Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-30
THE HO[,l FESTIVAL
Somewhat in the Nature of a
Carnival.
A
A HINDUSTANEE LESSON
SAD STORY OF A BEAUTIFUL EU-
RASIAN GIRL.
Snow-Topped Mountain Peaks and
Orchid Flowered Slopes Of Darrell
ing Make Beautiful Spot.

Today being the middle of March, the
Hindu festival of HoH is taking place down
in the native bazaar on the mountain side,
in honor of Krishna, one Of the two in
carnations of Vishnu. the "Preserver," and
1t seems to be in the nature of carnival.
The usual indescrbable noise which takes
place on the occasion of native festival
began early this morning. not only down
| in the bazaar, but from the precincts of the
hotel and we came upon two of the Hindu
gardeners busily at work. and shrieking at
the tops of their voices for pure joyousness.
The noises rather resemble the bowls, walls
and yaps of the jackals, who raise their
voices as soon as darkness settles down.
Every native one meets today is dressed
in his best and loaded with beads,
rings, silver bangles and prayer boxes of
silver and turquoises Their garments, how
ever, do not seem to be any cleaner than
ordinary and their hats, with, the turn
up brims. are as filthy as usual. The prin-
cipal amusement consists in throwing at
one another hapdfuls Of lovely dark red
powder or the same kind Of powder in
dark orange. and every one one meets Is
either spotted or blotched with it. his hair
covered with 1t or his face stained deeply
with the rich color: and everybody is as
happy and cheerful as possible and trying
his utmost to Guido everyone else in all
manner of noises Certainly the Bhutias
and Thibetans we see them here are
very smiling. happy people, AS we were
to be here several weeks we decided to
spend part of the time in taking few Hin
dustanee lessons and succeeded in getting
a munshi who for the moderate sum of
one rupee, SO cents, lesson. would give
us hour every morning. He is small
and very poverty-stricken looking person,
but according to his own account Is well
known as a munshi all over India, and he
seems to have prepared almost every cell
ebrated man of the day for his examlna-
tons which have invariably been passed
brilliantly He, however, has not learned
very much English from his distinguished
pupils and what little he knows is very
funny. His manners are extremely ele-
giant and when we say good morning to
him he invariably answers sWeetly Yes,
please, sir, tank you" His goodbye is al
ways the same, touching his forehead he
says smilingly, Il shall pass my time in
your honor's favor which. we take it,
means that he will spend the hours of alb
sence in thinking favorably of U.s.
Their Primitive Ways.
Certainly they do things in a primitive
fashion in this land of vivid color. We
had complained mildly yesterday that our
chimneys smoked and this morning. while
we were dressing, we heard a curious sound
in the same chimney, and, looking up, dis
covered a broken iron pot dangling in it,
We were rather amazed at the sight, and
on sending to inquire the cause of the deco
ration. which, in being pulled up and down.
caused a most unpleasant noise, we were
told that it was the native method Of
cleaning a chimney. l daresay after re-
peated jerks and jangles of the instrument
caused by the muscular arm of the brown
gentleman on top of the chimney. some OF
the Instructions might be dislodged!
One of the interesting characters of this
place, or rather of Jelapahar the military
station few miles away. is a young officer.
rhn ic 10 y,nC Of
geese or mongooses, whichever may be cor
rect. They are tiny things about the size
of large squirrel and the same color, with
long pointed heads and bright yellow eyes.
He takes them everywhere with him. one
on either shoulder without collar or har-
ness of any sort and they are the most at
tractive of small animals. They gaze with
great interest at the view as he walks
along the beautiful roads with them and
if they wish to get still better view they
sit up their little hind-legs. straight up
on his shoulder. If they feel especially af
fectionate they gently and playfully nibble
his nose or chin stick their tiny noses
in his ears. Every one admits that they
are the most attractive of all pets, and they
certainly learn very beguiling ways. We
had heard much in England of the preju-
dice everywhere in India against Eura-
slams, or any one with a touch of the tar
brush and had had it told us many times
that such a combination invariably brought
out worst characteristics of the white and
the black, so it was with great interest
| that we met several Eurasians of position
| In Calcutta and one in particular IN Oar
jeeing, man of wealth and position whom
| every one is glad to welcome to his house.
| We had known this gentleman for several
weeks and had been invited to his house,
for he is one of the very kndest and most
hoSpltable of men, without knowing that
| he must be ranked with the unfortunate
| brotherhood of the tarbrush,' when one
| day on expressing to a friend surprise that
a man of so kindly nature should have
reached m1ddle-age unmarried we were
| told the truth and found it hard to believe,
| for he is no darker than many dark COM
| pieXloned EngliShman, and is OF the very
distinguished and dignifed appearance. His
courteous and perfectly well-bred manners
attract one at once and his digniied friend
illness and hospitality are quite irresistible,
yet we are told he has very little chance
of making his way in the civil service, and
that certainly no mother, no matter how
anxious she may be to marry off her daugh-
ter. would think of running the risk of such
match.
Like an Old Story.
We were told while in Calcutta a. tragic
story Of a beautiful young Eurasian girl.
the prettiest blonde, with blue eyes and
most delicate complexion, who at a very
early age had been sent to England and
had grown up in ignorance Of the dark blot
| in her pedigree. Her sister, it seems, was
so dark to be nearly black, and showed
every quality of native.
The pretty blonde was introduced in Eng
land. and very soon married an English
man of good family, who had, of course,
| not been told her history Her first child, a
girl, much to the horrors and establishment
of the family and OF herself, showed every
sign OF native origi1. and was as dark as
the darkest Of natives. AS the husband
was heir to good name and estates the
family used such pressure that a separation
took place. 1t was a tragedy in every
way, and the poor girl, with her dark
SKINNED little daughter, could not endure
the idea of going back to India, where her
only relatives lived and had no position
and very few friends left in England. She
was one of the few Eurasians who have
inherited only the best qualities of both
nations, and I fear she leads sad and
lonely existence. Thought is only fair to
say that the family of the heir, who is APP
parently a person Of weak character and
has married again, provide generously for
the young Eurasian and her child and do
what they can to detract from the lonel-
ness of her position
A Hard Fate.
Some one. on hearing the story. suggest
ed that she should be taken back to India
and married to an Oxford-bred rajah. but
was told 1t would be an impossible exist