FAREWELL!

Brothers and Sisters in the Faith:—

The time has come for me to bid you farewell. The circumstances under which I came here just two years ago, and the circumstances under which I return to India, are quite different from each other. I came with fear, weakness, and low spirits. I go with courage, strength, and hope. I came here a runaway from the Hindoos, without scrip, or a second suit of clothes, but go with all the necessary help with which you have provided me.[35]I came to a strange land, with little hope of finding friends, and I go now with the pleasant memories of many friends, whose hearts, prayers, and sympathies will accompany me in my labor in the harvest of the great King.

I have availed myself of every opportunity to improve, to store my mind with useful information. But I have studied or read very few books during my stay among you. The main subject of my study has been Human Nature in its different editions and volumes. The only possible way of knowing God and his righteousness is through human nature. The image beareth the likeness of the original,—the son inherits his father’s nature in a degree; so ourcommon Father manifests himself in his child, man. Corrupted, mistaken, sinful as he is, you will find a great deal in him to remind you of his Father. In us there are only extracts from the sacred subject, God; but in our Elder Brother it is complete. Whatever we are permitted to know of God, and as much as is necessary for our life, comfort, and salvation, we may learn in the great volume of humanity to which Christ gave “the finishing stroke.”

My friends had very many fears about my coming. First, I should return to India with the vices and dirty habits of this country, such as drinking wine and spirits, smoking cigars, etc. Second, I should not be able to stand the severe winter of this country. Third, being among the clergymen, who are said to be more sectarian than their people, I should go home a narrow-minded Christian. But I am happy to say, as far as my near-sighted eyes can see, that I stand above these fears. I never was in the habit of drinking wine or using tobacco in any form, and in this country I have carefully avoided these dirty things. Eating much or little meat is another ugly habit in the opinion of the Hindoos, and the native converts are often charged with becoming Christians simply for the purpose of eating “cow and hog.” Although I have no prejudice against meat, yet I presume that owing to my peculiar taste, I have not eaten as much meat in two years, as a boy or girl of ten in New England would eat in six weeks, especially if “Thanksgiving” day should fall within them.

Having had no idea what an American winter was, I came unprepared; yet I have not suffered in the least in these two years. The very coldest days you had in the winter before the last, I rode in an open sleigh over the hills of Lunenburg, without anything to cover my ears. In the last winter, on the second of January, I rode in a similar conveyancefrom Medfield to Boston with no protection for my ears. Thus, I have passed unharmed through real winter days. Again, the good husbandman who brought me a tropical plant from his garden into this part of the world, put me in the green-house of your hearts, whose warmth, I perceive, is as genial as that of the glorious luminary that shines over the land of my fathers. Brothers and sisters, your hearts never stood below zero in my case, never reached the freezing-point, but always were warm, affectionate, kind.

In regard to the narrow, sectarian feelings of a bigot’s heart, I think I have very little to fear. I do not condemn nor hateanybody for his creed; yet, as a firm believer in the undivided Unity of our God, I differ very much from some others. But I pray to God that I may daily learn to love all his children. I like the creed-makers but not their creeds, if they contain anything that is absurd and untrue. I trust I have within this slender frame a heart whose commodious hall can accommodate Unitarians, Trinitarians, Mohammedans, and Hindoos; for He who has given it to me has given it on purpose that it might hold all His children.

My visit, on the whole, has been a satisfactory one. Nothing seriously disagreeable has happened to injure my health, heart, or usefulness. No country has a canopy of clear sky over it always, no heart is beyond the reach of sorrows. The dark clouds have hung over my head, and thunders have rolled noisily, yet my earnest eyes have seen a clear firmament beyond, and I can say with fulness of heart,—

“In trouble and in grief, O God,Thy smile hath cheered my way,And joy has budded from each thornThat round my footsteps lay.”

“In trouble and in grief, O God,

Thy smile hath cheered my way,

And joy has budded from each thorn

That round my footsteps lay.”

The practical confidence in God’s parental care is a source from which I draw consolation, courage, and strength. Maywe all truly believe that our Father is good, and that his whole counsel aims for the eternal welfare of his children. My second source of joy, courage, and hope is my “confidence in man.” I do not wish to loose my trust in him. If I am deceived by ninety and nine, I would still have confidence in the remaining one. Thus with such views of God as a good, loving parent, and with such feelings toward man as a trustworthy brother, I hope to make my way while a sojourner in this beautiful world of God.

In this connection I would ask pardon if I have in any way pained, offended, or done injustice to any. I know not that I have done so. Yet how many things we do unawares. A kind lady wrote me a letter and gave me some scoldings, saying that I had pained a great many for the seeming coldness of my heart, that when people came to shake hands with me and speak to me, I did not take respectful notice of them. This, however, is a new thing in my nature. Those who know me know well the average temperature of my heart. It might be (as she says) that, in public gatherings, when tender greetings have crowded upon me, from many persons at once, perhaps I have failed to speak to all. But this is excusable, I know. How can one person speak to several at a time? Frequently I have met four, five, or six brethren or sisters round me. I have used both my hands to “shake hands” with them. Besides, in my country, only one person expects to be spoken to in the same moment.

Again, I do not—though I have tried to do so—observe the formalities and use the local phrases as much as they do here. There are some fixed set of words which the people use, such as “How are you?” “Fine day, or weather,” etc. These do not show real warmth of the heart, but come out of the national disease of loquacity, I believe. My training has been quite different, so I am liable to makea great many mistakes. Once more, I would say, Christian friends, if I have done any wrong to any of you, take it as unintentional and overlook it charitably.

Let it be known to you once more, that I go to India, but not to myHome. You have frequently heard me say that on account of my embracing the Christian religion I cannot live with my Hindoo mother and other dear friends,—or rather, they cannot live with me. I am going as a lamb among wolves; and in days of trials, sorrows, and discouragements, I shall look first to my Father in heaven, and then to you as my brothers and sisters. I go to preach and teach the truth to my beloved countrymen, in your name and under your auspices, and I look toyoufor your help, prayers, and blessing.

The cause of Christ suffers severely from the injudicious preaching of the Missionaries who go out to India from western countries. They think that anything outside the Bible ishumbug,untrue, andnonsensical. They tell the Hindoos that their Holy Books contain no truth, and that they themselves are going headlong to everlasting damnation. These errors and follies I will carefully avoid. I would not offend a Hindoo by insulting his gods, or puzzle him with a doctrine of a Triune God and its attendant absurdities. I know the best way for me will be to take a Hindoo saying, and present its truth in a practical way. In order to attract respect, I would rather appeal to the Hindoo Scripture, if it serve my purpose, than to Isaiah, Job, or Solomon. St. Paul, while in Greece, appealed to a poet of the country, and thereby secured the attention of the people. One can preach years from texts taken from Hindoo proverbs, such as, “If you wish to be the greatest, be the humblest,” “Feel for the world as you do for yourself.” Will you say these arehumbugsbecause they belongto the Hindoos? No. Christ uttered these very things. What I most earnestly want to do, is to take Truth wherever I find it, and present it to my brethren in the spirit of Christ, and show its applicability to our lives. If we are faithful and labor patiently and prayerfully, aiming at the glory of God and the good of Man, success will be ours. Our part is to sow and water, and our Father will give the increase.

God bless you, dear, kind Christian friends! God bless you for your kindness toward me! Do not let the interest die out when I go out of your sight. I go to fight against sin, idolatry, and superstition, and you who stay at the camp, or in the magazine rather, send me ammunition and instructions, according to my need. This is the way to carry on work. Trust in God, India’s future religion will be Liberal Christianity.

Farewell to you all for a while. If Providence spares my life, I may again, after four or five years of Christian labors, seek rest in your homes, and personally tell you about the work of God. And if it be his will that I shall depart from the world soon, what shall hinder our meeting in our Father’s mansions? Farewell! “Lo, I will be with you always” in the spirit. Heaven’s smile be upon you all, is the prayer of your friend and brother,

J. C. GANGOOLY.

Cambridge: Stereotyped and Printed by Welch, Bigelow, & Co.

FOOTNOTES:[1]See Appendix.[2]In the English language there is no word to distinguish the brother’s son from that of a sister. The Bengalees have different words to define every relation distinctly. They have words to denote strictly wife’s sisters, husband’s sisters, his elder and younger brothers, the father-in-law of son, the children of the mother’s and father’s sisters, &c.[3]See similar custom among the Jews, Luke ii. 22.[4]They do not use knives, forks, and spoons at the table, not because they are ignorant of their services, but they do not need them. So is the case with the table. They sit all separate as the custom requires, and wash everything, even the floor, after the meal. They use the right hand for food, and the left for the drink. If rice or any boiled food should fall on the clothes, they will be washed after the meal. Owing to these peculiarities, the Hindoos do not use table, knives, &c., like Christians, who hardly wash themselves after the meal as the Hindoos do. I have occasionally used the “table” in the place of floor, in order to follow the English idiom.[5]Means the son or daughter’s father-in-law.[6]Foreigners have very imperfect ideas of Hindoo temples; they think they are public places where people resort for the purpose of worshipping their gods and also for hearing the instructions of the Brahmuns. The temples are for the former, and not for the latter purpose. In them are placed the images of certain gods, such as Shiba, Kallēē, etc., which are worshipped and taken care of by some Brahmuns, who either hire or own them. People bring (especially on some holiday) their gifts of fruits, confectionery, money, clothes, etc. to the idols, and offer them by the hands of the priests. The low castes are not allowed to tread on the sacred floor, and they dare not do it. They are satisfied with the pleasure of standing outside where the priest comes out, sprinkles holy water on their heads, blesses them by putting his foot on their hands, and returns them their trays, baskets, etc. in which they bring their offerings. These are the leading features of the services in Hindoo temples.As the gods are presented to the children as irritable, fault-finding, powerful, and fierce, the children fear, but do not love them. When a mother would not have her child touch any eatable, let her only say, “It is for the gods,” and that is enough. But still there are several little ones who by not being allowed to put their hands upon some tempting fruit or confectionery, because it belongs to the gods, hate their idols, now and then. My own younger brother, a boy of four years, remarked, “Mother, you say it belongs to Shalgram, that pineapple belongs to Shalgram. I know that your Shalgram is a mere pebble.”[7]Being brought up under this etiquette, I did not look at the face of Mr. Dall or of good Captain Hendie in conversation with them. When I first came on board the ship, Mr. Dall, because I looked aside, before leaving us wrote down in my handbook the following: “When any one speaks to me, my first duty isto look at himwith respectful attention.” At any rate I did not lack “respectful attention” to the speaker; but his age and our idea of reverence attached to it bent my eyes downwards, that I might hear his words by my ear, receive them on my head, and obey them with my might.[8]The Hindoo Scriptures have a long story showing how Radha at once became wife of Krishto and of Awe-an. It is hardly possible in this connection to recite it. But let it be known that the Hindoos have some reason to produce in defence of their faith, which they hold dear.[9]A peculiar religious ceremony, like that ofbaptism, is performed for every Hindoo. The Brahmun who does it, and selects a male or female deity for his disciple, is calledgooroo, or pastor. The disciple,Shis-ho, can on no account change hisgoorooor the god he furnishes. Thegoorooexercises absolute sway over hisShis-ho; just as the “infallible Pope” does over the Romanists. Gooroo has the power to send his Shis-ho to heaven or hell as he pleases. Without a passport from him, the “gates of heaven” would not admit the Shis-ho.[10]It is customary with the Orientals to commit to memory the names of the distant ancestry. Among the Jews it was the custom, and is so still, I presume. Matthew and Luke traced the genealogy of our Master a great way back.[11]Great respect is paid to the cat as the messenger of the goddess. They do not ill-treat this creature for fear of the displeasure of its mistress. Love for animals is taught here in this curious way![12]It is surprising to learn that one man had “sixty thousand sons,” all grown-up, reliable heroes at the same time; numerous as the sands on the sea-shore. The Hindoos say this host of sons was born to fulfil the prophecy of a Brahmun who had blessed the king, saying, perhaps, “Be thou the father of sixty thousand male children.”[13]This, and kindred anecdotes, have great effect upon the practical life of the Hindoos, because they are thereby taught to believe that their own good or bad deeds will bring forth fruits for them according to their nature,—that by the mete by which they measure others will be measured unto them. They are thus taught the Divine justice,—that God is not a silent spectator of our proceedings: He notices everything, and meets us according to our merit. Again, such anecdotes have another influence upon the Hindoo mind. The Hindoos fear to insult a Brahmun, whose wrath is warm enough to burn the offender to ashes. But the Brahmun’s wrath does not amount to any visible danger now.[14]This teaches a beautiful lesson of the nature of reconciliation, although wrapped in the allegorical covering of superstition. We see that none but the injured can forgive us,—that we ought to be reconciled to him, andredressthe wrong we have done if possible; for without reformation, mere repentance is nothing. The Hindoo idea is, that even the gods do not stand by the side of the offender if he does not humble himself and ask pardon, that is, if he be not reconciled to his brother whom he had ill-treated. It is something like the saying, “Make peace with thy brother whileheis on the way,” etc.[15]In the Hindoo poems it has been shrewdly accounted for why Vogiroth had no bones in him. I am well acquainted with it, but think it not of much consequence to detail. Again, there is another thing to be considered, the adaptedness of the expression to the taste of a Christian reader. Every nation has its peculiar taste in regard to the idiom and expression of thought; what is decent with one is immodest with others. I see some expressions in the Bible which are not permitted to be used to the English or American people. The Oriental nations understand their peculiar meaning when they use those phrases.[16]This is one of the leading features of Hindoo piety. In order to secure the blessing of a god or goddess, it is essentially needful to withdraw ourselves from the world, and take a vow to spend a certain portion, or the whole of our life in the wilderness; to abstain from food, drink, and recreation, and gradually to bring ourselves to that state in which we do not live by “bread alone,” but by “every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” We read in the lives of the Hindoo sages the process they had used to subdue their bodies, by continual fasts and self-torture. In the early part of their hermit life, they used to take a little food once a day, then once in two, and after a while one meal at the end of the week. In warm weather their seat was surrounded by a blazing fire made on purpose, and in winter they used to immerse their bodies in water, and pray.[17]Kasa, a copper vessel used by the Hindoos in their religious services, to put water in, which they sprinkle on their heads and upon the idols also.[18]When I speak of the low castes, I hope the reader will not feel sensitive, for I know the very classes of men who are high in Christian countries are low in India. A great many men engaged in shoemaking business move about as the “upper ten,” and are high caste in this country, while among the Hindoos such persons, notwithstanding their opulence (which begets high caste here), are lowest indeed.[19]There are a great many anecdotes of deeds of valor and of generosity attributed to this king. He is said to have destroyed the Khitrias three hundred times. I should think it was the same Por-oosh who had fought with the Macedonian hero on the frontier of India.[20]Hoylas, the paradise of Shiba, is said to be a golden mountain, similar to the Olympus of the Grecian deities. There is a mountain of the above name in Thibet.[21]The rice is made in a peculiar way, and called “authup.” The usual way of bringing out rice from the husk is, first to boil, then dry and thrash it. But this is not boiled at all, only dried and thrashed. Hence the particular care taken in preparing this kind of rice increases its price to some degree.[22]The term worshipper, in the Hindoo sense, denotes the man who spends the money, brings the image, and entertains the people at his house, no matter whether he himself officiates and offers prayers or not.[23]Oshoor means monster, or opposite to Shoor-god. The men of cruel characters, feared for their wicked deeds, are called Oshoor by the Hindoos.[24]This and kindred incidents show the ancient Hindoos did not holdcasteas favorable, nor regard it as objectionable in affairs of marriage, as they of the present age do. Now, as we have observed in the first part of the volume, wealth, learning, personal accomplishments, bow down tocaste. A second-caste mancannot, on any account whatever, marry his children to those of the first, or to Brahmuns. But in the present case we see the young princess offers her hand to an unrivalled intellect, not caring as to the quarter or caste in which it might be found. There are several instances of this kind, of fathers offering their daughters to a suitable man. Thus Jŏnuk, the father of the goddess Shita, sent a proclamation to the world that “Whoever shall be able to break an arrow in two, shall have Shita for his recompense.” (This fatal arrow belonged to Shiba, the Destroyer, and was left in the palace of Jŏnuk.) In the legend we read of King Droupad offering his daughter to any who would pierce the eyes of a gold-fish which had been hung six miles above the ground, not looking at it directly for his aim, but only seeing its shadow in a vessel of water. Doymontie marries a king who, at her wish, boiled rice without fire and water. Bidda took a vow to enter into literary and theological controversy with a man before she would marry him. In the above cases invitations had of course been extended to kings and nobles in general, and not of any particular caste.[25]The circumstances of the death of this noble poet are the following. He was in the habit of visiting a literary public woman, who was widely known for her acquisitions. One evening she was standing near a pond, looking at the lotus-buds, when the king with his nobles was passing by. The royal train halted by the pond to observe the rays of the moon on its placid bosom. The king asked this question of his friends: “Wind bloweth not, the water is calm, why then doth yon lotus tremble?” The woman immediately went to her home and asked Kalidass about it, who said it was for a Vromor, (kind of black wasp,) which had got in to extract honey, but being too much intoxicated as the shades of the eve were closing, the lotus made it a prisoner for the night. As it moved within the lotus, it caused it to tremble. She came and informed the king about the lotus. He was quite surprised, and asked again, “Why the Vromor which gnaws dry woods does not cut through the lotus and go out of it?” She flew to her chamber, and the great poet solved the question. “The Vromor does not use his sharp sting, for two reasons. Having drank too much honey from the lotus he is dissipated now, and unable to use his weapon; secondly, he is too polite to cut the tender lotus, the queen of flowers.” The king wanted to know if it were her genius or that of another which solved his questions, and desired to see her more at her home. She wickedly went first and cut the head off Kalidass, who was sleeping then, that he might not be seen by the king at her house.[26]Mool Shun-nashee is the chief officer of the party called Shun-nash. He is theelectof the god, and takes the lead of the party year after year, until he leaves this world for another. After his death his son takes his post, or sometimes another is elected by the priest and the Shun-nashees.[27]The punishment by fine is inflicted by the Zamindar, the landholder of the country. The British law does not authorize any private individual to fine another, except the legal officers; but, nevertheless, the poorer classes are in common cases fined and ill treated by their landholders. The excommunication from the society as well as from the caste is worse than the punishment by fine; for, over and above the sufferings consequent to an outcasted life, the man is to pay a certain sum of money to regain his lost position. The last state of that man is worse than the first![28]It might perhaps be said by some, that, as the Hindoos do not regard the female child worthy to redeem the soul of her parent by Shrautho (as I have myself observed in the first part of this book), they might throw her into the water. To this I reply, that the male child of a daughter has the same privilege with the sons of the father, to make the Shrautho. Hence, in India, the daughter cannot inherit her parents’ property, but her son is the heir of the same.[29]Neeshie, or Night, is the name of a species of evil spirits who are believed by the Hindoos to walk invisibly on the earth in the shades of night, and to entice young children to go with them. It is a dangerous thing to be under their control, as the children cannot speak a word or call for help when they are carried aloft on the trees. The testimony of those who had been taken away by Neeshie is thus: “While our friends were crying for and searching after us we saw them, and wished to speak but could not.” The spirit, however, does not detain its victims long, but brings them to their home invisibly.[30]When I speak of our coming to God through Christ I do not mean anything dogmatic in it. My ideas in relation to this point are practical,—I mean an approach unto the throne of the Most High with thespiritof Christ, acting as he did, living as he lived. Put on Christ around you; let his spirit approve your acts, guide your thoughts, and sanctify your affections, and you will find yourself not far from your Heavenly Father. This is the rational way of knowing him as “the only true God, and Jesus Christ” whom he has sent.[31]I did not live a Hindoo long enough to perform any pilgrimage, but used to hear the stories from those who had been to the holy cities.[32]The river Gunga is not twenty miles wide. This saying of the Hindoos is applicable to any large river in the world, on account of the inconvenience and delay, and perhaps danger, of crossing it. We can walk or run on land according to our strength, but while on water we are dependent upon the element.[33]If such were not the difficulties to be struggled with, how many good Hindoo young men would come to hear Mr. Dall’s preaching. There are additional troubles: the neighbors watch their steps closely. This isoneprincipal reason why Mr. Dall’s hall is not crowded on Sunday. Judging the hearts of the brethren by my own, I feel quite sure that the Unitarian rooms in Calcutta are crowded by them in the spirit. While at home on Sunday, I used to reflect on the services and the Bible class of Mr. Dall, and the elementary class of R. Counsel, Esq.[34]He did not exaggerate all the particulars of this matter. During my two years’ stay in the United States, I have seen, and read, and heard enough of these things. For trifles men quarrel, fight, and stab each other, and these are gentlemen too. On Sunday they hear their pastors exhort, in the words of Christ, to “turn the other cheek also,” when any man smote on the one cheek, and on Monday they fight duels for words. Orations and Eulogies are delivered to their memory![35]Of course I had second and third suits of clothes with me when I reached Boston, which were bought for me. I mean when I lefthomeI did not bringanydress except what I had on. Just as I was I had to come out of it.

[1]See Appendix.

[2]In the English language there is no word to distinguish the brother’s son from that of a sister. The Bengalees have different words to define every relation distinctly. They have words to denote strictly wife’s sisters, husband’s sisters, his elder and younger brothers, the father-in-law of son, the children of the mother’s and father’s sisters, &c.

[3]See similar custom among the Jews, Luke ii. 22.

[4]They do not use knives, forks, and spoons at the table, not because they are ignorant of their services, but they do not need them. So is the case with the table. They sit all separate as the custom requires, and wash everything, even the floor, after the meal. They use the right hand for food, and the left for the drink. If rice or any boiled food should fall on the clothes, they will be washed after the meal. Owing to these peculiarities, the Hindoos do not use table, knives, &c., like Christians, who hardly wash themselves after the meal as the Hindoos do. I have occasionally used the “table” in the place of floor, in order to follow the English idiom.

[5]Means the son or daughter’s father-in-law.

[6]Foreigners have very imperfect ideas of Hindoo temples; they think they are public places where people resort for the purpose of worshipping their gods and also for hearing the instructions of the Brahmuns. The temples are for the former, and not for the latter purpose. In them are placed the images of certain gods, such as Shiba, Kallēē, etc., which are worshipped and taken care of by some Brahmuns, who either hire or own them. People bring (especially on some holiday) their gifts of fruits, confectionery, money, clothes, etc. to the idols, and offer them by the hands of the priests. The low castes are not allowed to tread on the sacred floor, and they dare not do it. They are satisfied with the pleasure of standing outside where the priest comes out, sprinkles holy water on their heads, blesses them by putting his foot on their hands, and returns them their trays, baskets, etc. in which they bring their offerings. These are the leading features of the services in Hindoo temples.As the gods are presented to the children as irritable, fault-finding, powerful, and fierce, the children fear, but do not love them. When a mother would not have her child touch any eatable, let her only say, “It is for the gods,” and that is enough. But still there are several little ones who by not being allowed to put their hands upon some tempting fruit or confectionery, because it belongs to the gods, hate their idols, now and then. My own younger brother, a boy of four years, remarked, “Mother, you say it belongs to Shalgram, that pineapple belongs to Shalgram. I know that your Shalgram is a mere pebble.”

As the gods are presented to the children as irritable, fault-finding, powerful, and fierce, the children fear, but do not love them. When a mother would not have her child touch any eatable, let her only say, “It is for the gods,” and that is enough. But still there are several little ones who by not being allowed to put their hands upon some tempting fruit or confectionery, because it belongs to the gods, hate their idols, now and then. My own younger brother, a boy of four years, remarked, “Mother, you say it belongs to Shalgram, that pineapple belongs to Shalgram. I know that your Shalgram is a mere pebble.”

[7]Being brought up under this etiquette, I did not look at the face of Mr. Dall or of good Captain Hendie in conversation with them. When I first came on board the ship, Mr. Dall, because I looked aside, before leaving us wrote down in my handbook the following: “When any one speaks to me, my first duty isto look at himwith respectful attention.” At any rate I did not lack “respectful attention” to the speaker; but his age and our idea of reverence attached to it bent my eyes downwards, that I might hear his words by my ear, receive them on my head, and obey them with my might.

[8]The Hindoo Scriptures have a long story showing how Radha at once became wife of Krishto and of Awe-an. It is hardly possible in this connection to recite it. But let it be known that the Hindoos have some reason to produce in defence of their faith, which they hold dear.

[9]A peculiar religious ceremony, like that ofbaptism, is performed for every Hindoo. The Brahmun who does it, and selects a male or female deity for his disciple, is calledgooroo, or pastor. The disciple,Shis-ho, can on no account change hisgoorooor the god he furnishes. Thegoorooexercises absolute sway over hisShis-ho; just as the “infallible Pope” does over the Romanists. Gooroo has the power to send his Shis-ho to heaven or hell as he pleases. Without a passport from him, the “gates of heaven” would not admit the Shis-ho.

[10]It is customary with the Orientals to commit to memory the names of the distant ancestry. Among the Jews it was the custom, and is so still, I presume. Matthew and Luke traced the genealogy of our Master a great way back.

[11]Great respect is paid to the cat as the messenger of the goddess. They do not ill-treat this creature for fear of the displeasure of its mistress. Love for animals is taught here in this curious way!

[12]It is surprising to learn that one man had “sixty thousand sons,” all grown-up, reliable heroes at the same time; numerous as the sands on the sea-shore. The Hindoos say this host of sons was born to fulfil the prophecy of a Brahmun who had blessed the king, saying, perhaps, “Be thou the father of sixty thousand male children.”

[13]This, and kindred anecdotes, have great effect upon the practical life of the Hindoos, because they are thereby taught to believe that their own good or bad deeds will bring forth fruits for them according to their nature,—that by the mete by which they measure others will be measured unto them. They are thus taught the Divine justice,—that God is not a silent spectator of our proceedings: He notices everything, and meets us according to our merit. Again, such anecdotes have another influence upon the Hindoo mind. The Hindoos fear to insult a Brahmun, whose wrath is warm enough to burn the offender to ashes. But the Brahmun’s wrath does not amount to any visible danger now.

[14]This teaches a beautiful lesson of the nature of reconciliation, although wrapped in the allegorical covering of superstition. We see that none but the injured can forgive us,—that we ought to be reconciled to him, andredressthe wrong we have done if possible; for without reformation, mere repentance is nothing. The Hindoo idea is, that even the gods do not stand by the side of the offender if he does not humble himself and ask pardon, that is, if he be not reconciled to his brother whom he had ill-treated. It is something like the saying, “Make peace with thy brother whileheis on the way,” etc.

[15]In the Hindoo poems it has been shrewdly accounted for why Vogiroth had no bones in him. I am well acquainted with it, but think it not of much consequence to detail. Again, there is another thing to be considered, the adaptedness of the expression to the taste of a Christian reader. Every nation has its peculiar taste in regard to the idiom and expression of thought; what is decent with one is immodest with others. I see some expressions in the Bible which are not permitted to be used to the English or American people. The Oriental nations understand their peculiar meaning when they use those phrases.

[16]This is one of the leading features of Hindoo piety. In order to secure the blessing of a god or goddess, it is essentially needful to withdraw ourselves from the world, and take a vow to spend a certain portion, or the whole of our life in the wilderness; to abstain from food, drink, and recreation, and gradually to bring ourselves to that state in which we do not live by “bread alone,” but by “every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” We read in the lives of the Hindoo sages the process they had used to subdue their bodies, by continual fasts and self-torture. In the early part of their hermit life, they used to take a little food once a day, then once in two, and after a while one meal at the end of the week. In warm weather their seat was surrounded by a blazing fire made on purpose, and in winter they used to immerse their bodies in water, and pray.

[17]Kasa, a copper vessel used by the Hindoos in their religious services, to put water in, which they sprinkle on their heads and upon the idols also.

[18]When I speak of the low castes, I hope the reader will not feel sensitive, for I know the very classes of men who are high in Christian countries are low in India. A great many men engaged in shoemaking business move about as the “upper ten,” and are high caste in this country, while among the Hindoos such persons, notwithstanding their opulence (which begets high caste here), are lowest indeed.

[19]There are a great many anecdotes of deeds of valor and of generosity attributed to this king. He is said to have destroyed the Khitrias three hundred times. I should think it was the same Por-oosh who had fought with the Macedonian hero on the frontier of India.

[20]Hoylas, the paradise of Shiba, is said to be a golden mountain, similar to the Olympus of the Grecian deities. There is a mountain of the above name in Thibet.

[21]The rice is made in a peculiar way, and called “authup.” The usual way of bringing out rice from the husk is, first to boil, then dry and thrash it. But this is not boiled at all, only dried and thrashed. Hence the particular care taken in preparing this kind of rice increases its price to some degree.

[22]The term worshipper, in the Hindoo sense, denotes the man who spends the money, brings the image, and entertains the people at his house, no matter whether he himself officiates and offers prayers or not.

[23]Oshoor means monster, or opposite to Shoor-god. The men of cruel characters, feared for their wicked deeds, are called Oshoor by the Hindoos.

[24]This and kindred incidents show the ancient Hindoos did not holdcasteas favorable, nor regard it as objectionable in affairs of marriage, as they of the present age do. Now, as we have observed in the first part of the volume, wealth, learning, personal accomplishments, bow down tocaste. A second-caste mancannot, on any account whatever, marry his children to those of the first, or to Brahmuns. But in the present case we see the young princess offers her hand to an unrivalled intellect, not caring as to the quarter or caste in which it might be found. There are several instances of this kind, of fathers offering their daughters to a suitable man. Thus Jŏnuk, the father of the goddess Shita, sent a proclamation to the world that “Whoever shall be able to break an arrow in two, shall have Shita for his recompense.” (This fatal arrow belonged to Shiba, the Destroyer, and was left in the palace of Jŏnuk.) In the legend we read of King Droupad offering his daughter to any who would pierce the eyes of a gold-fish which had been hung six miles above the ground, not looking at it directly for his aim, but only seeing its shadow in a vessel of water. Doymontie marries a king who, at her wish, boiled rice without fire and water. Bidda took a vow to enter into literary and theological controversy with a man before she would marry him. In the above cases invitations had of course been extended to kings and nobles in general, and not of any particular caste.

[25]The circumstances of the death of this noble poet are the following. He was in the habit of visiting a literary public woman, who was widely known for her acquisitions. One evening she was standing near a pond, looking at the lotus-buds, when the king with his nobles was passing by. The royal train halted by the pond to observe the rays of the moon on its placid bosom. The king asked this question of his friends: “Wind bloweth not, the water is calm, why then doth yon lotus tremble?” The woman immediately went to her home and asked Kalidass about it, who said it was for a Vromor, (kind of black wasp,) which had got in to extract honey, but being too much intoxicated as the shades of the eve were closing, the lotus made it a prisoner for the night. As it moved within the lotus, it caused it to tremble. She came and informed the king about the lotus. He was quite surprised, and asked again, “Why the Vromor which gnaws dry woods does not cut through the lotus and go out of it?” She flew to her chamber, and the great poet solved the question. “The Vromor does not use his sharp sting, for two reasons. Having drank too much honey from the lotus he is dissipated now, and unable to use his weapon; secondly, he is too polite to cut the tender lotus, the queen of flowers.” The king wanted to know if it were her genius or that of another which solved his questions, and desired to see her more at her home. She wickedly went first and cut the head off Kalidass, who was sleeping then, that he might not be seen by the king at her house.

[26]Mool Shun-nashee is the chief officer of the party called Shun-nash. He is theelectof the god, and takes the lead of the party year after year, until he leaves this world for another. After his death his son takes his post, or sometimes another is elected by the priest and the Shun-nashees.

[27]The punishment by fine is inflicted by the Zamindar, the landholder of the country. The British law does not authorize any private individual to fine another, except the legal officers; but, nevertheless, the poorer classes are in common cases fined and ill treated by their landholders. The excommunication from the society as well as from the caste is worse than the punishment by fine; for, over and above the sufferings consequent to an outcasted life, the man is to pay a certain sum of money to regain his lost position. The last state of that man is worse than the first!

[28]It might perhaps be said by some, that, as the Hindoos do not regard the female child worthy to redeem the soul of her parent by Shrautho (as I have myself observed in the first part of this book), they might throw her into the water. To this I reply, that the male child of a daughter has the same privilege with the sons of the father, to make the Shrautho. Hence, in India, the daughter cannot inherit her parents’ property, but her son is the heir of the same.

[29]Neeshie, or Night, is the name of a species of evil spirits who are believed by the Hindoos to walk invisibly on the earth in the shades of night, and to entice young children to go with them. It is a dangerous thing to be under their control, as the children cannot speak a word or call for help when they are carried aloft on the trees. The testimony of those who had been taken away by Neeshie is thus: “While our friends were crying for and searching after us we saw them, and wished to speak but could not.” The spirit, however, does not detain its victims long, but brings them to their home invisibly.

[30]When I speak of our coming to God through Christ I do not mean anything dogmatic in it. My ideas in relation to this point are practical,—I mean an approach unto the throne of the Most High with thespiritof Christ, acting as he did, living as he lived. Put on Christ around you; let his spirit approve your acts, guide your thoughts, and sanctify your affections, and you will find yourself not far from your Heavenly Father. This is the rational way of knowing him as “the only true God, and Jesus Christ” whom he has sent.

[31]I did not live a Hindoo long enough to perform any pilgrimage, but used to hear the stories from those who had been to the holy cities.

[32]The river Gunga is not twenty miles wide. This saying of the Hindoos is applicable to any large river in the world, on account of the inconvenience and delay, and perhaps danger, of crossing it. We can walk or run on land according to our strength, but while on water we are dependent upon the element.

[33]If such were not the difficulties to be struggled with, how many good Hindoo young men would come to hear Mr. Dall’s preaching. There are additional troubles: the neighbors watch their steps closely. This isoneprincipal reason why Mr. Dall’s hall is not crowded on Sunday. Judging the hearts of the brethren by my own, I feel quite sure that the Unitarian rooms in Calcutta are crowded by them in the spirit. While at home on Sunday, I used to reflect on the services and the Bible class of Mr. Dall, and the elementary class of R. Counsel, Esq.

[34]He did not exaggerate all the particulars of this matter. During my two years’ stay in the United States, I have seen, and read, and heard enough of these things. For trifles men quarrel, fight, and stab each other, and these are gentlemen too. On Sunday they hear their pastors exhort, in the words of Christ, to “turn the other cheek also,” when any man smote on the one cheek, and on Monday they fight duels for words. Orations and Eulogies are delivered to their memory!

[35]Of course I had second and third suits of clothes with me when I reached Boston, which were bought for me. I mean when I lefthomeI did not bringanydress except what I had on. Just as I was I had to come out of it.

Transcriber’s Notes:1. Obvious printers’, punctuation and spelling errors have been corrected silently.2. Where hyphenation is in doubt, it has been retained as in the original.3. Some hyphenated and non-hyphenated versions of the same words have been retained as in the original.4. Where appropriate, the original spelling has been retained.

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