1 3 6 D O O R E A H S , OR DOG-KEEPERS, LEADING OUT DOGS.
wliicil olso vvoiil.l pail I mulcT ils oppressive inllii
to repose, and |..ass ihe diiy in comibvl.
now consign Lliemsclves
ssali is a very prickly-weed growing
I
per country, (1
I or lifloen
icli ils Ipuv
.111 ilscir do
. 1)0
Lhc s lalks so soon as
won III iinswer equ
fonrlli day, aL farll
lo disperse
ig llie hoi senson, in greul :
iches in height, and may he as large a
, though not near so numerous, bear
iiol possess any parlicnlar quality, hu
ndance, and because the leaves do not
;i as other plants in general, which, hn
dly -well. T\\c jcwaisah re(|uires changin
e s t ; as, exclusive of the leaves disappearin:
odensive smell.
on the plains throughout the
.hundance; it rarely execeds a
a common rue-hush, to
some resemhhiuce. The
is selected on account of
shed, or break oil' from
for these cousitlerations,
:very third or
t then begins
The is nothing more than ihe roots of the common jungl e grass called
khur, such as is in use wi th us for making carpet brooms, and occasionally may
be seen substituted in coal brushes instead of hair. It is commonly sold for
about hvelve shillings the liaudrc.l weight. It is the most expensive, hut
requires no change during the thr<-e or four months lhat tatiics are in use ; and
if carefully put by, may ))e made to last for two or perhaps three seasons. The
fresh cH.ss'-cms is,' however, by far more pleasant on account of its agreeable
odour, and because it is not so subject to decay, and dirt tlie interior. Cheeks,
such as are described in the first number, as applicable to the doors and
\\indows of louts and houses, arc also made of cws-v-wm for the sides of palankeens;
an<l.arc of singular use in lhat respect. What with a complete reform
in the manner of living, and the general adoption of tatties of cuss-citss, and
jasmsah, the climate of India may be considered as being nearly on a par with
Europe in the scale of health.
During the cohi season and rains, the door-ways, (for shullers of any kind are
little used in India for subdordinatc buildings,) are closed by means of mats
secured between bamboo frames, and suspended by cords lo pins or rings
fastened in the Malls for lhat purpose. When they are intended Lo remain
open, their lower ends are brought up nearly on a level, by means of bamboo
forks, on which ihey are supported lo any height that may be found proper.
The rains fall tremendously heavy, absolutely in torrents occasionally. At other
times a kind of sleety fall prevails for four or five days and nights without intermission,
This latter kind of rain is peculiarly unfevourable to old houses,
especially such as arc cemented -with clay instead of lime; by causing them lo
give way, often Avith very little notice. One would suppose, lhat the thick coat
of good plaster with "vvhich every part of the exterior is universally faced, would
preserve them from such a faUility ; but ihe roofs being all flat, and covered
with a terrace probably a foot thick, become so very heavy at lliis time of the
year, that the walls, from the damp, usually warp in some place, wlien the
water finds its way at pleasure, aud fairly dissolves the connection between the
bricks and the yielding cement.
I t appears remarkable, lhat our countrymen in India should so long have
persisted in the prevalent custom of whitewashing the outsides of their houses.
That they thence assume a lively and cleanly appearance for a while, cannot
be denied ; but though the eye be gratified in that respect, it suflers proportionably
by the glare, which is not only unpleasant, but often causes the most
painful and obstinate diseases in that tender organ. Of late years, however,
a change lias taken place, in consequence of its being discovered, that a due
mixture of a brown sand with the lime was more hard and durable, than the
cement formerly in use. Many houses are in conscquencc now plastered Avith
this composition, which is of a pleasant stone-colour, and as the cornices, &c.
arc done with white, gives a house a remarkably neat and handsome appearance.
The Dutch, at their settlements at Chinsumh, and elsewhere, colour their
houses blue or brick-colour, wilii yellow or oilier reliefs. We cannot say
mucii in favour of iheir taste, or of the apparent lightness of such colouring;
but we must confess, that, if the eye were not pleased, it was not injured in
beholding them.
Time will work wonders in India : some improvements are occasionally
taking place, but many of the good old customs are fast falling into oblivion.
The great increase of population, and consequently of business, necessarily induces
caution, and that distance and reserve which^ even within the period of
my own knowledge were utterly unknown there, except under the circumstances
of an individual whose nature could not swerve from the austerity of ceremonious
punctilio. Few, however, of such characters were seen ; iu general, a disposition
lo formality was ridiculed into compliance with the pleasant and liberal
habits of the community ; but if such could uot beeifected, the supposed proud
misanthropist was neglected by those to whose social welcome he would not
resort.
The recollection of old times forms a most unpleasant contrast with the
present cast of manners. Formerly half a dozen spare plales were laid by such
as kept house, in the hope lhat such bachelors, as we r e disengaged, would drop
in at the well known dinner hour. But now a friend may find himscH' bowed
most formally out of the liouse at all times, especially when dinner is ready.
About twenty five years ago 1 was in the habit of seeing familiar notes
written on any scrap of jiaper, running thus " Dear Jack, lend me thirty
thousand rupees; the bearer may be trusted," &c. But of late ihese Iiasty
scratches, which were all the acknowledgments that were deemed ncce.ssary,
have given place lo formal applications iVom lawyers, for even very Iriiling
sums, in behalf of affectionate friends, and even where the most satisfactory
securities have been given. As Mr. Zuchary Fungus says in Foote's admirable
farce, called the Commissunj, " I Ireuible to think of the great powers of
c o m m e r c e ! ! ! "
P L A T E XXXVIII.
SYCES, OR GROOMS, LEADING OUT HORSES.
T h e brecJs of l.oi-scs bdigcnous of Bengal are not lo be boasled of, wliclheifoi
temper or other good qualities. There are properly l>ut two kinds, viz, tlie
tez» and the tattoo. The former grow lo a large size, often sixteen hands,
b n t their average may he from fourteen to fifteen in height. They have gener
a l ly Roman noses, and sharp narrow foreheads, much white In ihetr eyes, ill
shaped ears, square heads, ihln necks, narrow chests, shallow glrlhs, lank hellies,
cat hams, goose rumps, and switch tails! Some occasionally may be lonnd in
every respcel well shaped. They are hardy and fleet, but Incapable of earrynig
n-rcat weights. Their vice is proverbial; yet nntll ihcy arrive at four or live
w a r s , they arc often very docile and genlle : after that period ihcy for the
most part are given lo rearing, kicking, biting, ami a thousand equally (lisagree.
able habits.
F ew ..eldlngs are to be seen in India : the operation Is extremely dangerous,
a i u l i s stmposetl lo weaken ihe animal's stamina considerably. 1 have possessed
geldings, however, which were found on all occasions to be very slroog and persevering
; and I have no doubt bnl their vigour was by no means dimuiisbe.l by
t h e operation, even though, in one case, performed on an aged horse. In most eases
castration has banished many of a horse's vices, rearing especially; for which
with very trivial exeeptlons, I have seen it a perfect specific. On the ivho e, I
ihlnk 11 would prove extremely proper to castrale horses in general throughout
India. In lhat climate relaxation is a dreadful disease, often oeeasioning one
or both of lhc testes to become enlarged, and to remain indurated, so as to prccUule
the possibllily of speed ami exertion. Added 10 ihls, not one ill a
hundred of ihe «¡ccs, or grooms, possesses resolullon enough to keep his ehargc
in a due state of subordinallon ; having on all occasions recourse to enticement,
r a t h e r lhaii gaining a proper domliilon by means of that resolution, without
which no pcniiaiient asccndaney can bo hoped for.
When they are led out to walk, as should be done daily, inorning and
cvcniug, a battle may usually be seen; Ifa gcnileman imprudently ride a mare,
or evenlually a gelding, uear'lo a string of led horses, one or more will probably
break from their syces, and, lo say the least, oblige the Ineaullous rider to dismount;
leaving his sleed to its fale ! As to riding boot to boot, as is done in
England, It is impossible, iew horses tolerate lhc presence of others, and most
commo ,nly a challenge passes at lhc dislauce of thirty or forty yards, when both
parlies shew equal eagerness to avail themselves of llie first opporluiiily, ii:
order lo decide the quarrel. Ills highly Imprudent to approael: 'I "
rcach of a yerk, or of a side kick ; ihose
good aisposltions of two horses, have al _
pleasant consequences lo result from iheir ill placed conlldenee, sueh as a fall
a broken leg, or a horse severely lamed.
thill the
who have trusted to llie seemingly
ij'S felt, or witnessed, some very i
Tattoos are not in ihe least more trust-worthy than tazzas. They are of a
very small stalure, generally from ten to thirteen hands high, and extremely
hardy. They are in fact tazzees in miniature ; ibough stronger m proportion.
Many will carry a woman with her young children, seated on a large pair of
sacks containing all the utensils, &c. belonging lo the family, perhaps too a
small lenl, of which the poles drag on the ground at each side, not forgetting a
pet dog, a parrot, or some other favourite. After proceeding a day's journey,
their fore legs are tied togelher, and they are sull'ered to straggle m quest of
their own meals from the scanty verdure or foliage; for they are rarely allowed
much if any corn. It is to be admired, lhat these little animals perform this
routine for months logelher, and after being rid of their burthens, evince, by
Iheir readiness, lo kick and light, lhat, in spite of ihe severity of their drudgery,
they retain the power to display their innate fcroeily.
Some of the hilly countrloi bordering on Bengal and Baliar, lovvards ihe
north-cast, and situated in lhat long valley ivhich separates the Moriing and
Kammow hills from those of Bootan and Vnhct, have a very strong and hardy
breed of small horses, called Taniam, which are found wild m their jungles;
or al least are only caught when wanted for sale. They are of various colours,
but for the most part are pye-balls. They have large heads, thick short necks
and bushy manes, which must be hogged ; their tails are short and thick, and
(•a