7. THE INDOSTANIC FAMILY.
TH E HINDOOS.
There are perhaps no people on the glohe who present more varied physical
traits than the Hindoos. In general, however, the face is oval, the nose straight
or slightly aquiline, the mouth small, the teeth vertical and well formed, and the
chin rounded and generally dimpled. The eyes are black, bright and expressive,
the eye lashes long, and the brow thin and arched. The hair is long, black and
glossy, and the heard very thin, The head of the Hindoo is small in proportion
to the bódy, elongated, and narrow especially across the forehead, which is only
moderately elevated.
India presents every tint of complexion from an absolute black to a clear and
beautiful brunette; but the different shades of olive are predominant, especially
among the higher castes, while the Pariahs, and others of the lowest class, are as
uniformly dark.
“ The great difference in color between the different natives,” says Bishop
Heber, “ struck me much: of the crowd by whom we were surrounded, some
were black as Negroes, others merely copper-colored, and others little darker than
Tunisians. It is not merely the difference of exposure, since this variety is visible
in the fishermen, who are naked all alike. Nor does it depend on caste, since
very high-caste Brahmins are sometimes black, while Pariahs are comparatively
fair.”*
The people of Cambaia are said to be nearly of an ash color; those of Guzerat
and Mahratta are yellow, while olive is the prevalent tint in Goa.
The women of the Brahminical caste are celebrated for their beauty,
especially those of Canara and Malabar, who are said to bear a comparison with
those of Georgia and Circassia. They are often mothers at ten years of age.
The stature of the Hindoos is low, in general not exceeding five feet three
or four inches; their persons are slender, their limbs long and delicate, but well
moulded, and their hands and feet small and beautifully formed.
The moral character of the Hindoos varies much in the different sections of
India, whence the discrepant statements of modern travellers. They appear by
nature to be a mild, sober and industrious race, warm in' their attachments and
* Narr. I, p, 45. Am . ed.
fond of their children. But their love of the marvellous, fostered as it is by a
fantastic religion, is almost without a parallel among nations. They are of a
timid disposition, and not inclined to cruelty, yet their avarice, which is extreme,
leads them readily to commit murder for the most trifling acquisition. Notwithstanding
the apparent mildness of their manners, says Bishop Heber, the criminal
calendar is generally full of gang-robberies, incendiarism, and analogous crimes;
“ and the number of children who are decoyed aside, and murdered for the sake
of their ornaments, is dreadful.” They practise deception with infinite art, to
which falsehood and perjury form no obstacles. “ For all these horrors their
system of religion is mainly answerable, inasmuch as whatever moral lessons their
sacred books contain—and they are very few—are shut up from the mass of the
people, while the direct tendency of their institutions is to evil. The national
temper is decidedly good, gentle and kind. They are sober, industrious, affectionate
to their relations, generally speaking faithful to their masters, easily attached by
kindness and confidence, and in case of the military oath, are of admirable obedience,
courage and fidelity in life and death. But their morality does not extend beyond
the reach of positive obligations; and where these do not exist, they are oppressive,
cruel, treacherous, and every thing that is bad.”* The intellectual character of
the Hindoos is distinguished among the present Asiatic nations; but their learning
has been very much devoted to comments on their sacred books, which are
extremely numerous. They have had many admirable writers in poetry and the
drama, and excel in some branches of mathematics, and especially in algebra.
Their antique architectural remains are on a stupendous scale, and consist chiefly
of rock-hewn temples ornamented with elaborate sculpture. Such are the caverns
and galleries at Ellora and Elephanta, which rival the similar efforts of ancient
Egypt.
Among the varied population of India are some tribes and nations who differ
so widely, physically and morally, from the great mass of people, as to claim at
least a passing notice.
The Tudas of the Neilgherry Hills, in the southern peninsula, appear to have
been the aboriginal inhabitants of the region they occupy. They are described as
above the common height, athletic and well made; with a large, full and sparkling
eye, Roman nose, and fine teeth. Their hair is long, black and curling, with
a full beard. They are of grave deportment, cheerful manner, and peaceful
disposition, not even carrying, defensive weapons: yet on the other hand they are
* Heber, Narr. II, p. 240. Am. ed.