those who have been accustomed to such pursuits in the manufacturing districts of Europe. Weavers may be seen at their rude looms within their huts, while others are dressing their warps; winders are busily moving to and fro, under the shade of the trees, with the brilliantly coloured thread; men, women, and children are all engaged in the preparation of fabrics for the consumption of home and foreign trade. The streets are beautifully clean, and all the houses wear an aspect of thrift, indicating the prosperous condition of the inhabitants.

In the towns, and even the villages, there will be the appointed head men, to whom all matters of public concernment must be referred. In the larger places the authorities are more numerous, and the graduation more extended. Bankers, merchants, and all the professions needed to make up a civil community, will have their respective pursuits in these busy centres of Hindu industry and activity.

Those who are engaged in the ordinary pursuits of life are generally well ordered and industrious in their habits. Early in the morning the labourer rises, performs his ablutions, repeats his religious formulæ, and proceeds to his avocations. His morning meal, if any be taken, will, in some provinces, consist of cold rice left the preceding night, and preserved in cold water in an earthen vessel. In the middle of the day the labourer generally reposes, for at least two hours, and in some places, when no breakfast has been taken, it is customary to take a full meal of warm rice, or such solid food as may be ordinarily used. In the evening he desists from labour, about sunset, when he may bathe, sit and chat with his neighbours till his principal meal is ready. Having consumed that, he takes a little betel leaf, and, after talking over the events of the day with the members of his household, he retires to rest. In rural districts I have often observed the habits of the Hindus, and witnessed the same play of the home affection as are found among the best ordered peasantry in western countries. The husband and wife seem to be on the same terms of equality as those which obtain where the

ameliorating influence of Christianity has exerted its power. In cases of domestic affliction I have seen the same solicitude manifested among the Hindus as elsewhere; the same alternations of hope and fear, as the symptoms of disease have changed their aspects; and, in some cases, I have known the husband, even at midnight, to visit the village shrine to offer up a hasty petition for relief when his wife has been exposed to the fatal consequences of a dangerous crisis.

The women, in general, attend only to domestic matters. They pound rice, carry water, cook, spin, weed the fields, and aid in time of harvest. They are deferential to their husbands, and peculiarly attached to their children, showing the greatest solicitude for their well-being and happiness.

Averse as the Brahmanised population is to the shedding of blood, as might be expected a vegetable diet is the rule— yet there are some who eat poultry, and even mutton. It may be said that the millions of India never taste through life any kind of animal food, nor do they drink anything that could intoxicate. I know members of the Christian Church who are strict vegetarians, not because they think it an impropriety to eat animal food, but because they have been from infancy unaccustomed to it. Fruit generally abounds, and may be had at a cheap rate, and therefore its use, as an article of diet, is very common for children. The prejudice of some Hindus against the practice of eating flesh is very strong; and the views they entertain of those natives and tribes who indulge in animal food are not very unlike those which the civilized entertain respecting cannibals. Soon after my arrival in the country I was conversing with a learned and rather rigid Hindu on various subjects, and incidentally mentioned the use of animal food. I asked him what the general practice might be among his own class. He replied with great emphasis, in a carefully constructed English sentence, and in a manner at once sarcastic and grave, "We Hindus do not bury the dead in our stomachs; we do not make our stomachs into burial grounds."

CHAPTER XIII.

AMUSEMENTS: CHESS, CARDS, FESTIVALS, THE DRAMA.-FEMALE AMUSEMENTS MUSICAL RECREATION.-MARRIAGES. FUNERALS. BURNING THE DEAD. THE SATI.-CHARACTER.-SOCIAL CONDITION OF HINDU FEMALES. .

THE amusements and diversions of the Hindus, like many other matters connected with a people occupying so large a surface, influenced by so many circumstances incident to climate, language, literature, and various modifications of religious belief, are, of course, diversified. To attempt an account of the habits of even a large province, would be inconsistent with the design of this little work, to say nothing of so vast a continent; yet some few notices of the recreations common among the people of India seem necessary. Those who have had the opportunity of acquainting themselves with the Hindus, when they have thrown off the cares and business of life, cannot be ignorant of their vivacity. Their religious festivals, many of which are more like the merry-makings of a country wake or fair than aught besides, their various diversions, sports, and pleasant domestic or village conversations, all serve to prove that they are by no means dull and torpid.

Since one of our greatest oriental scholars, Sir William Jones, ascribes the origin of chess to the Hindus, it may not be out of place to notice, first and foremost, this intellectual game as one common among them. This game requiring, in order to efficiency, so much intelligence and sagacity, is peculiarly fitted for the mind of the Hindu, in which perspi

T

cacity and shrewdness are so strongly marked. The pieces in the Indian chess are the same in number as in Europe, but differently denominated. They stand thus :-The king, his minister; two elephants; two horses; two boats; and eight soldiers. The moves are similar to those of European nations.

Another military game, called the Pàshà, is played amid great excitement and vociferation, in marked contrast to the quiet thought and silence of the chess paper or cloth. It is played on ninety-six squares with sixteen pieces, and the moves are regulated by the throws of three dice of the usual form, and commonly made of ivory.

The bond of

Cards are a source of amusement among some of the middle and upper classes; they were, in all probability, introduced from the west. European cards are used, though not exclusively, for, in some places, cards are produced with the figures of gods and goddesses, &c. upon them, instead of those common in Europe. That gaming existed in India in early times appears certain, from the statements of ancient writers, who mention monarchs that were so addicted to the vice as thereby to bring down ruin upon themselves. Among the peasantry at the present time, when games of hazard are connected with gain and loss, they rarely go beyond the value of a few shells, which in some provinces pass as money. The Hindus are generally a sociable people. caste, while it repels those who do not belong to the class, has the effect of promoting among the members of the same caste a fellow feeling and union. And such is the disposition to social intercourse that the Brahman even may be seen laying aside his pretensions to exclusiveness, and uniting with the Sudra in the same amusement. In the open verandah of a private dwelling, in public places on the sides of roads, or under the protection of some shady tree, may frequently be seen little knots of natives brought together by love of society and gossip; and there are not wanting in most places those who spend their time, as did some of the Athenians, in telling and hearing some new thing. This

disposition of the Hindu becomes evident to those who are accustomed to travel. In almost all places the traveller is visited in his temporary abode by some busy-body, whom it is often difficult to repel, unless, indeed, he may call to his aid one of his attendants, who, less scrupulous about giving offence, will signify, often in very plain terms, that the intruder had better be about his own business.

The annual festivities at Durga Puja, especially in Bengal, are of a social as well as religious character. They continue for about eight days, during which period every kind of business is suspended. The jubilant character of this festival exceeds all ordinary bounds. The demonstrations are universal. In all the large towns, in the villages and hamlets, music is everywhere heard, and the mutual expressions of goodwill circulated among the votaries of the celebrated goddess, remind the European of the season of Christmas in Christian lands. Though the Durga Puja is a religious festival, it is one of the most exciting occasions in the Bengal year. Every one vies with his fellow in producing his best on this occasion. There is now, if at all, a display of wealth, in order to give all the pomp of circumstance to the great annual observance. The year's thrift is dissipated in a few days. As the ceremonies of this annual celebration, under its general religious aspect, are noticed elsewhere, I shall in this place allude merely to its influence on the enjoyments of home. Some of them are of a very questionable character as will appear from a few details.

The image of the goddess is placed on one side of the inner court of the house in which the festivities take place. The goddess is worshipped from day to day, and on the third day bloody sacrifices are presented to her. At the conclusion of the daily ceremonies, Brahmans and friends are feasted with various kinds of sweetmeats, fruits, and curds.

In the large mansions of the wealthy, provision is made for the entertainment of distinguished European visitors, who were in former days, more than latterly, wont to honour this