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Show IN HINDOO SOCIETY. SOCIAL FESTIVITIES IN THE CITY OF CALCUTTA, INDIA. elviii, experience! in Calcutta in connection with the founding of the lndlau lectureship. It must suffice, however, far me at this time to record my appreciation of the imuu and spirit showu by the educated Hindoos. Sin-- patient attention, such hearty and general responsiveness, bUi'a constant courtesy, such intelligent insight into the best utterances have been able to offer, such freedom from taking offense at the most pronounced Christian sentiments and convictions, 1 did not expect to find in quite such large measure. The demonstration made at the close of. the last lecture was especially gratifying for the reason that Mrs. Haskell's name and generous deeds were enthusiastiOn cally and repeatedly applauded. very occasion where her name has been mentioned in my hearing in the maharajah's palace at the various receptions given by the Brahmos in the homes of Mr. P. C. Mozoomdar and the late Keshub Chundar Sen, in the hall of the London missionary institution and of the general assembly's institution, where the lectures have been given, it has awakened immediate reir.-- non-Christi- Dr. Barrow Write the Falaee Dicnitarie f HI Rerrption t the Maha ajh, of the Present and of fctotial f Cf e. a 1 (Calcutta Letter.) CALCUTTA fife gets Its name from Kali Ghat, the site of a Kali temple which we visited the other morning in company with Prinei-- c ipa Morrison. When the goddess was cut to pieces one of her fingers fell on this spot, and the temple built at this sacred place brings great wealth to the priestly family who manage it. The shrine is not a cleanly one and very far from attractive. We did not see the famous image of Kali, as the doors were not yet open, but in another temple we saw one almost equally fine that is equally horrible. We have also visited with much interest the zoological garden and duly admired the Bengal tigers and the superb collection of Indian reptiles. I have seen also the extremely interesting Jain temples surrounded by gardens which a wealthy Jain opens to his The whole region is a stately pleasure house. The tanks are full of fish, the garden is full of statues, a curious combination of Greek and oriental sculpture. Jain worshipers paint their foreheads with yellow. They are said to be surely becoming Ilindooized, and are likely to be absorbed by the most omniverous of religions. The Jains here are a very wealthy and benevolent part of the population, and their annual procession is the most brilliant spectacle of the year. Their kindness to animals is well known and they have honored me with membership in their society. The weather has been fine, not excessively warm, and I have been able to undergo an amount of work which 1 fellow-believer- s. sponse. The impression seems to be at present strong in Calcutta that the. University of Chicago's lectureship in this city was needed and that its continuance will be permanently useful. It 's well known that Christianity has not made large inroads as yet into the higher ranks of Hindoo society. The most gratifying feature of the India lectureship thus far has been the presence at our meetings of many who have not heretofore been present at distinc- These are tively Christian lectures. men who are not reached by the evangelistic methods, which are so useful among other classes. Still the educated Bengali Christians whom I have come to know are as refined and pleasant people as one would ever, meet. A number of them were invited by Mrs Macdonald to dine with us, and added to the pleasant company was the Hon. A. N. Bose, a foremost man among the Brahmos, a Cambridge wrangler and a member of the lieutenant-governorcouncil. He listened with much interest to the story which I told of the rise and present greatness of the University of Chicago, and also to my pres- 's CLIMBING THE CLIFFS. red, I carefully dislodge with my feet were serw! taken their degrees at the unirer-sifery loose bit of rock with my reach, so an to avoid a possible shower of Nearly all the Bengali ladies AN ADVENTUROUS SPORT Unm flip trillion wmMimf. which THAT rubble and stones (the result of conscene CALLS FOR NERVt. The tact with the rope) when below. Thi8 beautiful and piituresqne. ' . ..a run hided is vitally important. At will, I can sit was varied ami unlbaut. a"u in the girth or sling. As the sound us of the reptions given to the, delea Steep , J rniM of one's voice is loBt when at a depth by Ue gates to the parliament of religions Mr. Iu,,(lrni,uuKriUr(,(, down the cliff of about fifty feet, anA Wo"" Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Bartleit and lMt B.rkard Io...a other man is stationed at a point where nd Mrs. E. W. Blutchford in Cliff. I can see him; and it is through his The costumes were more pieturesqu that the man at tn rowbar agency and fal'on in Calcutta, but the faiths receives (London The nest my to b in signals. Letter.) varied more represented were ' be found on a fairmay photographed as cago. T other things, there ly accessible ledge. In which case the The reception lasted three houu nobie-maare and manipulation of the camera is comHindoo degrees; Of course the gracious in a this article I paratively eaiy; but where It Is built par, could not provide food as to Bit deal on a projecting stone or small edee. propose of the evening's entertainment. Hindoo only with the very tremendous difficulties have to be overwe had something better-fi- ne highest form of come. In' such cases two legs of the Hindoo music, skillful and wonderful this fascinatl n g camera must rest on my body, most of Hinjugglerv and ail the amenities 1 hobby. refer more conveniently in the belt round my Dr. K. S. Macdonald doo courtesy. r y to Iwaist. Having fixed up tb apparatus particula made the address of welcome, and in proceed to focus the object: this la or, my reply I spoke of the great privilege most difficult task of all, and one the more at last given me of standing on the cliff descending, in searen properly, which may last five minutes or an of eggs. soil of India and of bringing a loving Among the most distinguished adepts hour, or even longer still, according to salutation from the young and vigorous in this difficult and perilous art is circumstances. Then it frequently west to the thoughtful east. I describppropriately enough one of the happens that when everything Is ready west popular officers in the British for the. exposure, one of my legs will ed the hopes and purposes i refarmy Lieutenant-Colone- l Willmighby-Verneslip or my body sway in an aggravattureship cu Christianity, and made of the Rifle Brigade, who is, ing manner, so that the nest will have erence to the spirit of Mrs. Haskell in at this moment, a professor of milito be "Where a recess in the cliff is reachtary science at Sandhurst. While stationed at Gibraltar, be- ed in descending or ascending by the tween 1874 and 1880, Colonel Verner ropes, one's body, being Insulated, behad splendid opportunities for indulggins to rotate like a goose on a roastingand the Bensation of twirling his favorite pastime. "The lowest -jack; as to situation and also the very ing round in mid-ai- r at the end of a first eagle's nest I ever took, was that rope, with the very real possibility of of an Imperial eagle a a shower of dislodged stones from This nest was in a stunted above, and In the event of an accspecies. tree, only 20 feet high, in the middle identcertain death beneath, is anyof an almost impenetrable thicket, thing but pleasant. Remember, one's which was surrounded by a large life is literally in the hands of the man swamp covered with reeds 10 feet at the crowbar. On one occasion, just high." Here the great bird relied for as I was disappearing over the cliff, security on (he solitude of the swamp, this responsible person got joking with and the difficulty of access to the tree, his companion, the signal man, and he Certainly, Colonel Verner would never let the coil of rope slip up to the top have reached that nest were It not of the crowbar. A moment more and for the assistance rendered by a couple it would have slipped oft altogether, d but a horrified yell from me brought of Spanish POSTOFFICE, CALCUTTA. , who beat down the reeds for him with the careless fellow to some sense of founding it. I took special pleasure in their poles. The gallant Colonel's duty, just in time to avoid a catasreferring to the great past and greater highest nest (as compared with the trophe." Another illustration shows the takfuture of India, and expressed the con- lowest, mentioned above) was that of abode of a raven's nest at Trevent, Pemits which took a up recf eagle, ing golden viction that the best ministry a dizzy crag, 2800 feet above Jimena, brokeshire. This nest was placed in in when to come, lies in the years ligion a deep hollow, which Is seen a Jittla men shall be bound together into a in Andalusia. below the climber (Mr. C. D. Head). Asked as to the details of his cosmopolitan fraternity. Colonel Verner said: The great cliffs at this point are unoutfit, BARROWS. HENRY JOHN "I take with me 180 feet of usually steep and lofty, this one ia 50 feet of rope for particular projecting sharply from the rope; Alpine Benin in 1820. 'bad' places; a ball of strong twine main line of cliffs, and having a ragCivilization in Benin has clearly ret- with lead weight attached, for com- ing sea on either side. To reach the rograded rather than advanced during municating up or down; a nest of tin spot where the rope attendant Is seen the last seventy or eighty years. boxes for eggs, carried in a loong Among the few travelers who made creel; dagger, canvas their way to Benin in the earlier years belt (specially made for me by a bluee of the century was Mr. John King, a jacket); and provisions; lieutenant in the Royal Navy, who a hand camera, and a set of instruments packed in a case." visited the place in 1S20. The traveler was received in a singular, though To these may be added a 28 foot amicable, manner by the King of Be- rope of pure silk, weighing but a few nin. During the interview, one of the onuces. yet capable of supporting two King's arms was "stretcld out hori- men. This rope was given to Ihe CotHutVoU Prince Crown the. late onel ofby and supported by a great zontally who had used it himself ficer, and the nail on one finger of each of Austria, chamois-huntin- g in the Tyrol. whilst hand had been suffered to grow to a shows in illustrations our One of great length to indicate that his high the manner a frightful startling station placed him above the necessity quite in which quite of labor." The King had at that time positions This darthemselves. find commonly 4,000 wives, but some of these he would ing man is Mr. C. Kearton, of Elstree, give upon occasion to any subject who' Hert5. I asked Mr. Kearton to dehad performed exceptional service. scribe his method of making a descent, The practice of making human sacriand this is what he said: "Perhaps It . ' f t;,V fices was uniformly denied by the nawould be better, first of all, if I said 9 does not tives, and Lieutenant King a word or two about that photo. In it seem to have witnessed any scenes of I am depicted climbing down a cliff bloodshed while he remained in the on the south coast of Ireland. I am country. The traveler was introduced about fifty feet down, and the cliff was ft who lived also to the The 300 feet above the sea. nearly in a separate court just outside the city. photo was taken by a naturalist friend. TAKING RAVEN'S NEST AT TRElike her son the The "Before starting on a VENT. arms "I King, had one of her supported expedition," pursued Mr. Kearton, about She of an entertained ropes attendant. by first procure a couple d ridge standing, a narrow Lieutenant King with kola-nand the thickness of one's thumb, and in of treacherous rock and soil had to be Next 300 feet. other refreshments, and asked him In- lensrth from 200 feet to crossed, and this was barely two feet The numerable questions. a crowbar, which I fix firmly in the wide, so that passing over it was no of Benin was dressed in clothes pleasant task, especially when burof European silk, and she wore a dened with steel crowbars, ropes, and d lace hat on her head. other Impedimenta. S.n: Altogether, the city, with" its wide, ...I::::::: straight streets and "neat and handThe Japan Alp. some houses," appears to have made a t The "Japanese Alps" in altitude aro very favorable impression upon the that of the Swiss only about lieutenant, according to whom Euroforests the but magnificent mountains, peans were at the date of his visit which clothe their mighty flanks and "still considered as gods by the nathe rich and picturesque valleys which' tives of Benin." We wonder what they lie at their feet give them an indithink now. surviduality and charm which are not mountain region other any by passed Queer Custom of the Costa Itlran. of the world. Owing to the fact that According to Henry C. Lowrie, aft travel among them is of the roughest American engineer, who has recently description, these wild fastnessses have spent several months in Costa Rica hitherto remained a "charmed circle some have customs peculiar down they within a charmed circle." In variety, there. The tow .is have no gaols, but nothing is wanting, from the rlchnesa ,..7.., 1 .fuflB f murderers are placed in vegetation to Alpine of remain until where authey the stocks, snows. The Japanese, as well as the thorities have time to hang them. The Europeans, have their climbing clubs, n dreadful weapon of the and make much more elaborate ar" f in the "n r rr " met is in rt,rr everywhere country rangements for the comfort and conthe machete. With it the native can venience of their members than the WALKING BACKWARDS, cut his way through the densest tropiSwiss or British clubs. They have a cal undreorush, chop down trees, shave ground some distance from the edge of system of huts all along their mounyou, open a can of beans, chop off your the cliff. One rope (the guide rope) tain routes, with porters for carrying tied to this crowbar, and tired climbers or women. It will be a whittle is or securely toothpick, ia a it head, the man who is letting straight thin blade, about two and a then beld byAttached to the end are 6een from this that the ascent of most down. me wide and inche3 thirty half inches of the peaks is attended with little long. which are placed round and almost no danger. SevPresident Rafael Iglesias is a very act- three loops, discomfort under my legs to prevent have a peculiar Interive and progressive man, and quite a my body and of the eral peaks out. With the camera me from falling Just are before regarded as sacred, and shrewd politician. est. They the back, and the guide-rop- e who climbs there traveler "election" he jailed the principal lead- slung over my the foreign in my hand, I deliberately walk meets all sorts of pilgrims, and witers of tht opposition for pernicloag acbackwards over the brink of the cliff, nesses the most curious of ceremontivity and announced himself president. man the rope bc'.ng controlled by a On ies. The two most sacred mountain at signals. it given machine produce as who unwinds A famous Fujiyama, wh.cn aprevolver, the situation of a are the my firing time so often in the background ol n as were the pears many nails In a given revealed by neet is at once men. 1,000 Aa I am lowformerly made by Japanese pictures, and Ontake. fllgbt of the blrd3. men; ities the-- y. heid I . ,.,.,, Ko-T- -- - n 1 g, r, -- tree-nestin- leech-catcher- bare-legge- g s, cliff-clknbi- ch illlifiiliiii lliliiilli!!!: ii: ilii'iiii iiii'ii ii " ' ' m ' i " "'.I' Hi I r ; '"i" 0 field-glasse- s, water-bottl- il l ' S .nftivAi & 13 pip 111 I Va cliff-climbe- rs . m HVf')-.- Jill w r Queen-Mothe- r, ..I . i: ..i : - saddle-shape- ut DIIARMATALLA MOSQUE, CAL CUTTA. Queen-Moth- the "old Indian" deems rather unusu- entation of the brighter side of our al. I have averaged two addresses a western city which Mr. Stead purposeday, and probably have driven fifty miles to make them. I like the domestic arrangements, which furnish an opportunity for the greatest amount of work. Marutl wakes me at 7 in. the morning and brings in the chota hazri, I thus get two or little breakfa-:- ; 9 breakfast. o'clock the hours before filled with is interval usually This calls. The Indians call at thia time, the Europeans between 12 and 2. Tiftea fin, or luncheon, ia at 2:30 o'clock, 5 dinner at 6:3H, and at lectures at 4:30, at 8:30. The manners of the Indian and people are the most courteous covld giv3 They pleasant possible. . Saxon peoples valuable lessons In conversation and demeanor. I find that the Indians are not pleased with the who ordinary ways of the Englishman, domineering, ucedk'ssly often is The Engbrusque and discourteous. of the hearts the not gained lish have this I do In Iwlia. spying of people not forget myself, however, that mt.ny roble Christian missionaries, men and women, have won the deepest affec converts and tion of their Indian friends I have had interesting calls Mr. II. C. Mit-r- a from an aged Christian, a valuable lecme has given who on the life of ture delivered by him of the greatest of Indian Dr Duff, one Mitra's enthusiasm Mr. missionaries. and Christian Scotch preacher for the affectionate. orator is intense and detailI could write a dozen letters and conversations Interesting ing most ly Ignored in his famous book. I think the most of my readers will be interested In a sketch, however hasty and Imperfect, of the reception given me In the palace of the maharajah, the leading nobleman of Calcutta, by representatives of the Hindoo, Moham- medan, Jain, Paral, Buddhist, Brahmo and Christian communities. The Maharajah Bahadur Sir J. N. Tagore belongs to a historic line, and is an orthodox Hindoo in belief and practice, though his family lost caste several generations ago by involuntarily smelling food which had been cooked by Mohammedans. The palace is surrounded by many of the poorer buildings and residences of the Hindoo quarter. Across the street from it is the new palace, in process of erection, which has some of the fen turns of Windsor castle. As we entered the residence we passed between Indian soldiers and up the stairway, through an army of servants, to the spacious and splendid drawing-room- , carpeted in red and adorned with portraits. Two hundred giusta assembled here. The maharajah, who has an intellectual and refined face and very winning manners, received us, assisted by his adopted grandson. Of course no ladies of this Hindoo household were visible, but among the guests were perhaps fifty ladies, either Europeans or Americans or members of the Brahmo and ChrlsUan commun red-coate- d I cliff-climbi- Queen-Mothe- r, '.. Tii- ir er broad-brimme- ;r.-- ;. , :.; -- ?:..-?.:. two-thir- M.r Ti .. U sub-tropic- al Spanish-America- nall-makln- sud-dr- ds - |