Cambridge: Stereotyped and Printed by Welch, Bigelow, & Co.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] See Appendix.
[2] In the English language there is no word to distinguish the brother’s son from that of a sister. The Bengalees have different words to define every relation distinctly. They have words to denote strictly wife’s sisters, husband’s sisters, his elder and younger brothers, the father-in-law of son, the children of the mother’s and father’s sisters, &c.
[3] See similar custom among the Jews, Luke ii. 22.
[4] They do not use knives, forks, and spoons at the table, not because they are ignorant of their services, but they do not need them. So is the case with the table. They sit all separate as the custom requires, and wash everything, even the floor, after the meal. They use the right hand for food, and the left for the drink. If rice or any boiled food should fall on the clothes, they will be washed after the meal. Owing to these peculiarities, the Hindoos do not use table, knives, &c., like Christians, who hardly wash themselves after the meal as the Hindoos do. I have occasionally used the “table” in the place of floor, in order to follow the English idiom.
[5] Means the son or daughter’s father-in-law.
[6] Foreigners have very imperfect ideas of Hindoo temples; they think they are public places where people resort for the purpose of worshipping their gods and also for hearing the instructions of the Brahmuns. The temples are for the former, and not for the latter purpose. In them are placed the images of certain gods, such as Shiba, Kallēē, etc., which are worshipped and taken care of by some Brahmuns, who either hire or own them. People bring (especially on some holiday) their gifts of fruits, confectionery, money, clothes, etc. to the idols, and offer them by the hands of the priests. The low castes are not allowed to tread on the sacred floor, and they dare not do it. They are satisfied with the pleasure of standing outside where the priest comes out, sprinkles holy water on their heads, blesses them by putting his foot on their hands, and returns them their trays, baskets, etc. in which they bring their offerings. These are the leading features of the services in Hindoo temples.
As the gods are presented to the children as irritable, fault-finding, powerful, and fierce, the children fear, but do not love them. When a mother would not have her child touch any eatable, let her only say, “It is for the gods,” and that is enough. But still there are several little ones who by not being allowed to put their hands upon some tempting fruit or confectionery, because it belongs to the gods, hate their idols, now and then. My own younger brother, a boy of four years, remarked, “Mother, you say it belongs to Shalgram, that pineapple belongs to Shalgram. I know that your Shalgram is a mere pebble.”
[7] Being brought up under this etiquette, I did not look at the face of Mr. Dall or of good Captain Hendie in conversation with them. When I first came on board the ship, Mr. Dall, because I looked aside, before leaving us wrote down in my handbook the following: “When any one speaks to me, my first duty is to look at him with respectful attention.” At any rate I did not lack “respectful attention” to the speaker; but his age and our idea of reverence attached to it bent my eyes downwards, that I might hear his words by my ear, receive them on my head, and obey them with my might.