he thought and cared nought. The divine precept appears to be very fully and generally acted upon by the princes in India" Sufficient for the day are the evils thereof," and he had enough upon his hands, what with the repeated rebellions of his brothers, and the encroachments of the Mahrattas in the Deccan, to occupy him in his long and turbulent reign. The streets of Aurungabad are broad, and some few paved. There are many large and good houses in different parts. The public buildings, mosques, and caravanseras, are of a superior construction to those which we generally find in native cities. Gardens and groves of trees, court-yards and fountains, diversify the scene, and ornament the streets. The shops present to view many costly articles of Indian produce, but there is an air of dejection about the whole that tells you the glory of the regal city has fled. A few groups of grave and fine-looking Mussulmans, unoccupied by any thing but idle talk, are seen lounging at different quarters; or here and there one of the better order, clad in his flowing robe, passes you with a stately and measured step, conscious of his manly figure and handsome features. These, and a few solitary Fakeers, are the principal persons met with, except in the immediate neighbourhood of the markets, where some little bustle prevails; otherwise, there is nothing to remind us of an Indian city, no pomp, no crowded streets, no horseinen, or cavalcades; none of the bustling motions or noisy sounds that proclaim industry, occupation, and prosperity. Partly deserted and partly in ruins, Aurungabad presents a cheerless view to a stranger. After wandering about some time, a Mussulman very politely explained to me the way to a durrumsalla (caravansera) erected for the accommodation of travellers, that is to say, a place where you are protected from the sun and rain, and may spread your mat and go to sleep. I had had a fatiguing and hot ride, and did not expect my baggage for some time, so that I had nothing to do but to sit upon the edge of the elevated floor of my lodging, my tegs dangling down outside the wall of the terrace (as if they were tired of belonging to me), and to look about and to cogitate on the fallen grandeur of Aurungabad, or, as the natives term it, "to look and think together :" this promised to be my occupation for three hours to come. Do not imagine, reader, that because you have money in your pocket, and are teased with a craving appetite, that you may lay out the one and satisfy the other, by proceeding to a house and enjoying an exquisite banquet, consisting of a fine rump-steak, a cup of ale, and a roasted potatoe :-nothing of the kind in Indian travelling; you must carry every thing with you, to the salt that savours your meat, and must yourself look after the packing, despatch, and arrangement of your marching and household affairs, or your servants will forget or neglect one half of what they ought to do. Fruit may be procured in large towns; but in the heat of the day, after a long ride, it is not advisable to eat any. The parched grain and sweetmeats sold in the streets are both cloying and unpalatable, so that your only resource is pa tience; and, if you wish to practise that virtue in perfection, make a jour ney of two or three hundred miles in India, and you will find yourself quite an adept in the observance of it in all its bearings. The following day was devoted to viewing the city, which consisted in seeing one or two objects of curiosity, that either the munificence or vanity of some former prince has raised in the shape of a tomb, a mosque, or pagoda. A native city possesses few charms or attractions to Europeans accustomed to the variety, arrange. ment, and beauties of a British city, where at every turning there is some object worthy of notice, to excite admiration or to interest his feelings. On the contrary, there is so much confusion, dirt, and wretchedness, in those cities under the native governments, that a stranger is rather willing to quit it, than, by exploriug, only meet with objects that excite in his mind feelings of sorrow and disappointment. The Hindoo, devoted to gain and superstition, cares but little as long as he increases his hoard and propitiates his gods; while the Mussulman leads a listless and sensual life, lolling on carpets, eternally smoking, and for the most part of the day locked up in his haram with his women: his days pass on in one unvaried round; there is no society, no public institutions, places of public resort or amusement; he, like the Hindoo, goes through with zeal and earnestness the formularies of his religion, and, like the Hindoo, he knows no one and cares for no one beyond the walls of his own barricadoed mansion. With such an example, and in such a state of society, it may be supposed in what an abject state the lower orders remain; they are but mere slaves to the higher ranks. In this state of degradation it is not to be wondered at that their cities present an uniform appearance of meanness, poverty, and ruin. There are but two objects at Aurungabad that deserve a specific notice the gardens and the tomb, or mausoleum of Rabea Dooraney, reported to have been the favourite wife of the Emperor Aurungzebe. CHRISTIAN CONVERSION. It was partly the topic of conversation among a party of eight highly respectable Hindoos and Mussulmans I met by appointment in the gardenhouse of the venerable Shah Saft; the mildness of whose manners, and the total absence of all bigotry in his conversation, rendered him not only a pleasing, but an instructive, friend. Upon my mentioning the wellknown name of Swartz, the company said that no real converts had ever been made; that those who had professed Christianity were men who had lost their caste for crime, or some abomination, and they were glad to become Christians; or that those who were in the very degraded ranks (the Sudra), having nothing to lose by the change, born polluted, and always avoided by the other ranks, would wish to assume another character, and that was always attainable by their becoming Christians; but, even with this wretched people, our success, dishonourable as the converts were, was very trifling; and many, finding that nothing was to be gained by the change, 31 ATHENEUM VOL. 2. 2d series.. and that the promises held out to them had not been fulfilled, had relapsed into their former state. "Why," exclaimed Murrane Sing (a Hindoo who was present, and who could read English)," do you not convert the Jews, who live among you, know your virtues, and the excellence of your faith, and whose forefathers knew of the prophecies, and saw the wonders mentioned in your Vedas 2" I replied, that they were a stubborn race, and the denunciations against their race had been fulfilled; and I instanced the occasions and times. "This is the more in favour of my argument," replied Murrane; "for if, under the sufferings they have endured, and the accomplishment of the curses threatened them, they still remain obstinate and sinful, how are we to be convinced, much less converted, who know nothing of these signs and wonders of which you speak, and have neither had promises nor threats held out to us, except by mortals like ourselves, who may or may not intend well? at least, they have nothing to show us on the contrary but windy words." He then referred to Paul, who, he observed, undoubtedly was a prophet, and one whose mission appeared very probable, had made no effect on King Agrippa, who was as civilized as the Hindoos; yet he was not to be persuaded, even though one of the principal propagators of it was present before him: "then how," he added, (6 am I to be persuaded by those who are neither saints nor prophets?" The conversation now reverted to Catholics (Catholas), and I was asked by one, possessing much information, why those persons who were British, but of that faith, did not adopt the Protestant creed? I replied, that they were Christians, though some difference existed in the forms of worship. Here my theological reasoning was again set at nought. The Hindoo replied, that the Catholics did not permit the reading of the Bible, for reasons which he well knew; that they worshipped images, which our Scriptures forbid; that they had pilgrimages like the Ilindoos, and holy water; but, what was mote than all, they had in their history mortal men, who sinfully presumed to have performed miracles which belong. ed alone to the only God Bhagavan! Here he drew his sleeve over his mouth, and made three low reverences; and then exclaimed aloud, "Forgive me, forgive me, forgive me, for the crime of repeating His holy name! Now, sir," said he, "which is best: we poor Hindoos, who have not been taught other things from on high; or your people, who have, but still disregard them?" Of course I did not think it necessary to remind him of our Lady of Loretto, and the liquefactions of St. Januarius' blood, nor of our burnings in Smithfield; neither was I then informed of the miracles of Prince Hohenlohe, nor had I heard that the waters of the Jordan were held as sacred by M. Chateaubriand as the Hindoos hold those of the Ganges. At that time, too, the worthy matron, Joanna Southcote, was unknown. I had no inclination, either, to revert to the many gross superstitions prevalent in many parts of England; of the sale of children's cauls, &c.; nor had I the impudence to tell him, that I could tell his character and disposition by examining his skull! Indeed, it was unnecessary to remind him of our superstitions and absurdities; for he slily enjoined, "Now, my young friend, you, who are Protestants -why do you not perform your worship duly and zealously? The nearest temple you have is at Bombay. Your European soldiers have no spiritual instructor. No, sir! I speak it in humility, you care little about your own religion; come to India with a box of clothes, take home a box full of money, and think you do a very meritorious act in subscribing a few rupees to convert us, and bring us to salvation, though apparently regardless of your own. This," he continued, "is very pious and very generous; but, believe me, before we give up the faith of our forefathers, a religion much older than yours, we must see you fulfil the doctrines it inculcates, and observe its ordinances; neither must you wonder if we require signs and wonders to convince us. But who are the persons sent out, and by whom? Are they men of great learning, great science, and great abilities? I have heard not; and further, that your government (Sircar), and the bishops (Burra Padrees), do not generally support the attempted reformation. Is this true, sir ?" I replied, there was some difference of opinion existing in England on the subject." Then,” rejoined the Hindoo, "if that difference in opinion exists among Christians themselves, you may be assured there is none with us. Our lives are moral, the Almighty blesses us as he does you; our Scriptures contain an excellent moral code, and we are taught to be virtuous and good; we rigidly act up to our faith, and are neither hypocrites, nor deceivers, nor tyrants; but are good men, and to you, sir, good subjects." The generality of missionaries sent to India have not the smallest chance of success with the learned natives of India. With the Bible in his band, and abundance of zeal, the missionary stalks forth into fields and villages, expecting that his well-meaning exhortations, and the pious examples he sets, is to convert the heathen. Nothing can be more fallacious. They are great idlers, and would, for the sake of gossiping, of which they are immoderately fond, run after, visit, and listen to a missionary; but as to what they have heard, or what they may have received, it has as much effect upon their mind as the passing breeze. They are, as before observed, polite and decorous in their behaviour to strangers; they will make professions, for they are adepts at dissimulation, and perfect at flattery. I have seen a Hindoo most devoutly listen to a discourse, beg a tract, and, on his re turn to the village, leave it on the threshold of the door of the temple, and fall down with his forehead on the floor, and worship the image of that ugly fellow Ganesa! On my exposts lating once on this impropriety with a convert, he replied, "My father did the same, and he was more prosperous than I am. The hopes and promises held out to me by the Padree (clergy € man) have not been fulfilled; and one of your Burra Sahibs (great men) has lately broken a commandment (alluding to a crim. con. just taken place, happily an event of rare occurrence in India); so, why may not I? Besides which," he added, "Ganesa is offended with me; and I will both pray to Ganesa, and listen to the Padree!" I should consider myself guilty of great dissimulation and dishonour, did I not repeat with fidelity the ideas of the superior orders of the natives; for, till those persons are perfectly and radically converted, there is as little pro bability or possibility of the inferior VARIETIES. Original Anecdotes, Literary News, Chit Chat, Incidents, &c. Maxims of Sir Morgan ODoherty. EPITAPHS. We moderns are perhaps inferior to our ancestors in nothing more than in our epitaphs. The rules, nevertheless, for making a good epitaph, are exceedingly simple. You should stu1 dy a concise, brief, and piquant diction; you should state distinctly the most remarkable points in the character and history of the defunct, avoiding, of course, the error into which Pope so often fell, of omitting the name of the individual in your verses, leaving it to be tagged to the tail or beginning of the piece, with a separate and prosaic "hic jacet." Thirdly, there should be, if possible, some improvement of the subject—some moral or religious or patriotic maxim,which the passenger carries with him, and forgets not. I venture to present, as a happy specimen, the following, and which is taken from a tomb-stone in Winchester church-yard, and which tradition ascribes to a late venerable prelate of that see, Dr. Hoadley : "Private John Thoms lies buried here, Nothing can exceed the nervous pith and fine tone of this, both in the narrative and the didactic parts. It is really a gem, and confers honour on the Bishop-on whom, by the way, a clever enough little epitaph was written shortly after his death by a brother Whig and D. D. Bishop Hoadley was, "Here lying Hoadley lies, whose book legs, with a lemon in his mouth, a sprig of parsley in his ear, his trotters bedded on a lair of sage. One likes to see a pig appear just as he used to do upon the board of a Swift, a Pope, an Arbuthnot. Take away the customs of a people, and their identity is destroyed. 66 66 TRUTH LIES AT THE SURFACE." There is not a truer saying in this world, than that truth lies on the surface of things. The adage about its lying in a well was invented by some solemn old ass, some passy measures pagan," as Sir Toby Belch calls him, who was ambitious of being thought deep, while, in point of fact, he was only muddy. Nothing that is worth having or knowing, is recondite or difficult to be discovered. room, and your eye will in three seconds light (and fix) on the beauty. Ask Go into a ball the stupidest bost in the world to bring you the best thing he has in his house, and he will, without doubt, set a bottle of claret forthwith on your table. Ask the most perfect goose of a bookseller who is the first poet in the world, and he will name Shakspeare. I have never been able to understand the advantage of hard study, deep researches, learned investigations, &c. &c. Is there any really good author lying concealed anywhere among the litter of lumber ransacked only by the fingers of the Bibliomaniacs? Is there anything equal to punch, with which the drinking public in general remains unacquainted? I think not. I therefore take things easy. DRAM-DRINKING. There are two kinds of drinking which I disapprove of I mean dramdrinking, and port-drinking. I talk of the drinking of these things in great quantities, and habitually. I have many reasons that I could render for the disgust that is in me, but I shall be contented with one. These potables taken in this way, fatally injure a man's personal appearance. The drinker of drams becomes either a pale, shivering, blue-and-yellow-looking, lank-chopped, miserable, skinny animal, or his eyes and cheeks are stained with a dry, fiery, dusky red, than which few things can be more disgusting to any woman of real sensibility, and true feminine delicacy of character. The portdrinkers, on the other hand, get blowsy about the chops, have trumpets of noses, covered with carbuncles, and acquire a muddy look about the eyes. As for dram-drinking, I thing nobody. ought to indulge in it except a man under sentence of death, who wishes to make the very most of his time, and who knows that, let him live never so quietly, his complexion will inevitably be quite spoilt in the course of the week.-Blackwood. In helping a lady to wine, always fill the glass to the very brim; for custom prevents them from taking many glasses at a time; and I have seen cross looks when the rule has been neglected by young and inexperienced dandies.-Ib. FASHION. The King,if Sir Thomas Lawrence's last and best picture of him may be believed, wears, when dressed for dinner, a very short blue surtout, trimmed with a little fur, and embroidered in black silk upon the breast, and all about the button holes, &c.-black breeches and stockings, and a black stock. I wish to call general attention to this, in the hopes of seeing his Majesty's example speedily and extensively adopted. The modern coat is the part of our usual dress, which has always given most disgust to the eye of people of taste; and I am, therefore, exceedingly happy to think, that there is now a probability of its being entirely exploded. The white neckcloth is another abomination, and it also must be dismissed. A blue surtout, and blue trowsers richly embroidered down the seams, form the handomest dress which any man can wear within the limits of European costume. SMOKING. Mediocrity is always disgusting, ex cept, perhaps, mediocrity of stature in a woman. Give me the Paradise Lost, the Faerie Queen, the Vanity of Human Wishes, that I may feel myself elevated and ennobled; give me Endymion, or the Flood of Thessaly, or Pye's Alfred, that I may be tickled and amused. But on no account give me an eminently respectable poem of the Beattie or Campbell class, for that merely sets one to sleep. In like fashion, give me, if you wish to make me feel in the heaven of heavens, a hookat. There is no question that this is the Paradise Gained of the smoker.-But, if you cannot give me that, give me a segar: with which whoso is not contented deserves to inhale sixteen pipes. of assafoetida per diem in secula secuforum. What I set my face against is the vile mediocrity of a pipe, properly so called. No pipe is cleanly but the common Dutch clay, and that is a great recommendation, I admit: but there is something so hideously ab surd in the appearance of a man with a clay pipe in his mouth, that I rather wonder anybody can have courage to present himself in such a position. |