Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-02
RAILWAY TRAVEL IN INDIA.
Supplying Water to "Caste" Men-A
Fakir's Chains.
rom the Railway Magazine

From the Railway Magazine.
An Indian railway time table affords in
teresting study. It combines voluminous
railway Information with a considerable
amount of matter particularly interesting
to the tourist. Caste does not cause the
railways so much trouble as might be
imagined. judging by all one hears about
1t In England. Indeed caste distinctions
are found to resolve into two main prin-
ciples. One only concerns us here, the
other-the prohibition Of intermarriage-
having reference to matters outside the
radius Of a railway officials activities.
A "caste'' man must not partake OF
food cooked or even handled by one OF
inferior caste. Food is wide term. A
very orthodox person would include med
icine compounded by an apothecary. One
of more liberal views might receive, say,
a plantain (banana) from the hands of
an individual beneath him, for the "un-
clean" hands of the latter would have
come in contact only with the skin and
not with the part to be eaten.
The first and most obvious requirement
OF any long distance traveller in a hot
climate is fluid refreshment. The filter
and the glass commonly found In an
India, inasmuch as the native would first
OF all want to know who put the water in
the filter and then who last used the
glass. If satisfactorily assured on the
latter point. he would nevertheless run no
risk of contamination, but would pour the
liquid down his throat while holding the
glass few inches above his mouth.
But the orthodox man, taking no risks
at all. carries with him a brass water
pot attached to a belt, and even then
adopts the further precaution above men,
toned. At every station a native pa
trolls the platform carrying skin with a
supply of water. Experience has taught
the railway companies to be particular as
to who is tntrusted with this duty. Con-
tinuing, the writer sayst
l once travelled with a Brahmin who
parched with thirst eagerly called the
water carrier at each successive station.
But before replenishing his brass pot he
cross-examined the man as to his ante
cedents, and, not being satisfied that he
was of sufficiently high caste, continued
suffering agonies till a wire was sent on
ahead, the result of which was that the
hottest man of all the countryside was
routed out and induced to do duty pro
tenn.
Fortunately very holy people seldom
travel, and when they do they contrive to
let it be known beforehand so that meals
may be specially prepared for them in
advance.
On another occasion a celebrated fakir
was proposing to travel. His form Of
self mortification took the shape of some
his body was girded and with which he
tried to enter the carriage assisted by his
friends.
But the station master was there, and
the result of somewhat heated argu-
ment conducted in a language which for
possibilities of vituperation has no equal
in the world was that the fakir and his
chains were hauled of to the Weighing
machine and full passenger parcel rate
was charged on the two hundredweight
of old iron on the reasonable ground that
1t could not be regarded as wearing ap-
parel
The Hindu likes to have all his savings
in a portable form. They do not take the
shape of scrip and title deeds, but bars,
anklets and armlets of gold and rudely
set jewelry. When lle travels all this
wealth is frequently intrusted to the
keeping OF q young daughter, whose lit
tie legs and arms are wound round with
golden bars. while her nose and ears are
heavily weighted with jewelry. T once
saw on a station platform a little girl
about six who was computed to be worth
about $4,000 as she stood.
This practice Is not, however, so COM
mon as it used to be, for railways natur-
ally disclaim liability in such cases and
there have, moreover, been so many
outrages on little girls for the
sake of plumber.