Shoshie, the Hindoo Zenana teacher.
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English Pages 222 [259] Year 1887
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Shoshie, the Hindoo Zenana teacher. Brittan, Harriette G., 1823-1897. New York : T. Whittaker, 1887. https://hdl.handle.net/2027/coo.31924029340530
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CORNELL
VNMOS
UNIVERSITY LIBRARY UNIVERSITI
FROM
Miss Augusta williams and
Mrs.J.H. Tanner
Cornell University Library
BV2087 .B86 Shoshie ,
olin
3
the Hindoo Zenana teacher .
1924 029 340 530
BV
L30
37
1
od Get
! ). 1844
SHOSHIE , THE
HINDOO
ZENANA TEACHER .
Frontispiece . A HINDOO WOMAN OF LOW CASTE IN HER HOLIDAY COSTUME.
HOSHIE ,
T
:
1
) ví
*
DOS
ZEN ANA
BRIN 1B
,
YPTO , "
FACiii
EI
N.
" I * MA 7"01.1 " AND " CENY '> ETURZ-DAY TEE IN AFRICA."
VITORS
IVHITTAKUR
TOM 10.
BITLE HOUSE .
,
.
Shoshie , THE HINDO0 ZENANA TEACHER .
BY
MISS HARRIETTE
G. BRITTAN .
,2 “ THOMASTOOMEY , " AND " SOENESOF AUTHOR OF “ KARDOO EVERY-DAY LIFE IN AFRICA."
NEW -YORK
THOMAS
:
WHITTAKER
No. 2 BIBLE
,
HOUSE .
cilin Givil
EGSIT
lliant
!
::::
2 72
(6
لرگ
77777
by
,
,
, in
the year 1873
BRITTAN Congress
Washington
.
the Librarian
Congress
, at
of
in
the Office
)
/ of
Act
HARRIETTE
G.
to
,
214 of
راک
)
A7 Entered according
ا
م
ONE who has given much
gone
have
to
.
To
her ,
the poor heathen and
sake has loved
the spread
of
of
this little book
of
,
worthy successor
the Redeemer
His
true they
His Missionary
inscribed most lovingly
THE AUTHOR
.
and for
is
,
servants
,
sought the Glory
because
but simply because
,
Apollos
When
by
descend
for others
who has ever pitied the degradation
His Kingdom
denom
.
Christians
not
of
Paul
cares
of
which
-
are followers
sect
higher work above may her mantle
on a
Love
name
has embraced
or all .
charity
-
to
-
called
they are
distinction
,
without
her large hearted
of
,
;
every
Christian
and
who
remem
love and
—
is
she
those
for her tender
Missionary ination
tidings there
in the dark
distant lands
sympathy which has ever been extended
of
to
carry the glad
warm
She in
love and gratitude
with
bered
far
places of the earth .
or
her
of her life, her means , and
the religion of Jesus
to spread
by
prayers
Doremus :
C.
is
To Mrs. T.
CONTENTS
.
TAGE
I.
II .
III . IV .
MY BIRTH ..
7 16
FAMINE SHOSHIE AT THE ORPHANAGE .
-32
CASTES ...
38
V. ZENANA WORK
VI .
VII .
VIII. IX .
....
45
....
55
ZENANA HOMES CRUEL
XI . XIII . XIV . XV .
XVI .
67
....
128
OF SOULS..
145
...
96
CUSTOMS AND HABITS
X. TRANSMIGRATION
XI .
...
SUPERSTITIONS
WIDOWHOOD
BRAHMINS ..
158
FUNERAL
172
RITES .
RITES, OR CEREMONIES AFTER DEATH .
186
WITCHCRAFT .
192
TIP
GODDESS,
CONOLUSION .
KALI..
206 220
SHOSHIE THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER .
I.
the
My Birty
a
,
I
Hindoo girl named Kardoo and that ,
of
M
Y
have heard that dear young friends you have read with great interest the
life
has made you think more about the people ;
,
my dear country India and that
it
of it
'
:
,
EXODUS xxxii
19 . the
waxed hot
.
.” —
,
he
the
“ And it came to pass , as soon as he came nigh unto camp dancing saw calf and and Moses anger
has made
my history
should
7
or
I
,
thought
,
to
little
of
tell you
I
like
heard this a
When
.
land
I
of
a
in
you take deeper interest the Mission work particularly for the girls and women that
per
SHOSHIE ,
8
by
for
haps not so much of my own history as of the
,
,
things I have met and seen ; my life God's blessing has been very different from that
of
poor
,
,
.
.
at
;
I
a
.
a
Kardoo you know was Hindoo Zenana girl am Hindoo Zenana begin teacher But let me the beginning Kardoo
,
the Hindoos
the Sudras
.
of
the lowest caste
is
to
and mother were among the poorest they belonged the people what called ;
of
My father
Sudra
a
caste
If
contempt another
by
so
one
,
touch
of
greatest
the
.
,
These poor people are looked down upon by all other castes and are treated by them with should
doing
he
,
of
.
is
to
It
would
that have cleansed
very great
walk on the side be
road where
Sudra it
crime for
a
.
become unclean can frequently this manner considered
a be
,
and things
The cow in
he
or to
,
a
is
must rub his hands
cleanse them
very sacred animal
imme
of
.
rid
go
lution the individual must either diately and bathe with cow's manure
he
he
at
,
if
would pollute him and touched any article the same time that another did would pollute him To himself this pol
the
possible for his shadow
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER . to fall on one of forgetfulness his life .
This
years
three
9
higher caste , and it was by
a
of this that my own father lost occurred when
It
old .
was
I was
a
little child
in this way .
My
father was walking along the road carrying a very heavy burden
,
and he did not notice that
there was a holy Jogee , a religious
mendicant
by the practice of great austerities , has become very holy , sitting by the wayside who ,
begging , and his shadow as he passed fell upon the Jogee . A Brahmin , who was near , was so enraged
at the indignity shown to
man , that he immediately
the holy
fell upon my father ,
as to raise his hand Brahmin would be a fearful crime , never to be forgiven either in this world or the next . The Brahmin beat him so unmercifully with a club , that he died in a few weeks from the effects of the blows , trying to comfort my
who
dared not resist
against
;
a
poor mother by telling her that he would be sure to be better off in the next world , because a
Brahmin had condescended to strike him ; that she and her children would be
and
elevated slightly in position even in this world ,
10
SHOSHIE ,
for the same reason ; they would be able to tell that he had the honor of dying through blows received from the hand of a Brahmin . Such was my father's death
.
After my father's death my mother found very it hard to get food for us , my sister , four
I,
years older than
self.
My
my
my little brother and
mother would go out into the fields
to work , sometimes taking
along with her ,
us
and at other times leaving us behind in the hut
.
We never had any clothes of any kind , and often we suffered very much from the cold . You will probably think it very strange to hear this of such a warm country as India the truth is , we become so accustomed heat , that the slightest change
,
;
but
to the
which in your
country you would not think anything of, we feel very acutely .
Our principal food was rice and curry
last is a sort of thick gravy made with a ber of different mustard , and vegetables
spices . in
this ,
It
This
.
num
is of the color of
different
or fish are cooked
.
kinds
of
The English
have meat cooked in it , but we never had any
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
.
II
thing better than some little fish . These fish my sister and I would catch . Near to our house there were two or three small ponds of
muddy water , formed by the rains during the rainy season , and in these we would find fish the size of my little finger .
We would go and stand for two or three hours at a time about
up to our knees in this water
,
and we became
very expert in catching these little things in our hands . Doing this , and rolling in the sand or mud , and sleeping , was the employment of our lives . Occasionally we would follow with the crowd of other little naked children , when an idol was being carried
through the street
with the noise of drums and tom - toms , which we thought very fine , but we knew nothing more about these idols except
taught to make salaam to them , obeisance
.
that we were a low act of
We never saw or heard of
We never heard of such
a
book .
a being as God , and
poor mother ever did . I doubt whether We were too poor and degraded the Brah .
woman
Then my therefore
it
-
anything
-
widow
us
teach
a
a
min priests mother was
to
for
my
SHOSHIE ,
12
was not worth anybody's while to teach her
anything . Almost all that my poor mother knew of re ligion was that she must make salaam to any of the images of the gods when she saw them
,
and that after death she must become some very bad animal
;
but that
animals now while she lived such a bad animal
if
she was kind to
,
she would not be
when she died , and some
body would perhaps be kind to her then . I am relating now things that my sister told me afterwards ; for my remembrances are very faint
to what happened in these my earlier years . We lived in the country , some hundred miles from the city of Calcutta . In the next hut to as
lived a poor woman , also a widow , a friend of my mother . This woman had but ours
one child , a little daughter
,
about my sister's
age , with whom we used to play and of whom She was a pretty , little girl , very bright and full of fun . One day a Brahmin priest , who resided near our village , we were very fond .
came inside
to .
this
woman's
He called
hut .
She was
busy
to her and told her
to
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER come out there
, as
.
13
he wished to speak to her .
When she came to the door of her hut he told her to stop there
to come any pollute him . He then told her he had come to do her the great nearer
him
,
;
not
or she would
honor of taking her child from her for the service of his god . The poor woman wept and prayed and implored him to leave her her
child ,
as
heaped
it was her only one . upon
her
The Brahmin
imprecations
and
abuse
because she was not delighted to give up her
child to be from henceforth devoted to the service of the idol ; and , at length , suddenly —
the poor mother
offer any resistance
,
to
cries , he carried her daring
off
seizing the child , in spite of her screams and
not only following
she was
be
,
rare intervals and
which
to
she knew the life
to
not see the child except
at
.
in
,
the Brahmin with cries and supplications but vain From henceforth the mother could
.
devoted
off
was
taken the
the temple idol's
.
carried
she
to
when
by
The little girl was just seven years old priest
and
Here the
SHOSHIE , was performed
At
her and the idol . bride
as
could
,
wood
the groom
well take
any living man
.
the
of
part
groom are perfectly
the priest doing everything
of
a
so
,
quiet and silent piece that
and
as
the
,
monies
between
the marriage cere
,
ceremony
marriage
all
14
in
to
.
,
supposed will make this reason pretty
be
never
be
dance
whatever
married open sin
At
she
festivals this sing before the ,
or and
is
,
one
the poojahs
she must
idol and
do
,
of
,
the time god
of to
supposed
the idol but her life
is
she
is
as
.
a
,
married
can
to
She now
.
bright children are selected She dancing girl comes
.
for
of
it
and
Everything
sing
be
,
to
is
and
her that
attractive
to
a
,
taught
her
dance
is
to
,
is
,
write
of
;
to
or
to
is
sup After this ceremony takes place she belong posed the god she remains about the temple with number other girls taught little and she read and
commanded
by
festivals
and
dance and
poojahs
of
marriages
,
sing
at
,
,
longs hires her out with others
to
to
.
to
the priest that will bring money his temple At other times the priest whom she be
Sam
. 209
tom
Ons
JUGGERNAUT OF TEMPLE THE IN SCENE
A
09
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
.
15
by rich men . She is only allowed to keep a very small portion of the money she makes for herself . The rest different
sorts
given
goes to the priest and his idol .
He , however
keeps her dressed up in fine clothes
,
,
and in
jewelry , to make her attractive . It was for a life like this that our little friend was taken away from her heart - broken
The poor mother did not live long after the removal of her child to mourn her mother loss .
.
I will tell
chapter .
you about this in my next
SHOSHIE ,
16
II
.
.
Amritu
and
I
the
of
,
old
can
was now
remember
,
I
,
.
at
to
many things that happened the little Shoshie this time One day when was present the same old Brahmin priest care
for when
had upon her
.
-
by taking her child for the service friend My poor mother cried very much the idol
at of
same honor upon her that
me
would want me for would confer the
he
,
I
,
was seven years old the idol temple and then
,
great
take
he
she must
of
,
who had taken told my mother that
he
,
away my little friend
..
five years
,
about
beasts
My sister's was Jumne
and my little brother's
,
Shoshie
.
is
name
for
told you that my
I
I
DON'T think that
and their carcase the
famine
heaven and ,
fouls
I
.
of
. 4 the .
be
They shall be consumed by shall meat for earth .-- JER xvi
;
the
Famine .
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER . this , and
me tight
hugged
17
to her breast ,
I was still a baby , though years five old , and had a little brother
I
telling him
was
three
years old . Whenever
I used
I
saw this old priest
,
afterwards ,
to run away as fast as I could , scream ing and shrieking , I was so afraid he was going to take me away from my dear mother . But my kind , heavenly upon me in love
Him not .
,
Father was looking
even then
,
though
Instead of being devoted
service of some hideous image
,
lead a life of shame and crime
I
knew
to the
and made to ,
I
was to be
taught to know and love the dear Saviour , who is the “ Chief among ten thousand One altogether lovely ." About this time
I
,
the
began to help my mother
and sister in another kind of work , the pre paring fuel to cook with . I have heard that the people of your country , my dear readers , never use the kind of fuel we do , no matter how poor they may be , and , in fact , very few of them have ever heard of it . am almost
I
afraid
to tell you about it , for fear you will 2
SHOSHIE ,
18
feel disgusted
with me .
Nevertheless
, as
I
wish you to know how the people of my country live , the poor as well as the rich , I must tell you .
In India ,
we have scarcely any coal mines ,
and very few forests
or woods , therefore fuel
for cooking (and we hardly need it for any thing else ) is very scarce . But what we use instead
,
even many of the people who have a
great deal more money than we had , is cows
'
You will think it very strange , but we take the manure and mix it with mud manure
.
and water , till it is like a soft paste , then we take a lump in our hands and flatten it out
stick it up against the side and front of our hut , till the whole of the outside of the hut is covered with it . Not a a cake and
,
you will think , for our
houses but we do not care for that ,
cakes stay there
till they
become
dried in the sun , and then they drop then take
These
.
perfectly off .
very pretty ornament
them and store them away
as
like
We you
This was the only fuel we had Often and often have to cook our food with .
.
do fire wood
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
I
helped
my mother
and
sister
to
.
19
prepare
You know we never thought this dirty or disagreeable work , for the Hindoo thinks the cow is a sacred animal , and everything this .
belonging to it is sacred . In fact , if a strict Hindoo pollute himself so much as to touch a Christian , or if one of his brass vessels which could not be broken , should be touched by a Christian , the only way he could cleanse his
,
.
;
of
,
,
igno low the glorious liberty that
in
we
even we
,
,
you
the means
,
to
,
God
to
and think what be
,
of
of
knowledge
He has granted
us ,
children
a
to us ,
He died for
your land the people raising who were sunk the
but
Jesus the and He will that all
saved and come
rance and degradation
of
,
,
loves
privilege
love
so
gracious
of to
a
.
the truth
not
people
and glorious
to
,
of
should
heaven
be
King
you could
the great
you will us
,
You will think remember
dear friends
dirty disgusting
us ,
.
am afraid
strange
,
us
think
a
.
ing them
I
'
all
hands or the vessel would be by first rubbing them over with cows dung and then wash
SHOSHIE ,
20
might be called the sons and daughters of the
Lord Almighty.
I
When
was a little more than five years
old , a terrible calamity befell that part of the land in which we lived
It was
.
Oh
a famine .
!
what fearful suffering there is included in that one word famine
those of you who have never
:
it cannot begin to imagine . In India , at least in our part of India , the princi all
witnessed
.
a
is
of
,
In
pal food of classes the people rice general they eat but two regular meals
rice
,
on
it ,
,
that crop fails then crop
year was
to
starv
which
sown
but
heavens withheld the rains which were ful
which
I
the
,
the
In
,
.
,
speaking
sugar and milk
the one thing
is
but rice
they depend and ation ensues
meals
will occasionally eat
made
if
curdled
sweetmeats
;
,
or
those who can afford
fruit
these
Between
of
rice
of
curry and
.
of
,
day and these are almost invariably composed
am the
need
us
so
be
to
a
little time rice began dear that the poor amongst could .
trial upon them
In
,
.
make the seed germinate God was angry with the people and He sent this sore
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER . only
get
a day , and
money
enough
to
buy
one
21
meal
shortly after we could not even
get that . Then every root and leaf, and even the dry blades of grass , and the bark of the trees , were boiled and eaten . There was , of course , nothing left for the cattle , so that at first the milk was dried
up , and
then
the
cattle died , and our sufferings became tremely dreadful. Many a time would
ex we
take up the mud and cram it down our throats , to fill our empty stomachs , and to prevent the intolerable pain of hunger . This con Many of us , in our suffering , would break our caste by eating the bodies of dead animals . Particularly little children tinued for weeks
.
were allowed to do this , as it is not considered
nearly so sinful for them to break caste a grown person
as for
.
In the jungles
,
near our village , we knew
that there were many tigers
but hitherto we had not much feared them , as they generally keep away from human habitations . But it is ,
said if a tiger once eats human flesh it makes him much more fierce than he was before ,
SHOSHIE ,
22
and from that time he becomes ravenous after
that kind of food .
Now many of our people far and wide in search of food ,
wandered and being would
very weak
sometimes
from
their homes , but would woods
,
the
they
,
to get back to
drop
unable to go any further
would become would
starvation
be unable
down .
in
prey of the tigers
seize upon and devour
the
Then they
them
.
,
who
After
having once tasted human flesh , these tigers would become very bold , and would prowl about , close to our villages , and once or twice a child was seized and carried off. The government
of India tried to help the poor
people by giving them work in making roads , so that they might earn money to buy a little
But whenever they were working out side the village , even in the daytime , while some of the men were working others would be obliged to stand beside them , beating on food .
drums noise
and to
tom - toms , and
keep
become so bold
the
tigers
making off,
as
a
great
they had
.
One night we , that is , my mother
and the
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
.
23
children , were lying on the floor of our hut asleep ( we never slept on anything but a piece of matting laid on the floor ), when we were aroused by loud screams proceeding
next hut .
We recognized
from
the voice
poor woman , our neighbor
,
the
of the
and my mother
to our door and saw a large tiger spring out of the door of the next hut ( a fact ) carrying her in his mouth . He ran off with
rushed
her into the jungles , and though many heard her screams , and saw the terrible beast rush
ing away , none dared pursue him . The next day his course could be traced by the blood to a deep dell in the woods the bones
;
there some of
of the poor woman
were found .
The tiger was soon afterwards killed by some English gentlemen who were out on a shoot ing excursion after him . He was an immense beast , and near his den were
the remains
of
five human skulls.
My
mother
had heard before this that the
that place
in
their homes and started
for
suffering was not nearly so great in Calcutta , and in fact many of our neighbors had left hope
24
SHOSHIE ,
of finding relief, and now she became so alarmed at the awful fate of her friend , that with a party of twenty of our village , she took us and started for the city . Our worldly possessions
were not much weight to carry .
My little brother
and myself had never had
any clothing , unless you can call
a
string
around the loins with a shell attached
to it ,
This , with the addition of a scrap of
such .
rag about four inches square , depending
from
the string , constituted my sister's wardrobe
,
and my mother's was the one dirty sarree she had on . The only washing this ever got was when she went into the water to bathe
.
Our
other possessions were a clay detchkie for boiling anything , and a small article of the same kind for drinking . The value of these two articles would be about one of your cents . So we were not heavily burdened with our worldly goods
. We were to travel by day , and then some of the party were to watch at
night to keep up tigers
a fire
to scare away the
We started , but oh wearisome travelling that was . .
!
what
All
slow ,
the party
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
.
25
by previous fasting that we went along very slowly . Almost the only food we could obtain was the bark and tender shoots were so weakened
of the trees , which we boiled till they were quite soft .
Once or twice we found some little
nests , and we children were allowed to suck the
eggs, but for an older person to have done this would have been considered a great crime .
As
we advanced
on
our
road
the whole
,
way began to be thickly strewed with human bones , that had been picked clean by the vultures and jackals , and were bleaching in the sun .
These were the remains
of those
who , within the last few days or weeks , had like ourselves started
for
not been able to reach it . on the road unable
Calcutta , but had They had dropped
to proceed
had died where they fell.
In
further , and
several instances
we came upon these birds and beasts of prey
all
of
constant
terrible sight sharing fear
a
.
.
the same sad fate
This was in
our near approach for those who were
,
at
they were engaged in their horrid meal and they would scarcely move at even
as
26
SHOSHIE ,
as he
string
the party who had with large beads and these ,
a
him
man
in
was one
of
old
We , the children of the party , fared best , for Hindoos are very kind to children . There
,
.
he
,
all
for she saw that
is
that
it
said
“
"
,
you know
to he ,
was
Don't
“
.
,
muttering some words over them passed them through his fingers
he
,
doing with them
and what he was he
,
him what these beads were
as
if
kept constantly passing through his fingers Once when we was counting them sitting down resting my mother asked were
very wicked of
it .
without knowing
even
it
.
do
,
,
,
to
any kill anything take away the life thing that God has made and yet we are such poor helpless creatures that we cannot continually keep from doing this We Every
time
we
,
great act
he
punished con
kind
of
be ",
a
was able
But one day do
.
I
, "
our lifetime we
things that have life
these we shall
the other world
tinued
In
.
thousands
and for every one in
of
kill
of
thus
doing this
to
danger
of
in
.
or
step we probably kill some ant other little insect Even when we scratch our head we are
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER . ness to a Brahmin priest these beads and gave me that every time
27
Then he blessed
.
them to me , and told
I passed
one through my
fingers, repeating the words he told me , that one of those murders I had unknowingly committed should be forgiven me . ” And what were the words he told you to say ?" asked my mother .
“ Oh , I must not tell you , " he answered ; " for the Brahmin told me if I told it to any one it would break the charm . But as soon as you
can get any money I would advise you to go to a Brahmin , and get some blessed beads ,
for of course every day we live , the more lives we have to answer for .” “ My poor mother sighed , and looked at us children . I dare say she thought it would be long before she had means to buy food enough children , without buying beads . The next morning the poor old man lay still in the place where he had slept the night before ; for
us
he was too weak to move .
In vain
;
my mother
used all her little strength to help him ; he could not go a step further , and then we had
SHOSHIE ,
28
to leave him to die , for we should perished with him had we remained
I saw and
.
only have The last
of him he was holding tight to his beads lips
his
were
moving , muttering
,
the
Mantras the priest had told him to say . Ere we reached Calcutta , all but six of our party , my own dear little brother among them , had dropped , one after another , and had us to perish . One or two , entirely departed had before we
been left behind however
,
left them . My little brother had died in the night , while clinging to his mother's breast , trying to draw forth nourishment which had long ceased to exist .* When we reached the outskirts of the city , my poor mother fell to rise no more . The rest of our party went on , leaving us two poor children crying over our
dying mother . Many Hindoos now passed us , looking happy and well fed , so different from the miserable beings by whom we had been so long surrounded . In a little while a crowd was collected
about us , but no assist
* The children of India are sometimes other till they are five or six years old .
nursed
by the
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER ance was offered
us , none
.
29
came near enough
to touch
us . As we were poor , low caste they could not pollute themselves by touching us , but they could satisfy their
Sudras
,
curiosity by gazing at our miserable condi tion . At length a man went past with a drove of cows , and my mother in a faint my sister to supplicate the bring man to one of the cows close to her , and let her take hold of its tail . The man , voice
,
begged
touched with a feeling
My dying
of compassion
,
did so .
raised herself up , clutched hold of the cow's tail , and the effort being too mother
great for her , she fell back , and instantly ex Shouts and exclamations immedi ately rent the air from the by - standers , as it
pired .
is considered
most fortunate
for a person to
die with a cow's tail in the hand ; it is the next best thing to dying by the river Ganges . As soon as it was perceived that my mother was really dead the crowd dispersed , leaving my sister and myself alone with the body : Hungry and weary as we were , we soon cried ourselves to sleep , with our heads rest
SHOSHIE ,
30
ing on our poor mother , whom we never saw again ; for though none of the natives would so defile
themselves
as
to touch
us ,
yet they
gave notice to the police of our whereabouts , and some low caste men were sent to look after us .
My sister and myself were lifted up
still asleep and carried
into the house of a kind English lady who lived near , and who gave us an asylum for a time , while the body of our mother was carried off to the burning ghat
,
the place where
dead bodies are burnt
which answers with the
,
Hindoos the same
as a burial ground does the Europeans , and there quickly reduced to ashes . When we arose from our slumber my sister ,
Jumne , was almost frantic mother
,
but
I
at the loss of her
was too weak
even to move or cry .
After
and powerless the first violent
outburst of grief, Jumne became as much
ex
it
was
hausted
as
I was ,
and for many days
thought that neither of us could live . Food was given to us , just a spoonful at a time , every half hour
;
if they had given
we were ravenous us
for it , but
what we wanted it would
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
.
31
have killed us at once .
better , however ,
They would not
Our kind friends knew what was for our good .
give us what we desired
they fed us little by little
bear it , and so our lives were since
time
but
spared
.
to
I have
the kind lady say that at the she did not think it possible that we heard
could recover , we were in such
of
,
as we were able
emaciation
.
a
terrible state
She said that my leg in the
largest part was not bigger round than her two fingers . When we had recovered suffi ciently to be removed , our kind friend took us and placed
us in one of the orphanages for native children in the city of Calcutta . These
orphanages
, of which there are several sus by belong , tained the different denominations to the missionaries , by whom the children are taken care of and educated , till they are of
an age to provide began a new life .
for themselves
.
Here
I
SHOSHIE ,
32
the
Orphanage
the
Shoshie at
.
the
III. ,
,
,
a
,
or
I,
to to
teach
,
or to
to
Go
into
all
ye
the
every creature
; "
, “
my thank
that He gave that to
,
so
to
,
;
.
!
I
much
message His disciples world and preach the gospel
learn
of
very hard
very difficult for me and how trying the patience kind teachers have learnt since oh
a
Ix . 2 .
.” —
,
was hard
me these things
the dear Saviour
very
little without the slightest religion respect ,
and
decency
it
obedience
,
order ,
of
,
idea
savage
untaught
long time was
me for here was ,
hard one
wild
a
,
new life for
to
M
Y
be
:
the
,
the
,
“
For behold darkness shall cover earth and gross people but darkness Lord shall arise upon thee and ISATAH seen upon thee his glory shall
,
have cheerfully given their time
their talents
,
,
,
of
that many His dear servants have gladly willingly obeyed this command and and
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER .
33
their life itself, not only to feed these poor sheep in the wilderness
but also to seek out
,
and to save the poor little straying lambs , from the jaws of the devouring lion , who is ever going about seeking whom he may devour . But at first I understood nothing of this , and oh , how many times would I gladly have escaped from the restraints of cleanliness and order and the lessons I was obliged to learn ,
into my
former
But my good
savage state .
friends knew what was best for me , and forced me to submit
to their kind and wholesome
I have come to see that men and women are only " children of a larger growth .” How continually we fret discipline .
In
after years
against our Heavenly Father's discipline ; how frequently would we escape from it were it in ; but just as my kind teachers knew position the future which their training was fitting me though knew our Heav not enly Father sends just that discipline and training which for the position
so
,
it
both
in
us
fit
to
us , 3
.
He has appointed for the next
us
I
is
to
,
for
our power
this world and
SHOSHIE ,
34
And
here let me say one
word
I
:
have
heard that there are a great many very good in Christian countries , who , if not exactly opposed to sending missionaries to the heathen , yet never do anything to help
people
They say , and I believe think it too that it is of no use to send missionaries to the heathen , for if they have never heard the that cause . ,
gospel
,
they will not have the sin of rejecting
an offered Saviour .
To
those who say and think this , let me give
While we would not attempt to limit the mercy of the All -merciful , yet with
savage
little
,
me
a
place
,
to
love and gen
as
miserable
,
,
as
was
order and decency a
,
tleness
,
,
” —
cleanliness
prepared
a
heaven is a prepared place people my school home and “
its
for
one thought .
in
;
to
,
be
no heaven
even were they The moment enter there .
permitted
be
a
to
I
so
fear heaven would
these poor people
to
to
;
being
be
to
to ,
,
uncouth much preferred
I
would have and roll and tumble naked cleanly the mud and dirt rather than dressed and made behave like human
rude
of
could not change feelings
,
tastes
and
habits
.
death
35
.
their thoughts They must
be ,
all
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
a
be
,
,
I
to
the Orphanage
,
studying those things which were make me wise not only for time but trust for eternity let me tell you at
ing
.
to
it ,
to
happy prepared for for heaven ever home them But while my life was pass
something
the
beasts
.
more
perish
that
all
no
,
”
be
“
,
than
that
She
.
account
from
to
women
heard
of
Kardoo thought India are
have in
You
I
of
,
of
that terrible condition from by mercy which the God had escaped
;
so
a
I
up in
I
cover
and
I
;
became
a
even when
woman
as
about the streets to
go
to
but should
with scarcely any clothing
I
,
me
,
I
have been allowed
perform some
household
.
services of the
should never have been shut pleased
to
,
and had servants
menial
,up
the
our
,
.
different
the Zenana
of
lives would have been very you She know was kept shut
,
still
,
them
,
as
by
,
a
high caste girl but poor Sudra was though the men equally looked down upon something far beneath contempt with
-
should have become bold and brazen faced
36 and impudent when
I was
.
still
I
SHOSHIE , should
have been married
a child , but should have had
to perform the lowest and most menial work , to help support my husband and children , sometimes carrying bricks and mortar on my head , up high ladders to the tops of buildings , the masons to use , or working in the fields , or , in fact , doing any kind of work by for
which
I could
earn a few pice , a copper
coin get about the value of a cent to a little rice . Now I have heard that in your country ,
every woman
,
no matter
how poor she
is ,
if
she behaves herself well , is respected and well
thought of . But it is very different with us . A woman , just because she is a Sudra , is con sidered low and bad , no matter how well she may behave herself .
It
is supposed no woman
can be seen by a man unless she is very treated with con nobody expects as her to be good , or tries to teach her anything that is good , wicked
;
so she is always
tempt , and
she generally is very bad .
of woman
I
should
should have led
;
This was the kind
have been , and the life
I
if God had not been so good
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER . me and given me
to
37
kind and loving friends to
teach me better ; and those good friends would not have been able to do for me what they did , if God had not put it into the hearts of good children and good people far off in a Christian land to deny themselves some few little comforts , that they might send the money all
to be
, to save me from my fear degradation To God the
.
state
of
ful
to the missionaries
be
.
.
it
of
,
love the dear as
you
do
teach each
to to
May God
of
of
,
Jesus with the customs this dark land and the religion heathenism
.
glorious religion
able contrast the ways your own dear land and the
of
and customs
to
want you
of
I
about the caste system
in
will tell you something exists India to as
I
so
the Orphanage
,
in
,
.
It
last was His doing from first being Thus while much was done for me
glory
to
as
.
is in
it
as
of to
,
in
,
Saviour more and more and much you lies bring these poor people the knowledge the truth Jesus
SHOSHIE .
IV
.
Castes
teachers
The second
soldiers
all
or
and they made
Of this
.
.
laws for all the people
rank are the Kshatriyas
four
into
The Brahmins
the religious books ,
.
all
.
By them
priests
were written and are explained the
divided
.
castes
These are the religious
stand first
unto
. 6 .
are
India
or
,
of
people THE principal tribes or
.
." -
“ Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination Lord PROV Xvi
the
.
in
38
,
Sudras are divided
. ,
now considered
separate
class by themselves
into over
.
:
each
and distinct
a
any other
subdivided into many division holds any intimacy with is
and
a
,
no
castes
others
These four classes
are again
as
or
.
and the last are the Sudras
,
or
or
Kings rank are the warriors and Rajahs The third class are the Vaisyas merchants
hundred
The
dif
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
.
39
classes , according to the trade or pro
ferent
of each , every son being obliged to follow the trade or calling of his father . I belonged , with my whole family, to the very fession
lowest of all these tribes mon laborers
,
,
the Coolies , or
com
who are looked down upon by
This system of caste nurtures the
all others .
pride inherent in the human heart ; as almost
individual can find some one who is
each
him , and upon whom he can look There are now a great many of the Sudras who are artizans or merchants , and they have become very wealthy by their trade , beneath down
.
and have received a thorough , good education
Yet
though they are
gentlemen
.
wealthy , intelligent poorest beggar , if he
the meanest , be a Brahmin , as so many of them are , would look down upon him , and despise him . But ,
with the Coolie caste it is never possible for them to rise , for they must never perform any but the lowest kind of labor , and four annas a
- day ( equal to twelve cents ) is the highest
wages they can ever get . The reason they give for these differences
SHOSHIE ,
40
They say that Bramha , the created mankind , or rather that
in caste is this . great
god
mankind
,
proceeded
forth from
him
.
The
Brahmins or priests came from his mouth : therefore they are the head or teachers of all the others . The Kshatriyas or soldiers came from his arms , therefore , they are to defend the others . The Vaisyas came from his legs , so they are to do the work , and the Sudras
they are to be the servants of all . The Brahmins , who wrote the holy books of the Hindoos , have done every from his feet , consequently
thing they could to elevate their own caste at the expense and degradation of all the rest .
How
different
from
the words
of our Holy
Book , which says , “ Let no man think more highly of himself than he ought to think , ” but “ let each esteem other better than them selves ."
Each of these distinctive castes has
different rites and ceremonies , and they know nothing of those practised by others . None but a Brahmin priest may look into or explain
their sacred books
,
( how like the teachings
Rome !) and he is forbidden
of
to teach to one
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER .
41
the duties or rites belonging to others . Thus , though called one people , and said to be of the Hindoo religion , yet its forms are as varied as . With this little explanation you will understand better what I may say in the future , and you will understand too why one missionary ' may tell you a story
their
castes
perhaps
and another
will
say something
that would But when this is the case , you must remember that they have been laboring among different classes of the seem almost to contradict it .
people , though it may be in the same part of
the country .
In
former
possession
days , before
the
English
took
scarcely any one but the
of India Brahmins were even taught to read and write . It was of no use to any others , and they cared ,
nothing for education in itself . But when they found that education was the means of making money among the English , then they began to have their sons taught ; for the love of money is the ruling passion in the Hindoo mind the
It
was not the love of knowledge , but love of money , that made the Hindoo .
SHOSHIE
42 learn
;
,
and this can be seen in the matter of
female education
, "
for
would not
as education
to make money (she was so
enable a women
to the year 1818 , there was not such a thing as a single school for girls in
My
sister
myself remained
and
at
India
. ”
all
shut up ) up
the
till we were each years of age then we were married and went eighteen
to
,
us
of
Orphanage
But we had been carefully Bengali our native instructed not only English tongue but and what was better (
,
;
Holy Spirit
,
believe that God the ,
I
),
in
in
.
our own homes
had taught so
to
,
the poor
,
His love
to
the wonders
Him and we wished ,
trust our all
and we had learnt
to
our Redeemer
of to
,
viour
;
of
to
,
to
us ,
for He had brought home His own pre cious word with power our hearts that we had learnt believe that Jesus was not only the Saviour the world but our Sa
tell
perishing
.
ones around
Perhaps you first hear how we the Christian girls .
,
From Ward's India
.
to
sister was married
would like
•
My
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
.
43
are married . I think I told you before that no women except the lowest class of the Sudras , are ever allowed to go into the street , as it is not considered respecta
of the
ble
.
Orphanage
,
So we were never permitted to go beyond
the walls of our compound
except when we rode to church with our teacher , and this was very seldom
,
,
as we used to have a catechist
come
to the school to teach and to preach to us . Thus by going out we had no opportunity to make the acquaintance of any who might become
our future husbands
, as
I
hear is the
custom in your country ; but if there was any
Christian native young man , in good standing in his own church , who wanted a wife , he would go to his pastor , who would give him a letter of introduction to the lady superintend ent of the orphanage . This letter would tell
other respects the good wife for him
her
,
to
she would call her and read the letter
,
in
,
fit
age and one that of lady thought would make
a
who and what the young man was , and that his object in coming to the orphanage was to obtain a suitable wife . If there was any girl
SHOSHIE ,
44
and ask her man
If
.
if she would like to
see the
young
she agreed to see him , they would be
left to talk together for half an hour . end of that time
At
the
they generally agreed to He was then allowed
become man and wife .
to visit her two or three times , and in about It three weeks they would be married . would seeing
,
however
,
sometimes happen that after
each other once or twice
,
one of the
party would draw back from the agreement , and try for another partner . I dare say this may seem very strange
to you , but this was
the way in which we were married . On the day of the wedding we would go to church to be married
,
and then go to the house of our
husband , which was generally situated inside of some mission premises . the compound
When my sister was married she went away to live up the country , and I did not see her again for two or three years.
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
V Penanx
45
.. Work . death
.
of
the shadow
years old
was about sixteen
to
sixteen years about kind teacher called me her
,
:I I
WHEN my
and
old ,
HEN
in
darkness
was
in
from on high hath visited us , to give light
79 .
78 ,
i.
LUKE
sit
“ The Dayspring to them that
.
one
to
to
on
to
,
,
smiled
what are
she forgot
such seclusion
,
I
, “
teach and instruct
the precepts and practice
Christianity
,
as
",
said
of
me
in
and with the one desire
to
I
that
The Zenanas
My kind
teacher had been brought
? ”
they
yet understand the
up in
language
she did not “
,
teach
.
as
to
,
in
,
,
a
day and told me that new lady missionary purpose had just arrived visit and teach the Zenanas and that she wanted have interpret and help her me go with her
,
,
I
of
my own that knew very little more country people than that they were poor
SHOSHIE ,
46
ignorant idolaters , knowing nothing of the true God , but worshipping images which their
My
plained
all
own hands had made . to me that
teacher
then
ex
countrywomen
my
some near relation's house
,
go
in to
the Ganges ,
go
bathe
or to
to
to
go or
their own houses except
to
,
of
who were not considered the very lowest the low were never permitted outside
,
let her go into their houses and teach their
willing
to
desire
the
to
number were
to
gentlemen
ladies had
of
quite
a
so
,
that now native
(
Baboos
and the native
nicely and showed such
learnt improve
a
-
,
ladies fancy work
)
to
of
a
.
,
,
;
or
a
in
to
up
;
a
on
pilgrimage and then they went closely covered palky palanquin they that never went school nor were they ever taught anything useful But she said good English within the last few months lady had persuaded some the rich Baboos
,
The Christian ladies did not
they thought
if
,
care for this
a
in
a
do this
.
to
her
as
it
to
go into their houses allow ladies teach though they looked upon conferring permitting great favor upon Christian lady
they could only
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
.
47
get an entrance into these prison homes , they might be able to teach Jesus and the love of Christ to these poor prisoners . And so , " my dear teacher continued , Miss Gray , the lady that I spoke to you “
“
about
,
of this in her own land , and she
heard
out here now , hoping to gain an
has come
entrance to some of these homes , that she may teach them to read and write and work ,
may teach them
in
as
He has sent and know the language yet she help her teach go with her ,
.
to
to
wishes you
not
';
and Jesus Christ whom she does
the
that she the only true God
wisdom
know
to
lead them ;
and
of to all ,
enabled
light
to
fountain
be
,
strength
of to
to make them better and happier and wiser in trusting this world ; but , above divine
will call here every day and take you with her for several hours and then bring you back here again And now my dear Shoshie
,
,
.
,
,
She
God help you and give you .grace impart the love others what you know to
of
to
may
should
be
answered my dear teacher that
I
ļ
.
of Christ
and
do
I
could
trust
for now
,
,
I
earnest
in
life
,
I
wonder did
now behold the life that was ,
.
!
others
,
live not for myself alone but for And oh with what astonishment and
to
I
if
as
nearly
as
,
of
lived around me and which was ignorant had been thousands
being
of
I
I
began
began
I
,
.
hoped God would help me my duty The next day Miss Gray called for me and
to
I
delighted to help Miss Gray
,
all
SHOSHIE ,
48
'
introduced
her .
This
Christian woman the
orphanages
Ghanto would go every day
houses
and
instruct
the
.
one who had herself
to
as
,
one
work to so
of
native
her
her health
,
,
the
a
educated
This woman
native
widow in
been
a
her assistant
,
lady had had
had
Baboos
their future teacher
of
,
those women
few
as
them on account she took Miss Gray and
obliged
was
the up
give
houses among
,
.
a
lady who of
,
here
to
few
my country
A
come
arrival
her
access
a
after
obtained
to
weeks
poor
the
,
prisoners
teach
to
to
,
I
dear home and land
to
, .
said had recently left her
as
miles away Miss Gray
native
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER ladies
fancy -work , and
of by Fancy -work was the bait which
in
learning . these
49
.
ladies
were
lured
the
to
rudiments
learn
to
read .
given ,
them
,
had
these rich Baboos
to
,
and even then
be
and work material
to
all
They would beg and implore to be taught that alone , but the Christian ladies were firm ; they refused to teach fancy -work to any one who would not learn to read . The books who could
in
to
a
,
pay well considered that afforded they were conferring great favor upon the permitting them Christian ladies come
have
to
.
,
lowest who
buckshesh
or
few
the
of
refuse
pice
man among
,
:
of
the highest
to
from
,
most terrible manly independ a
,
lack
4
,
would
and
say belongs
have never yet seen
a
.
them
I
covetousness ence
,
,
,
I
teristic which am sorry namely my countrymen
charac
to
one peculiar
to
me speak
any
Christ
a
,
Here let
of
looked down upon and contemned means they might win some souls
be ;
willing
by to
were
,
ladies
if
kind
to
these
in
and
,
to
allowing them teach their wives and receive these gifts and instructions from them
SHOSHIE ,
50
that would think it a degradation to ask for it . I have never taught in one house , even where they were rolling in wealth , where they did not wish their books and work materials to be given out and out to them , or at less than the cost price
But this by the way .
.
Hitherto
,
had been very chary
the ladies
in speaking on the subject of religion , fearing lest the doors of these prison homes , which had for centuries, against
,
all
been close barred
the
the marvellous
of
if
of
love
is
,
of
to
,
her one help
a
in
,
"
,
,
Lamb God who the world and she from the very first
teaching
house where
of
tell the poor women giving His Son God
of
she was forbidden
missionary
of
the
to
to
continue
caution which
with God's
,
aim
taketh away the sins resolutely determined never
a
being “
and sinners
to
lead
as
."
she had come out
Name
But Miss Gray felt that
above every name object
“
there had been very great
mentioning that
,
used
in
.
Jesus
in
So
on
,
be
,
knowledge and which were of much fast closed again now ajar might were said the subject the religion entrance
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER , to
die for them
51
So the first day she com
.
menced she would take with her a picture
Adam and Eve read
for
,
Bible stories
,
It
the
women
she would
,
could
tell
them
soon as they could read
and as
she would make
till
and
themselves
of
them
read for themselves
is true that it was often said to
.
You
her , "
must not teach your religion here, " but she “
:
do
If
all .
would always answer you at you
Then
I
cannot teach
not let me teach you
-
they one
piece
off some so
be
finish
Gen
as ,
.”
at
would
another
of
and
,
up
,
of
,
I
I
what like will not instruct you all erally for the sake fancy the work would put with the religion and
As the
people
of it ,
(
seemed
as
as
that we always
we could attend
to .
so
,
much
and
),
.
at
shut
others would open as
had
as
closed
be as
to
teach Jesus
entirely
still times because we would they the Saviour But fast
few houses were
continue
up
.
to
to
go
,
it
,
proud work their friends would everywhere about that we soon showing had continual applications one and Some another fresh house and instruct them
more
and
more
SHOSHIE ,
52
anxious three
or
teachers
for instruction , Miss Gray engaged four other Christian women as
,
and her plan was this , a plan which
is followed by most of the Zenana lady ers , of whom
now
a good
I
am happy
A
many .
native
goes
teacher
to each house , where there are learners day .
teach
to say there are ,
every
She teaches them to read and to write ,
to cipher and to work , while the lady goes to each
house
once
that the native week
more
,
a
week
teacher
,
and
has
all for the
reviews
done
particularly enforcing
and
ex
plaining the Scripture lessons . Thus a know ledge of the Word of God and the Blessed is spread
Redeemer
The
,
,
many houses
.
is not to make
learned
but to teach the multitude
to read
main
scholars
object
in many
word of Life for themselves . Thus have given you some little idea of our work . the
I
I
had been teaching with Miss Gray about a year , I was married and went to live
After
in my own home
,
but from there
I
continued
to go daily with her to my work . been a little hindered a few times
I
have
by the
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
.
53
of myself or my children , but in no other way , as , thank God , my husband is a good Christian man , a catechist , and he is illness
not only willing but glad that his wife should be engaged with himself in the glorious work
of bringing Now
I
souls to Christ . have
I
my own history .
finished
have been much longer over it than I in tended , as my object in writing this book is to tell you of the customs and manners of the different castes of people
at the
that
I have
Zenanas , and the circumstances
dents and conversations
,
met
inci
that have been made .
known to me . You , in your own land , who are gathering the money , and we who are workers in the field , have each our part of the great work to do , and
faithful we shall
We shall
if
we are equally
equally have
hear the Blessed
our
reward
Saviour say
: “
.
In
asmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these ye have done it unto Me. " You remember made
"
,
among
the Israelites , the law was
that he that staid by the stuff , and he
that went forth to the battle , should equally
SHOSHIE ,
54
divide the spoil .”
The great
Salvation has appointed
Captain of our
to each of
us
our
, may He give grace to each one of us to fight manfully for Him , or to be the patient sentinel , or , if we belong to the foraging party ,
post
to be diligent in that
;
for you know , dear
friends , that the entire life and well - being of the whole army may , sometimes on the foragers .
Ah
!
depend up
,
it would
how foolish
be in those whom the General
has appointed
to this part of the work to feel, because they were not engaged in the hand - to - hand fight with the enemy , therefore their work was of No , dear friends , God has given you your part of this great work to do no
importance
as much as
.
He has given us ours ,
time you shall reap
if you
faint
“
and in due
not.”
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER .
55
VI
.
Penana Homes
I
.
“ Which say , Stand by thyself , come not near to me ; holier than thou .” —Isaia . lxv . 5.
WAS filled with
wonder
,
for
I
am
astonishment
fear , the day of my first visit to
and Zenana .
a
Miss Gray had been before , and knew where to go . I clung close to her , dreading for a moment to be separated from her .
We rode some distance into a part of the city where I had never been before , the roads becoming narrower as we proceeded ,
till
we came to the head of a lane which was
very small , narrow , palky like a on wheels ) to We got out and walked some little
too close for our gharree
(a
one horse vehicle enter
.
distance down this lane , which was so narrow , that we could almost have touched the wall on either
side , and which had several turns
.
SHOSHIE ,
56
On each side were the houses of the Baboos , large and very lofty , and presenting a very appearance
dismal
.
They
had
once
been
white , but from the effects of the moisture of the climate
,
they were covered all over with
patches of a blackish green color . In many places portions of the wall had fallen . These had not been repaired
,
but small
trees and
shrubs were growing in places out of the ruins , giving them an air of complete desolation .
Towards the street no house had any windows , on the lower stories , and only one small door which led by
a
narrow passage - way through
into a large centre of the building . the
house
doorkeeper
or
enter
open court
At
this
in
the
entrance
a
is always on guard ; no one can go out without his permission .
Above this door is or
,
a small verandah ,
with one
two windows opening into it from Here several Baboos story .
second
the sat
smoking their Hookahs , and talking to each other across the street . The Hookah is a pipe used in the East .
bowl ,
It has
a very large
which is placed on the floor, and a tube
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER two or three yards long , which
.
57
is curled up in
circles , and the smoke is drawn through water , sometimes perfumed . At each side of the narrow lane, close to the side of the tuns an open drain , into which every impurity from the house passes. Pipes from the roof to carry off the water , connect also
houses
,
with the different rooms of the house .
Down
thing vile is thrown. These these pipes do not run right down to the gutter but stop short about twelve feet up from the ground , on the front of the house , so that the every
water from the roof, and whatever else is thrown through the pipes passes directly down the front of the building . The stench from these drains , particularly in the morning , is fearful . How it is Calcutta is as healthy as
it
is , is a matter of constant astonishment
1
When we arrived at the house to which
.
our steps were directed , the durwan , who always sits on the ground directly outside the door , rose up , made
us a salaam , and
us in , said we were expected a very large
one ,
pointing
. The house was belonging to a wealthy
SHOSHIE ,
58
family of the merchant caste . large ran
in a
We entered
a
round which the building A verandah quadrangular form .
open court
,
,
went all round each of the three stories facing on this court . Into these verandahs numerous doors and windows opened on the lower floor were servants
'
rooms
.
All
.
rooms stables or
the
used as
The upper rooms belonged
or gentlemen one of the doors was opened to the Baboos
As
. ,
and
I
we passed
,
looked in
,
and saw it had some elegant furniture in it ; couches , tables , pictures , chandeliers , but all in great disorder
and confusion
the court and stepped dah .
As
.
We crossed
upon the lower veran
we did so , a man , the head Baboo found , rose from
of the house , we afterwards
floor, where he had been sitting on a piece of matting , smoking , and bowing politely the
to Miss Gray , wished
her good - morning , and
told her the ladies were expecting her . He was a very rich man , possessing a large sum of money
,
but
there
clothes on him but a dothee muslin
,
he ,
sat
with no
a piece of white
one long strip fastened
around
the
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
.
59
loins , and then brought down and up between the legs , so pantaloons .
to form something resembling He was perfectly nude from his waist upwards , except the Brahminical thread as
which passed over his shoulders . We quickly moved on and up - stairs , and going round the verandah on the second through
story , passed then through sages the
to former ,
end ,
at the
winding pas verandah , which , like
two or three another
on
door
a
ran
around
an
open
court ;
which , however , was much smaller than the first . This was the court of the women , and
we
were
now
in
apart
the women's
ments of which we were instantly aware by the swarms of women and children who eager
gaze
at
us ,
to
surrounded
all
,
the
for though Miss Gray had been there before only one two had then seen great curiosity her and white face was
as ,
,
curiosity
We passed through
.
several verandahs and passages into room about ten feet square
a
I
,
also was
a
a
-
say
Christian dress
.
had
on
I
,
though truth
to
,
a
,
or
;
strangers
small
60
SHOSHIE ,
This was the apartment of the principal woman learning . The floor was of brick , or In one corner of the tiles plastered over . room there was a box with a padlock .
lady .
In
This
jewelry of the
contained the clothes and the
another corner was a brass drinking
a narrow strip of mat ting , about six feet long , rolled up . When we went into the room , this was There unrolled for us to down upon
room
as
,
,
in
the
and verandah
floor
,
on
mat
outside
than were
of
all
,
women and children laugh talking making sorts ,
full
shouting
,
this
of
the whole
ing
occu
widow and therefore must sleep We were no sooner
upon
crammed
its
.
the
seated
room
ground
,
upon
the
,
pant was
a
was no bedstead
.
sit
vessel , and in another
should have
,
be
and
away and bathe and wash no
-e
,
?
,
go
polluted
Were we not vile beef ating and they holy Hindoos and
.
their clothes Christians
to
they should
lest
to
,
them
or
us ,
to
to
,
,
remarks upon our dress and appearance but taking care not come near enough touch let our clothes touch
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER .
61
matter though our clothes were clean and nice , and some of theirs were foully dirty , yet it would have polluted them for their dirty
I
must rags to touch our clean garments . say this was a thing that did not trouble us .
There was one little window , about four feet by two , in this room . This , like the door , opened on to the verandah
It
.
had no glass
,
but bars crossing it up and down , like those of a prison , and it had outside wooden shutters
that could be closed in case the rain beat that way .
This window ,
soon
choked
as
well
as the
up with human
pretty effectually air .
excluded
door , was
heads , which
every
breath
of
There were four women in this house who just beginning
were
work
;
to read and looking delicate
to learn
they were pretty , , gentle and graceful in their man the young women
of
ners , as
all
creatures
the higher
as
;
,
classes are but they lose this refinement and they grow become very rough and coarse
Miss Gray told her pupils
to
.
old
bring their
62
SHOSHIE ,
books
and
their work
As
.
she could
not
speak Bengali , of course all her instructions were given through me . and threw them down
They brought them
on the ground in front
of her , and when she wished to return them , she had to lay them on the ground for them to pick up , as they would not touch any article at the same moment we touched it . “ Oh ,” said one , “after you are gone we must bathe and wash these clothes we have on , and
say over
Mantras , before we
some
dare to cook and eat
;
and as we have
ready done that before
you
al
came , we do
not want to have the trouble of doing
it
again ."
I would
say here , that this was one of their through , for as
customs that was first broken
soon as they learnt to love their dear teacher
of keeping
,
away
from her and not touching her , when they expected her they would come to meet her as far as they dared , instead
even to the very limits of the Zenana
,
and
take hold of her by both hands to lead her into the room . The trouble of having to
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
.
63
bathe again they thought nothing of when they learnt to love her . As soon as we were fairly 'seated and had our instructions , we were almost deafened by the noise of the women talking , commenced
laughing and asking most frivolous questions . The first one , however , was what they consider a most important one . It was , if Miss Gray were married
;
for to them to be unmarried greatest
to be childless , is the that can happen to a woman women are ever unmarried
,
.
,
misfortune
None of their
except the danc
ing girls , and they are said to be married to the gods . On my answering this question in the negative, there was the greatest astonish ment . What
,
one
old as she
as
unmarried
?
Were there no men in the country she came from
It
?”
was marvellous
,
almost past belief
;
and
when she told them there were many ladies in her country who staid unmarried from choice , either because the man they loved
SHOSHIE ,
64
had died , or they had not seen one whom they wished to marry
,
or from some other reason
,
they really did think she was telling them something perfectly untrue ; they could not They thought she must be a widow , but for some reason wished to conceal it from them . believe
her .
The whole subject
kind
;
time
of the lesson
we were
to continual interruptions of this perhaps just while she was telling them
of the great love of God in sending His dear Son to die for us , some one would sud denly ask why we did not put henna on our or why we braided
our hair , or some equally foolish , and we would have to stop whatever we were saying , to an they would keep teasing till we swer , did answer Miss Gray would try quickly satisfy them and then go with her nails
,
on
So
,
to
.
on
for
other question
.
lesson
No
,
answered
,
teach God's truth
,
she
“
but
we are trying
to
Shoshie
pupils
,
our ,
but
to
to
I
of
patience and would get sorely out ask her go away let me tell them all
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER .
65
trying to sow the gospel seed , and we know not what little grain may be carried home into the hearts of some even of these most careless
listeners
Some little seed may find
.
lodgment there and may spring up and bear fruit . We must cast our bread upon the waters or that
we know not which shall prosper
:
,
this
So she never would have me send
."
any away , but would try by every gentle means to interest and keep them quiet . Our pupils here had just commenced to read and to sew , for it was the beginning of things altogether in our work . From this house we
of
all
;
of
each day
,
three houses
has been our work now Some
all
thin you could see their We generally visit
for
and this
years
our pupils have
.
and teach
in
whole form through
age were
wearing but one
it .
so
and that
,
garment
built six years
and the women
,
naked
of them as large the same style the
neither in
five
children
,
or
but
all
as this
,
of
went to two others
progressed
very
5
,
to
to
,
,
to
rapidly and after learning write and read cipher and learning history and geography
66
SHOSHIE ,
in Bengali , they are lish .
now
studying
Eng
During this time we have been able to learn many of the customs and habits of the different castes , among visited
.
And ,
whom oh
!
we
have
taught and
how continually have
I
been led to lift up my heart in devout gratitude to my Heavenly Father , who had called me out of these shades of thickest darkness the marvellous
into
light of the children of God .
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
VII
67
.
Cruel Superstition
I
.
.
in
day we were sitting
ye
20 .
V.
.” -
of
NE
.
,
the
of
no
in
the
say unto you , That except your righteousness shall " For righteousness cseceed scribes and Pharisees shall heaven MATT case enter into the kingdom
the first house
at
by
I
.
gratify
to
,
teaching the women we had entered often used that time
their work
my curiosity
asking
questions
,
saw she looked
other women
,
the
from
I
very different
it .
never took any part
in
to
all
,
,
and
,
themselves
I
noticed one poor generally come and lean woman who would standing against the door and listen very attentively the instruction though she about
and
."
a
servant
her
, “
for
I
,
I
”
to
only
? "
is
she
But said your fingers
“
to
Oh
,
"
.
asked who she was
what has happened saw the two middle
68
SHOSHIE ,
of her right hand were gone . “ I should you could do very little without them . ” think
fingers
“
use
Oh , yes , ” she answered , “ I have learnt
to
my left hand
right , but
I
as well as you use your will tell you how I lost them . ”
She then seated herself on the ground and commenced telling us this legend , which in
I
to Miss Gray .
You know that if a Brahmin becomes very holy , if he gives up the world and practises very great penances and austerities , he at length lays up such a terpreted
store of merits
,
“
that he can then make
mand of the gods
;
one demand
,
a de
whatever
he
are obliged to grant it , even though they know that he only intends to do evil with the gift. Well , down in the
likes ,
and the gods
province
of Mysore , south of Madras , there
was a giant named Vuia , who , by a long course
of very severe penances , and austere devo tions , had become so holy that he could insist upon the god Mohadave
(another
name
for Shiva ) granting him whatsoever boon he should demand . So the giant demanded that every person on whose
head he should place
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER his right hand
,
.
69
should instantly be reduced to
Mohadave granted this request , with out at all suspecting why the giant made it . “ As soon as the giant found that he really
ashes .
possessed the power
, he attempted to use it destroy very god gave to the who it to him . Mohadave fled , and the giant pursued him till he chased him in to a very thick grove of
trees . Here , Mohadave , changing his form , hid himself in the centre of a fruit called Tunda . This fruit never had a kernel before , but since then , it has a long round kernel
which is considered the emblem of Mohadave ..
.
" The giant having lost sight of the god , in quired of a man , who was working in a field near by , if he had seen any one running past ,
and which way he had gone man had seen the whole
. The husband thing and knew it
must have been a god that could hide himself
like that , so he did not know what to do .
If
he should tell where the god was hid , he was afraid that in the future he should suffer dread
fully from his vengeance ; and if he did not tell , he feared the giant would severely punish
SHOSHIE ,
70
At length
him now.
he thought he could
get nicely out of it , so he answered the giant aloud that he had not seen anybody, but at he pointed with the forefinger of the right hand to the fruit in which Moha the same time
dave was concealed . “
Just at this moment
,
when the giant was
about to seize the fruit , the god Vishnu ap peared close beside him , in the form of a most
girl.
in .
rescue
Vishnu had thus come to Instantly brother god Mohadave ,
his
beautiful
'
pure
upon
the duties Brahminee
,
,
a
as
should
before she
perform
,
.
to he
,
but
condition that necessary
length consented
at
she refused
,
giant became most deeply love and asked the girl become his wife At first the
This
did
,
close
all
water
a
bathe
in
was that he should he
first
.by
The
pool
of
“
.
could become his wife
keep
necessary
use many different
it
,
,
to in
a
is
to
is
.
he
.
ing his eye the time upon the fruit After perform this she told him must the ceremony Sudra This which while repeating many invocations the gods gestures
GANGESTHE OF CROCODILE
.
-
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER manipulations
and
;
hand is applied
among
.
which the right
quick
in succession to the the face , the foot, the crown of the
breast
,
head
and various other parts of the body .
,
71
The giant at the moment
thinking only of the beautiful maiden , and forgetting the power of his right hand when placed on the head , “
performed the Sudra to ashes . “
Mohadave
,
and was himself reduced
now came
forth from the fruit ,
thanking the maiden , or Vishnu , for his deliverance , turned angrily to the husbandman and told him he should be punished for his treachery , by the loss of the and after
finger with which he had pointed . The poor man's wife , who had just come to the field to bring her husband's food , threw herself at the feet of the god , supplicating his pardon . She pleaded that she and her children would die
of starvation , if for months her husband should be
unable
to work on his
farm
;
and
she
prayed the angry god to take two of her fin gers instead of one of her husband's . “ Mohadave was pleased with this proof of the
SHOSHIE ,
72
wife's love , and accepted the exchange
;
and he
ordered that all her female posterity , in the future generations his temple
,
should sacrifice two fingers
in memory
of this act and of their devotion to the god . This practice only belongs to the descendants of that , to our whole caste , and I think not woman
at
now there are about
two thousand
houses
where it is done ."
I asked
her
:
When
is this done , at what
“
age ?" She
answered
:
“
given in marriage .
When our oldest
girl is
Just previous to the
cere
we must go to the village blacksmith , giving and him a small fee , place our fingers upon a block ; the blacksmith places a chisel mony
on
,
the joint
a hammer story .
A
,
,
and
then
,
with one blow of
This was her native doctor had been travelling it
is
struck off . "
in the southern part of India , and had engaged
herself and her husband , as servants and with him they had come up to Calcutta . both
I
,
have been told that many of my young friends in America are apt to think of India
as
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER .
73
like
the
country ,
large
one
inhabited
United States by one kind of people , whose customs , manners , habits , and religion are of all ,
,
this though India
of
worshippers
false
gods
is
are far more
,
all
but
,
.
a
very nearly alike amongst great mistake The people
India
,
so
one caste
,
to
I
,
one part and not all over ,
them only
to
and
you must
tell you about any
may belong only
in
,
it
custom that
when
:
over thirty distinct languages please remember
,
,
.
of
,
in
,
in
unlike their customs manners habits and religion and even their language than are Europe the different nations There are
am
I
,
I
,
“
except that
considered very meritorious
the
gods
,
,
is ,
indeed
to
address
to
you what
of
a
"
she answered
it
”
,
is
it
sort
women
Mantra
?
it
“
is
it
some
intelligent
tell her what
prayer
Not exactly can hardly tell and
most
she could a
.
was
“
present
the
an
one
Is if
asked
of
,
.
I
is
,
.
of
poor woman whom speaking the only one ever saw that had suffered from this cruel rite After she had finished her story Miss Gray This
repeat
SHOSHIE ,
74
I
tell you much can ." Baboos some of the it .
cannot
about
it , but
The next time we visited that house , after teaching
the
women
,
as
we were
passing
down through that part of the building de voted to the gentlemen of the house , one of the young Baboos came up to Miss Gray and accosted her thus
,
that
you wish
to make
relative to our religion , or should say , to the Hindoo religion .
inquiries
some
rather ,
If
:
hear , madam
“ I
I
you do , my father and myself will be most
happy to answer any of your questions . Will you walk in here ? " and he openecka door into a nicely furnished apartment , handed us chairs and sat down near us . In a few minutes , his father
entered
,
and
took place , between boos
then
this
conversation
Miss Gray and the
Ba
:
yourself, just now when you said ' our religion ' and substituted • Hindoo religion . Are you not a Hindoo ?” “
Baboo , you corrected
I
I
,
madam , cannot say that am . We good caste , though not Brahmins, but are of
Well ,
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER we have become
educated
,
we can no longer believe superstitions
.
75
and consequently in
the ridiculous
of Hindooism , to which
,
I suppose ,
see our women are still fondly attached , as they are so ignorant . My father professes to belong to the Brahmo Soomaj, but as for
you
I
myself, not
am nothing .
I
have
yet found anything good enough to
as
believe
I
say ,
must
."
Never mind your belief, my son , I think this lady wished to make some particular inquiries in reference to the Hindoo religion . “
Is it not “
so , madam
It is , Baboo
?”
(this
,
carried on in English that language well .) something about the prayers
was all
conversation , as
I
the Baboos
speak
to
know
wanted
Mantras .
Are they
?”
madam ; you might rather call them invocatory hymns . They are cer “
Not
precisely
,
tain forms of words
which are supposed
to
have such power as to be able to enchain the
gods themselves different
kinds ,
.
a great
many
invocation ,
some
There are
some are for
SHOSHIE ,
76
for blessing , some they are to produce good or evil ;
for deprecation cursing
,
some
;
spirits
some to cast out evil
kill ,
some to
;
some to cure ; to produce love or hate . Some are strong enough to destroy thousands of persons
,
and there are some which will
mon the gods and they are bound
The Brahminees
,
sum
to obey
the Gooroos or priests
,
.
are
the persons who know them best . There is an old Sanscrit verse which may be thus
translated
:
All
the
power of the gods
,
universe
the gods
is under the are subject
to
the power of the Mantras , the Mantras are under the power of the Brahmins mins
are therefore
our
gods
;
the
Brah
So you see ,
.'
madam , the Brahmins really think themselves and are supposed
,
by the ignorant, to be our
gods." “
But do they really suppose that there is
any efficacy in these Mantras “
a
They
do , madam
,
and
little story that my gooroo
me , years ago .
Madura , married
?"
I
tell you
will
or priest
told
He said : ' Dasara King of a daughter of the King of ,
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
.
77
Benares , but after they were married she told him that she could never go home with him to be his wife , because she had learnt a Mantra which had made her so holy that she never could be the wife of any man who had not been purified in the same way , that as she was his wife , she could
not tell him
this Mantra , because , in so doing become
his
teacher
,
,
she would
consequently
and
his
superior .
But the next day they went to gether in search of a holy man , who , when he knew for what they had come , told them both to fast a whole day , then to bathe
-
,
and
Aamah Sirayá
he
felt
if
wonderful words
the king had learnt these two as
soon
as
,
to
“
his ear
the west
,
,
with his face
secretly whispered health Sira
As
and the holy man
'
,
sat beside him
the east
to
facing
in
down
,
sit
in the river Ganges , and then to come to him again . The king did this and then went back to the holy man . He was then told to
filled with
,
of
a
,
purifying fire and directly great many black his body crows sprang out from all parts
SHOSHIE ,
78
and , flying to the
sky , disappeared
.
These
were all the sins he had committed at his former births .' My old gooroo went on to say that this history was perfectly
true
.
The king and his wife thus purified , lived together for many years , and retired at last to reunite with Bramha in the abodes of bliss , without being obliged
to be reborn any
more upon earth . ”
But when he taught you the Mantra , did the same thing happen to you ; did your sins fly out of you like black crows ?” said Miss “
Gray .
Oh no . When I laughed about it , and asked the Gooroo why these Mantras did not have “
the same effect now
, he said
: '
Oh , now we live
in a bad age of the world , a time of misfortune and evil , and everything has become degener
But still very often even now they work most marvellous miracles !' In former days , madam , no one dared to read the holy books
ated
.
in which the
Mantras were written but the
Brahmins , but now that many of us are become sceptical we dare to read for ourselves and see
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER . what
is
within .
79
We do not fear the power of
the Brahmins as we used to . “
There is one of the Mantras which is said
to be effectual for the blotting out of sins , and it is so powerful that it even makes the gods tremble when they hear it . The Brahmin , when he is about to utter it , makes a previous prepara tion by long prayers , fastings and meditations . Before he pronounces one word he closes all the apertures of his body and keeps in his breath as long as he possibly can , and then
,
in a low
voice , he repeats it , taking good care that no one living shall hear it . These are the words : “
Tat Savitur d'hiyô
varenyam yô
b'hargôdêrasya
D'hî
prachoday yât .'
The 6 translation is , ' We meditate on that excellent light of the divine sun ; may he illuminate our mahi
minds
nah
The meaning is so dark that none of the Brahmins can understand to whom this is addressed , and yet it would be horrible sacrilege , unpardonable crime , for them to .'
repeat it to any one but a Brahmin ." “ But do none but the Brahmins repeat Man tras ? I thought I had seen many others do so ."
80
SHOSHIE , “
Oh yes , there are Mantras for every class
by the Brahmins
But these are taught to them ; and they must be paid for
their trouble
no other
and condition .
them
,
;
not even a mother
person
must
teach
The
to her child .
have certain Mantras which they must always utter over their medicines , and they are supposed to be much more effectual physicians
than the medicines themselves
.
It
is supposed
also that mothers with their new - born babes are particularly liable to evil influences , such as being subject to the charms of an evil eye to the malign influences of the planets , unlucky days , etc. , and the old nurse that knows the
largest number of these Mantras is the most eagerly sought after ." “ But I think you said some of these Mantras were not to avert evil
by which those using others ." "
Just so , many
,
but were really curses them hoped
of them are .
persons who call themselves
to injure There are
magicians
,
sor
They pretend to have cerers or soothsayers . certain Mantras which can strike with sudden
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER death
;
or can call up fiends ,
or
,
81
can either
inflict or cure diseases . They pretend also to discover and to foretell future events . But of course in those parts of our country where the
these super who though they
people have the least education
,
stitions mostly
persons
abound . The to practise these acts , are resorted to , yet are very much dreaded pretend and
hated
,
and are often punished
for evils In this
they are supposed to have inflicted . way many innocent persons have suffered , as I doubt not has been the case in all lands where witchcraft is believed
in . ”
“ In what way has witchcraft been punished in your land ? " “ The way most frequently resorted to is by
drawing the two front teeth of the upper jaw .
This
prevents
the
person
from
speaking
plainly , and if there is the slightest defect in pronouncing the Mantra , it is supposed to make the gods or demons , for they call upon both sometimes , so angry , that the evil , instead of falling upon others , will befal themselves . ” " Oh yes ,” said Miss Gray , “ I remember 6
SHOSHIE ,
82
once seeing an old book written by the Abbé Dubois
on India , in which he writes thus
: '
I
knew an individual who came to me , on the very day this cruel operation was performed , and threw himself at my feet , mumbling his innocence assistance
,
imploring
and
to
procure
my
counsel
reparation
for
and the
injustice that had been done him by knocking out his front teeth , and imputing to him the
of a magician . The poor man seemed to have very little appearance of a conjuror, but having neither the power nor the inclination to aid him , I got rid of him as hateful
practices
well as I could . This story I remember read ing , but I thought these practices had long since ceased . ” "
Oh no ," said the Baboo
, " wherever
there
are found people ignorant enough to believe in such things , there will always be found
plenty of wicked men ready to dupe them , and , as a nation
,
I
believe
no people
in the
world are such believers in magic as the Hindoos . Every trouble or trial they have is attributed to the malice of some enemy or
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
If
evil spirit . sudden death
,
83
.
a man lose wife or child by
if any
disease occur among
his
in
magical are attributed Should any prolonged illness occur ,
certain
it
.”it
is
-
a
of
during the progress law suit that malice the cause of
is
.
fluences
to
take place
all
cattle , or , in fact , if any most natural events
I
.
he
,
a
“
,
"
only the punishment
,
,
"
“
.
Suppose
satisfy
saying
:
to
I
suffering his just punishment
by
,
and
do not
must have been
now
is
is
to in
it
before
at
he
any
I
have help him
he
very wicked
very easy he
should
different
great suffering and dis
?
Why
I
* 6
my conscience
if it;
give
them
Every
me for aid and
,
to
poor man He comes
,
choose
likes
suit his own convenience
to
.
I
see tress
a
,
times
reconcile
laughing
,
said the young Baboo one believes just which
.
to
They do not attempt
.'
“
? '
in a
committed former state existence How do they reconcile the two statements
.
due for sins
of
it
poses
is or
“
is
strange said Miss Gray But this reading was the other day that when any sup sorrow trouble befals Hindoo
only
Or supposing
SHOSHIE
84
I have
,
a sick wife or child , or lose property ,
or some other trial befal me , and I know I have some enemy who will secretly rejoice in
my trouble ; how easy it is for me to bring him to grief by accusing him of being the cause of my trouble through magical arts . No , no , the Hindoo knows better than give up either of these theories . “
But to go back to the Mantras .
one Mantra which is composed number of letters
,
which
There is
of a certain
being combined and
,
pronounced
in different ways , enable speaker to perform wonderful things . "
to
One story the Brahmins tell is this
:
the Siva
chose to give the knowledge of this Mantra
to
a
the
boy , who was the son of a widow of Brahmin
done something
caste ,
but
disgraceful
the
mother
had
and so she had
lost her caste , and on this account the boy was once excluded from a wedding feast . He
had
lost his
disgraced
caste ,
but
he
was
of his mo He took his revenge by merely pro
considered
ther.
not
nouncing
on account
two syllables
at the
door of the
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER .
85
all
apartment where the guests were assembled , and by the power of those syllables the food provided for the guests was instantly changed into
.
course
great
the guests
they were
such
confusion
all
occurrence
created ;
Of
toads
an
among
sure that this boy
the same syllables
directly the toads into the food they were ,
order
again
Then
when
at
in
reversed
changed
in .
the door and let him
immediately pronounced
he
opened
so
;
of
,
the
if
they did trick and that they might not admit him have more his they mischievous tricks played upon them had played
give our money
There
one class
as
upon
,
imposed
uphold such impositions
.
will not
be
for we
of to
;
doos
so
no
longer continue be what would be called Orthodox Hin
is
to
be
,
madam that when we
become educated we can
or
literature
is
native is ,
Therefore
this
mixed up
? ”
our
it
.
absurd
absurd
all
so
yes
,
O
things
“
in
to
“
stories
,
So they tell such ridiculous that the gods condescend
as
.”
first
men who get their living
SHOSHIE ,
86
solely by pretending to counteract the evils caused by the wicked magicians ; they call themselves tend
magicians
benevolent
to have
Mantras
pre
and
,
counteract evil .
to
They affect to be able to cure diseases in man and cattle , etc. , etc. After repeating Mantras they will give
over
the
their
patients
characters about
,
They tell
.
their persons
complete
chains
to wear these they have power to
them
, as
the cures the Mantras have begun
Then they take their fees and depart others whom they may dupe .” “
Thank you , Baboo
you have given me .
I
to
on which are written strange
I
.
to find
the information trying to learn all am ,
for
can of the religion of the Hindoos , and
I
thing that a Hindoo does , whether eating , drinking , talking
find that there is not a single or sleeping
,
but has some
reference
to his
religion .
Oh ! that Christians would only act in the same way . The religion of Jesus would then soon be the religion of the world .” “
The principles that Jesus
certainly , madam
,
the
best
taught in
the
,
were
world .
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
.
87
But if you are not too tired , will you let me tell you another little story that bears upon what we have been talking about ? " Miss Gray expressed her willingness to hear and he thus began
:
this story from a friend of mine
,
was over , while round smoking
it all
who was present at
proposed
was
way
of
should amuse themselves very common
After the feast were sitting
a feast .
the Baboos
that
they
by telling stories
, a
I heard
“
the evening
passing
;
it ,
,
of
.
he ,
a
of
was
very
live for
but
a
.
I I
,
,
a
I
a
'
I
is
at
,
so
she continued little girl and long time her father's house
to
married
got this nickname how my wife when she was
I
you
I
folly
My
tale
to
tell
tell
great will tell you committed when was young will Betel Anantya and name said
',
of
.
man
Well
to
a
.
he
so
“ “
piece
was called upon
man who had the country
a
There was present come from far distant part mitted
a
of
of
it
was again proposed that the story folly com should tell some great act
and then
on her
,
completing her ninth year we considered her
88
SHOSHIE ,
old enough
say , carelessly
prattlers
I believed
,
all
to come home to live with me . She had been living with me about a month , when going to bed one evening , I happened to that
women were
.
She retorted that she knew men .
I
who were not less prattlers than women
,
to
us
Now
let Agreed
said
'
.'
and
,
wager
our
we both addressed
',
at
sharp
the
? '
,
,
I
us
betel
being thus laid
ourselves
got
but
roared stoutly
interval
some
answer
and
the door but with spread The alarm then began
to
,
to
at
then
suc the
fear that we had died
The carpenter was called with his of
.
suddenly
They began .
.
cess
house
they
in no
after
no
us ,
called
hour
,
usual
at
our
we did not appear
,
,
Next morning
as
.
sleep without saying another word
“
to
myself
will first what shall the loser forfeit
But
I,
.
A
*
leaf
said
speak
',
which
see
retort
her
said she
piqued
somewhat
of
ness
once that she alluded
of
of
and being
'
at
perceived
a
wide awake
,
us
find both
of
little surprised
to
,
in
,
tools and the door our room was forced they were not open and when they got
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
89
.
though both apparently deprived of the faculty of speech . My mother was greatly alarmed , and gave loud vent to her grief. All the Brahmins of
in
good health , and at our ease
,
both sexes in the village assembled ( in some of the up - country villages the women are allowed to go round the village closely veiled ) , to the number of one hundred , and after close examination , every one drew his own conclu sion
as to the misfortune
to have befallen
us .
which was supposed
The greater
number
that it could only have arisen from the malice of some enemy , who were of the opinion
had availed himself of some magical
tions to do us an injury . famous magician
For
this
incanta reason
was called to counteract
a
the
effect of the witchcraft and to remove it .
As soon as he came he began to try our pulses by putting his finger on our wrists , our “
temples , on the heart and on various parts of our body ( my wife being all the time closely
veiled ) , and after a great many grimaces , the remembrance of which excites my laughter , whenever
I
think of him , he decided that our
SHOSHIE ,
90 malady
arose
wholly
from
the
effects
of
malicious malice exerted upon us . He even gave the name of the particular devil or Shaitan that possessed my wife and me , and rendered us dumb . He added that this devil was very stubborn and
and difficult to drive out , that it would cost a very large sum of
for the offerings necessary to make My relatives , who were not fly him away very rich , were astonished at the grievous impositions which the magician had laid on : yet , rather than we should remain dumb , they money
consented
to give him whatever should be
for the expense of the sacrifice ; they and further promised to reward him well for his trouble as soon as the demon should necessary
be expelled . “
He
magical a
was on the point a
commencing
his
,
when a young Brahmin ,
distant
relation of mine , who
operations
doctor ,
of
had been well educated
,
and therefore
had
lost his faith in those things , who was present , maintained in opposition to the magician and his attendant , that our malady
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER .
91
was not at all the effect of witchcraft , but arose from some simple and natural cause , of which he had seen several instances , and as we were both young , my wife being about nine and I only sixteen , he was sure he could cure us , and if they only would trust him , he would do it without any expense .
As
the magician's charges were so high , and our friend offered to cure us for nothing , “ *
our relations thought they would let him try first , and they would still have the magi cian to fall back upon if he failed ; so the doctor commenced . He took a chafing dish filled with burning charcoal and heated a small
bar of iron red -hot .
This he took
up
with pincers and applied to the soles my of feet , then to my elbows , and to the
crown of my head . I endured these cruel without showing the least symp toms of pain , or making any complaints , operations
being determined to bear everything , and to die , if necessary , rather than to lose the wager I had laid . “
' Let
us
try the effect on the woman
,'
SHOSHIE ,
92 said
the
tion
I
doctor , astonished
had shown
bility to pain
;
,
at
the
and my apparent
resolu insensi
and immediately , taking the
iron well heated , he applied it to the sole of her foot . She was not able to endure the pain a moment ' bus , bus , '
,
but instantly screamed
I
enough ,
to me , she said ,
enough , ) and
you , ' said
I,
'
turning
lost my wager , ' Did I not tell
have
there is your leaf of betel
out ,
.'
that you would be the first to
speak , and that you would prove by your own conduct that I was right , when females are babblers ?' “
' Every
one was surprised
I said ,
that all
at the whole
, nor could any of them compre the meaning of what was passing my between wife and me , until I explained
proceeding hend
the kind of wager we
had
made
overnight
before going to sleep . What !' said they , ' was it for a leaf of betel nut that you spread the alarm through your house and the village
?
For
a leaf of
betel that you showed such constancy , and suffered burning from the feet upwards to the
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
.
93
Never in the world was such folly Since then I have been know by the name of Betel Anantya . ' my long story , madam , ” con “ Pardon
head
?
seen . '
tinued the young Baboo ; “ but you will see by this what pretensions to supernatural powers these magicians make others believe they possess ." Miss Gray thanked him again , and told him
that both he and his father had given her the information she was in search of. She then bid them good - afternoon and left . On our way home she said to me : “ Oh , Shoshie , how much reason have we to thank God for the Bible , the rule and guide of our lives ; how much cause have we to be grate ful that from our childhood we have been taught the word of faith which is able to make us wise unto salvation . We have not been left to believe in the cunningly devised fables of men . Let us pray more frequently for these poor people , that their minds may be enlightened and that they may learn to know
SHOSHIE ,
94
Holy Spirit
the only true God and that the may teach them Jesus.
As
I related to Miss Gray that one of the house - servants
we went home
an account
Orphanage
at the
given
had once
had been very unwell for
a
He
us .
days , and
few
he had asked leave of absence for a day or
two .
When he came back he told our dear
teacher where he had been .
If she had
known
before , she would have tried to prevent
going .
his
got
cure
diseases
little way from Calcutta
.
lived
to a
you
He called out do
the verandah
to
the house the magician was .
When sitting
on
and that
who could
,
magician he he
great
all
He told her that he had heard of a
minute the
.
skeleton before him
,
strange language
The magician spoke
a
in of
heard something drop the ground the dim light saw the figure
,
.
great wind
a
a
on a
in
heard
he
and
he
and
in
Then
,
dark room
house was shaken and
he
walked into
a
. ”
.
is
;
I
sick man
to
you
,
: “
Come
in
not want My matter the tell me what Then he Shaitan will soon tell me that him
and the skeleton took hold
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
.
25
of the man's hand to feel his pulse . The skele ton's hand , he said , felt as cold as ice and as soft as cotton .
Then the skeleton
,
or Shaitan as he
called him , disappeared , and in a few minutes back with the same wind and noise , and put he two or three little pills into the sick came
man's hand , telling him to take them on certain
days, and so he was dismissed , after paying his In a week or so the servant got better ,
fee .
and he attributed it entirely to the medicine the Shaitan had given him . Even after Hindoos become Christians , it is very difficult to make them give up their fear of these evil spirits or Shaitans . God hasten the day , when Satan shall be bound in this land .
SHOSHIE ,
.
.
stranger
the fatherless and
widow
.” —
we
,
,
their manners
found our
;
us
with loving greeting and
little and
to
learn
, of
and cheerful words
they began
a
as
,
smiles
they gladly welcomed to
;
pupils
7 .
i.
always
that we had gained the love and affection
few
of
house
ISATAH
teaching
been ,
months
had
widoro
a
we
a
A
FTER
plead
the
;
oppressed
in
Relieve
for
. 6 . the
“
.
JER vii
,
• Oppress not
,
the
Widowhood
.
VIII
the
26
find that
and customs were different from
,
us .
great knowledge
,
them
and thus we gained
of
most intelligent
of
,
to
,
of
other nations they would willingly explain them Often after our lessons were over we would sit and talk with the those
,
in
in
,
a
their inner life and we telling them trust we did them good too differently things how were done those
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER countries where known .
In
.
97
religion of Jesus was
the
one very large house where we taught
,
there were over one hundred and fifty inhabi tants , and there were a dozen widows of different ages . One of those was the widow of the eldest son of the house — and conse
quently had a little more respect shown her than she otherwise would have had . She was very bright and intelligent , and , after a few months , discarded entirely her false gods , and and diligent in search
appeared most earnest
after the truth , and she was continually draw ing the contrast , not much in favor of her own country . Her name was Luckie , and one day busy
when we were
of the other women had
into the room
,
we
shrieks and screams
part of the house . We asked : “ What
that
is
Oh ," she answered
,
“
as
,
as
yet come
most
fearful
from another
?"
Bama's husband is
While he was well he used to beat use her very badly but now
ill -
just dead . her , and
the
her alone
he is
“
heard
proceeding
,
none
teaching
98
SHOSHIE ,
I
dead she makes all that noise . you Christians
if any
know with
one you love dies , you
weep a good deal , but you do it quietly , and you pray to God ; but that is not Hindoo fashion , our custom noise
is to make
."
Miss Gray asked her
very much
:
May we go and
“
see
?”
Yes ," she answered
will take you ." As we were passing along through several “
,
I
Luckie said ,
“
You will
be
all
winding passages
, "
,
after she becomes
,
widow she may never wear any jewelry again
."
ornaments
he
to
embracing
it
,
the body
,
herself
on
ently about
and the widow who was appar twenty years old was flinging ,
),
the Ganges
the dead body lay
had died rather they had not had him taken (
so on
,
a
on
,
On going into the room the ground mat
suddenly
or a
,
them for the last time
that she may wear
as
and puts them
on ,
all
is
.
a
surprised to find her dressed up in her jewels and her finest sarree When woman dying she runs directly thinks her husband
with the
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER wildest shrieks
.
99
She would roll on the ground
.
,
and then again rise up and clasp him in her arms
with renewed shrieks and howls relations ,
in
the
meantime
by .
At length ,
The other
.
stood
,
quietly
they thought that her mourning had been deep enough , they at tempted to take her away from the body ; but this they had to do by force , and they con when
tinued to hold her , while she apparently made
frantic attempts
to pull herself
away
,
and
This , how ever , they would not let her do , so she had to content herself then with rolling on the again throw herself on the corpse
ground ,
as
.
she had lost her senses , tearing
if
by handfuls , and striking her After and otherwise hurting herself.
off her hair breast
,
acting like this for some time , as if in utter despair , she got up and quietly approached the dead body of her husband dressed it : "
Oh why
!
?
Had
and thus
why hast thou forsaken
What evil have me
,
I not
I
done that
thou
ad me ?
hast left
always for thee the fondness
.SHOSHIE ,
100
of
wife
a faithful
affairs
household whom
I
have
?
Was
I
not attentive to
My darling
?
brought to thee
!
children , what will
become of them , and who will protect them now thou art gone ? Did I not neatly serve up thy rice ! Did I not devote myself to provide for thy good eating ? What did I leave undone care of me ?"
,
and who henceforth
All
will take
these expressions she would tones — then she
utter in the most lamentable
began again to scream and groan
,
and to curse
and abuse the gods who had deprived
her of protector , the room the other women in her uttering similar imprecations against the
cruelty of the gods . She continued then to scream , and cry , and to abuse the gods , and to address her dead husband by turns , till she became utterly exhausted and her voice utterance
,
away to another room
refused
her
.
when
Miss Gray said to Luckie ,
she was
taken
Poor thing , she must have loved her husband very much . ” She smiled very scornfully , and said : “ She “
couldn't , he was so bad , very bad , but do you not
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER know that with
ΙΟΙ
.
is thought more
us , a woman
more intense exhibitions of grief she can
of, the
In
show .
fact it is our fashion
If we
.
would
have the least respect shown to us afterwards we must all act like this when our husbands die .
When my husband died ,
“
I
I
did love him
.
am sure he was almost a Christian , and he
was always good , and kind , and gentle to me .
I
could think of nothing else but that he was gone from me , that should never see him
I
and
not shriek
,
I
could not talk to him
and for days
if
I
to
seemed somehow as
;
I
could
could not weep
It
. .
my life was gone
,
;
all
again
,
.
"
dead
sitting
their dishevelled
They placed standing
to
saw six strange
,
the
or
,
,
corpse
either
.
chamber selves
we
enter the court and come
of
women
and then
the verandah for up
,
minutes
in
We still stood talking few
a
.
to
I
I
all
,
I
I
was turned stone Oh did love very dearly my thought him but friends could not make acted disgracefully because the noise they wanted me and
the
them
round the
hair hanging about
SHOSHIE ,
102
their shoulders
,
which were bare to the waist ,
and together they set up a low wail of woe . Then they would weep together , keeping time by thumping on their chests with both
they would praise the dead going away then scold and reproach him hands
then
alone
all
one speaking
,
sometimes
;
,
for
;
then
to
found that these were the hired mourn
,
“
ers
the
weeping
women
They
. "
I
.
gether
were
be
.
to
,
as
,
to
continue this lamentation till the body was carried forth when their grief would they receive their immediately disappear wages see the termina We did not wait or
to
.
be
it
,
as
perhaps three four hours would body before the would carried forth
tion
to
lived
in
a
by
the female relatives
,
All
,
a
be
ceremony
.
to
,
on
The next week we went again the same day that Bama house and we found that particular was constituted widow those who
the house and all who were permitted
,
a
of
,
,
in
visit there assembled her room and partaking feast which had been prepared for them they sat down round the after
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER widow , and all commenced
103
.
to cry with her ,
and then to beg her to be reconciled to her destiny . unfortunate Then her husband's mother , or the nearest female relative , cuts the thread which holds the tahli . The tahli is a little gold ornament
worn round the neck (or arm in some castes ) , by which a married woman is known , an unmarried girl or a widow
not being
permitted
caste
the barberess
head .
In
to
In
it .
wear
is called
to
some
shave her
others the hair is merely unbraided
and left to flow over the shoulders way it must always
,
in which
be worn for the future ;
it must never be dressed . By these two acts the poor woman immediately sinks into the despised class of widows.
The next time we went to teach in that family , a very heavy thunderstorm
just
as we
detained a great
coming
up
had finished our lessons we were there for nearly three hours ; and as ,
of the women of the house Miss Gray thought it would be
number
were present , a good opportunity to find out all she could about the state of widowhood
as
it exists in
SHOSHIE ,
104
India .
She looked round
,
and not perceiving
Bama present , she asked where she was . She was immediately answered by the old woman , Bama's mother - in -law , pouring out a torrent
of complaints against the English government . At length , having exhausted her vocabulary of abusive
language , she burst
tears , and
then
commenced
into a flood of bewailing her
son . “
Oh , my
child
! my child
My gem of ever have lived to see !
gems , that I should this day , to see thee , my glorious one , so
dis
honored , as to have thy wife remain alive after thee .” She continued for some little time
bewailing him in this manner . At length , when she became a little more quiet, Miss Gray asked her to explain to her how her son could him ?
be dishonored
by his wife surviving
The old woman then took some sheets of paper out of her sarree
, which were written Bengali language , handed them to over in the
one of the women who could “
Read
that ,
read and said ,
let the Maam Sahib know why
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
I
It
weep . is from
.
105
That was given me by our Gooroo . our Holy Books , our Shasters ."
But , " said Miss Gray , “ I thought they would not permit you to know any of the words of your Shasters . I thought women “
must never know
them
.”
“ Yes , our Gooroos may teach us all that they say about us , but nothing else , " and , said the old woman , " he has been telling me to
day how much my son will suffer because the wicked English people have made such terri ble laws against our religion . Oh ! why , why did Vishnu ever let them come to our land ?” and then she began to heap curses on her god for permitting the English to be here . After a time , however, she quieted herself , and permitted
the paper to be read
to interpret it to Miss Gray.
I
-
and me
was too unholy
to be permitted to touch the paper , and dur ing the reading she would continually inter rupt
with shrieks and bursts of lamentation or abuse . The sentences were these : us
There are 35,000,000 hairs on the human body . The woman who ascends the pile will “
SHOSHIE ,
106
so many years
remain heaven “
with her husband
in
.”
As
the snake - catcher
draws the serpent
, so she ( no matter how great his by burning , rescues her husband from hell , and rejoices with him , "
from its hole
sins ) ,
“
The woman who expires
on the funeral
pile with her husband purifies the family of her father , her mother , and her husband . If the husband be a Brahminicide , the greatest of all criminals
,
an ungrateful
person , or a murderer
of his friends ; the wife , by burning with him , purges away his sins ." There is no virtue greater than a virtuous woman burning herself with her husband ." “
“
As long
as a woman
transmigrations
self like
should
a faithful
in her successive burning her
decline
wife on the same fire with
lord , so long shall she not be from springing to life again in the
her deceased exempted
body of some female animal."
who had despised her lord , or done what was contrary to his mind , should “
If a woman
( even ) from
,
mercenary
motives
,
or fear, or
The HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
.
107
from a suspension of the reasoning powers , die with her husband , she shall be purged from all crimes ." * Though he , her husband , have sunk to the region of torment , be restrained in dread ful bonds
,
have reached
the place of anguish
sized by the imp of Luma ( the Pluto , the god of the infernal regions be
,
Hindoo ),
be ex
hausted of strength , and afflicted and tortured
for his crimes , still as a serpent - catcher un erringly drags a serpent from his hole , so does she draw
her husband from hell , and ascends
with him to heaven by the power of devotion . " “ If the wife be within one day's journey of the place where her husband died , and she signify
her wish to be burnt with him , the burning of the corpse shall be delayed
till
her arrival .
+
If the husband be out of the country when he dies , let the virtuous wife take his slippers or anything which belongs to his dress , and binding them , or it , on her breast , after puri “
fication , enter * See Mŭ
a separate fire . #
La
I
Ohanŭtů .
A
Brunhũnŭ
† Sco Vyasů .
See Brůmŭ Pooranŭ .
SHOSHIE ,
108
cannot burn herself on a separate pile . But this is an eminent virtue in another woman .” * After the paper was read , the old woman again burst out in wild lamentation . " Who knows , " she
said
,
what sins my darling may
"
."
And
all
who
and religion
,
,
customs
muttering fierce impreca with their interfered
again
upon
tions
she rushed
out
of
him
have committed , and now his wife cannot save
the
,
noble deed and
to
?
"
be
to
,
“
my dear ,
glorious sacrifice
child
witness
her
bravely she bore
see how
and though
for
to
as a
a
of
was taken
to
I
she answered
offered herself
mother and
yes
",
,
“
Oh
elderly woman
Can you tell me how the performed
the Suttee used as
,
and said
“
present
ceremony
:
Gray turned
Miss
an
.
room
to
,
I
I
to
his recovery
See Ooshuna
,
of
hope
.
no *
that there was
and
he us
with fever and when the doctor assured ,
ill
.
I
.
,
;
it
wept much felt my mother my help right father from save thus was trouble will tell you how the ceremony My father was very was performed with her
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER had better be carried to the riverside
.
109
to die ,
then my mother declared her resolution of be ing burnt with him . That made it unnecessary for him to be carried to the river to die , as the sacrifice of his wife would ensure his salvation all
without the help of Ganga , ( the river Ganges ) . Immediately her neighbors and friends c .
sat
down
the
,
be
to small
branch
with her body The
,
broke
and taking
she
burnt
;
female barber came and painted the sides her feet red she then bathed and put on
a of
and
She tree
dead
.
went
mango
was
resolution
it
from
a
.
with his body
her
a
declared
,
again
my father
by
As soon
as
"
,
delicious food
bringing her
&
,
treated her with great respect
.
new sarrec
it
,
a
,
“
Whilst she was doing this the village drum was beating certain sound by which was be
as at
,
of
.
a
to
widow was going burnt with her husband On hearing this all the people the village came together least known that
to
of
of
,
all the men and such the women were permitted by the lowness their caste
IIO
SHOSHIE ,
My eldest brother went . things necessary for the cere
there
no son
is
.
If
mony
,
.
A
does this
relative ground
hole was dug
which bamboos
round
into the earth
and thick
,
,
to
the nearest male were
in
to provide
,
all
leave their houses
the
driven
green stakes were ,
,
, .
,
a
of
a
form
of
kind bed and upon hemp clari faggots great quantity this My mother fied butter and pitch was placed laid across
,
or
,
,
now went and seated herself near the pile and officiating priest made her the Gooroo
and
;
by
the
and that
her
ancestors
husband
may
arise
to
,
merit
mother
all
act
,
this
father
her and her husband ,
may wait
during that time
dancer
of
the heavenly
of on
That
.
as
in
as
“
,
to
she the effect that some prayers may live heaven with her husband for many years there are hairs on her head repeat
them
to
,
her
others
friends both
tied some red cotton round
put two new combs
her hair painted ,
,
wrists
the
in
She then
and
.
,
priest
she took
of
off her ornaments the
prayers
these
giving some to
After repeating ,
“
.”
heaven
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
III
.
her forehead , and tied some parched rice , and couries * in the end of her sarree . While she was doing this , the Brahmins were
anointing my father's
body , repeating
some Mantras over it , and dressing
clothes .
My brother took
a handful
of boiled
Mantra , offered it in my Then some ropes were brought
rice and , repeating father's name .
it in new
a
and laid upon the pile , and a piece of cloth was spread over the top , and the dead man was laid upon
it .
My
then
mother
walked
round the pile seven times , scattering parched corn
and couries
tried
to
gather
as
she went .
them
up ,
Those near
thinking
they
would confer and that if they are tied round the neck of sick children , they will cure diseases . special
My
blessings
,
now climbed up , and threw herself on the pile , by the dead body of my father . The ropes were then drawn over the bodies , which were tied close together , and more faggots were placed upon them . My mother
brother then , turning his face away
,
put a
* Couries, small shells used as a very small coin .
SHOSHIE ,
112
he
,
all
lighted faggot to my father's face , which he scorched over and then immediately
All
.
off
drums
were
beat
,
cries
so
,
a
it
that
and
great blown and the noise was long could heard distance this time more faggots were being be
trumpets
;
low screams
.
in
lighted the pile several different places At this all the women and relations set up
as
few minutes
,
dead
I
a
been
thick smoke
are held down
bodies
in
the
by
Sometimes
.
have
there was such
a
must
think my mother
ashes but
in
was burnt
,
to
all
.
It
on ,
,
,
on
thrown the pile and more clarified butter till the whole was and pitch were poured consumed took almost two hours before
over
,
is
all
each side and after ,
parts
the
with
.
making
,
and
bamboos
will repeat
after
the
a
,
burnt
these
bow
and
certain
He will then mould out
person
Mantras clay the ,
over
it .
arrow
are
it ,
bodies
magical arts
of
will take one
of
sidered very useful
A
those bamboos which are unburnt are con in
of on
,
to
,
long bamboos which are placed them over them and the Brahmins hold on the pile
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
113
.
image of any one he hates
this
arrow
, and pierce it with , which will immediately cause in
tense suffering to the person whom that image represents
How like pretended witchcraft , even in so - called Christian lands ! .
Any
bones that were unconsumed were taken up , and with the ashes cast into the Ganges . And all who had attended the
ceremony had to bathe before they could return to their homes . Miss Gray : " Can you tell the meaning of many of these customs , such , for instance , as putting the red thread round the wrist ?” Old woman : “ No , it is our fashion , our forefathers did it . " Several of the women then told us a number
in for .
,
it ,
have given and one
or
I
if
con
father was
Coolin Brah-
.
My
8
said
a
.
the incidents are from him “
One
:
of
two
my informants represents
have referred
he
see
me the truth
which
as
,
stantly
to
,
Ward's India
to
,
of incidents , some of which I will relate . Every one of these incidents is vouched Several almost exactly similar are related
SHOSHIE ,
114
min .
He had
a great
many wives
,
and many
of them insisted on being burnt with him , that thus they themselves might go to live with the gods in heaven , and that they might be the means of helping some of their friends to get
A
very large pile was made , and thirteen women , wives of my father, stretched there
too
.
, side by side , on this pile , the , oldest wife or rather the first wife , taking her dead husband's head in her arms . The pile
themselves
was then set on fire , and just as it had begun
to blaze , my mother rushed up to it , and told the Gooroo that she too intended to burn herself .
She , with some of the other wives
had been standing
,
near , and her brother- in
law and other relations had been upbraiding her so much for not performing this merito rious act , that she at length mustered courage
to rush to the priest and tell him she would do it .
It took
some minutes for her to go through
the requisite forms of preparation , and during time they were throwing pitch on the
this
fire to make
it
burn more fiercely .
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER By
the time my mother
.
had gone through
the Mantras and other forms necessary courage had all gone escape .
,
115
and then
,
her
she tried
to
But my brother , who was standing
by , would not suffer her thus to disgrace her self and the whole family . He caught hold of her and pushed her into the fire , the flames of which were now spreading wide . To save herself she caught hold of another of my wives who was standing near , and they both fell together into the flames and perished , but only to rise to live with the father's
gods . " Miss
Gray asked
: “ Did the women in promise former times ever their husbands to be
burnt alive with them , should they die first ? " Luckie answered : “ Oh , yes , they often did , and
the
wife
who made this promise
was
generally treated with more love and atten tion in consequence . My father knew a man who had three wives , of whom the youngest had promised with an oath
*
to be burnt with
* An oath is taken by laying the hand on a cow , or on one of the shasters , or by touching fire .
SHOSHIE ,
116
So he loved
,
he
to a he
.
,
said
and
,
.
a
In
burnt
so
,
.
As burnt with him she took all her tight
she would
in
up
jewelry and locked herself and her own room
sent
this
heard
she
home
and direct her
it
as
was dead
,
he
to he
spot
the
,
,
to
away from try would her love
say
relation soon
being
,
“
One
thought
he
coolness
the jewelry and good food
day
be
giving her
and
,
his other wives with great
treated
go
very much
her
to
.
all
him
not be
few hours afterwards her husband
,
,
to
,
her great chagrin and after that and he loved his other she was degraded arrived
had
to
,
sister
husband was
My this
.
oath
broke
Brahmin
he
Her
who
;
.
oath
will happen
such
a
dreadful
a
woman who does break
a
what
grandmother
another old woman
punishment
an
exclaimed
“
but
a
“
,
Oh
”!
."
wives better than her
had
her for though
his mother's house for
week
her he had never ,
after he was first married
a
,
to
was married
to
she had been
at
the day
he
,
he
,
two other wives but one was most terribly crazy and the other had never seen since
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
117
.
cared to see her , and after that she was permitted to go back and remain at her father's house . But my grand - aunt he loved very much , and they had a son grown up . “ The husband went about 200 miles up the country on business , and had sworn a solemn oath
as my
grand - aunt to be burnt with
him when he died , she made him promise , that
if
ever he should
die away
from home
,
he
would give orders to have his body sent home
He did friend
die , about 200 miles from home
sent his
body
down
,
.
and a
to Calcutta in
a
box . “
When it arrived they sent to inform his
. The wife , who had taken the oath , now drew back . She had not the courage to
father
sacrifice
herself
.
She sat in the house
weep
ing .
Her son , who was now a grown man , and her father - in -law , again and again ordered her to go to the pile , and not to bring such disgrace on them , telling her , it was only for this object,
.
to far .
that she might fulfil her vow , that the body was brought so But she wept piteously go and still refused
SHOSHIE ,
118
While they were still trying
to urge her to
go , the crazy wife , hearing
that her husband body was dead , and that his had been brought to Calcutta , declared she would die with him :
Her relations
tried to frighten and stop her ,
but it was of no use .
( They believe
that a way , crazy person , dying in this will become an evil spirit . ) She rushed off to the husband's house and began to abuse most fearfully the wife who was unwilling to die with him . “
Meanwhile , the third wife arrived
and the crazy woman were led Everything had been prepared , crowd had assembled by the wives were brought to look at
which was much
disfigured .
woman , when she saw that
was
,
and she
to the pile . and a large
river . the
The
it , shrieked
,
The
corpse
,
deranged
and declared
not her husband , that
they were
going to burn her with a dead cow . “ It would have been too great a disgrace in those days for a Brahmin not to have one wife burnt with him , so the other poor young thing , who had never seen her husband except at the wedding
ceremony
,
was
seized
and
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
119
.
bound to the loathsome corpse , and perished in the flames ; but my grand - aunt , who ought to have died with her husband afterwards.
All her
was miserable
,
friends hated her , and she
was tormented by fiends and evil spirits , so that a few months after her husband's death , she took poison and killed herself."
Miss Gray asked
Do you
think , then , that any woman was ever voluntarily burnt with her husband ?" Luckie answered a one has been ,
them
, “ Oh
,
“
, yes
,
I believe
many
and many more would
be
now if it were permitted . When once a wo man has declared her intention to die with ,
vanity in
,
many
all
Brahmins , and
her
cases would
to her vow relatives
The
.
would visit of
husband
,
her
induce her to be faithful
frequently give her
;
.
waver
if
last
But ,
to
the
they
drug which confuses the ,
that she
beginning
;
as
to
on
keep up the enthusiasm is
see
talking thus
a
they
,
moment
to
and they keep
as
be
a
,
the her and praise her courage and tell her great glory she would obtain by such death high that she will exalted the gods
I 20
SHOSHIE ,
intellect , so that she will submit to anything , doing whatever she is told . “
The Brahmins
cause hands
encourage her to do it , be
it puts money ;
and
power
into their
her relations urge her on , as it brings
honor and glory to the family , and every one else who comes near her urges her to com plete the sacrifice from motives of fear , as the Hindoos have a superstition that if a woman
voluntarily promise to burn with her husband , and then draw back , the whole community in which she resides will suffer some terrible calamity . “
But it is not only vanity , but the dread of
the life - long suffering which awaits her as a
widow , that makes many a woman die thus willingly with her husband . Without any love
or affection
shown
drudge of the household starve
,
her , the
disgraced
compelled
to almost
herself, with no hope either
world or the
next ,
in
this
her sufferings are such that
many would willingly escape from them
by the cruellest death . Oh is our religion from yours .”
!
,
even
so so different
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER “
Yes , ” said Miss
Gray .
121
.
Your religion
“
teaches that thus the wife can expiate the sins
of the husband . Our Bible says , “ The soul that sinneth , it shall die ' . The father shall not bear the sins of the son , nor the son the sins of the father , but each one shall
bear his
own sins .' One guilty person can not expiate the sins of another guilty one . But God has one great Sin - bearer
innocent
,
There
.
ours
simply
and
peace
severest punishments
upon
,
the fatherless
and
.
that
and the
He threatens
the
those who afflict
,
',
of
the Father
it
trial and us ,
life
of
a
to
,
,
.
live
Our Holy Book teaches
the widow them
ah
."
or distress
and
no more need
all your Holy Books teach you that the is
,
God God
to
the Just for the
do
,
us ,
pardon
and
she lives
suffering
of is
of
if ,
Again
widow
•
,
any sacrifice for sin Christ has done
“
of
,
,
this
will
be
believe
who
is
',
''
is
on the tree , who died unjust and all we have heaven
,
borne our sins in His own body
'
for
Himself , has
to
provided
.
so
,
!
,
We left that house with hearts sad grant day may soon come when God that the
SHOSHIE ,
122
of these oppressed ones shall be broken . " It will come , for He has promised it , and it is indeed a glorious privilege to be the
“
bonds
allowed to help to loose the bonds of these poor prisoners , whom Satan has held captive at his will . After we reached home , Miss Gray read to me , from Ward's India , a well authenticated incident close
which
,
I
subject .
the
before
I
This was the case of
a
will repeat
here
woman who was buried alive with her husband
,
some few of the tribes of India they bury , instead of burning their dead , especially if they are too poor to afford the for amongst
money for a funeral pile . The circumstance I am about
took place about
20
to relate
miles from Calcutta
, a
number of years ago , and is given in the words of an eye - witness : “ On Thursday last one of our best workmen , who
had
brought
been
sick
but
a short
down to the river
was placed
,
as
to expire .
is the custom
and a consultation
time
,
,
was
He
on the bank
,
was held as to the time
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
.
123
The astrologer predicted that The his dissolution at hand . was near sick man was then immersed up to the middle in the river , and there kept for some he would die .
time , but death not being as near as predicted , he was again placed on the beach , extended at full length , and exposed
it
intensely hot .
was
to the sun , where
Here
he
continued
whole of the day , excepting at those intervals when he was supposed to be dying , the
when stream
he was again immersed
in the sacred
.
I visited him in the evening .
“
sible
,
but had not
He was
sen
power of utterance
the
.
however was able to make signs with his hand that he did not wish to drink the
He ,
,
river water , which they kept pouring almost constantly down his throat , by means of a small shell . He remained in this situation all night .
In
commenced
till
the morning the immersions again , and were continued at intervals
five in the evening
was literally murdered “
His wife ,
a young
,
when
he expired
,
or
.
woman
about sixteen
SHOSHIE ,
124
of age , hearing
years
of his death , came to
the desperate resolution of being buried alive with the corpse . She was accompanied by her friends corpse
to the beach
down
lay .
Here
a
small
,
where
branch
the
of the
to her , which , I understood , was setting a seal to her deter mination , from which , after having accepted mango -tree was presented
the branch “ I
,
she could not withdraw .
went to her , and questioned
respect
her with
to the horrid act she was about
to
, whether it was voluntary, or from ; nothing of the latter appeared , it was entirely her own desire . I spoke to her relations of the heinousness of the crime perform
persuasion
they were guilty of, in allowing this young creature thus to precipitate herself into the My presence of her Creator uncalled for. wife , who was with me , spoke mother
and
the daughter
all to no purpose
.
was determined
both to the good deal , but
The mother declared
was the daughter's choice
had gone .
a
,
it
and she added she
to go the road her husband
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER .
125
There was not the least appearance of grief or regret in the mother's face , or conduct . “
A
woman then can forget her sucking child ,
The and forsake the child of her womb ! prophet seemed to think it only possible that there might exist such a monster , but here it was realized
who could
here was a monster of a mother
;
resign
gift
child ,
her the gracious Providence , without the least ent
emotion
to the tomb
alive
unmoved spectator “
could consign
and
,
,
of
,
a
appar
this
child
and herself continue of the horrid deed .
an
At eight a.m. the corpse , accompanied by devoted victim , was conveyed to a
-
this self place
a
little below
our
grounds
,
I
where
repaired to behold the perpetration of a crime
I
could scarcely believe it was possible should be committed by any human being .
which
The corpse was laid on the earth by the river , till a circular grave of almost fifteen feet “
in circumference , and five or six feet in depth was prepared mulas
had
.
The
been
corpse
read , was
bottom of the grave , in
a
,
,
after some
for
placed
the
at
sitting posture , with
SHOSHIE ,
126
the face to the
applying
a
south
,
the
relation
nearest
lighted wisp of straw to the top of
the head . “
The young widow now came forward , and
walked out ,
'
round
the grave
seven times
calling
,
Hŭree Bŭl Hŭree Bŭl , ' in which she
was joined by the surrounding crowd . She then descended into it . I approached within a
foot of the grave to observe if any reluctance
appeared
in her countenance , or any sorrow on that of her relations . In hers no alteration
was perceptible
,
in theirs was the appearance
of exultation . “
She placed herself
in a
sitting posture , with
her face to the back of her husband the corpse with her left her head on his shoulders
embracing
,
arm , and .
reclining
The other
hand
she placed over her own head , with her fore finger erect . The earth was then deliberately put round them , two men being in the grave
for the purpose of stamping it round the living and the dead , which they did , till the earth rose to a level with the
surface , or
three feet above the heads of the
two or
entombed
.
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER Not
a
.
127
parting tear was observed to be shed
by any of her relations , till the crowd began to disperse , when the usual lamentations and howling commenced .” When Miss Gray had finished reading , we knelt together , and praised our Heavenly Father that these were now things of the past , it being very rarely that such scenes take place now . If they are done , it has to
We away in a corner . praised Him , that the Day - Star from on high was beginning to rise over this dark land , and
be in secret
,
hid
scattering the deep clouds of ignorance and cruelty , and we prayed Him to send forth more laborers into this harvest , that the time
might be hastened , when none should need to say to the other , “ Know the Lord , for all should know
Him , from
the
least
Then He shall the widow's heart to sing for joy . " greatest . "
even to
“ cause
the
128
SHOSHIE
IX
.
the
bonds
the
and Isaiah
op
lvü
. 6 .
to
loose
, let
to
?
house where we
by
entering
a
in
day
OPE taught
have chosen
heavy burdens break every yoke
.” , —
ye
,
go
,
wickedness undo pressed free and that
NE
Habits .
I
fast that
not this
the
Is
of
“
to the
Customs and
.
.
clean sarree
,
by
,
however
widow
.
not
,
looked very ridiculous
,
married woman
a
,
her head we perceived
,
a
on
she was
the top
only her eyes were jewelry but the red
that no
She wore
.
visible
so
,
her face
of
over
up
on a
.
She had
all
a
,
a
to
lady
very fine white cloth which she had
spot
most be at
,
us
beg she besought
pice give her On looking perceived that she must moment we
Zenana
of a
to
ing out her hand piteously her
a
at
-
,
,
,
the door really uttering bitterly and woman weeping Hold the most heart rending lamentations we were met
that What
was the tail
Traun
INDIA OF COW SACRED OR ZEBU
,
.
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER of
a
.
129
calf tied to one end of the sarree , and
hanging down to her feet . she increased
As
her lamentations
we approached , and her peti
,
tions for alms , but I could not learn from her why she was thus begging, as she looked most unlike a beggar.
: On
entering
the house , we asked who she
why she was thus begging . In commiseration , one of the women told us her story . She was a Zenana lady, the wife of a very rich Baboo , who lived was , and
of deep
tones
near by . A few days previously , she had gone down - stairs to cook , and she threw a piece of wood across the court, when a young calf , a few days old , ran out from under the shed . The wood , which was heavy , acci
dentally hit the calf, knocking it down in two or three hours it died .
To
,
and
have killed a calf, even accidentally , was
a dreadful sin , and , in consequence , she had to perform a great penance to expiate this crime .
to several holy walking and begging the way lady she had servant with
.
go
to
a
,
Being
,
a
places
all
She must go on a pilgrimage
SHOSHIE ,
I 30
her , to tend and take care of her ,
till
she had
begged money enough to give a great enter tainment to a hundred Brahmins , and to give to each a good sum besides . When she had done this , they would restore her to her caste .
Her husband was rich
commiseration
had
to
been
of
this
sarree
,
her
crime
tones
tell The
the deepest
.
old woman told
her
all
what
.
to
the time fast
everybody
saw that Miss Gray though she felt great ,
I
and she must wear that calf's
in
must beg it
tail all
and offered to give her
,
but no , that would not do , she
,
all ,
the money
people
,
,
.
depress and make
,
the manners
heathen
,
in
much
poor
,
my
so
was
of
customs
it ,
to
.
it
there
to
It
though and
to
very difficult restrain her mirth did really seem too ridiculous Afterwards speaking she said that me about
found in
a
so
to
pity for this poor woman who would have silly superstition yet suffer much for
country ,
so
.
,
a
to
to
a
Christian sad absurdly very customs were European that they could not ridiculous fail excite mirth yet those
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
.
131
next day , in visiting another house , we learnt some more of the heathen rites and The
customs
of
,
but these failed to excite
us , any merriment
women's
court there
respectable
properly
.
At
in either
of the
one end
is generally , in
houses , a small room
a shed , in
,
,
or
most more
which the cow is kept .
It is about twelve feet square . It is raised just one step above the ground of the sur rounding court . We had noticed , the previous week , that a piece of matting had been stretched across this shed , dividing it into two , and that the cow still retained possession of one - half , while the floor of the other half had been
beaten
flat , and
then
smoothed
over
with a plaster made of earth and cow - dung . This , strange as you may think it , makes a very smooth , clean flooring , perfectly in odorous ; and it has the advantage of keeping away white ants , and other insects , and when in any way soiled or broken , can easily be smoothed
We
over again with the same mixture .
had observed
this shed arranged
so , but
did not know for what purpose this was done
.
SHOSHIE ,
132
On the day of which
I
speak , we saw one
of our young pupils , Kaiminee , standing in side this hut , looking very sad . She was leaning against the doorpost , and looked utterly woe - begone , while , generally , she was bright and cheerful. Miss Gray directly went to her , and asked her what was the matter . At first she did not answer
only turning her head away ; renewing her inquiries
,
but upon Miss Gray's
the poor, young thing burst into a flood of tears . Miss Gray sat
in the tenderest tones
step of the door , and made down beside her She however
,
,
the
.
on
Kaiminee
sit
down
,
on for
her down child only fourteen soothing and caressing -
,
was but
a
—
.
of
go
,
or
of
,
took great care that she did not let her feet any the door over the sill her body she Miss Gray drew the poor child's head and spoke words to her
:
,
?
at
Miss Gray said Why being polluted shall pollute you ."
I
?
“
Are you not afraid do you touch me
of
,
,
her sobs and looking
the poor girl hushed up
few minutes
,
After
a
.
,
breast
A HINDOO WOMAN OF SOUTHERN INDIA , OF LOW CASTE, DRESSEDIN HER JEWELS.
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
133
.
Poor child ," said Miss Gray, “ you cannot pollute me . Nothing but my own sins against “
God can pollute me . matter with you ?"
But tell me what is the
Then , with many tears and sobs , Kaiminee said
:
“ Oh !
I
am sure
I
must
have
been
very wicked in a former birth , for Kali is very angry with me . Just two years ago , I had a dear , little baby born , and in one week it died .
I
knew then that Kali was angry with me , and I sent and offered a goat in sacrifice , and now the gods gave me another dear , little baby , and he only lived three hours , when
Kali
breathed upon him , and he was gone , only and , a week ago , I sent another goat in sacrifice to her , but you see she hates me.” While she had been speaking , her mother had come and seąted herself on the ground in the court But , ”
at a little distance
I
down here in this miserable
you not up in your
room
“
why are you
shed
?
Why
are
?"
by
the shed , there was nothing but a strip
of matting on the floor , for her to
on
In
.
said to Kaiminee ,
sit
“
,
SHOSIIIE , piece
of
a
,
at
lie
night and
wood
pillow
.
for
a
day , or to
on
134
my babe was must not go
!
I
,
:
“
Kaiminee answered Oh only born three days ago and
,
,
it
most was
“
is
better
.
Though
,
is
“
? "
I
But why are you here asked very your room comfortable not
it
.
a
,
of
,
-
This poor little child mother mourned bitterly the loss her babe though only few hours old
.
of
."
he
if
-
,
to
my room till the time he would have had lived been twenty eight days old grief And then followed another burst up
."
than this damp place
then ,
go
,
of
the poor little
this sick
lived
there
"
,
dead
was
she answered old
.
.
babe
is
the
an
While
out
her
asked Miss Gray
,
"? !
Oh
the mother
.
But who takes care
it
“
then
when the
”
till
mother
“
-
is
The mother must not
.
“
place
born
of to
And
up
.
the cow shed
twenty eight days old child and child may both together room
be
that every child must -
here
you not know
go
in
,
our custom
Do
: “
Her mother answered
Coolic
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER all
is
but now
paying
."
,
is
brought Kaiminee she wanted the child dead there no use >> her
,
of the child , and
care
in
took
who
woman
135
.
you
are her mo
"
,
said Miss Gray
!"
“
No
.
a
be
,
to it
is
be so
sit
be
is
to
nurse and take
from
I
can't do
it ,
up
. ”
the must
she sat down again
then
,
and
I
jumped Oh
!
,
! ”
,
do
great
throbbing very hard you just come and
mother
and cried
it
not
must
and bathe her head
poor
The ground
,go
when
side her
sad
able
Her head
her
I
now
;
care
.
of
to
,
Poor child she you comfort
: “
to
do
.
I
,
suppose you ther you love her very much everything like for her she wants
,
it
It
“
:
do
against our would pollute would me and break my
She answered custom
be
? "
it
:
“
.
rocking herself and moaning Why must you not Miss Gray asked for your own child
. "
caste
the birth
a
them
of
that prevail amongst
on
of
,
of
a
,
questions Miss Gray Then by series drew from her some account the customs
SHOSHIE ,
136
child . All the time they were talking , Miss Gray sat on the step of the shed , Kaiminee lying beside her , with her head on Miss Gray's
lap , whilst she was softly stroking the poor girl's throbbing temples . First Miss Gray asked :
Why child
can you not take care of your own
?"
The old woman answered
After a baby
:
the mother must not come out of that shed for twenty - eight days . If the child lives , a very low caste Coolie woman waits upon her , and takes care of the child , and brings the mother her food . This is always is born
,
brought to her on a plantain leaf, for on no account must she touch the brass plates that are generally used .
could make
No amount of cleaning pure again , but the plan them
tain leaf can be thrown away dies , the nurse is dismissed
,
.
If
the child
and then some of
the women of the house bring the mother's food to her . They place it on the ground outside of the shed , but near enough for her to stretch out her hand and reach it . The
THE HINDOO ZENANA
TEACHER
137
other women must not go into the shed , or be touched by her , or touch anything at the it , or they would be polluted . Both mother and child are kept very warm , and no matter how hot the weather is , a fire is kept going in the hut same time
she touches
almost the whole time , so that it is filled with smoke
,
and they are kept in a constant
of perspiration higher
the
.
bath among This is the custom
castes ;
amongst
the
lower
,
a
woman will often return to her work , the day after the birth of her child .
Amongst
“
the wealthier Hindoos , an
oger is informed
astrol
of the time of the child's
birth , and his horoscope is cast , to see whether he will be lucky or unlucky, and the astrologer then writes down what will be his future fate .
This
paper the father carefully keeps , to
com
pare the events with the prediction . This is seldom done when the child is a girl . If the child is a boy , the father sees it when it is ten
; if
days old
;
it
is a
it , or the mother , The father selects
girl , he does not see either till the twenty - eighth day . a name for the
child when
·
SHOSHIE ,
138
it
is a few days old , and frequently it is the
name of one of the gods
, as
it is considered
a
merit , even to mention the name of one of the gods
;
if
so
a child has that name , whenever
he is called or spoken
of, it helps
to add
merit to the speaker . " Poor Kaiminee , at this , began to weep bit terly again , and Miss Gray thought it was best to leave her , and not excite her any So , telling her she would
more .
come
and
talk to her about her thinking of the cruelty
see her soon again , and
child ,
we
left
of those
her
,
customs
which deprived
a
poor
,
mother of the most ordinary comforts , and even of the solace of having dear ones to minister to her . I thought sick , bereaved
of what I had seen of sickness amongst English ladies , and how for them everything that
the
tenderest
care
and
most
devoted
bestow was done and oh ! how that the day might soon come when these poor women should have their share of love
could
,
I prayed
love and tenderness
.
The Gospel of Jesus is
the thing that every woman
should aim to
all
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
139
.
Thus only can woman liberated from heç slavery continually How went from house house with my dear lady was led the
earth
,
tender Father
to
I
the great
God
,
to
thankfulness
lift
I
as
,
,
in
,
my heart my loving
up to
.
be
over
.
spread
who had saved me be
house
sorrow
it
this
,
leaving
After
of
!
to
,
,
.
,
.
a
May my heart ever lot filled with thanksgiving and my lips with praise Oh how great has been His love and tender poor unworthy me mercy from such
that the next we entered they happy mother was were holding festival rejoicing and great feast was being held ,
were being
certain ceremonies
performed
as
A
.
a
,
a
,
at
happened
for
.
be
,
to
was
entertainment
the Brahmins
.
given
to
consequently
an
to
,
of
on
two her children the same day The just younger one was six months old and that day they began feed him with rice and
.
been hung about
been erected
,
had
-
mango leaves
the court
,
wreaths
a
and
In
,
washed
of
The house had been cleaned and white small
had shed
near which the Brahmins
SHOSHIE ,
140
Presently the mother came in , closely veiled , carrying her babe , and sat down under the shed . The Gooroo , or family priest ,
were seated
.
got up and offered
then
of rice ,
sacrifice
a
to the nine planets the same time repeating over a number
fruits , and sweetmeats ,
any ceremony
widows
never can
festival came averting )
in
take part
or
of the house (
women
at of
When this was over , the married for
Mantras .
,
of
,
near and performed the ceremony
,
.
She
,
it .
were casting evil eye upon ceremony was over the women
Had very
speak
child think
or to
her
would directly
a
.
must never
the
,
You
an
fat
.
it
would have been
about the beauty
mother
call
the evil eye
of
.
,
the lamp gone out unpropitious sign
avert
it
This
to
.
child
is
seven times round the head and face
you
After this
ran off
a
,
it
moved
of
the
both hands and with the lamp burning
a
Each
plate with
to
oil , of
and placed
lighted
then
turn took hold
rice paste
,
,
and
,
,
in
a
woman
was filled with
plate
brass
made
of
,
from rice flour on
lamp
little
,
queer
,
A
.
the evil eye
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER corner of the court to worship the god
This was only
the future
,
and from which
This for the time
eat his food
.
was
being
to
he
,
maternal uncle
its
present
a
by
made
which had to the child , by ,
been
of the
a brass plate
in
.
141
,
plate
.
,
a
this plate
,
earth
each clasping her hands
made
,
,
then
the god
and
deep
a
on
of
quantity
small
of
a
.
,
god into some Mantras uttered by the Gooroo They threw had been turned
the plate
,
it
taken place
now took the babe out
There the father and ,
,
economically
,
case
,
this
disposed
father
the
being
,
the one for his eldest boy
age had ,
of
the
for
was making
feast serve two purposes
just three years
that had been dyed which finished the now ready
,
but
in
,
feast
head
They were
.
ceremony
the child's
,
,
on
,
.
the Gooroo put some rice
through
a
servant
into the men's court red
the women's
go
,
court but
had
in
this
to
All
a
retired
.
,
.
it
to
obeisance after which they brought beside the and placed child they Then rubbed the child's lips with boiled rice after which the women
SHOSHIE ,
142
ceremony about this time , therefore both were
fixed for the same day . the age of two or three
years
,
head must be shaved for the first time
A
chalk geometrical
.
In of
a
which a square had been marked and within this square number each other
and a
beneath
,
off
had been erected in the men's court
figures intersected
,
small shed in
feast given to the Brahmins .
a boy's
,
At
the middle ,
of
-
,
This image has five faces
.
,
Siva
face three eyes
each
Most persons clay image made for just the time
of
.
in
have
a
the forms
and
of
of
an
of
a
of
rice measure the square they placed god image one the Panchŭnŭnee and
it
is
,
in
the past the present ,
.
of
the god
is
,
,
omniscience
,
over thrown The three eyes denote the
the feast and after this
into the Ganges
.
and the future
this god they make offerings cocoa sugar then The barber and betelnuts nuts leaving boy's shaved the head tuft hair
.
grow long
stood looking
of
a
.
,
This the Hindoos always per on ,
mit
.
the crown
to
on
,
,
,
of
To
All till
who had been invited
the barber had finished
After
the time
this was over
In
.
.
repeating Mantras great feast followed
,
the Gooroo , during
143
,
,
.
a
the operation
all
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
Before
position
chosen when the moon
thought
certain
as to
I
if
,
a
separate day for each
to
go
and tell so
it
I
two astrologers may one rite only ,
he
them each
of
,
feast but
will choose
if
,
I
.
Now tell the trologer that have the two ceremonies perform
in
and the father knew that generally a
;
either
the astrologer must
performed
is in
day
is
a
consulted
worldly wisdom
any such rite
,
is
these
he
of
.
this matter
The father
be
great deal
of
a
had shown
the Brahmins
.
the blessings
as
of
,
this house the mother was looking very happy for her two boys were both receiving
chance
it
,
so
that they will both select the same day and turned for the two ceremonies
are
and
these
such constant
all of
,
poojahs
,
sweetmeats
of
the
deal
they make festivals recurrence
and for
the house
labor for days beforehand
feasts always great
,
these as a
of
The preparations give the women
for
.
out
SHOSHIE ,
144
one or another
they are
in
a
large
household
that
,
to our work .
a great hindrance
This day we had passed out of the house of mourning
,
into
In
,
as
this
land
the
of rejoicing . sorrow and joy
house
elsewhere
are side by side , the songs
,
of mirth , and the
voice of wailing .
Going home , Miss Gray remarked how much Christians might learn , even of idolaters , to let their religion mingle do .
It
should
in everything they
not be an occasional
part and parcel of their every - day life .
act
,
but
USUCH SNY
VW
THE PRIEST CASTING A BABE INTO THE GANGES.
.
145
is
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
eternal
X. of Souls . of
God
vi .
." -
;
is
of
wages gift “ For sin death but ROMANS life through Jesus Christ our Lord
23 .
the
the
Transmigration
in
and this has
us
!
every class But the Hindoos the transmigration souls very bad effect upon society
.
,
of
of
.
it
not fully believe
a
know
!
!
to
of
,
H
that the poor Hindoos knew any thing the eternal life promised through Jesus Christ they Alas alas
is
of
,
sympathy for the sufferer others
,
and
pity
and
,
feeling
are apt
to
existence
,
a
instead
of
a
former state
of
,
committed consequently
in
in
of
,
;
I
I
think have mentioned this before because every trouble that befals them now con punishment sidered the light sins
is
10
is
he
,
, "
of ?
as
,
if
,
look upon him with apathy and indifference they say not with contempt Oh only suffering the penalty former
SHOSHIE ,
146
crimes ,"
and
thinks there
he himself feels is no hope
and therefore the sooner
despair
.
He
for him in this life , he dies the better
;
and that possibly in the next birth he may be better off .
I
will try in this chapter
to give you some notion of the strange ideas of a future life possessed by the Hindoos , though they are so varied that it is very hard to know what they really believe . Some castes seem to believe one thing , and others will believe quite dif ferently ; so you must never be astonished if you
hear
very contradictory
regard to the inhabitants
stories
of India .
with
Accounts
you , both perfectly true , and yet quite inconsistent with each other . may be given
I shall
tell you are the ideas of the women , drawn out gradually at different times in conversation with them , when we were talking to them on the subject of death and immortality . What
There are many sins which a Hindoo may commit , for which he may offer an atonement , and then the sin will be forgiven him ; but if
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER . he do not offer the right atonement
,
147
he must
suffer terribly in the next life . the sin of killing a Brahmin , even
For
acci
dentally , a man must give to the Brahmins three hundred and sixty cows , with their calves , annually , or he must offer up his own life . If he have killed a Brahmin's cow , he must have his head shaved ; for thirty days he must
dwell with cows , and eat nothing but barley boiled in cow's urine , and wear about him part cow's skin
Then , for two months
.
must only eat once a day . the herd of cows
,
At night ,
for
but
man
all
,
of
a
.
for
low caste
he
insects
must
killing
a
that
is
Sudra
,
the same atonement
to
be
of to
thousand
make
the Brahmins ,
kill
paid
.
a
man
a
If
these sums have
to
paid
different animals
There are different prices causing the death
gains
the Brahmins be
to
,
an
atonement
must beg he
and then
.
;
-
,
after herding them , cross legged and watch them
twelve years and whatever
must give
he
and eat the dust thrown up
the night
as
for
the most
up
he must
of sit
by their feet .
,
He must follow
he he
a
as
of
SHOSHIE ,
148
One atonement
,
which
is made for many
small offences , is truly vile . matter
The offender , no
of what caste he may be , from
highest
the
is compelled
to the lowest to eat for three days , as his only food , a mixture made of the excrements of the cow , milk , ,
clarified butter , and curds .
This vile com
pound is given for many of the lesser sins .
It
is supposed
goes immediately
that after death the soul before the judgment - seat
of Zămă , the judge of the dead , and , according to his sins or merits , he will then be sent to pass some time in hell , in torments heaven
of the gods in happiness
or in the
, ,
before
turning to this world in some other
re
form
.
After passing through innumerable births in the form of different animals , when he returns into man's form he will still bear some trace of his former good or evil deeds . Just to take one or two examples has killed an enemy
.
He who
even in war will be cast into hell , afterwards he will become first a deer , then a tiger , a dog , a fish , a man , and , in the last state , he will die of the palsy . ,
,
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
149
.
He who eats good food , without giving any to others , will be punished in hell thirty thou sand years
,
and then he will be born a musk
rat , then a man whose body emits an offensive
smell .
A
man who steals
hundred
then
For stealing
last , be a consumptive
For other birth with scrofula
who
,
be in hell one he will
one or two other birds
diseased man .
A
years
thousand
crow , then the
rice , will
,
be a
then a
alms , he will , at ,
or a blind man .
sins he will be punished in another asthma , or cancer , leprosy , or
.
woman despises
who is her
a
disobedient
husband
,
will
wife , or suffer
an
infinite variety of exquisite torments in hell , and then be born a female , to be married
only to lose her husband very soon , and be widow .
a
Thus you see most of the sufferings that flesh is heir to , are supposed to be inflicted in strict justice for crimes committed in a former state
of existence
,
and thus the poor sufferer
receives very little compassion from others
.
SHOSHIE
150
A
,
week or two after the death of her child ,
we visited Kaiminee .
She had then
left the
cow - shed , and was up - stairs in her own room
.
The poor girl had not got over her grief ; she still mourned deeply for the loss of her babe . Oh
!
if she
now
was
;
only know where her babe in what form it now existed !
could
When we told her of the multitude
of babes
around the throne of God in heaven , it seemed
to her as if we mocked . Oh ! how gladly would she believe it if she could ! She sat on the floor, rocking herself backwards and for wards
to
,
and moaning
become
At length
.
she seemed
indignant , and she
exclaimed
,
“ What have I ever done that I am thus terribly afflicted ? I cannot see that I have
done
any harm
does
Kali
thus
childhood . Why persecute me ? Why did my
from
Sheve give me a child
,
and then let
Kali
take
it away ? What did I do to you , oh ! bloody , cruel goddess ? never injured you , you knew I had none else , you knew looked to
I
I
this child to be my staff , and now you have
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER . taken him away
will
.. Oh
!
151
you wicked goddess
,
I
you ."
burn
Whilst she was speaking , another woman , The her sister - in - law , entered the room . new - comer
seated
herself
Kaiminee ,
beside
and began beating her breast . “ Oh ! sister , ” she said , “that wicked Kali , she has taken she has not left me one
. "
mine
,
taken
all
your child also , she is full of injustice , she has
,
you must have committed
,
I
many crimes otherwise
cannot see why you
this dreadful
You
manner
.
suffer
in
should
is
?
,
It
, “
,
on
in
births
former
do
,
The old mother who was sitting by turned Why you throw round angrily and said your own fault blame the goddess
of
I
in I
are
for the sins suffer thus
be
!
former life
many births
not cast upon me now why do ,
till
? ”
oh
the sins
are
suffer
my sufferings
am now suffering
if
;
of
many births
have
.
.
and
I
,
widow
describable
.
am
a
you have expiated the sins
and now yours
to
life
You will
a
taken from you
of
your former
,
child
in
.
in
have done nothing but good things this birth You must have injured some one's
SHOSHIE ,
152
Then , turning to the bereaved mothers , she said , “ See ! you have two meals of food a day , while I never have but one ; you have
,
great are my sorrows
water
.
of
must
I Oh
how many sins
I
food
month and then
not even have one drop
all
nice
the
.
manner
at
how
!
be present
can never
I
eat
must fast twice
I
while of
can
,
,
and
,
feasts
you
;
a
any
have
of ornaments all
all manner
must
,
of
us
reward and punishment
in
of
places
if
!”
formerly have committed Miss Gray asked this poor woman she anything could tell her belief about the the other
.
world
who writes
a
was
man
looks
good
or
that
dies the scribe he
“
.
of
.
,
or
bad
You
the dead
,
or he
as
,
and has everything nice
,
hears fine music
eat and beautiful ,
where
he
,
happiness
to
,
has been good Zumŭ sends people lead him the
to
beautiful
of
abode
secretary
see whether
he
.
bad man
to
his books
soon
If
at
,
does and
most
scribe
the judge
everything good as
down
,
He keeps
a
must know that Zūmŭ
answered
a
she directly is
"
, "
yes
to
Oh
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
.
153
to wait on him . He has multitudes of jewels , and gold ornaments , and myriads women
of sweet perfumes scent the air .” what , ” said Miss Gray , “are the meritorious deeds by which a man can gain this heaven ? " “
But
He
has to perform a great many . I will you tell some . He must bathe often in the holy waters of the Ganges . He must often “
feast the Brahmins ; he must give great gifts to the Brahmins ; he must offer sacrifices ; he must build temples the gods
;
,
or set up images of
he must dig wells , or set up sheds ,
or caravansaries
by the side of the road
as
resting - places for pilgrims . He must go on pilgrimages to holy places , or die at one of
He
these .
obedience woman
,
must
pay perfect
to his family priest
implicit But for a
and .
the only way to enter heaven , is to
be burnt with the body of her dead husband She is then
promised
for thousands of years
a residence .
It
.
in heaven
is also very
meri
torious to die by the side of the Ganges with the body partly immersed in it .
,
or
SHOSHIE ,
154
But , " said Miss Gray , " except the going on a pilgrimage , and dying by the Ganges , all the other meritorious deeds can only be per formed by rich men .
What becomes of the all
poor ?" they , with a sigh : “ Oh , try and good they can hopes that the next birth they as
as
be
to
for
go
of to
them
it
hope
im
.”
,
no
and then may hope
heaven but they have inediately after this life
to
rich
,
may
in
,
be
be
now
in is to
do ,
She answered can
Miss Gray then spoke
some to
,
of
,
its
,
, "
as
."
as
all
of
on
time the religion Jesus glories that gave heaven with the poor money well the rich without and They sighed but could not without price the beauty
,
“
some
The
.
no
might perform
was not
matter
,
deeds
must go
I
meritorious
,
with my husband
I
burnt
I
,
about that for there
I
must know something so
I
“
she said
.
Yes
",
“
.
of
“
",
Now tell me said Miss Gray thing about the abode the wicked poor woman moaned and groaned
."
.
believe
what
must go
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER for
there
time
a
Before
155
.
those , who
are wicked , reach the palace of Zúmŭ , they have .
be
to
.
,
he
a
In
.
a
and says
or
appears
he
,
to
.
of
palace Zămă To the good very beautiful but the wicked like hideous monster voice
of
,
,
,
who pull them the nose At length they may reach the neck .
or
frightful look -
dragged along
,
they may ing beings
sometimes
;
noises
and hideous
he
terri
they may hear
ble screams
hair
and thirsty
by by
without food
;
;
drink
tear them
wild animals who
be hungry
may
or
will
They
around
of
water , or stones falling may meet with all sorts
all
to travel many thousands of miles , sometimes over pavements of fire , and showers of burn ing cinders , or sharp instruments , scalding
looks
thunder
?
.
in
,
them
: '
What have continually you done You have lived sin Did you never hear that there were speaks
of
hells for the punishment the day you To shall see what those
no
of
be
use
in
You
their minds
have pleased yourselves
sin now weeping will ,
in
.
ligion
.' ”
receive who do not give
to
-
wicked
?
different
re
living
SHOSHIE ,
156
He then orders
his scribe to examine
his
records against each individual, and , according
to their deeds , he sends them to the different places of punishment . Alas ! alas ! unhappy me , for what a fate am
I
destined
.
The Poorannas teach that there are several different
hells
heavens , and
and
that the
souls go to one or other of these places death has ,
after
The Brahmin saint , or holy man , who
.
by constant austerities
and meditation ,
become the possessor
of divine wisdom when immediately he ascends to the heaven of Brahma , and there becomes absorbed in the divine nature . A Sudra can never , by any dies ,
possibility , ascend higher than the lowest heaven , and his only hope is that , after re peated births , he may at last return sometime as a Brahmin .
It
is very seldom
think ,
that any of the Hindoos
themselves as much did about her future destiny . generally are very stoical . They say : woman
or trouble
as
this
They " It is
my fate , it is written on my forehead , what can I do ?" and they will not think of it .
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER .
157
Miss Gray tried to tell these poor women of the joys of heaven , which God had prepared for those who love Him . She told them of the
precious
Saviour
,
whose
cleanse from every sin , even
blood
the
could
vilest , and
who could and would save those who would but come to Him , from the penalty of their sins ,
“
blotting out all the handwriting that
was against them
.”
She told
of His
sufferings
and death for man , all men , every one who
would come unto
Him and be saved .
But,
her words were to them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice , and “ lo !
can play well on believed it not .
an instrument , ” but they
SHOSHIE ,
158
XI
.
Brahmins . “ Woe unto you , scribes and Pharisees , hypocrites ! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter , but within they are full of extortion and excess. ” —MATT. xxiii . 25.
NE
, when we went to teach in the house of Luckie , where they were Brah mins , we found that a great feast was in pro gress . Upon inquiring , Luckie informed us day
O
.
that her son was being invested with the Poita , or Brahminical thread , that is , he was being made a Brahmin . Why , " said Miss Gray , were Brahmins by birth ." “
“
I
thought you
said Luckie , “we are and we are None but one who is born of Brahmin
Well ,"
not .
parents can be a Brahmin . is not a than
Brahmin ,
a Sudra ,
till
But such an one
he is of no higher caste he is
invested
with the
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER thread left
.
It
159
.
is simply a cord worn over the
shoulder
and under
consists of three twists
of
right one . It cotton formed of
the
right to wear this , are as proud of it as any Emperor smaller threads
.
Those who have
a
of his bit of ribbon denoting that some order has been conferred
just as sensible
on him , and possibly it is
.
The cord has been made by the Brahmins ; they themselves gather the cotton and spin the threads , so
that no profane hands may boy is invested with it at the
touch it . A age of from eight to fourteen , at the time the astrologer appoints . The feasts , etc. , cost a , so that if the Brahmin , boy , is poor , it is considered the father of the a very meritorious deed to give him money to
great deal of money
help to pay this expense . “ My husband , ” continued rich
,
Luckie ,
“
was
and his brother takes care of his money
and he allows me very little to live
that he can afford to spend this feast for my son
a good
on
,
,
so
deal on
.”
The feast lasts from three to five days , and
SHOSHIE ,
160
quantity of fruit, sweetmeats
a great
curries,
,
etc. , must be provided , besides pieces of cloth and brass dishes which must be distributed
to the guests , of which the astrologer and the Gooroo come in for a large share . The as trologer must be consulted as to the most propitious year , month , week , day and hour ,
veritable
He then offers him
sacrifice
and after this
is be
a
cow pro
stone
by the Gooroo
.
god
mud and
an
is
,
that
in
, of
if
god
it ,
is
made
that cannot
of
changed into
insense
and
I
being
though
rub the boy with
,
a
,
about him give him new cloth blacken his eyelids and swing burning ,
hang ornaments
it oil , is a
son's feast
this
,
take part )
my own
was explaining
married women in
"
us ,
widow cannot
the
who
(
said Luckie
,
.
Then this
to , ”
-
rice tinged red
all
of
-namely
few Mantras over a
nouncing
cone
represent
a
,
to
dung
a
obtained
a
,
or
conical black stone
must
which he as
in
generally worshipped
the form
be
there
most
Sheve
.
,
these ceremonies
image
of
At
,
all
when the ceremony should commence
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER lamps
161
.
around him to keep off the evil eye .
Then follow an infinite three
four days
be
he
if
.
each guest
number of ridiculous
ceremonies
which
occupy
during all which time the At one time the feasted
carry
.
are being
guests
my boy's
,
or
unmeaning
and
, ,
gifts
to
,
his uncle
,
case
the house
presents
,
,
dead the male head
the boy
of
the father
of
,
assembled
in or
all
Then they have a grand feast , and this is all that is done the first day . The next day , after the guests have
large
copper
,
to it
,
a
.
,
it
,
about
a
vessel into which they put water and decorate god with flowers and then becomes they which bow and offer incense women
pots
,
of
the Gooroo and
is
some earth from
a
get
white ants and put
;
nest
The women
into five earthen astrologer say some it
lowing
:
.
of
,
of
The Gooroo and astrologer place the cord around the neck and another series cere the fol One them monies takes place
by
in
11
,
at
is ,
.
to
,
so
many Mantras over these and they become gods whom they bow down and offer length concluded sense The whole
SHOSHIE
162
,
the host again presenting gifts to each guests
of his
of cloth , ornaments and money . These feasts cost immensely : it is on these that the Hindoos spend their money , not on home comforts . After a boy has been in ,
thread , he may then marry , as soon as his father can afford it . Sometimes he is made a Brahmin , or comes to the sacred birth , as they call it , at the age of three or four , whatever time the astrologer
vested with the sacred
points out as most propitious
.
Miss Gray asked Luckie whether , if she
con
had been permitted , she could have scientiously joined in these foolish rites
for
;
we had begun to hope that she was almost a
Christian . “
Yes , she could
other
in
not believe
it ,
a
;
and what
to
things
little
make
,
is
I
though the women
wicked
those
and
am sure they do
I
,
am sure
ay worship
it , to it
but
fun
do )
poojah
(p
of
"
, "
,
.
The which the priests call gods things said she are only nonsense bit
in
except worshipping these ridiculous things
you
do
all ,
She laughed , and said ,
think my
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER boy told me last night
163
.
There is one part of
?
the ceremony in which the father , or guardian
,
is supposed to whisper
a Mantra in the boy's ear , which no one else may hear , and his uncle whispered this to him , “ My son remem ber this
,
Master ,
the
King ,
and Him ought adore
God only , the the Maker of all things ,
that there
is one
every Brahmin in secret
to
but you must remember also that this
;
is a secret that you must not tell . The boy , Gopal, however , who is almost a Christian ,
He submitted
to this rite , not from any idea of
being
a
.
its
told this to me , his mother
if
,
a
to to
,
.
used generally
learn from them more ,
Miss Gray there try such times
their attention
to
,
learn
the
their minds
was almost impossible at
command
customs
,
,
the house that
fore
were
for even
taken up with the noise and confusion
of
so
pretend
it
in
were
we found
our work
to
would
women
feasts
to
great hindrance
,
These different
.”
in
,
it
religious rite but simply because would give him his standing the community
and they were
their manners
then
always
and
much
SHOSHIE ,
164
more communicative were Brahmins
,
In
.
this house , as
she wanted
all
to find out from
more about the privileges
them something that caste .
of
Formerly ,” said Luckie , Brahmins were held in much higher estimation than they are at present . It was even considered a great "
merit for a Sudra ( low caste man ) to drink the water in which a Brahmin had washed his
you would frequently see a poor Sudra going about with a cup of water , and asking a Brahmin to dip his toe in it , and
feet , and
then he would drink it . " “
That ," interrupted an old woman
,
"
you
Respect for the Brahmins But every family still has its
seldom see now .
dying out . Gooroo , or family priest
is
. All Gooroos must be Brahmins, but all Brahmins are not Goo
roos." But
I
do not understand
Sit
said Miss Gray .
by
“
the difference , "
,
“
"
in
,
.
I
,
down here me said Luckie and will try and explain All Brahmins are holy men but some are engaged different “
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER . kinds of business or professions
165
; but a Goo
roo's profession schoolmaster
,
is to teach . He may be a teaching the boys at school , and
he
,
of
a
a
is
there are always
every feast but the Gooroos
pre have thrice the number And as the Brahmins any others of
,
lower caste Brahmin cooks have always
ment appointed Perhaps
they get
A of
are easily supplied
.
these
Brah
.,
for them you will wonder where
plates enough for many hundreds but
are
the entertain
guests
,
,
mins
unless the household
prepare the portion
of
,
engaged
to
be
a
must not eat any food prepared by persons
to of
.
of
must always sents
deed great
,
to
Brahmin
very meritorious
it
as
,
a
to
feast
many invited
and those
great many others
,
.
assist him and
a
,
He may have
under
in
be
,
his charge must the same caste every ceremony he must be the leader houses
Goo
own
takes
at
Each family must have roo and all the families that duties .
to
its
also teaching different families their religious
plantain
,
a
, in
,
at
these enter leaf always serves for the plate tainments and fact Brahmin never uses
SHOSHIE ,
166
any other , as it would pollute him to eat off a plate that had ever possibly been used by any other individual , no matter how much it might have been cleansed . "
Are
of the Gooroo and the
the services
Brahmins often used Lackie laughed .
?" “
asked Miss Gray .
You
have
said
often
what we did with our money ,"
you wondered
it goes . There are thousands of Brahmins that are just main tained entirely by the gifts of the people ; and she
said , “
but that is where
All offerings to the belong gods to the Brahmins . Then one , or more Brahmins are called , fed , and feasted me tell you how .
six months old the child two
avert the evil eye three years old
.
has it's
,
When
it
.
a
.
,
a
,
the boy is a
age
is
a
to
four years
his letters then there
Again
,
.
again
At
old ,
it's ears bored Then given great many
he is
first taught
if
. -
Brahmins
a few days
The ceremony
of
,
head shaved and great feast must
name
be
is
,
When it is
or to its
birth of a child . at the giving of
The
.
at
on each one of these several occasions
feast
Brahmin boy when ,
let
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER he is invested
with the Poita
his marriage
and again
;
. Then in sickness be given for Mantras to be said . ,
After death Shrad
for him
, a fee
at
must
man's son must perform the
, a
twelve
,
167
.
times
the
first
year
,
after that annually , and feasts and fees must Be be given at each one to the Brahmins . very many sides these , there are accidental in which a Brahmin
circumstances employed
.
If
well ,
If
.
a priest
cow die ,
a man's
make atonement
must
be
must
he dedicate a temple
, a
to the gods . At the time of an If small - pox appears in his neigh At the time of harvest , before the
a tree
eclipse
.
borhood
.
farmer begins
to carry in the rice ,
a priest
must perform some ceremony . A merchant must not begin business without a feast , and a fee to the
begin boat
,
Gooroo .
A
to fish in a new
till
the
Brahmin
fisherman place is
,
paid
must not
or buy a new .
village there will often be over
In a
a
small
hundred
festivals in the year
,
will be entertained
so you can see where 4
,
at which the Brahmins
great deal of our money goes ."
168
SHOSHIE ,
“ I
often
see , "
Brahmin sitting
said on
Miss Gray ,
the
floor
in
“
an
old
the men's
court of your house , surrounded by a number of
dirty , little boys , half - naked . He seems to be teaching them , for I see they have books in their hands , and they are often writing their letters in the sand — who is he ? Is he your family Gooroo
?”
our family Gooroo is at present a rich man that is a poor , old Brahmin whom "
No
;
;
the Baboo employs to teach the poor boys of the neighborhood
.
It
of great merit to do this
a work The Baboos think
is considered .
as this will gain them heaven .” . seems to me , " said Miss Gray , " that
that such deeds “
It
your religion is entirely made for the rich . What must those poor people do who have no money to pay and feast the Brahmins ? " , “ They have no hope in this life " she imme diately answered . Again Miss Gray tried to bring home to them the beauty of the Christian religion , that God is no respecter of persons , the rich and the poor are both alike to Him , and the
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
169
.
poor of this world , if they are only rich in faith , are heirs of the kingdom of heaven . The Gospel of Jesus is especially for the poor . Luckie realizes the beauty of the Christian religion , and she often exclaims , “ How long ! how long will it be ere Christ will come and claim these kingdoms
of the world for His long before we all shall be
How Christians ?” own
?
Luckie and her son , Gopal , this boy that has just been made a Brahmin , often talk together about the religion of Jesus . In the conversation
of
,
at this time , this boy was spoken
twice - born
as the
.
They call this ceremony
of receiving the Poita the second birth . Be fore this he was of no caste , though born of Brahmin parents . . After he had been invested with this holy cord he is born again into the of
,
all
be
.
lest
contaminated
thereby
.
impure
,
is
he
he
holy family of the Brahmins . He 'may have mingled with the other castes before keep He must secluded himself now must everything separate himself entirely from that
SHOSHIE ,
170
Miss Gray pointed Christian calls born
,
out to Luckie what the
birth , the being
the second
not of flesh or of blood
,
but of the
He is set apart from the world .
Ghost .
Holy He
should ever bear about with him the marks of
Lord Jesus . As no one can look at a Brahmin without knowing he is such by seeing his Poita , so no one should be in the company the
of the Christian without knowing he is such , and he should be ever careful to keep himself from pollution . I think Luckie understood the simile
.
Often , very often ,
I feel
so discouraged
that
many of these poor woman turning to Jesus , but my dear lady always tells me to wait patiently and remember the pro we do not see
mise : bearing again
with
“
He that goeth forth and weepeth , precious seed , shall , doubtless , come
rejoicing, bringing his shearers she told me that this word
with him
And
."
did not imply any uncertainty , but that it was a strong affirmative that it would be so . “ doubtless
We
must
"
not
be
weary in well - doing ,
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER .
171
though the promise may be long delayed , it will come . It is not me , but the “ Lord of the harvest " who is to gather in the ripened
grain
.
In
the meantime
ours to sow beside all waters
.
it must be
SHOSHIE ,
172
XII
.
to
and return
their
,
my little book
write
a
going
to
was
I
I
told
of of notof
you
the commencement
hold
I T
.
. -
A
29 ,
“ Thou takest away their breath, they dust PSALM civ
die ,
funeral Bites .
of
,
were almost
customs
my own
new and strange
to
as
and
of
so
,
little Hindoo girl yet differently was taught
a
I
,
that the manners to
to
us
.
as
they were the dear lady with whom visited these homes One day our work called near the
me
I
I
of
.
I
was born
God's blessing
people
to
as
,
by
I
though
those things which tell you you heard For must remember that .
saw
or
memory
in
to
a
I
.
,
to
story but incidents illus series relate trating the domestic life the people you India am not giving them regu they occur lar detail but just my
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER Burning Ghaut take
in Calcutta , so we went
,
It
look at it .
a
173
.
to
with
was enclosed
a
consume
body were
a
to
things necessary
all
oil ,
high wall , and immediately on the outside of this there were piles of wood and kindling materials . Clarified butter , pitch , and .
there for sale
of
in
some
suppose
others
left
entirely
,
relatives
I
,
by
,
,
.
and fire
,
few moments ,
stream
and
you could
the
vultures
,
their feast and you could trace the river for some distance by ,
on down
the
a
.
it
to in
it
out
hastening
In
he
.
into the river see
it
and then applied the face singeing over Then took up the body and flung
it all
set
on
,
away
went
which
to
,
straw
old thrown sheep He
dead
he
like
a
seven years ground
the
of
a
,
wisp
,
or
,
a
brought
a
laid her
on
his shoulder
a
.
in
ently about six over
cremation
poor man While we stood there with dear child little girl appar
alone
came
,
stages
different
with several attendants watching standing
,
,
of
,
in
centre
its
,
On passing within the gate we saw many body wood each with the
piles
SHOSHIE ,
174
of unclean birds rising above The man , the father probably ,
the little knot the waves
This
.
the ceremony that was necessary for
child like that
.
a
was
and departed
in a few minutes
all
turned
.
a
of
meri
Ghaut
is
great help said
to to
is
,
who builds
a
the steps are
fre
very
the
a
and
Ganges
is
the water
as
is
A
flight
good deed
.
perform
or a
,
the bathers
considered
Ghaut
a
and
he as
,
torious
in
bathing
these
.
steps leading down quent
Ghaut
a
build
great merit
one
to
work
to
.
of of
,
sheds
To build
the Ganges
or
view
of
,
in
is a
large Close beside this burning place open shed where the dying are placed
,
,
bamboos
,
litter made
of
a
,
,
at
Two three days after visiting the Burn ing Ghaut we were again Luckie's house through passing and on the court we saw fastened
together
to to
high fever
,
a
a
.
soon discovered
He was
in
but which
living man
we
at
,
,
,
a
corpse
a
be be
of
,
,
with ropes and immediately after we heard loud groans and cries and group men came out bearing what first appeared
BENARES AT GHAUT BATHING
A
.
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER moaning very much , and
appeared
175
.
to be
suffering great pain . He was placed upon the litter by men who seemed to be servants , and immediately one
of the women
,
who
found was his wife , rushed into the court upon
threw herself wildest cries removed
,
and
sheet over
the
I
and
the litter , uttering the lamentations . She was back into the inner part
and forced
of the dwelling .
,
Then , throwing a clean
litter , the bearers lifted it up
and carried it off .
When we reached Luckie's room , we asked her who it was , and what they were going to do with him ? She told us it was one of her brothers - in - law .
supposed
to be dying , and they were carrying him to the Ganges , to die there . “ I can read a little to you to -day , " she said ,
“
He
was
but none of the others will , and
I
fear
it will be some weeks before you can collect together all your class again ." The women in that house are very bright and intelligent
,
but it is really a great trial of
patience to teach them
.
There are over one
SHOSHIE ,
176
hundred and fifty people
living in the house , always there is almost
and , consequently some festival or poojah going on , and as they
all
all
,
in
or
the festivals
to
take part
she can never join
in
,
,
she has
,
,
is
of
widow though
the preparations
any
.
of in
being
a
be
.
in
,
less more are one family they are terested each one The only pupil we can always sure our dear Luckie because
that him
from the burning rays
over
is
It
?
an
is
of
the sun
the river and
it
three miles
,
to
to
told man
,
, “
to
to
,
”
“
,
But said Miss Gray when Luckie carry this poor her they were going they the Ganges will take him like with nothing but that sheet shelter
intensely
,
he
it is
!
,
English
did the burning
,
year
the
great many are this way when they
believe in
I
?
of
killed
every
not
it
does
a
Why
Government stop this the widows
“
.
,
lie
to
hours
there
as
many
.
dies
so
, ".
Oh wicked night and day till but the doctor thinks he will not live ”
Yes she answered
will have ;
he
“
hot day
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
if they only
might recover
177
.
staid at home
and
,
of.”
were taken care
Miss Gray answered , that she supposed the English Government were afraid to interfere too much with their religious rites and customs . Oh
“
are so many thou
! ” she said “ there
sands who would rejoice
in it .
Now , in all
only five who would keep up this terrible custom , the two oldest men and the three oldest women ; but they house , there
are
all
this
are just those who have power over
poor dying be
he
he all
the Ganges
the man
,
."
in
That himself begged and implored not the house
to
rest
taken he
,
,
an
,
,
.
“
",
.
all to
and for resisted with the little strength had left till enlightened and edu swooned He was cated Hindoo That old woman she said at
,
. ”
She
the rites
of
.
to
the Ganges
all
so
had
carried
neglected
he
said
he
upon his being
is
, "
,
a
of
a
to
pointing across the court the door room which very very aged woman sat moan ing and crying She insisted his mother his
12
,
be
,
religion while was well and the Government would not let his wife burnt with him and
SHOSHIE ,
178
thus expiate
his sins , and that therefore
the only possible hope there can be for him in the that he may die in view of the sacred stream . If he is not dead by to - morrow , next world ,
is
his mothers and uncles will go to the river and stay there with him
.
“ But ," said Miss Gray , " will his mother be permitted to go there , I thought none of
you women could leave the Zenanas
Luckie answered is a
:
“
When
?”
a woman ,
who
widow , becomes very old , she is permitted
to go out a little . Often likes on a pilgrimage,
she
goes where
she
frequently she purchases all the food for the family , but this is only when she becomes quite old . Generally and
not till she has seen her grandson's son . Then it is thought that going out cannot
harm her . We left the house soon , but , on our next visit , we made inquries about the dying man , and Luckie , who was very angry about it , re lated the whole proceedings . She had begged her son , Gopal , to go and witness monies
,
and he had told her all .
man had lingered
the
cere
The poor
three days before he died .
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
.
179
The family were professed worshippers of Sheve . ( The Hindoos are divided into several sects , who profess to be followers of distinct gods , but the principal ones are Shevites
and
Vishnuites , or followers of Sheve and Vishnu .) On the day we saw him , he had been taken down to the river
,
and placed on a charpoy , a
coarse kind of bedstead
,
with simply cords
across and no bed on it . This was placed under a shed , with the feet of the charpoy in it ,
the water
Now , finding he did not die on the
.
day , they brought the
second
Lignam , the
wor It was
black stone under which form Sheve is ,
shipped
,
and held it up before him .
then
placed
man
was
upon the ground
lifted
up , and
several times around
it .
,
and the sick
assisted to walk Then many brass
vessels , rice , & c . , were offered to the god , and ,
of course , given to the Brahmins . Some of them sat beside him , and recited portions from the Shasters the
,
and at night a feast was given to
Brahmins , here at the house , while
servant was left to watch him
.
a
The next day ,
his older brother went to him , with some
Brah
SHOSHIE ,
180
mins , and begged him to give some money to to the Brahmins to save his soul from the Hindoo hell . They told him he must have been a very wicked man , or he would have died
,
that it was because he was so wicked
him . He said he did not believe in Ganga , or the Brahmins , and he would not give them any money . His brother then told him that , by
that Ganga refused to receive
his death
,
guardian
he , the brother , would become the
of his
property
and
family , and
therefore the money should be given to help him in the other world , even against his own
will . The Brahmins then , who were present , urged him to call on the names of the gods Sheve
,
Vishnu , Khistra
,
.
Ram ,
& c . , which he would
So , for an hour at a time , they kept calling , or rather shouting their names in his ear . At night - fall, they took him off the char poy and immersed him in the river up to his breast , and kept him there for a long time not do .
then again
he was laid upon
the
charpoy ,
under the shed , with a servant and his young
. TAKEN ARE DYING THE WHERE GANGES THE OF BANKS
,
IRI
LOA
the river dying the man
,
of
it
to
seated
his breast
,
up
.
,
the river with the water
in
of
Sheve
He was again
the mud on his breast
of
,
of
.
Then the
the mud
over the breast with his finger writing the name in
for
.
food
some
now for
nourishment
drink
or
either
Gooroo took and spread
was almost gone
of
kind
up
any
181
The next morn
had received
-
two days
night
no
he
,
course he
,
ing
of
son to watch him
all
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER .
every few minutes some
at
the river and ,
the wet mud
of
vals
of of
full
of
in
Then and again laid back the charpoy the Gooroo stuffed his ears and his nostrils
inter
the muddy ,
.
by
all
.
,
at
water was poured down his throat This length ended the poor wretche's sufferings
,
permitted
a
Christian govern ment and surely they do not remember what require this thy hands will God says This was
, “
I
At
palky
who
began
to
,
over the mother ,
there
,
was
a
taken
in
been
all
soon
it
As had
as
.”
blood
on
,
great agony
.
in
if
as
ground
,
,
,
shriek and scream most wildly beating her tearing her hair and rolling breast the The young son
SHOSHIE ,
182
took up some water
,
and while the Gooroo
repeated some Mantras , he poured it upon his father's head .
He then anointed his father all
over with clarified butter
on
him
I
,
and put new clothes
.
should say , that before the man died , the
wood for his funeral pile had been brought and placed in his sight . Clarified butter and pitch were now poured upon this , and also upon a new piece of cloth in which the body was wrapt , and placed upon the pile . The son then lighted a bundle of straw , and , with the flame , touched the mouth and eyes of the pile
then set fire to in After the whole was burnt to ashes , some of the attendants brought deceased
;
the
was
several places at once .
Ganges water and washed the place , and then swept the water into the river .
All
who had
been present had to bathe and perform several ceremonies clean
,
in
order
to render
themselves
.
being a man of high caste , more ceremonies were performed than is usual
The deceased
with those of lower caste .
But the burning
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER .
183
of the body , and the ceremonies accompanying it , are considered piness .
hap
necessary for the future
After Luckie had related these things to Miss Gray , the latter took occasion to show her the different treatment which a sick and dying Christian receives from the hand of his friend, and of the simple funeral rites ; but she tried to show her more particularly that it was of little consequence
,
after the breath had left
the body , what was done with the poor casket
,
the soul , the never dying soul , was safe for eternal life . And she showed her how peace and happy the Christian mind
be , to do in
ful
if
should
where God will wipe
all
in
be
.
he
.
to
that last trying hour He had nothing Christ had done all He knew was going glorious place forever with the Lord that
tears from every eye
of
for him ages
in
,
impossible
plunged
for
accountable
may
be is
rites for which ,
be
to
funeral
it
,
of
,
—while the poor Hindoo like the Roman Catholic by the omission some even these
cling fast
to
She urged poor Luckie
to
.
terrible misery
the
SHOSHIE ,
184
cross of Christ , and to have no confidence
for
anything else
;
given
heaven
under
"
in
there is no other name whereby
we
may
be
saved .”
Afterwards , in talking to me about it , she told me how we should take lessons from these poor heathens , what trouble and expense will they not take to secure their future happiness , and not only their own , but the everlasting of others of their people , and how little trouble we , as Christians , take either for ourselves or others “ to make our calling and
happiness
election sure . "
And
me , how a so - called church
,
again she pointed out to Christian , but apostate
taught some heathenish ideas .
That
performed
unless certain rites were for the dying and the dead , those poor souls would suffer for the neglect of their friends , when they were powerless to help themselves .
Thus , making heaven entirely dependent upon human merit and works , not the free gift of God through Christ . How hard it does seem to be for the human
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER heart , untaught
.
18
;
by the Spirit of God , to realize
that “ God is love," and " that as a father pitieth his children , so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him . "
SHOSHIE
186
XIII
.
after Death . all
Bites , or Ceremonies
of so
,
Luckie
that
could
or
our
except
this
his house
,
none
pupils
, us .
of
,
poor man we were again and found another festival going
at
after the death
;
month
on
a
BOUT
11 .
.
.
lvi
10 ,
,
.
." -
А.
,
ignorant they are all “ His watchmen are blind : they are they are greedy dogs which can never have
dumb dogs Yea enough ISATAH
the
,
so
ridiculous
could not remember you
she
toli
the its
nor give them
and
as
I
,
trivial that
;
many
to
whole
,
and
so
There were
so
.
-
formed after death for the well being soul
per
of
rites
,
these
as
,
,
account
of
from her
an
,
us
on ,
to
Upon asking her what would attend they were perform was going she told ing the Shrad and little by little we drew
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
.
187
The Hindoos believe * that , after death , the a ghost , and it takes a sort of body ethereal about the size of a man's finger ,
soul becomes
and in this form
remains
for a time
,
in
the
charge of Zúmŭ , the judge of the dead .
If
Shrad is performed
the
properly , this
ghost , at the end of a year , assumes a large body , and is capable of enjoying happiness ; it then goes to the heaven where it is to be rewarded for its meritorious actions for a time
to earth
and then returns and
has to be done by some
assume
becomes
if
Bhuta who has variety different
called
a
power
to
,
most malignant fiend
and
a
ghostly condition
not performed
;
the poor ghost has to remain
a
is
it
,
other relative long time in ,
the
or
of
,
all , it
Shrad
the Shrad
,
the departed has no son to perform
at
this
If
its
birth .
in a new form ,
.
,
,
bad man and the to
their faith may seem contmdictory changed and modified according
another but their creed to their caste
is
One statement
of
*
If
the departed has been
a
.
in
,
in
tormenting man forms and who delights having kind revenge for been thus neglected
SHOSHIE ,
188
Shrad is rightly performed for him , he remains one year a ghost , then goes to the place of punishment , and afterwards returns again to the world . *
There is no fate these people dread so much as becoming wandering ghosts , and therefore their intense desire for a son .
The death
,
relations and
mourn
performed , and
for
days
ten
after
eleventh , the
on the
repeated
Shrad is on the same day
each month for a whole year . Each month small offerings are made , and a few Brahmins are invited
last
and ſeasted , but , on the first and
months
,
the
expense
is often
incurred
very great . After
portion of the
cremation , a small
ashes of the departed moistened
is retained
with milk and water
into something
resembling
,
and being
, is
moulded
the human
form
.
of
mon
it
if
,
well
as
for women
as
is
performed The Shrad with very few ceremonies
all
rich man not only
.
the
the
,
on
the relations the eleventh day ,
of
the Shrad
a
be
,
On the tenth day , departed bathe and
all
and this is called by the name of the deceased
,
but
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER all
relation who performs the Shrad sets
up
,
the learned and respectable place the are invited Then the ,
or
Hindoos
189
.
of
Brahmins , but son
.
,
a
,
,
of
big stone the figure the deceased and which they call Zămŭ and offers before them sugar
.,
& c
, '
,
offerings
come and eat these
.
to
are allowed
,
of
,
,
a
Brahmins utter
or
,
sweetmeats
,
and all the low wailing lamentation and then the crows the demons who they think have assumed the shape the crows rice
of
to
.
way
,
horses
,
,
of
.
,
feast and the made
Five Brahmins come forward .
one male and four female calves
in
male calf which ,
a
of
cloth
money a
piles
is
of
to
.
on
or
,
cows
piles
The whole concludes with offering
a
,
or
often consists
elephants
Mantra
These each one flower go offerings all the Brahmins
,
and
and then repcats
a
and
places
of
.
from the Ganges
the
holy water
The Gooroo sprinkles
deceased
presents
the name
in
and presented
son
,
the
of
.
,
to
a
of
Then the Brahmins repeat number Man tras the gods burning insense some them Then the offerings are brought out by
this
leading
They are
SHOSHIIE ,
190
all tied to a post , while the Gooroo reads some portion of the Shasters , or Holy Books , to drive away evil spirits . Each female calf has a basket round her neck , into which is put some money , a comb , and several house hold utensils
.
The male calf has his horns covered with gold , and his hoofs with silver
;
and , with a red
hot iron , the trident , or mark of Sheve , is branded on his hip . The female calves are then
given
to the Brahmins , and the male
calf is allowed to go where he will . post to which he has been tied
of
, a
In the
rude figure
bull is carved , which is afterwards set up in some public road where it remains till it a
At
the close of the feast , if the are given to
the
This anniversary
be
.
person be rich , presents guests
all
decays away .
must
commemorated
,
1,200,000 rupees
his brother's
,
of
expended
Warren Hastings Shrad
.
have
at
600,000 dollars
to , in
A or is
the employ
Baboo said
.
,
for several years but each year with less cost
We could not help thinking how the Church
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER of Rome ,
as
degenerate
,
customs
she becomes has imitated
of the heathen
she came in contact
.
more
.
and
191
more
adopted
and nations
the
with which
These customs of the
poor Hindoo in offering incense
,
and sacrifices ,
and paying the priests to repeat Mantras for the benefit of the dead , to release them from their hell or purgatory , have been closely followed
by the Romish priesthood
ceremonies of the mass . a modified heathenism .
,
in
the
Romanism is simply
How can we enough thank God for having given
to us the light of the glorious gospel
and thus saving
us
from
such degradation
, ?
Life and immortality has been brought to light through Christ the Saviour . We have no need of any more offering for sin .
SHOSHIE
192
,
XIV .
exceedingly super
.
.
in in
TThey hey believe believe
evil
THE people Tobitious stitious people
:
,
are
20 .
THE Hindoos
which are these
19 ,
V.
the
flesh are manifest
GAL
an
,
“ Now works Idolatry witchcraft
.
.” — of
the
Witchcraft.
evil
,
,
ghosts
poor
old women
elsewhere
,
Here
as
.
c .,
&
.
c .
&
,
,
great variety
of
a
and
,
or
witchcraft judicial astrology imaginary beings They unlucky days have their their evil omens They have male and female witches spirits
are generally
these last
is
,
beside them
she can unseen blood out of their bodies
she sits down
draw all their
a
our houses we found ,
one
of
,
One day
at
.
,
,
,
,
so ,
.
If
look make another crazed ,
a
a
if
to
.
,
very their power much dreaded The people are taught that witch should chose do she could by and
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
.
193
number of the women collected together in a great state of excitement . One of the young boys of the house had been acting in a very strange
, wild and unaccountable manner , and they believed he was bewitched . He had been looking out on the field near the house
evening
previous
the
,
and , suddenly
there
,
is
.
,
number
it
a
In in
which they summon few minutes
others
,
a
by
This
about
she
who began
,
in
magic circle occasionally stop gesticulate towards the house The .
to
to
ping
.
their craft
was joined dance
shaking
the way
of
to
of
others
be
dishevelled
supposed
a
hair
all
appeared before him , an old woman with her
,
be
to
,
family declared the boy was bewitched and had sent for the Gooroo come and repeat some incantations that the boy might re
Bhutas
and
,
to
more ancestors ,
who have become demons
or or
.
lieved from her power Every family has had one
they say prayers and offer sacrifices prevailing upon Not only with the hope them the family evil but induce the evil that Bhutas 13
to
,
no
do
avert
of
them
to to
of
.
them
other
SHOSHIE
194
,
families , or that their other enemies might
in
flict upon them . In some places a hideous figure , or shapeless is set up , and worshipped as a Bhuta . These demons are said to like blood , and sacri
stone
,
fices of animals are offered to them times
In
,
;
at other
rice or fruit tinged with blood .
the court
of many of the houses may be
seen a small Tulsee tree , and under this an
ugly little image or stone , to which , daily , a few grains of rice , fruit or flowers are presented
.
This is the Bhuta . Some of the stories told with regard to them , are most ridiculously These absurd , but are fully believed in . are distinct from the religion of people , the and yet interwoven with it . Some
superstitions
of these we have heard at different times in the
Zenanas
,
and some from
the
Christian
Baboos who had learnt their folly . With a great many of the Christians , there is still a lurking belief in these superstitions . But we need not wonder at this , for , in reading of other lands , we find that many silly and child ish superstitions still cling to people who
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER . have called turies
195
Christians for
themselves
cen
.
Among the evil beings
who
peace of this ignorant people
the
disturb
Jogi ,
is the
or anchorite a holy man , who , by long prayers , penances & c . , has obtained power , not only over evil spirits , but over the gods ;
who are bound to obey his man
;
.
in
very stupid of
.
of
is
A
is
he
their slave
do by
him
he
various animals
vanquished
to
keep
as
,
who takes the form
Sometimes
flesh
men who are keen and sharp Gin another kind evil
and sometimes spirit
is
,
catches men and eats them but
outwit him
Gigantic
human he
of
feed
Ogre
on
is
loves
a
,
form
sort
to
Rakshas
who their bid
men
,
,
no matter whether good or he
A
dates
,
ill .
themselves
or
ding
spirits are the source
the
the murderer
.
the other world
power
of
tales
of
Superstitious
of
afterwards sorely punished
is
,
though in
time
,
has power for
a
,
,
One who has been murdered who has committed suicide becomes an evil spirit and
these
really great suffering
SHOSHIE ,
to these poor , ignorant women immured in their prison - houses .
an
Upon inquiring into the that
evil spirit
had
.
It
the neighborhood
It black cat the vicinity for some had rushed into the few minutes
.
,
time and that morning court of their house for
.
in a
great
it
had been going about
the greatest
with terror visibly de
a
.
in
,
in
the form
us .
,
excitement
their faces trouble they told recently appeared came
the women
of in
picted
of
state
into one of the
we went
all
houses we found ,
in
day when
One
so closely
It
196
was
a
in
.
,
it
and
if
,
a
should fix its eyes on some jump upon her woman and then few days she would be sure to die demon
he
.
or
two
child
It
wooden box
a
a
was having his
three
changed
con could
days
.
a
few weeks ago
)
, “
and found
taining the dead body only have been dead While was looking
of
,up
(
gentleman
a
? ”
a
",
“
English
Sahib grounds dug
what makes you
, "
",
“
But said Miss Gray think that cat demon they Oh answered
,
a
it , it
at
into big black cat and ran away and since then
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER .
197
cat has been going about and jumping
this
upon people and killing them it is a demon . "
Miss Gray
tried to reason
.
We are sure
with them , but
without avail , when one of our pupils , named Mookee, said : “ We know such things are true . Before the English people came here , a min
be just as wicked
could
nobody was
a
punish
could Brahmin
,
but
as
My
he
Brah chose
;
grandfather
him . he was a very wicked
man . He , one day , offended a Jogi , who told him he should soon lose all his money .
My grandfather
determined to save his money
,
so he took a great deal of it and all the jewels he could gather in
a
in the house , and put them
box , intending to bury them in the He wanted a demon to guard .
ground
the
, and after he had dug up the earth and got everything ready , he went very softly , at night , into the hut of a poor woman who lived near by, and took up her little boy
them
in he
He then put his box boy while
the little
it
,
him
laid
on
carried hole
off .
of two years old who was fast asleep , and the
was
SHOSHIE ,
198
still asleep , covered the whole with earth , and went home , leaving the little boy there to die , buried however
,
manding
alive
Before
.
he left
the
spot
,
he repeated
some Mantras com boy , when he became an evil this
spirit, to watch over and guard his treasures His treasures however for the poor mother who ,
,
.
were not guarded
,
he thought , was
,
asleep , had seen him enter her hut and take She dare not speak or resist
her child .
,
be
cause he was a rich and she a poor Coolie . But she got up very quietly and followed him . She saw what he did with
Brahmin ,
her child , and as soon
as
he was gone
,
she
fell down on her hands and knees and wildly ,
tore away the earth from her child , in time to
,
the country where
he
part
,
,
of to
utter consternation the box jewels was given the poor and she and her child were sent into
and
of
a
woman
and
to
money
true
,
,
the Brahmin's
for the
into the
He examined
case found her statement
be
magistrate
instantly
,
nearest
.
likewise , and started
off ,
She took him up , and the bag
to
save his life .
would never
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER be likely to hear of them
,
.
199
and he was put in
jail for two years . This story of the cat was talked of everywhere . One day , when Miss Gray was combating these superstitious
notions , one of the servant women who had been standing listening at the door , burst out : “ It is true , it is true !" “ What is true ?" asked Miss Gray . ,
“Why
,
they do become evil spirits
.
My
man they hated very much , and yet they could think of no way to punish him , so , at last , my uncle persuaded my aunt to kill herself by taking uncle
and aunt
poison
,
had an enemy
, a
so that she might become
an
evil
spirit to torment him , which she did , and ever after she died , she tormented
antly that he never
It
is true
him so incess
had a happy
moment
,
!"
From another source I obtained this story . There was once a great rajah , or king , who was as handsome
as he was brave .
His
palace was on the side of the city nearest to the jungle , and one night he was awakened by the most dreadful howls and shrieks ,
SHOSHIE ,
200
been
made
by
.
with him Rakshas
.
The noise had
go
frightened
much
a
too
to
all
coming from that direction . He jumped up , took his sword , and though his attendants tried to prevent him , he went to the jungle They were to see what was the matter .
to to
,
a
,
,
on a
very wicked man hanged There had been very high gallows and the day before the Rakshas had been trying reach him devour his with his long claws wishing but the corpse was just too high for him was howling
he
reach
and
,
to
,
flesh
with disap
.
pointment
reached
the
place
no
,
rajah
the
to in a be
When
very old filthy sarree with hair woman dressed rolling dishevelled was the ground wringing her hand and uttering loud screams and lamentations under the gallows where a
but
.
(
of he
was
,
my son my only son ,
that
is
“
),
an
had transformed
old woman
what
Alas said the Rakshas himself into the likeness !"
.
the matter
"
The rajah asked the old woman
the wind for
the corpse was swinging about
in
,
,
on
,
,
seen
,
all
,
Rakshas was
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
,
201
He is gallows. dead ! He is dead ! I have been trying to reach the rope to cut his body down , but I that hangs
there
on
the
cannot do it . ” “
Poor old
rajah ,
woman , " said the kind -hearted
my shoulders
get upon
“
and
,
then
you will be tall enough to reach your son So
Rakshas got up on
the
shoulders
After standing there some time , thought the old woman was a
.
rajah
the
the
.”
rajah's
its
long time in cutting the rope round the dead man's neck , and looking up , suddenly , he saw
ground
a
,
it
and the giant fell
Seating himself astride
Horri to
;
the dead man
.
of
the flesh
started back
.
,
fied
he
portions
of
on
a
being that instead of feeble old woman who was standing his back was Rakshas that was tearing down and eating
the the giant's
,
to to
throat the rajah pulled out his sword cut off begged spare The Rakshas him his life and return would tell him how moment
,
a
in
strike giant told him this tale
The rajah held
his
he
.
his
own
:
sword ready
,
in
,
might save to
he
,
.
his head
while the
SHOSHIE ,
202
Know
,
oh king
that when two or more
!
persons are born at the same time and in the , their fates will be sure way intermingled . Now , at to be in some the time you were born , in the same division of the ecliptic , the son of an oilman , and of
same luna mansions
holy Jogi were also born
in
he
,
has determined to
done
.
be ,
is
act
of a
an
a
the whole
what
I
up
of
by
of
,
hearken
dead
thyself and king and
such to
rajah
heard
say
.
. ,
and
offer
will become king
,
Now
Kali
,
he
to
He desires
.
.
world
is
now plotting the ruin
son
devotion
determined gods have
dead thy brother
to
he is
.
king's
The
to
but thy father
;
on
thee
Thy father
is
and
he
him
,
offended
thy son
incur his dis
asked the rajah
Thou hast done nothing
him
her
,
all and
I
"
?
· “
sacrifice
sacrifice
revenged
and
can thus wafting
human
But what have
pleasure
has
to
the oilman
offer thee
last
the goddess of de
."
of
son
This
.
He has already killed the he
scent adores
.
sweet
whom
of
He kills
he
the
,
to
himself to Kali
devoted
struction .
,
a
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER .
203
Distrust those who dwell among the dead , and remember it is lawful and right to strike off his head who would slay thee .” With that the giant gave a sudden bound that loosed the Rajah off his throat , and He , thinking over what he had slowly heard went back to his palace .
disappeared
.
,
Some
months
had
come
and
gone
,
and
daily had the rajah been in the habit of giving alms to devotees , and granting their requests before
.
On a certain
him , and
after
day , one appeared the rajah had given and presented
him an alms , he returned
the
ruby , of untold value . delighted The rajah was so that he immediately offered the Jogi whatever he should desire . The devotee instantly answered rajah
with
a
magnificent
that he wished the rajah to spend one night with him . He was about to perform some magical rites at the Smashana , a place where bodies
are burned , and
to make his spells
that the King should be with him and do his bidding . He might come armed , but alone . The rajah successful , it was
necessary
SHOSHIE ,
204
the warning the
now called to remembrance given
Rakshas had
him
but he was a brave
,
man , and he determined to keep his promise . It was a dark and dreary night when the rajah
set forth
space
on
.
the
As
he came near the open river - bank , where the dead
bodies were usually burnt
,
for a
he hesitated
moment to tread in this vile place , trampling ,
,
up
,
Jogi
holy ,
streamed long tangled
From his head locks like horse hair
.
the
countenance
,
saw
his hideous .
he
whose flames
At
to one of the burning pyres
lit
length , close
of bones .
the remnants
as he must , on
.
,
a
of
of
His black body was striped with lines chalk and girdle human bones was round his waist His face was smeared with ashes
human skull with two
shank
“
playing upon >>
."
bones
a
.
,
a
from funeral pile and the red line across his forehead was made with blood He was
took him into the temple
all of
,
Kali
he .
rajah
the
,
kill
of
determined
to
,
Then
,
he ,
,
The Jogi gave the king many orders being very brave readily performed which
and told
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER him to make
.
to the goddess , rajah was kneeling
obeisance
tending , when
the
205
in in
front of the image , to strike off his head .. The king , however , was on the watch , and he said to him . “ Oh ! holy Jogi , I am an ignorant king ,
I
do not understand
the way
of worship . Thou art my spiritual guide , be pleased to teach me . Show me the way to worship and to perform obeisance aright , and
I will' obey
you .
So the Jogi knelt in front
of the image , and bowed down his head till his forehead touched the ground , and when he was in that posture the king struck off his his
head , and
thus
obtained
offering him as a sacrifice to
the
Kali .
merit
of
206
SHOSHIE ,
XV . The Goddess ,
Kali .
is
at
a
of the
This that This
the verandah .
the men's court
of
with
adorned
of
in
,
used them
separated from the rest
a
is of
and
the verandah
of
of
is
end
sort
.
shrine for the gods different festivals held honor
runs round the inside
is
14 .
X.
.
appointed
always the upper end
,
his
place
is con
falsehood
the wealthy Baboos as
is a
most
or
temple
of
N
the houses
there
." -
in
,
graven image for molten image breath these JER
of
is
nothe
“ Man is brutish in his knowledge : every founder founded by and there
number
arches and
merely
standing upon
wooden
manikins
may
call
,
we
the
ground
,
lying
we
on
house
skeleton
teach
as
went
it .
and another
god's
we
,
,
in
sort
of
,
this
a
it ,
saw
when
,
day
One
to
.
pillars
These were
the
foundations
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER . upon which the figures
A
were
207
be formed
to
.
few days afterwards , we saw a man cover
ing these figures with
a plaster
made of the
mud taken from the bed of the Ganges
mixed together .
lime
On
going
into
,
and the
women's apartments , we asked one of them , whose name was Pooshpie , what the figure was . " “
the
Oh ,” she said , “ in a few days
Kali
image of “
see , “
Poojah , and
they
are
it will be
making
the
Kali .” “from what I can if it would be very ugly . " very ugly ,” said Pooshpie , with a
But , ” said Miss Gray ,
it looks to
Kali
is
me as
is the goddess
of vengeance , ugly and she must be . I can never see her figure , or hear her name mentioned , without shudder
;
" she
of horror coming over me again , had when I first saw her . was a little
the feeling
that
I
I
thing four or five years of age , and my father and mother had taken me with them on a pilgrimage . On the edge of a jungle there was a little temple to Kali . It was a small
building with two compartments vestibule
,
and the inner room
,
,
the outer
in which stood
SHOSHIE
208
the
image
,
There are never any windows , the light was dim and gloomy .
.
consequently
looked
We passed over the threshold and into the dismal
inner depths
.
There stood
the hideous goddess , Kali ; she was a gigantic figure , of a dark blue color ; her tongue was hanging out of her mouth chest
had a wide
; she
,
,
and reached to her
yawning mouth
;
her
eyes were red and bloodshot like those
of a
her eyebrows also were red .
Her
drunkard
thick , like tunic
;
course , black hair hung down her back
a mantle , to her heels .
made
of elephant's
She had a short
skin ,
dried
and
it was fastened round the waist by a
wrinkled ; girdle of giant's hands , those whom she had slain in wars . She had two dead bodies pasted
over her enormous ears for earrings , and her necklace was of human skulls . She held in one hand
a
bleeding head , or what
looked
like one , and in the other three , she had . She stood with one foot
knives and swords
on the breast of her husband
,
Sheve
,
and the in
all
other foot was on his leg ; before her were a number of dishes , cups , jugs , & c . , used
blood
209
.
Oh clung
!
smelling
.
but
,
of
her service
all
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
,
I
or
,
”
as
.
? ”
“
is
to
And that image below going ugly said Miss Gray
be
.
could never forget
it
,
,
to
,
I
how shrieked and screamed and my mother when this spectacle met my waking eyes and for months sleeping
as
as
,
no
”
it .
to
“
,
no
it ,
be
It
, “
be
they will like only can make there will dead bodies look like and real blood only paint But will you let your little ones see that She answered
,
to
I
I
to !
."
over
,
Miss Gray and said ,
Kali why
she
14
Yes
I
,
answered
, “
? ”
of
of
to
“
is
represented
present
women
the elder women
thus
fear her
:
number
Can you tell me the story
The woman
suppose
offend her
and after the lessons were one
her sighed
we shall then always
,
as
best for
us
!
yes
of
There were turned
you
.
anything a
do
dread
to
,
when we are young
Yes
to
is
They say
it
,
.
and said
: “
She clasped her child tightly
heavily must
as
and asked Miss Gray ,
? "
frightened
as
be
horrid thing were
will tell
210
SHOSHIE ,
form order
is
.
kill two
performed great religious years
to
listen They asked for immortality
.
austerities
grant had
this
not
and
their
Sheve
said that
been sufficient
give them this
to to
their
wish
,
.
did not
by
that Sheve was obliged
come down from heaven
demands
and obtained
to
much merit
to
to
for
,
so
austerities
10,000
,
These two giants them
:
.
great giants
*
,
“
I
,
Yes know Kali Doorgha and she took this form
to of
She began
only another in
the time she was speaking
.
She put in her mouth a large quid of pawn , or betel root , and was twisting it about
all
you . "
.
,
to
force him He proposed them many other things but they would take
which they had demanded As this was denied they again through penances for 1,000 went series nothing but
a
of
.
,
the one boon
after which they renewed their request The giants now and were again denied suspended themselves with their heads down over
slow fire
till
the blood flowed ,
,
.
,
*
See for this account the Markundiyů Pooranuis one the Hindoo sacred books
of
,
wards
a
.
,
,
years
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER from
their
years
heads .
they did
This
.
211
for
800
.
The gods all now began to be fearful, lest ,
what was best
be
done
.
consulted
to
and
,
all
by performing such very holy penances , the giants should be able to supplant them on their thrones . The king of the gods now called a council , and told the others what he very much frightened feared . They were
Cupid
,
should
wound
the
with
or
,
Kundūrė
giants
his
.
arrows
giants
the
,
appeared
first
the moment when they
at
and that
to
them
,
to
be
,
at
,
of
length advised Indra the king the gods that two very beautiful women should sent
all
,
in
.
This was good advice The giants both fell desperately love and for 5,000 years they forgot about their desires for immor tality
by
,
,
.
,
Then one day having quarrelled the women told them how they had been sent
,
their austerities
and
and
began
devotions
,
away
,
sent the women
to
.
to
on
,
purpose prevent them from gain Indra ing heaven The giants were very angry and renew
cutting the
SHOSHIE ,
212
flesh off their bones in little pieces and making burnt offerings of it to Sheve . This they con tinued to do for another 1,000 years , till Sheve was forced to grant them his blessing , to the effect, “ That in riches and strength they should excel the gods
.
Being thus , in some respects , superior to the gods , they soon began to make war upon After various successes on both sides , the giants at length were everywhere victori ous , and Indra and all other inferior deities them
.
being reduced
to great deifies , besought the aid of Bramha and Vishnu , who would not trouble themselves about it , but told the suppliants to go to Sheve
.
He also told them , but on being
he could do nothing for them reminded
that it was he who had given the
blessing to the giants by which they , the gods , had been ruined , he told them to perform religious austerities to Doorgha
.
They did so ,
and she at length gave them her blessing promised to help them .
,
and
She disguised herself as a beautiful woman and wandered about Mount Himmalaya .
,
She
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER .
213
that the giants felt they might well give up the glorious things they plundering had obtained the gods obtain giants
the
whose
name
was
Shooltram sent the disguised goddess tell her that he had all the riches ;
that
presented
to all
be
that used
the the
these included all but the three
,
,
inferior gods
his palaces
to
offerings
in
the three worlds (
of
to
,
a
messenger
to
.
One
,
her
of
in
to
all
was so beautiful
that
first conquer
must
he
.
was very kind the person she
,
that
her
war
,
married
resolved
in
she had
,
The goddess replied but
)
,
to
,
,
Sheve Vishnu and their three wives him were now offered Bahama
and
,
favorable answer
,
still begged for
a
he
to
to
.
destroy her pride The messenger did not like return his master unsuccessful and
promis all
the inhabitants
She answered that all
of , ,
or
,
resisting him
?
,
evil spirits men How then could she he
think
stand
of
femalc
,
a
had been able
to
,
the three worlds
gods
of
Before him none
.
was
?
.
to
do
ing that his master would engage she wished Did she know who his master
said might be very
SHOSHIE ,
214
true , but she had taken her resolution , and so
if his
master wanted her , he had better come
and try his strength with her .
On hearing
this , Shooltram was filled with
rage , and ordered the general of his army to go to Himmalaya and seize a certain goddess , and bring her to him
, and to destroy any one oppose him . The general went
who should to the Himmalaya Mountains , found the dess , and delivered
his message
orders for her seizure
.
,
god
his master's
She smiled and invited
him to do it .
But when he approached her , she set up a dreadful yell , as Hindoo warriors always do when about to engage in conflict, the general was instantly reduced to
and
Then she destroyed the whole of the giant's army except two , whom she allowed to escape to tell the tidings . The two giants ashes .
now combined
,
and sent each a large army ,
under the command of two generals and Mundů .
,
Chundă
When they came up the mountains , they saw a beautiful woman sitting on an ass , laughing , but as soon
as she
saw them
,
she
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
.
215
became full of rage , and as the soldiers
ap
proached
put out her
she would
,
hand and
draw them to her , and devour them as though . In this way she ate She then seized Mŭndŭ by his hair
they were little berries up fifty .
it over
and cut off his head , and held
her
mouth and drank the blood .
Chundŭ , on seeing the destruction comrade
,
of his
rushed at her , but the ass , on which
she was sitting , suddenly and on this she sprang
turned
upon
into
a
lion ,
the unfortunate
destroying him and his army as she had Mundŭ's , eating some , and drinking the blood of others . At length the two giants general
,
came , with a whole army com posed of giants , and she destroyed these too themselves
requested
the gods
,
appearance
from
that
",
she had changed the
beautiful
the giants
,
One
of
worshipped
.
which Kali
,
Doorgha into the hideous form under is
,
goddess
.
had said nothing about
.
that “ They strength but they the goddesses To
frighten the giants however her
most of them ,
of
might excel
had
devouring
in
all
giants
The
,
,
with fearful carnage
.,
SHOSTIE
216
whom she conquered
,
heads ,
had a thousand
,
and as fast as she cut off one another would spring
up .
ground
,
a
If
a
of blood fell to the
drop
Kali
warrior arose from it .
then
called another goddess to help her , and while was chopping off the heads , the other opened her mouth and caught the blood .
,
to
,
he
for the
threw himself
Brunha
her feet
.”
pers
her
and was
?
the gaze
her
is
it
,
,
a
represented
feet
still and threw out great length and thus
she stood to
she
is
her tongue
to
ashamed that
so
and saw Sheve under
stopped
She ,
your husband
of
trampling
on
?
!
, “
called out her Oh goddess you doing you what are Do not see you are to
immediately
,
. ,
amongst the dead bodies
length
in
to
At
gods
despaired
passion
calm her
at
of
the other
with
filled
he
He said
Sheve
that she was mad with joy presence
at
all the gods
doing anything
of
she shook
.
,
alarm applied
that
her victory the earth
overjoyed
till
.
,
centre
to
its
so
was then she danced
destroyed
,
Kali that
so
Thus the giants were at last
.
all
she
worship
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER
217
When the old woman had finished her story , “ And are no sacrifices Miss Gray asked : offered to
Kali
?"
She answered : " Yes ; formerly human sac sifices were offered to her . The Thugs were her devoted followers , but the English people
will not allow that
Kids
and goats are continually offered to her , at her temple . She is pleased if any one will let his own blood flow in her honor
or cut off
a
piece of his own seal burn his
a lamp , or a hot
flesh , or with
own body
,
now .
.
I
suppose , that this city Calcutta is most sacred to the goddess , and is named "
You know
,
You English
after her .
corrupt
the pronoun ciation and call it Calcutta but the real name ,
is
Kali Ghată . " “
Oh !" continued
the old woman
,
sighing ,
we have none of the splendid times we used husband
has told me that
former times he has seen as many as a
together
and
he
by
all
,
people
has known
at
the offerings a
Brahmins sitting temple, maintained sand
thousand
in
thou Kali's the
goats
,
My
of
to have .
SHOSHIE ,
218
and a thousand
He knew
rich Baboo to give
a
in one day .
sheep sacrificed
100,000 rupees
at one festival.
The Europeans themselves used to believe Many of them had native in our goddess . they wives , and used to send rich presents '
,
gone
”
old days
Kali ,
but
I
fear those days
and grumbling about the good .
,
the old woman left the room explained
,
”
it
of
of
poor women
blood ,
of
and told them
sin
you
The Blood these was that the how impossible goats could take away bulls and “
,
may say from
,
,
Then Miss Gray taking her text
that precious
Lamb
,
are
to
to as
all
and offerings
,
-h
oly
against
lift his hand with That no penances
or
.
All
,
could
success
the one great
bodily austerity could draw down His heart and life but only holiness
.
of
of
and
,
blessing
sinner
of
whom
any hope acts
,
-
All no
,
God
She told them
powerful
up
.
whole world
of
whose blood has been shed for the sins of the
,
iniquity had tried utterly
but how Jesus
had
come
to to
;
inan
of
,
She told them how the devil that monstrous giant
destroy
destroy
THE
HINDOO
ZENANA TEACHER
.
219
the works of the devil , and to give to us those possessions in our Father's home in heaven , which Satan has tried to deprive us of forever . them to
And she told them how she wanted think of that dear Saviour the blood of His
not covered with
,
foes , but as having
shed for
us His own most precious blood to restore to She told them us that which we have lost .
to think of a God of love vengeance
.
,
not of a God of
SHOSHIE ,
220
XVI
.
Conclusion
WE E
teach our pupils
and to work .
.
to read , to write
,
In fact , we try to give
them what would be called a good
common
We try to civilize them . But our one main object , which we endeavor to keep always in view , and for which all other teaching is given , is to bring them “ to the school
education
.
knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus .” Many of them are beginning to see dimly , like the man in the gospel . As yet they only “ see men as trees walking ," but we do trust that ere long they may be able to say ,
thing
I know , that
whereas
I
“
One
was blind , now
I
see ."
We do feel that the leaven we are putting into the meal
is
gradually
spreading
and
THE HINDOO ZENANA TEACHER spreading
;
221
.
and we know , and are assured that
our labor is not in vain in the Lord
.”
But my object has not been to tell you of our labor
,
or its results
,
but to show you the
fearful needs of the people amongst whom we labor , the terrible degradation
" of our brethren according to the flesh ”—those for whom Christ died ; to show you how fearfully low human nature is sunk where the word of God is un
known , and to urge the Church of Christ to more
more earnest
,
salvation
Who
.
“
!
who
for
effort
faithful
their
will come up to the
help of the Lord against the mighty
?"
Sometimes we feel tempted to despair when we think of the little handful of workers ing against
the
millions who
are
fight
so sunk in
degradation , and we are led , with the Apostles
of old , to
What is that amongst so But He who by His blessing when ?" on earth made a small portion to increase so wonderfully, is the “ same God , yesterday , to say ,
“
many
"
of .
inquired
bidding you farewell
,
now
be
these things will in
For And
Nevertheless , He has said , I
and forever . "
,
“
,
all
day
let me
SHOSHIE .
222
earnestly entreat this little book prayed
,
that each one who has read even if he or she has never
before , would
petition from the heart “
Oh
!
something
put
now
Father in heaven ,
up this one
:
however small
to hasten on that glorious
help
me
to
do
my power may be time
,
When
the
of the Lord shall cover the earth Amen and do the sea .' ' as the waters Amcu . knowledge
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1.50 charming story the well known author Lucy Ellen Guernsey This story Monmouth'srebellion the reign Charles and his unfortu natebro her. The object show thateven that dark period England's history therewere found shining instances devoutpiety and virtue