The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1897-01-08

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 during this season
the opposite, or west coast, has fair
weather and agreeable temperature.
There is little rain from December till
June, and during this time the heat is
excessive, the uplands are parched,
and the soil baked to the hardness of
stone. The m0nsoons are, therefore,
the salvation of India, but when these
winds fail, as sometimes they do, from
meteOroligal causes ,as yet little I'M
derstood, the farmer is unable to plant.
or, ifshe does, the seed lies in the soil
without terminating, and the distress
for food becomes general.
The horrors of famine, when so
be imagined; but terrible as they are.
they were much worse before the Eng
fish 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 cent. When the time Of plenty
came, 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-
pie. Their fatalists creed, whether
Mohammedan or Hindoo, taught them
and their people alike that such vista
tions were the work Of malign pow
er not to be resisted, and, consequent
~, they made no effort. India has al
ways been country Of sharp contrasts.
Before the English domination, the
kings 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
nificent structures, each devoted to the
service and worship Of hideOus idol.
Over a thousand Hindoo temples are in
the city, while the Mohammedan pop,l-
lation, equally ignorant, equally fanati-
cal, worship in about 300 mosques.
Millions upon Millions of dollars have
been spent in the erection Of these
shrines Of the two religions. It is esti-
mated that $500, O00, 900 has been spent
on the temples and mosques Of Be-
mares, every cent Of 1t wrung by merci-
less rulers from, starving population.
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. The
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 1t once was;
In fact, since 1878 the festival has been
considered q failure, and the chariot Of
Jugeernaut 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
splendid shrines and starving people is
| painfully apparent. Palaces and tombs
OF the kings are often as splendid az
the mosques and temples; figures can
give no idea Of the cost Of these struct-
ures. The Tai ahal 10 mosaicked with
jewels, every gem known to the lapi-
dairy being found In it, walls and cell
ings land every rupee Of the cost hay-
| ing been collected In taxes.
The people Of America have no con-
ception OF the terrible taxation to
which the natives of Hindoostan were