, the uplands are parched,
and the soil baked to the hardness of
stone. The monsoons are, therefore,
the salvation of India, but when these
winds fail, as sometimes they do, from
meteoroligal causes as yet little UNI
derstoOd, the farmer is unable to plant,
OF, it he does the seed lies in the soil
without terminating, and the distress
for food becomes general.
The horrors of a famine, when so
many millions are involved, can hardly
be imagined; but terrible as they are,
they were much worse before the Eng
lish occupation than they are to-day.
Before the coming Of the English the
country was divided into many states,
under petty rulers, who, with genuine
Oriental severity, cared for their peo-
pie only to the extent of forcing from
them the last possible ''pie,'' or quar-
ter of q cent. When the time Of plenty
came, a considerable part Of the poor
peoples substance was exhausted in
the payment of taxes; when the mon
soon failed, and famine Joined hands
with pestilence to stalk across the
land, the rulers made no provisions
whatever, indeed, did not attempt to
make any, for the succor Of their peo-9
pie. Their fatalists creed, whether
Mohammedan or Hindoo, taught them
and their people alike that such vista
lions were the work Of a malign pow
Ell not to be resisted, and. consequent
ly, they made no effort India has al
ways been a country of sharp contrasts.
Before the English domination, the
lzings and mobiles were enormously
wealthy, while the most aggravated
poverty prevailed among the masses of
the people. Splendid palaces, gorgeous
temples, noble tombs, stand side by
side with the grass huts of a starving
peasantry; in no country is the line be-
tween rich and poor, splendor and
want, drawn so sharply. No country
has temples SO magnificent The no
blest fanes Of Christendom are con-
tembtible when compared with the
gorgeous temples Of India. Benares,
the sacred city, is collection of mag
niticent structures, each devoted to the
service and worship Of a hideous idol
Over a thousand Hindoo temples are in.
the city, while the Mohammedan popll-
lation, equally ignorant, equally fanati-
cal. worship in about 800 mosques.
Millions upon Millions Of dollars have
been spent in the erection of these
shrines of the two religions. It is esti-
mated that 5000, 900 600 has been spent
on the temples and mosques of Be
mares, every cent Of it Wrung by merci-
less rulers from a starving popula ton
| Juggernaut, or Pooree, like Benares, is
| a city Of temples, and, although the
famous shrines in this city have in
late years lost much Of their populari-
ty, still thousands annually flock to the
city. The temples Of the city Of Jug
gernaut are wealthy beyond belief. 'Ihe
1 great idol has two huge diamonds for
| eyes and gold and jewels are lavishly
displayed in all parts of the sacred
! structures The annual festival at Jug
/ gernaut is no longer what it once was;
in fact, since 1878 the festival has been
considered a failure, and the chariot Of
Juggernaut has not even been drawn
from the temple Worshipers can no
longer be found to drag the car or to
throw themselves beneath the wheels;
but still the contrast between the
i splendid shrines and starving people is
i painfully apparent. Palaces and tombs
OF the kings are often as splendid as
I the mosques and temples figures. can
give no idea Of the cost OF these struct-
ures The Tai ahal is mosaicked with
jewels, every gem known to the slapi-
Diary being found in its walls and cell
ings and every rupee OF the cost hay-
4 ing been collected in taxes. go
i The people OF America have no con-
ception OF the terrible taxation to
which the natives Of Hind oostan were