Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-01-06
THE PEOPLE OF INDIA.
Some of the, to Us, Strange Phases Of
Life In the Vast Indian Empire.

Some of the, to Us, Strange Phases Of
Life in the Vast Indian Empire.
| [From a Boston Transcript review Of a
recent book on Indian Life in Towr
and Country"
| It is the habit to refer to India as a
country as one would refer to England
France or Spain. without taking into con-
sideration the fact that it is made up OF
variety of races differing as widely as
the Russian and the Turk, the Chinaman
and the Greek. races which express them
selves in seventy different languages
which represent every shade of complex
ion and every degree of physical develop
ment. The main division of the inhabi-
tants is based on religious belief and GUS
toms. The Hindus number about $50, 900, =
600, the Mohammedans &C, 1000. 900, the
Buddhists 100000. the Sikhs 10, 600 900,
the jams 100000, and the Parsees 1OO.-
600. Besides these there are small colonies
of Catholics, Jews and HISTORIANS, which
can hardly be taken into account. Hin
duism is divided into multitude of sects.
Social eXclusiveness is the universal rule
in India, and there is absolutely no COM
IlIilblluS u THESE various elements. The
people of India are organically antagonis-
tic to amalgamation in any shape or form.
and hold themselves as distinct from one
another in their social and domestic re-
lations as do the different species of ami
mails Inter marriage between the diff
ferent peoples and religions are unknown.
Caste governs every act and thought OF
the Hindu. To break its rules is an I'M
pardonable crime But ii is purely a Hin
du institution, and does not exist among
the Mohammedans, Buddhists, Sikhs and
other non Hindu races. The Brahmins-
Hindu priests-number %, 900, 900. They
exert absolute influence over the com
mon people and are regarded by them as
sacred beings. The requirements and re-
strictions of caste are innumerable. Many
of them are arbitrary, inconsistent, I'M
necessary and cruel. They provide among
other things that individuals shall marry
only those of their own caste eat with
their own caste and of food cooked by a
caste-fellar or Brahmn; that no SUI
perior shall allow one of inferior caste Ia
touch his cooked food or enter the room
where it is cooked. Even the shadow Of
low-caste is considered defilement
Breaking any of these or other Of the in
| Vulnerable rules leads to exclusion from
caste. In a trade between two of diff
ferent castles the money is thrown to the
ground and picked up by the other, for
fear of defilement: the two may not en-
ter the same room, nor stand on the same
carpet. This caste prejudice is not mere
! ly personal disclnation or disgust, but an
absolute moral law, which makes trans
gression an admitted abomination, and
would entail social ostracism. 1t is even
| respected in the jals of India. The Hindu
cannot change his caste He was born
with 1t. But he can be deprived of it or
"outcasted."
THE punishment Of being "outcasted, 20
says the author, may be described as a
blend of boycotting and ecclesiastical ex-
communication. The backsliders friends
and relatives refuse to partake of his
| hospitality or to grant him theirs: they
will not eat, drink or smoke with him.
which are far more significant acts than
as comprehended in our social philosophy.
| They decline to marry his children, or to
give him theirs in marriage and if he
have married daughter she is debarred
from visiting him. Those important func-
| tionaries, the priest, barber and wash
erwoman, refuse to serve him. All con-
nection with him is completely severed.
and no one will assist him even at the flu
neral of a member of his family. which
in land where there are no undertakors
and no hearses even for the richest D.. Is
him in parlous predicament II g. alb
solutely social ostracism. Reinstatement
i'm caste Is possible in most eases after
going through ceremony Of publication
which consists in swallowing a mixture
compounded of the COW, feastng an as
semblage of caste brethren. and feei.a-
the Brahmins, The latter YOU may be
sure, are always to the fore, and their
services are constantly required for cere-
monial publication to atone for slight
lapses or accidental slips, each and every
one OF which needs its eXpiatory pro
cedure. The COW is a most sacred animal
1T can purge from sin and lead the way
TO better world. When a Hindu is DIV
ing, he is always lifted from his bed. and
laid on mother earth and in many places.
the tail Of COW is guided into his fall
tering grasp that it may pull MIN into
Heaven. There was an old COW ON nv
plantation in India that had performed
TINS serviceable function for hundred
moribund coolies"
There are 100000 900 women in India.
and their sphere is the backyard. A
Hindu woman has no rights This is ex-
plessly declared by law What her real
status is thus tersely described:
"A woman may not walk by the side
OF her husband, but only follow respect
tully behind him; she may not eat with
MIN, but must content herself with his
leaVlngs after he has finished If he fasts
the good wife ought to fast too. She
must not speak with him in the society OF
Others nor may he notice her In mixed
company the mans wife is the last fe-
male you would take to be such. if Won
regarded their mutual relations She must
never presume to pronounce his name; he