T H E D E A D HOG.
of this comiiiodily may lie spared from tlic peasant's
Iillis ill ilic yc'iiiv
:iiid is carried in large vat:
I'latkcrics (or carls) Lo lllc larger toucli
e i t h e r on the heads of jnen, on bullocks, or
^vhcre it never fails to fetch a good
W i l l i regard
l i e a l i i i g eaiics Ibi
t h e llowing
l o al:
o the
hogs, <
,f the tides,
il, from which.
cocoa-init tree, although in the Plate describing the
)ne is represented, yet few arc to be seen except within
B e y o n d their extent, the /««/, or toddy tree begins
:is well as from the cocoa, though less frccpieiitly from
t b e latter, the to.ldy is drawn by means of an incision made wi t b a sbarp ins
l n i m e n t jtist iiiidcr the part ivlicre the frnit clusters ; in this incision a spike
of wood ii place!, and a pol being suspended, receives the toddy, «hicli exudes
and runs down the spike. When fresh drawn, toddy is pleasant and cooling;
but in a few hours it becomes liarsb, subacid, and extremely intoxicating; uiiis
fermentation, and in tbe course of a week turning to
W h e n frcsb it is used as yeast, for which i
dergoii
s t r o n g inegîir
a d m i r a b l e
u b s t i l i i t e .
T o th g r c a
;hamc of tl
nous liquors ;
ty of a village
e austere .systc
, n l y Willi the
who!
n o t
milk and Ihc f
P o r t u g u c z e an
Mussiilmcn aU'
t h r o u g b o u l India, shops for tbe sale of
me may ordinarily be found at each exneans
rare to see the devotees of Mahomed,
Í polici
n n u m e r a b l e ;
d it is b y no 1
•ohibitcd the
of lîramaii,
use of wines, or inebriating liquors, mingle
who equally interdicted all liquids beyond
, but wi t h the lowest sects; nay even wit h the native
elemei
ion European soldiery, both of w h o m are alike held by
1 Hindoos in tbe most sovereign contempt and ahhorrence!
b a u c h and
I h c dealer
i l i s l i l l c r s .
of the produce of his clothcs and arms.
M a n y v i l l a g e s h a v e ma r k e t s o n pa u l a r . l a v s , w b e
a n d the common nceessarics of life are sold, but oecasionally m;
v a r i o u s descriptions. These markets are well known to all the
c o u n t r y , being on appointed days of the week, or of the lunar ill
r e m i n d those who may be travelling of their vicinity to the mean:
iiaugaurah, or large kettle drum, is beat during tbe forenoon, aiK
siially of w
m-der, is he
t o p i
T o shew Ihc bail elVccIs of these arrack shops, I will only remark, that if an
u u f o r l u n a t e traveller aildieteil to drinking, should sto]) at that one which be
may find as h e enters the town, and, as is common, there pass the night , he may
I h i i ik himself bicty if, in his way forward, he be not again tempted by that
w h i c h is lo be foiiiiil at Ihc other extremity. Tbe natives tell a humorous
s t o r y of a man w ho .sal out on his journey every day for a year together, but
u n h a p p i l y , in lieu of proceeding from the village each morning after his des
l u m b e r s , he returned by mistake, or by the designing direction of
, Ihrotigh it; and was thus made quite a property between the two
ivho kept him until ibey had deprived him not only of bis cash, but
not only fruits, grain,
u i f a c t n r c s of
i c i g b h o u r i i i g
intll ; but to
of supply, a
a small flag.
i t c linen, wi t h some symbolic figure in colours, or with a coloured
;led on a ver y long bamboo, kept upright by means of rope s fastened
•ivcn into the g round. The flags of Hindoo villages a r e general l y square
id plain' ; those of the Mussulmans towns arc ordinarily triangular, and bear
t h e type of their religion, viz. a doublc-bladed seymilcr.
P e r h a p s no people in the world are so careful in selecting spots for habitat
i o n as those of India. Their villages are ever to be found in choiec situations,
w her e the soil is dry, anil the water wholesome ; and it is as remarkable as it
is certain, that although such spots may for a lime be abandoned, yet they
n e v e r fail of being at some future period restored to use ; even when tbe old
m u d walls have nearly been obliterated by the forec of heavy rains and
t e m p e s t s . -iVud it may ever be considered as an axiom, that wherever a
moohuh, or priest, resides to perform the regular eercmonies at some Mtirgaa,
o r place of worship, or at the tomb of some rich person who may have left end
o w m e n t s for tbe purpose of praying his soul through purgatory, there will
a village shortly be found. Let it not be supposed that tbe respect borne to
t h e individual, or a superstitious principle operates in the least towards this
e v e n t . The deceased woul d be forgot , his priest might starve, and religion might
h e annihilated before a native of India woul d erect his house, from choice,
c x c e p t tbe place wer e to his fancy. Tbe truth is, that tbe clergy of Hindostan,
l i k e the monks of old and modern times, shew much taste in their selections
f o r residence ; and the Jhurgias may invariably be seen lo occupy those
scitcs pre-eininent for comfort, and beauty. The Hindoos prefer spots near to
r u n n i n g waters, their religion being so much connected with ablution. Their
p r i e s t s , tbe bmhmum, however, rarely omit taking full advantage of that circ
u m s t a n c c , or of the influence they possess from their clerical character, which
is bercilitary, to assume to themselves not only such objects as delight the eye,
but what may, within the bounds of their tenets, be grateful to- the palate. 1
have elsewhere remarked that these holy gentry, who may be classed with the
confessors of the Romi s h Church, not onl y give absolut ion, but, by their prayers,
a n d other means of which they are possessed, cure barrenness, and remove
e v e r y cause of disquietude. It is jierhaps worthy of being noted among tbe
miraMlia of the age, that a very large portion of the Bengal a rmy, p e rhaps not less
t h a n a fifth o r si.x p a r t is composed of hmhmum ! It has, however been observed,
t h a t where corps have been detached on foreign service, the bmhnma have
b e e n remarkable for desertion ; and indeed they always have been found lo be
t h e main, though secret, springs of every mutiny. Their ascendancy in regard
to religious matters gives them great power over tbe minds of the superstitious
H i n d o o s , who would Ihink it the worst of crimes to betray their reverend
a d v i s e r s . Under such circumstances the reader will not be surprised ot tl:
i n t r i g u e s of this crafty sect. Their aulllority, however, is happily fast o:
t b e
d e c l i n e ; and though the period may be remote, yet we may consiib
t h a t this obnoxious order of wolves in sbecps' cloulbing will, like tlr
E u r o p e , be completely annihilated.
• it certain
J e s u i t s of
P L A T E VII.
THE RETURN FROM HUNTING.
H O W E V E R early llie huiitcr may start, he will sometiiiies be very laic in his
j-c'turii, especially in llic cold season, when llic diversion often conlimu-s from
five or six in liic morning till mid-day, or later. Hack liorses and clepliants are
v e r y serviceabl e for proceeding to and from the ground ; and sucli as can aflord
tliem, are not delicienl in the convenience. Genllenien of tlie army, liowever,
a m o n g whom hunters of the first class ahonnd, generally keep but one hardy
steed, tiiat must of coui-se undergo the whole fatigue, which is often excessive.
N o t h i n g can be more trying than the violent chases that occasionally lake
place, in which both speed and bottom arc so nuich required ; but without a
g o o d share of courage, together with readiness in lea])ing, a horse is unlil for
t h e sport.
T h e div
c e e d i n g by his sidi
w h i c h and a bhang-durc.
T h o s e horses that have bee
o r o the r coloured linen, led
r u b b e d down, are fed witl:
I n d i a , except among llie
u n d e r the surface, is wel l dusled
k e p t a day or two before use, i
e a t e n fresh.
. being concluded, the sycc takes hi; r ' s spear, and proa
w a y the flics from the horse wi t h a choTsrie, with
o r leading rope, eacli syce is invariably provided.
, h e a t ed, are covered w i th a large double sheet of red
home gently, and after being thoroughly cooled ami
a species of lares called gratn. Hay is not in use in
M h a r r a t a s ; but common grass being pared close
id cleaned, and serves for general fodder; if
s fouiiil to be more wholesome than when
I n a country where Hies of all kinds are so highly troublesome, it is cruel to
s h o r t e n a horse's tail. The natives consider it as an act of madness j especially
if the animal be of a colour to shew the reil stain of the mimli/, ^\a\l which
t h e y dye the tails, and which they <leem a great ornament. Tlie viind^ is a
l)lanl much resembling the myrtle; llie leaves being pounded, or steeped for
some time, yield a very strong tint of a reddish brown. It is very common for
t h e ladies of India lo plaster iheir hands and feel wi t h the pulp made of bruise.l
mhidi/ leaves, and to sit for ten or twelve hours deprived of their use, until the
s t a i n may have been ma<le suillciently strong. A lady woul d consider herself
( p i i t e negligent of her personal charms, if:
t i p s of all her nails, both of the hands a,
h e r teeth with the guui, or rather the coui{
these at first are by no means attractive, bu
a while many are rutiier gratified by, than
h e should fail at least lo tinge the
(I feet, with iniitt/^, and to blacken
OSilion called mmi/. To Europeans
use soon reconciles them, and after
iverse to, such peculiarities.
H a v i n g remarked on the necessity for using chovirics (or wliisks) to keep flies
f r om horses, it may be proper lo add, lhal the great multitude of insects of
e v e r y description, to be foun<l at all times, but especially during the rainy
season, renders this instrument of nuich use, wliether at the table, or when
s l e e p i n g . Every attendant at table is provided willi one. Tliis luay be cons
i d e r e d by those who have not exj)erienced the lonncnl occasioned by being
covered with llics, as a mere mat ler of luxury or ostentation. Without a choxcrie,
il woidd be impossible to eat in comfort ; and uidess in a bed jirovided with
c u r t a i n s , not a \vink of sleep could be hoped for. In the cold season the
n u i s i p i i l o s abound; they for the most part resort lo datnp places, where they
a r c chiefly bred, during' the day, and at night commence their o[)erations with
w o n d r o u s keenness, announcing themselves with a very sonorous humming. In
u t t a the Europeans are extremely infested witii them. The smoke which
t h r o u g h o u t the black town is so obnoxious to the niusquitos, that they
t h a t (¡uarter, and betake themselves to the liouses occupied by gentlemen,
C a l
rise;
qui
who having no lires but for culinary purposes, live in a clearer attnosphere.
H e r e the musquito enjoys himself, making free wi t h copious «Iraughts from the
legs, hands, and faces of al l ; but particularly selecling those newly arrived in
tl, : o u n l r y . Tlie keen sense of the b
and an involuntary fit of scratching, o
f a i l s to produce an inflammation, oftei
f r a i i i froin the use of their nails, tho.
connnon for a gríffin
te speedily attracts the stranger's hand;
I a subjecl already loo irritable, rarely
of considerable moment. Few can regi.
^varned of their danger; and it is
t e c h n i c a l l y called, to be laid up for a
f ew weeks, a most complete object of pity, though generally of raillery, owin^
to- the bites of these little winged insects. Sores of considerablv extent, and
ulcers of an alarming appearance, are not unfrequently the consequence;
IS
m