AN ESSAY
ON THE
romotimt of	HUScrrm
AMONG THE NATIVES OE INDIA.
BY
GANPAT LAKSHMAN.
“ Oh that all the companions of Ganpat Lakshman (and those
that are like-minded with himself) might hear his voice coming
to them as it were, from the world of Spirits, and solemnly-
exhorting them in these words: * Prepare to meet Ciy God.’ ”
THIRD EDITION WITH NOTES,
BY
RANGNATH SADASHIV JAYAKAR,
ACTING NAIB-DIVAN, PRESIDENT OF THE JADEJA COURT, AND
CHIEF JUDGE OF THE VARISHTA COURT, KUTCH,
PRINTED AT THE DNYAN MITRA PRESS,
By N. W. GHUMRE.
1881.NOTE TO THE THIRD EDITION.
This little work which first appeared in
the year 1843, was reprinted by me in 1866.
A pressing demand for it now induces me to
offer a third edition of it to the public, which
I do with much pleasure, considering its use-
fulness, and in order that the valuable work
may not become extinct. As regards its
merits enough has been said by the late
Rev. Dr. Wilson in his note to thé first edi-
tion, and I would avail myself of this oppor-
tunity to commend to the notice of my
friends the subject of the re-marriage of
widows. Of late, some encouragement has
really been given to this important matter,
but it is not sufficient to bring about the
desired effect, and I earnestly pray to God,
that the day may soon come, when the hopes
of the sympathisers of our widowed and
aggrieved sisters will be fully realized.
It is hoped that the present revised edition
may be the means of practically effecting the
reforms which Ganpat has suggested, and for
which he has so enthusiastically pleaded.iv	Note	to	the	Third Edition.
May God give us strength to work in the
cause of truth and righteousness, and may we
be prepared to fight manfully the battles in
this noble cause.
I cannot allow this opportunity to pass
without offering my thanks to my friends,
Messrs. B&lkrishna NiMji Pitale, and Balaji
Sit&r&m KotMre, for their trouble in carry-
ing this work through the Press.
RANGNATH SADASHIV JitYAKAR.
Bhuj, May 1881.NOTE TO THE FIRST EDITION.
In April and May 1841,1 was called to preside
at several meetings of students ‘and other young
native gentlemen of Bombay, held at the Mission-
house, Ambrolie, for the purpose of discussing the
important subject of which this paper treats. The
liberality of a friend, E. T. Webb, Esq., afterwards
enabled us to propose two prizes for the best Essays
written by any native, who had taken part in the
discussions which were then held, and which should
be read at the Annual Examination of the General
Assembly’s Institution, which shortly afterwards
occurred. The successful competitors are Ganpat
Lakshman, a student in the Elphinstone Institu-
tion, the author of this most interesting and able
production, and Govind Narayan, a student in the
General Assembly’s Institution, whose excellent
Essay we may afterwards have an opportunity of
laying before the public.
Ganpat’s Essay, it will be seen and acknowledged,
is one of no ordinary character. The picture
which it exhibits of a Hindu family is extremely
correct, and such as few are able and willing to
draw; and the reforms for which it eloquently
pleads are of no superficial kind. It is well worthy
of the attention, both of his countrymen and
Europeans,—of the former, because it distinctlyVI
Note to the First Edition.
points to the path of improvement, and of the latter,
because it reveals much which they are anxious to
know, and which they may turn to good account
in their efforts for the promotion of the well-being
of this great country.
The religious tone of the Essay will not escape
notice. It is vastly different from that which is
produced by Hinduism and the other systems of
faith prevalent in this land. The writer is one of
those who, though not educated in a Christian
institution, do not deem the religion of the most
exalted and powerful nations on the face of the
globe, unworthy of their serious consideration, but
who appreciate the benevolence by which the
friends of the propagation of Christianity are
actuated, and who avail themselves of those means
of improvement which they present to all candid
inquirers after divine truth. May he, and those
like-minded with himself, be further enlightened.
May they see and feel that their comparatively clear
views of the divine law impose on them higher
demands of duty ; that in much which is honour-
able and amiable with them in the sight of their
fellow-men, there may be much which cannot stand
the searching inquisition of a pure and holy God ;
that in the divine jurisprudence, judicial condemna-
tion must be the result of transgression, unless
the divine mercy interpose to avert the fearful
consequence ; that mercy cannot be exercised to the
disparagement of justice, and the injury of the
divine authority ; that it is only in the atonementNote to the First Edition.
vii
of Christ, that mercy and truth have met together,
and righteousness and peace embraced each other;
and that it is only in Christ that God Is just, while
He is the justifier of the ungodly. May they look
to the Saviour and live. May they be renewed in
the spirit of their minds, and thus themselves
experience that great reformation in comparison
of which all others are insignificance itself, and be
made meet to be esteemed members of the Family
of God.
John Wilson«
Bombay, April 1842«PREPACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.
This little work first appeared in the year 1843.
In presenting it anew to the public, the publisher
deems it necessary to state, that he has done this
at the request of a great many of his native friends,
with the permission of the Rev. Dr. Wilson, who
first encouraged its preparation and publication.
The remarks which it contains, and which are the
result of the author’s personal observation and
experience, stand emphatically true to this day.
It is really astonishing, how after a lapse of an
interval of twenty-two years the natives of Bombay
still mainly continue in that unhappy state of mind
which is so finely and accurately described by the
author. The God-debasing and man-dishonoring
system of religion which is so widely prevalent from
the early times of Indian History, and to which
Ganpat has so often alluded^ as one of the greatest
sources of the disorder and dangers to which our
families are exposed, still continues without being
less hideous or detested.
No doubt since the time that this essay was first
published, female education has greatly advanced;
but it is a matter of regret, that it has not yet
brought about those changes which were expected
to arise out of it, and for which Ganpat has so
energetically pleaded.
It is, however, now allowed that the Native mind
has been gradually prepared to advocate with
eagerness the claims of Hindu females, and it isPreface to the Second Edition.	ix
hoped, that the day will soon come, on which the
mothers of our country will whisper into the ears of
our rising generation sweet and wholesome lessons
in Divine Philosophy—a day on which the cause of
religion and humanity shall be fully established in
India, and the fear of the only True and Living
God be substituted for the fear of stones and stocks,
of demons and demi-gods.
The Hindu widow is not yet relieved from the
dark room of grief and misery, to be allowed to
peep again into the world, that she may be revived
by the enlivening concerns of human society.
Wretched though she becomes on the death of
her partner, she has still to place her delicate head
under the cropping knife of the barber, and to
submit herself to all the horrors which are incident
to Hindu widowhood. How melancholy it is to
behold our own sister or daughter, the very essence
of our lives, snatched from our hands to be banished
to the dark and dismal dungeon. How fearful is
the idea itself that even they who are to-day
walking in our company amidst the shades of
approaching evening, exchanging words and marks
of love with us, will be refused to-morrow the
rights of humanity, and secluded far away from all
agreeable society, to pine away the rest of their
days in perpetual widowhood. The horrors of such
an idea present themselves in a doubly strong
light to the mind of an educated Indian youth, who
has already learnt to look upon such practices as
inhuman, and fitted only to serve the ends of a
crafty and cruel race of priests. Is it not thereforeX
Preface to the Second Edition.
time for us to rise and act up to the dictates of
Conscience, to persevere and fight manfully in the
cause of our aggrieved and miserable sisters, who
are still lingering under the yoke of aggravated
widowhood ? How manful is the duty that calls us
to such an action !
It is really a very unfortunate circumstance in
the annals of the history of Reform on this side of
India, that there are not a few who have been cut
off in the morning of their lives, and who would
not a little have stimulated our ignorant and super-
stitious countrymen to the noble task of enlightening
their wives, sisters and daughters. Amongst the
many of these may be mentioned the author himself
and Mr. Jagannath Narayan, a highly educated
and intelligent native gentleman, who had partly
¡succeeded in the grand task of fostering a spirit of
divine and moral existence in his wife and children,
who was eagerly waiting for the day of India’s glory
and who has been cut off as these pages are passing
through the press. But amidst all these discourage-
ments, let us fulfil the grand mission which has
been entrusted to us, and for which we are respon-
sible to Him, Who.sits high above all, the Judge
and Observer of all.
It is hoped, that the present edition of this work
will have its due influence upon the minds of those
whom it concerns, and be the means of bringing
about the social and moral reforms of which it
treats.
ft, S. J.
Bombay, lsi November 1865,AN ESSAY
ON THE
PROMOTION OF DOMESTIC REFORM
AMONG THE NATIVES OF INDIA.
The very title of this paper suggests to our
minds almost intuitively the great importance
of the subject. The importance of domestic
arrangement evinces itself in the circumstance
of its being the most widely beneficial in its
results, the most essential to the comfort and
happiness of human society, and the best
guarantee of social order and peace. Our
home is important to us on account of its
being the chief scene of many of those occur-
rences on which depends our happiness both
present and future. It is the school where
the infant mind is trained to the exercise of
its powers, where the child is taught its duties
to the different members of the family, where
early lessons of piety are instilled into its
mind, where its ideas are acquired and its
affections formed, where principles of virtue
are first implanted, in short, where begins the9
Indian Domestic Reform.
laying of that foundation upon which will
depend the superstructure of future happiness,
Within the little circle of its wtlIIs we receive
those impressions, which, grounded in a heart
that turns from good to evil, will influence
our principles and conduct, and colour the
whole of our after-life. It is there that we
derive knowledge, wisdom, and ability to
enable us to discharge our duties to the world
at large. There are our best affections rooted ;
there are the moral and social affections of
infant humanity developed ; and there habits
of subjection to authority, of submission to a
supreme will, are formed. There, as it were
in a private nursery, are we prepared for the
intercourse and business, and duties of this
life, and for the far more important duties
and privileges of that which is to come. It
is not in the domestic circle of our home that
there is secured from our earliest infancy the
benefit of a father s counsels and a father s
care, that we are taught betimes the lessons
of piety, commended with persuasive power
by the lips of a parent, whom God would
have to be at once a master and a priest in his
own house, and to give by the type of an
earthly father, some idea of the character in
which He himself best loves to be known,Indian Domestic Reform,
3
even as their Father in heaven ? How im-
portant then it is that we make our domestic
life capable of realizing these glorious pur-
poses for which it seems to be so evidently
intended. It is indeed not everywhere that
the blessing of a right family arrangement is
felt to its fullest extent by all its members.
To those miserable abodes where intemper-
ance and vice are daily inmates, and where
ignorance and superstition prevail, rooting out
those social feelings which alone can enliven
the charities of the domestic circle, and that
sweet communion of sentiment which is es-
sential to the happiness of the family, what
feeling can be attached but that of a rooted
aversion ? Domestic life is indeed, above all
other things on earth, redolent of happiness
to every human being. But in that unhappy
abode where ignorance and superstition are
the reigning inmates, and where education has
not penetrated its beams, and banished dark-
ness from its walls, the true blessing which
domestic life is designed, by a gracious Pro-
vidence, to confer on man, is neither felt nor
enjoyed ' to its fullest extent. Education
founded on the fear of God, which is the
beginning of all wisdom, lends additional
charms to the family circle and to all the'dearest4	Indian	Domestic	Reform.
associations connected with it: but in vain
would we lpok for the realization of these high
blessings where education has not shed its
light around. Consider a youth brought up in
the ways of idleness and profligacy, into whose
ears the wholesome lessons of piety were
never poured, and the education of whose
moral and intellectual powers was quite neg-
lected, whose improvement in virtue was
never attended to, and who was only encour-
aged to excel in the achievements of crime ;
and contrast such a character with that of a
modest, unassuming and enlightened youth
trained to habits of rational contemplation,
brought to an acquaintance with his duties to
his earthly parents and with those which he
owes to his heavenly Father, grounded in the
belief and confession of truth, and qualified
for the important purposes of his existence—
doing good to his fellow-creatures and living
to the glory of God ; contrast these charac-
ters so diametrically opposite to one another
and say, reader, without prejudice or par-
tiality, which of them would prove a useful
member of society. Indeed when ignorance
is not removed from the family abode, and its
natural accompaniments are allowed to reign
without a check, our domestic life is no longerIndian Domestic Reform.
5
a blessing to us. Then intemperance, vice,
and superstition become the reigning inmates,
and root out all those social feelings so neces-
sary for the preservation of domestic order
and peace. But in a family composed of
members, whose hearts are impressed with
the convictions of truth, and imbued with the
principles of sound morality, the real bless-
ings of domestic life are most extensively felt.
Born in a state of helplessness and placed in
a state of absolute dependence upon their
parents, their best and dearest interests as
men, as far as both this world and the next
are concerned, must in a great meâsure de-
pend upon the principles and conduct of those
with whom they may be so nearly connected
from the earliest days of their infancy. Hence
arises the absolute necessity that the mem-
bers composing a family should all have
enlightened views of things around them,
have a clear knowledge of the relations in
which they stand to this world and the next,
of the duties they owe to one another and to
their Creator, and be impressed with the
importance of being subservient to promote
the glory of God, and the good of their
fellow-creatures. In a family so constituted,
there is no danger of man’s proving a useless6	Indian	Domestic	Reforr\i.
member of society. Then, indeed, may the
blessings of religious and moral education be
felt in all their fulness and abundance. Then,
indeed, may the fountain-head of corrup-
tion be turned into waters of goodness. Then,
indeed, may the depravity of the human
heart be softened and its dreadful effects be
prevented. In such a family, there is a pro-
vision already secured for the better and early
tuition of the young candidates for im-
mortality—a provision which we will look for
in vain in a family of opposite description.
Men united to such a family cannot fail to
derive from their connections a large amount
of useful information and wholesome moral
instruction. They have the opportunity of
picking up these from the conversation and
example of those enlightened and experienced
individuals, by whom they may find them-
selves every day surrounded. Thus, then,
they may enjoy all. those advantages that can
possibly be derived from an enlightened and
well-regulated intercourse of domestic life.
1. A SHORT SKETCH OF HlNDU FAMILIES.
New in order to avail ourselves of these
foregoing observations in pursuing the subject
with which we are presently engaged, weIndian Domestic Reform.
7
would, in the first place, ask our native readers
whether the family institutions of the Hindus
resemble an institution so well regulated, and
so happily circumstanced, as this ? Since
with our domestic life is connected the promo-
tion of our best interests both in this world and
the next, and since it is in the family circle
that we receive those impressions which have
so great an influence over the principles and
conduct of our future life, it is a matter of
serious importance to inquire, whether or not
in our own family systems, there exist cus-
toms and prejudices of all kinds, detrimental
to the cause of virtue, and the advancement
of moral enlightenment, and whether yet we
have neglected to extirpate them entirely
from the family circle, with which we and
our kindred are connected, and upon which
our best interests are so greatly dependent ?
Does the father in our families gather around
him the little flock of his children, and com-
mend to them, by persuasive power, the
wholesome lessons of piety and the principles
of morality ? Does the mother, kind as she
is, and possessing a heart that yearns with
prompt solicitude over the little objects of
her affection, display any anxiety or care
about the interests of her own soul or those8
Indian Domestic Reform.
of the family around her ? Is she really con-
vinced of ker own state of ignorance, or when
so convinced, is she willing to use any means
to remove it ? Did it ever occur to her mind,
that while with all the solicitude of a mother,
she cared about the health of her children,
and sought eagerly to deck their bodies with
all exterior embellishments, she must with far
more solicitude and anxiety attend to the
proper training of their mental powers, and
to furnish their minds with rich intellectual
wealth ? No such thing ! Is not her mind,
on the other hand, always haunted with
thoughts of their future eminence in the
world’s esteem, and is she not often discon-
tented and vexed when disappointment or ill-
success attends them in their purely worldly
enterprise, without being able to use any
means by which their spirits might properly
be soothed and cheered ? Is there anything
like sweetness of communion, gentleness of
manners, mutual love, mutual esteem, sweet
interchange of feelings and sentiments, so
essential to the promotion of domestic har-
mony and filial affection, to be observed in
the families of the natives ? Are the children
there seen collecting together to receive any
lessons in piety or morality from their parents,Indian Domestic Reform.	9
and to derive useful instructions from them,
as to the manner in which they ought to con-
duct themselves in relation to this world, and
in the far more interesting relation to the
world which is to come ? Is a father’s voice
heard tenderly instructing his beloved child-
ren in divine things; or the lisping tongue
of a child reverently whispering the Creator’s
name and singing His praises ? No : surely
not. The clean-swept hearth is scarcely ever
encircled by a pious and God-fearing people,
from whose lips no word of depravity ever
did drop, whose souls are often raised in holy
devotion to their Father in heaven, who love
Him both in prosperity and adversity, and
whose stay is on Him only, who is the author
of every good and perfect gift. True piety
and wholesome early instructions are entirely
neglected, and their very semblance is, per-
haps, without hesitation, mocked at and ridi-
culed. They do hardly recollect that every
thing good comes from God, and that they
are accountable to Him only for all they
think, and all they do. All that degree of
domestic felicity which they enjoy, they for-
get as proceeding entirely from Him who is
the source of all good; and amidst all their
social endearments and comforts, scareely10	Indian	Domestic	Reform.
ever is an eye seen turned towards Heaven,
whose liberal hand dispenses blessings to his
creatures, who gives them all that is needful
to their existence, and has pleasure only in a
grateful heart. But let us bear in mind that
where true piety and sound morality are
sufficiently grounded in the hearts of a family,
there it is that we can find domestic happi-
ness and social comfort perpetually reigning
throughout the whole family circle.
2.	The state of Hindu Females.
The production of social comforts and the
enjoyment of domestic felicity to its fullest ex-
tent, depend upon the education of women
who are chiefly concerned in the interests of
the family, and who possess an extensive in-
fluence over the habits of human society.
However sanguine our hopes may be about
our domestic improvement, yet they cannot be
fully realized until the state of things under-
goes a perfect change, or until the minds of
our females be thoroughly enlightened by
sound education. The formation of the minds
of the other sex is occasionally hinted at as
being in the hands of women, and never, quite
exempt from their influence. But when
women are degraded and enslaved, the benefitsIndian Domestic Reform,.	11
that they can enjoy in such a state are
evidently few, and the injury thereby done
to the community at large is great. Combined
with the control which they possess over
society, their own enlightenment would be a
source of vast improvement, and render them
in fact the ministers of a great many bless-
ings. Here, however, the order of things
is quite the reverse. Here woman is degraded,
to be the slave rather than caressed as the
companion of man. Here the cultivation of
her mind is systematically neglected. She
can hardly enter into intelligent conversation
or discussion. Both the soul and body of a
daughter are subjugated to the tyrannizing
will of her father, who is rather intent upon
enslaving her mind than informing her judg-
ment—of a wife to the overbearing disposition
of the husband who rather takes much
pleasure in frowning towards her with anger
and in seeing her tamely submitting to his
lashes, than in maintaining a sweet inter-
change of feelings with her. Custom would,
no doubt, in such a case, reconcile more than
one half of the human race to this mental
bondage, and the flexibility and gentleness of
the female character in this enslaved state,
combined with an uninformed mind, would12	Indian	Domestic	Reform.
greatly assist in rivetting the opinions in-
stilled into her heart in her infancy, and
begetting in her a stubborn obstinacy against
all forcible convictions of a stranger. The
time which she ought to have usefully spent
in improving and enriching her own mind,
and in the prosecution of duties which in-
volve the most important interests of her
soul, is indifferently and negligently lost by
being drawn away or occupied by some insig-
nificant care, some small bargain to be made,
some amusement to be engaged in, some petty
object to be gained, some project or specula-
tion which attracts her fancy or promises to
gratify her taste and ambition. Far removed
as she is from the busy tumult of society, the
woman of India has a little society about
herself, where she finds subjects sufficient to
engross her—subjects of emulation, of provoca-
tion, and of quarrel among her own children,
or among some other members of the family,
with whom she has anything to do. Within
the narrow circle of her home does she find
objects sufficient to engross her attention, and
occupy her time during the whole term of
her existence. With the affairs of the kitchen
is she the most busily engaged, and in them
does she find the greatest possible delight.Indian Domestic Reform.	13
Instead of employing her^time in the cultiva-
tion of her own mind, she lamentably wastes
it in vain rivalries, idle gossipping, and in
foolish trifles. Thus are the precious hours
of an Indian woman told over, which she
ought rather to have devoted to the attain-
ment of nobler objects, and have employed
in the enjoyment of purer and higher kinds
of delight, than to suffçr them to pass away
in some petty cares or some frivolous objects,
and to be absorbed in the gratification of
some present humour or some wrong ambi-
tion. Thus by the engrossment of petty
cares, domestic anxieties, and some causeless
irritation, does she suffer the time swiftly to
pass away which she ought to have purchased
for the interests of her own soul, and which
rather than be wholly bestowed on the estab-
lishment of mere bodily health or the pro-
motion of temporal prospects, she should,
under a deep impression of the important
concerns of futurity, devote with unbroken
energy, to the promotion of lier spiritual
welfare, and the advancement of the all-
comprehending interests of her soul, which is
infinitely superior in value, infinitely nobler
in nature, and infinitely more durable in
existence, than the material mechanism which14	Indian	Domestic	Reform.
is ealled the body. But alas ! her views do
not extend beyond the narrow circumference
of objects immediately around her. The
more insignificant concerns of the kitchen,
the adjustment of the differences and dis-
putes among servants or relations ;—outvying
others of her own sex, in gilded trappings, or
in the splendours of brilliant jewels, magnifi-
cent rubies or golden bracelets, and such
other frail ornaments which merely deck the
exterior, but leave unenriched and naked
the never-dying soul;—the forming and
extending of connections by some conjugal
alliances, the marrying of sons and daughters
at an early age, long ere the buddings of
their infant reason have begun to expand, or
the dawnings of understanding to break in,
or they are awakened to any sense of the
important nature of their union, and of the
several obligations, which from such a union
necessarily arise;—the strict and the un-
deviating observance of certain unnecessary
ceremonies with which the hungry and dis-
satisfied priest overburdens her;—these and
many others are the sole and primary subjects
of her frequent care and anxious solicitude.
These are the objects which . take an undue
precedence in her untutored mind, and onIndian Domestic Reform.	15
these alone are exhausted all the energies of
thought and labour. Too much is she occu-
pied with the passing scenes of temporal
enjoyments or the grovelling pleasures of
sensual appetites, eagerly to. pursue after and
seize the nobler and more lasting delights of
intellectual refinement ; and too strong is her
attachment to mere worldly things, seriously
to desire the things of eternity. To her the
enjoyment of present peace and comfort
possesses more attractive charms than the
bright and cheering prospects of future
felicity. Under such a state of mental bond-
age hardly can we expect her to follow back
the stream of time and grasp in, on a retro-
spective glance, all the transactions of the
past, and to deduce from their arrangement
and condensation inferences as to what might
happen in future. Hardly can she in the
events which take place on earth, whether
they be of a public, private, or more domes-
tic nature—hardly can she discover the
visible hand of God, as directing them all for
ages, as overruling the schemes and enter-
prises of many successive generations of men,
as guiding with infinite facility the com-
plicated movements of the natural and
moral worlds to the result which He had16	Indian	Domestic	Reform.
determined from the beginningoftime. Under
the present enslaved state of her mind, she
can neither form nor entertain any enlighten-
ed views of the divine administration, arid of
the constitution and condition of mankind as
subjects of that administration. The whole
natural world affords to her no rich materials
for contemplation, and furnishes no whole-
some discipline to the faculties and powers of
her uncultivated mind. In vain for her does
the sun dart his enlivening beams upon the
earth, and diffuse gladness through the
nations. In vain for her the earth is blessed
with fertility and is replenished with all that
is conducive to the comfort and convenience
of mankind. In vain the flowers of the field
bloom before her in all their radiant beauty,
and perfume the air with their sweet
fragrance. Thus then the affections and
thoughts of Hindu women are wholly set
upon the objects and advantages of the world,
without ever lifting up their minds to the
Giver of all good, who is the only source of
all their blessings here below and above. In
such families thé real blessings of domestic
life can scarcely be experienced to their
fullest extent by the unhappy members of
whom they consist. For, those apparentIndian Domestic Reform.	17
advantages and enjoyments which they seem
to enjoy, and on which they rest the full
weight of their affection and interest, are not
the blessings peculiar to a domestic life. The
authority of disputing with servants, and
darting an angry look towards. them if they
do any wrong, or smiling at them with mild
complacency if they do right, is not a real
blessing. Marrying sons and daughters at
an early age, dressing them in all the charms
of artificial decorations, covering their heads
with flowers, their bodies with splendid
clothes, and hands and feet with yellow gold,
gazing at them sometimes with pleasure,
sometimes with wonder, and often with ad-
miration, calling friends and relations alike
disposed with themselves to share in their
sports, whims and pleasures, constitute none
of the real blessings of a domestic life. To
preside over the affairs of the kitchen and to
manage all its concerns is no domestic bless-
ing. To chastise a child for its impertinence,
or to have the means of satisfying its wants,
is no great domestic blessing. Attending on
certain ceremonies even of the most trifling
description, and having all matters to adjust
at their command; distributing fruits and
money among the Brahmans, who are always18
Indian Domestic Reform.
ready to subject them to many unnecessary
religious penances and sacrifices, and who, on
receiving the welcome reward of dakshana as
it is called for all their priest-craft and cun-
ning, pronounce a kind of blessing on the
presiding female of the familyall these
ceremonies and all these affairs cannot be the
blessings of a domestic life. If therefore,
these objects and these pursuits occupy the
time and engage the attention of every
female of an Indian family—if beyond these
her thoughts never extend, and if in them
she finds the source of all her chief happiness
and enjoyments on earth—if amidst all the
domestic charities, of which she partakes, and
the domestic felicities she enjoys, she can
never yet acknowledge the liberal hand that
dispenses blessings to all created beings : if
the affairs of the kitchen, the bonds of re-
lationships, and the extending of connections
and the decoration of children, are the sole
objects and purposes of her existence, and
form the whole circumference of her ac-
tions and thoughts, then it can scarcely be
that ehe enjoys the real blessings and com-
forts peculiar to domestic life in all their
extent and in all their fulness, for these are
the whole sum and conclusion of her domesticIndian Domestic Reform.	19
history. No other than these things form
the subjects of her attention and serious
regard. It is these, and these alone, which
form the whole history of her life, and with-
out them her existence is considered as a
mere blank.
3.	The conduct of children in families of
THE HIGHER CLASSES OF THE NATIVES.
The effects of the exclusion of moral and
religious education from native families, and
the consequent moral and spiritual prostration
which prevails throughout, manifest them-
selves most dreadfully in the conduct of the
children bred up amongst such families. Per-
haps in the higher ranks the evil is not
exhibited in all its magnitude, because of
those studied refinements, that smoothness
and polish of manners, which characterize the
higher portions of the community. These
refinements, artificial as they are, keep for a
time within proper bounds, the energies of
the corrupt heart; and prevent, though not
entirely, the effects of ignorance from gaining
an uncontrolled predominance in the family.
Let them be but once removed, and just as
surely will the unhappy effects of corruption
burst out and spread themselves over the20	Indian	Domestic	Reform.
family as the waters of a river rush in and
overwhelm the country, when the artificial
embankments which confined them are re-
moved. The genuine sentiments of the heart
display themselves in a variety of circum-
stances of the most unhappy description.
Hence we every day meet with instances of
the most glaring deficiencies in the character
of children, born even in the families of the
higher classes of natives. Often when we
enter these families of our native brethren,
do we meet with a boy or a girl fighting or
quarrelling with some inmate of the house
for extorting from him unwilling compliance
with his wishes or her’s as the case may be.
Often does it happen that when some ill-
omened guest enters their houses, and observ-
ing around him the order of things, ventures
to talk of learning, of the danger of ignorance
and the folly of youth, the haughty children
of the family not a little flattered and in-
dulged betimes by their parents laugh at him,
mock, ridicule, and despise him, pour upon
him every bitter reproach and all the harsh
language of contempt. Often is the indulgent
mother drawn away from her domestic affairs,
with which she may be busied, by the in-
cessant cries and unreasonable importunitiesIndian Domestic Reform.
21
of her stubborn boy. She coaxes and flatters
him. The boy persists in his resolution. She
yields to his impertinences, allows herself to
be vanquished, and leaves him alone. The
father worn out and exhausted by the labour
of the day, seeks at night, a repose in his
wife and children—a refuge from the noise
and turmoil of the world. But his repose is
not one of a sweeter kind ; for, here does a
naughty child come complaining of some
wrong being done to him ; there does he set
up crying for something which he wants, and
his parents do not like to give. Here he
falls to beating his brothers or sisters who
may be like-minded with himself, and dis-
tinguished by the same petulant character ;
there does he run away from one comer of
the house to the other, to find some stone or
some stick by which to avenge the little
affront offered him. The old man feels dis-
turbed and vexed by this scene of wild
extravagance among his children. He can
use no better means to put a stop to their
roguery and their childish sports than by in-
flicting upon them the severest corporal
punishment. He is too little enlightened him-
self to advise them by wise counsels, and
convince them with persuasive power, of the22	Indian	Domestic	Reform.
folly and danger likely to attend their
practices and sports. He can read to them
no lesson in morality, and instil into their
ears no wholesome principles of true piety
and wisdom. And if under such circum-
stances he even makes an attempt to speak
of the awful responsibility in which they
stand to their earthly parents, and their
Father in heaven, what can be expected but
the romping insensibility, the wild mirth of
intemperance, the loud laugh of childish
enthusiasm, or the damping of excited spirits,
and confusion and disorder reigning through-
out the whole. The old man is tired and
vexed, and leaving his unmanageable children
to their wild sports and amusements in des-
pair, retires silently to his bed, vainly bla-
ming his fate, but never thinking that the
fault is his own. The mother, whose soli-
citude for their peace and satisfaction is
indeed remarkable, and often too powerful to
sway even her better motives, countenances
them in their gay frolics, and their wild
gambols, only scolding and threatening them
if they carry their extravagance to too high
a pitch, and do not cease in the immoderate
indulgence of their favourite whims. The
mother whose heart is naturally full ofIndian Domestic Reform,	23
affection for them, and who loves them, with,
extreme tenderness, never bears the thought
of discouraging or frightening her fond chil-
dren by rough or harsh menaces, but with a
smile of complacency and satisfaction, endeav-
ours to coax them up by flattering promises,
or to satisfy their appetites with some gew-
gaw, or some glittering toy which might
amuse their fancy or gratify their taste. This
indulgence of the paren-ts, founded upon no
moral principle, and directed by no enlighten-
ed views which education alone opens, lays
a foundation for many regrets and disappoint-
ments, subjects them to a multitude of vain
troubles and anxieties which they might
otherwise have avoided, destroys social har-
mony and every sentiment of filial respect,
and renders the children, at last, curses
rather than blessings to the family.
4.	The conduct of females in families of the
LOWER RANKS OF THE NATIVES.
Let us not, however, stop here, but pursue
our inquiries through the lower ranks of
our native society. Observe first the con-
duct of the seniors of those families. Observe
the female inmates occasionally falling out
upon one another with the most bitter24	Indian	Domestic	Reform.
acrimony for some trifling or insignificant con-
cern, bawling out the most horrid impre-
cations the whole day, mentioning lies
without dismay, and violating truth without
one single feeling of remorse, uttering langu-
age towards one another, that would abash
piety or redden the cheek of modesty, often
gnashing their teeth, stamping their feet,
beating their heads and breasts, and com-
mitting every kind of self-infliction in the
height of their foolish anger, blaspheming
God’s holy name on all occasions whether
trifling or serious, vainly setting up crying,
and bitterly lamenting the hard fate, as they
would have it, in which, by their own impu-
dence, they are unhappily involved. Observe
still farther their conduct towards their hus-
bands. The wife, feeling herself to be the
lady of the family, with a few children at her
command, and some little stock of money on
which rests all her pride and glory, looks
about on the several objects of her family
circle with self-complacency : and her vanity,
which is common to her sex, being flattered
by the respect and obedience which she sees
paid to her all around, she does not even fail
to attempt at gaining some ascendency over
her own lord. If he be a man of uprightIndian Domestic Reform.
25
conduct, steadiness of purpose, firmness of
principle, and of a regular disposition, the
cunning woman first fondly dallies about him,
pleases him by well-measured pace, fine serv-
ing of the hands, the graceful flow of her
hair, and the artfulness of her soft, sweet
voice ;—all which she does for the sake of
duping her undesigning lord. Then gradually
she coaxes him up, flatters him, showing him
proofs of her high esteem and regard for him,
submits with some semblance of patience to
the few slaps and scoldings which hé gives her
to be satisfied with her constancy, then slowly
brings in a few subjects of complaint in
which the feeling of her husband may be
deeply interested, explains to him the differ-
ent details of circumstances connected with
them, reveals to him the bad feelings and
sentiments which his own kindred or friends
may cherish towards him, and takes care to
contrast those feelings of his own relatives
with the high, and amiable sentiment dis-
played towards him by relations on her own
side ; thus indicating to her husband what
delicate sensibility she possesses with regard
to his welfare, what deep interest she takes
in his nearest concerns, and how scrupulous
she is in observing and detecting even in his26	Indian	Domestic	Reform.
dearest friends and relations the slightest
marks of hostility towards him. If, on the
other hand, he be a man of loose habits, and
incorrect moral principles, she need not be at
so much pains to gain her selfish end. Her
ascendancy over him is at once established.
The display of her ingenuity and skill in the
management of her own domestic concerns,
and her strict observance of the forms and
ceremonies which she is now and then called
upon to perform, impresses him with a senti-
ment of reverence for his wife, and invests
her character with such awe that her hua-
band gives himself wholly up to her guidance,
and submits to her in all matters, however
serious or important they may be. Perhaps
the husband, as no doubt is often the case,
among the lower ranks of the natives may be
in the habit of visiting taverns and game-
houses. This circumstance adds to the con-
sequence of the reigning heroes of the
family, and renders her ladyship the more
esteemed and reverenced by the houses of
her neighbourhood. He may be a servant
to some respectable native himself, or to
some European. Returning from his duties
in the evening on his way homeward, he
steps into some ale-house or other, andIndian Domestic Reform.	27
demands the fatal cup. The man sits calmly
gazing around, and cheerfully swallows up
the contents of the poisoned cup. The drunk-
ard then goes home, and finds the door
shut fast against him. The wife whose busi-
ness all this was, is perhaps baking her cakes,
and cooking her meals, meditating on the
broils and contests in which she was engaged
with her fellow-mates during the day, and
busily working her fancy to find out some
subject for quarrel to be engaged in with her
husband by night. The husband, shivering
in the cold night, knocks at the door, and
bawls out his wife’s name to opeft it, who
had so cruelly shut it against him. She
comes furiously out, hastily opens the door,
loads him at the first interview with the
severest reproaches, deprecating his conduct,
and invoking the gods to have pity on her,
and relieve her from the dangers and perils*
attending such a disgraceful union. The
poor husband smitten with shame and the
lashes of a self-accusing conscience, submits
patiently to all the imprecations of his wife,
and to all her whims and caprices, sooting
out, as they do, those social- feelings and
those rational sentiments which enliven and
adorn domestic life.28	Indian	Domestic	Reform.
This is no exaggerated statement but a
fact attested by my own experience and
observation.
5,	The conduct of children in the
LOWER FAMILIES.
But this is not all in reference to the
families of the lower orders of natives. A
circumstance equally mournful with the form-
er, and involving the happiness of human
society, needs be particularly noticed. Igno-
rance has deeply rooted itself in the bosom
of those families. Juvenile depravity there
holds an uncontrolled sway. One can scarcely
walk the streets without meeting with num-
berless instances of the early profligacy of
character. It meets the eye on all hands.
And it is so common here, that it ceases to
excite wonder. A boy is seen running along
with some little article of theft which he may
have taken from his own house or the houses
of his neighbourhood. He calls out to his
fellow-mates, who may be probably engaged
in the same kind of enterprise, to share the
prize \^ikh him. They all assemble together
congratulating	and complimenting one
another on the successful issue of their enter-
prise, divide their respective spoils amongIndian Domestic Reform.	29
themselves with due regard to the degree of
skill which each one of them exercised in
committing the theft, and to the value of the
spoil which he succeeded in acquiring, and
pride themselves on these achievements as
those of an extraordinary kind. A girl
with the gentleness and flexibility peculiar to
her sex is observed also to run about in
imitation of the boy, chanting out some
merry rhyme which her mother taught her,
and associating with her fellows of the other
sex with the most unseemly familiarity. A
father is seen with his whip, or a stick, or
perhaps, with a stone in his hand,c driving
his stubborn son home, falling upon his body,
and soundly beating him with blows, calling
him harsh words, tying his hands and feet to
some tree growing near, or to some post, or
to any kind of support, then soundly giving
as many lashes of his whip on his back as he
chooses, kicking him, spitting on him, and
dealing with him in a very unbecoming and
disgusting manner. The son bawls out, and
in fits of anger beats his own breast, throws
about his arms and legs, calls out to, some
one to set him at liberty, promises to give
him some small reward for his display of
generosity in relieving him, calls upon the3 0	Indian Domestic Ref arm.
names of his gods to lend him their celestial
aid in loosening the ties by which the earthly
hands of his parent have fastened him, even
blaming them for their giving him birth in a
house and amid friends where his natural
heart has not its full play. A mother is be-
held running in the same manner as the
father after her child, with one hanging on
her shoulders, and another sucking at her
breast, snatching from his hands any toy he
may have fled with from her, tying up his
hands and feet, dragging him along the
streets, beating him with her fist, whipping
him as he is dragged along, while the little
urchin is exerting all its might in resisting
her threatenings and beatings. Perhaps he
gets loosened from her grasp, and flies off
from her. Now what solicitude and anxiety
does not the mother display ? She goes
home and sends a servant if she can afford
one, to look about for her child and to bring
him into her presence. The boy goes and
joins his companions. There he revels in all
the wantonness of freedom amid the circle of
his gay companions. He is so deeply engaged
in the sports and gambols of his youthful
companions, as never to allow himself to re-
collect that his mother, from whom he hadIndian Domestic Reform.
31
fled, is much strict about him, and would
never afterwards give him leave to stir out
of doors. Amidst the noise and fumes of
pleasure, the youth loses all sense of his
moral obligations and duties to his parents.
But the mother’s affection comes into play.
At home she is weeping for her child’s ab-
sence. Her heart is soon melted into pity
and tenderness. She is not now what she
was some moments ago. She throws away
the whip and the stick which she had just
held fast in her hands to chastise her way-
ward boy. She casts aside her angry looks,
and forgets the words of execration which
had just lately moved her lips. She does not
attend for some time to the affairs of the
kitchen, and leaves them at the disposal of
some qualified person in the house; sending
all her thoughts after the boy who is yet out
of doors. Perhaps now the day has set, and
the shades of night begun to close in all
around. The mother’s solicitude now knows
no bounds, and her heart beats high with
the throbbings of tender anxiety. She lays
her hand upon her breast, and lifts ud her
eyes to heaven, as if in deep meditation. Her
thoughts are all wandering after her boy.
Her imagination, heated by superstition,32	Indian	Domestic	Reform.
transforms all her thoughts into frightful
spectres which often cross her mind’s eye,
now representing her boy as carried away by
some thief, now as devoured by some mon-
ster of the forest. Her boy does not yet
appear. She weeps and refuses to eat or
drink till he comes home. She sends for a
Brahman in the neighbourhood, and asks of
him omens, and inquires of him where her
boy must be ? what must he be doing % and
when will he come % At midnight, perhaps,
when the flutter and noise of the gay circle
has closed in the disgusts and slumber of the
young companions, the longed-for boy of the
mother walks home with his eyes half closed,
his body weakened, his intellect benumbed,
his senses stupefied, and almost in a state
totally unfitting him for any other than the
business of quietly sleeping in his bed. The
door of the house is indeed shut, but the
indulgent mother, half sleeping • and half
awake, is sitting immediately behind the door
waiting in anxious expectation of her child.
He knocks at the door and as soon as it is
opened by the mother within, she forbears
scolding or threatening him, lest it should
tend to strengthen his obstinacy and thereby
subject herself the more to the sameIndian Domestic Reform.	33
unnecessary anxieties and cares in future. This
indulgence, so far from producing the expect*
ed result, rather encourages him to engage
more deeply in his pursuits, and indulge
inore freely in his gambols. He repeats the
same round of process the next day and goes
unpunished. He is thus allowed to run into
the wildest extravagances of his youth beyond
all hopes of his being ever afterwards reclaim-
ed from his error. He obeys no commands
given by his parents, who, however, are little
careful to see them duly enforced. Commands
are respected and are as often disobeyed. A
habit of insubordination is gradually induced,
which grows to such a height that nothing
can overcome it. Entreaties, threats, corpo-
real punishments, lose their effect, and are
found insufficient to counteract its tendencies.
Thus a sure foundation is laid for many
future perplexities and sorrows ; for many
needless troubles, bitter regrets, and self-
reproaches. When, therefore, the boy thus
breaks off at a tangent from all domestic
restraints, when the flagrant outbreakings of
his corrupt nature are allowed to burst out in
all their fury without being reproved or
checked, when no attempt is made to develop
and strengthen the faculties of his mind, Mid34	Indian	Domestic	Reform.
.when every sound instruction is neglected
which might tend to subdue the evil tenden-
cies of his corrupt heart, and rear .him in an
intimate knowledge of divine truth, he be-
comes really a curse, not only to the family in
which he was born, but to the community at
large.
6.—General observations on instances of
JUVENILE DEPRAVITY DISPLAYED IN HlNDU
FAMILIES, AND FEMALE EDUCATION
RECOMMENDED AS NECESSARY TO
PREVENT THESE.
We still wish to enlarge on this interest-
ing branch of the subject by remarking
that those instances of juvenile depravity
which now everywhere meet the eye, would
be less frequently obtruded upon public
notice, if women were endowed with sound
education, and their views enlightened with
respect to their rights and obligations. The
promotion of the interests of the rising
generation strongly inculcates the necessity of
female education. The early discipline of
children depends upon their parents, but more
especially upon their mothers, under whose
watching care they are placed for a greater
length of time. As on the principles andIndian Domestic Reform.	35
conduct of the rising generation, the welfare
of society does in a great measure depend, it
is not unnecessary to trace to its source early
profligacy of character. Surely the strongest
law binds on parents the duty of watching to
the extent of their power and means over
their own children in infancy, and of not
resigning too soon the care of them to stran-
gers, but of employing as long as they can,
every day in discharging the sacred duty for
all the purposes which their parental wisdom
and affection ought to be exercised in accom-
plishing. Early, unremitting, and vigorous
superintendence, constant restraint and un-
wearied patience, combined with a proper
degree of self-possession, are the essential
qualities required to form a prominent part
in the character of every early guardian of
youth ; for if indolence or negligence with all
its pernicious train of attendant evils be al-
lowed to paralyze and weaken the exertions
of the parent, and the mental cultivation of
the young immortals be entirely neglected, or
attended to with remissness and languor, not
only a total enslavement of the soul will be
the consequence of such a criminal method of
procedure, but also symptoms of degeneracy,
examples of vicious excess, and unprovoked36
Indian Domestic Reform.
rudeness will make frequent appearance and
acquire an uncontrolled predominance. When
in. walking through a village or a tgwn, or on
entering, in the ordinary course of social in-
tercourse, or the discharge of social duty, the
houses of our neighbourhood, we meet with
a roughness of character, the petulance of
childhood, the pride of contempt, the scream
of passion, the look of indifference, the sullen-
ness of suppressed rage, the wild mirth of in-
sensibility, and the thousand other effects of
overweaning indulgence,—we are warranted,
by every right consideration, to trace all
those glaring and unhallowed deficiencies in
the character of youths to the want of
discipline that prevails under a parent’s roof,
or under the fostering care of the mother who
gave them birth. The father being occupied,
during the whole day, which is the season
of instruction for youth, with his toils out of
doors, it is obvious that the younger branches
must fall to the more immediate and watch-
ing care of the mother. But when she is
incapable from her own ignorance to pour into
the minds of her children wholesome lessons
of piety, she can have no right conception of
that decency of deportment, which piety
brought to early maturity necessarily inspires.Indian Domestic Reform.	37
Not being herself brought to the conviction
of the most important truths of nature and
religion, she must, as there is no other
alternative, connive at and willingly counte-
nance the glaring indecencies of her children,
however debasing in their nature and
however pernicious in their effects. Not
being herself enlightened so as to be capable
of entertaining lofty ideas of the Deity, and
of forming correct views of the principles
and motives on which his government of the
moral world is conducted, she countenances
sometimes, without even a look of authority,
the wild extravagances of her corrupt off-
spring, and so far from checking or arresting
them in their heedless career, calmly contemn
plates them indulging in their sinful gambols,
and unconsciously slumbering on in their
favorite indulgences. Under such an order
of things, what is to be expected, but the loud
laugh of intemperance, the romping of
insensibility, the damping of excited spirits,
disorder, and confusion, if an ill-omened guest
should regard piety with reverence and
esteem, and venture to talk of the soul and
its high destiny, and of the folly of devoting
one’s self exclusively to the promotion of
mere temporal concerns. True it is, that in38	Indian	Domestic	Reform.
the higher ranks of society in which a similar
want of discipline prevails, such conduct is
not followed by the effects which we deplore,
because of the polish, the smoothness of
manners, which for a time keep within
bounds the outbreakings of innate corruption.
But when these artificial restraints are
occasionally removed, the genuine sentiments,
of the depraved heart are expressed in the
circumstance of piety being ridiculed, honest
worth being despised, and a bitter sarcastic
sneer seen playing over the countenance.
Observe thé conduct of children so imperfect-
ly brought up in the knowledge of truth, and
so carelessly educated under the indulging
care of an ignorant woman. Behold those
motley groups of such children in our streets,
and you hear the name of God blasphemed
in horrid imprecations, language uttered that
would redden the cheek of modesty, truth
violated without one single feeling of remorse.
Mark their conduct again at home : here
you have already seen the discordant jarrings
of angry passions ; one raising his hand
against another ; there the child disputing
the authority of a father, or sullenly yielding
an unwilling compliance with his wishes ; in
another quarter you may see some retiringIndian Domestic Reform.	39
to rest with the wild mirth of indifference
when not an eye was turned to the Author of
every good and perfect gift. Hence is it that
the most crowded page in the calendar of
crimes is that which records the delinquencies
and punishments of those who were not
trained up, under their parents’ care, in the
paths of learning, who were not taught their
duties to their Creator, and who disregarded
the solemn remonstrances of conscience. It
is owing to this cause that a stream of moral
pollution threatens to inundate our land, and
to bury in its waves the feeble barriers
which an ignorant child of an igiiorant mother
can erect to oppose its overwhelming violence.
And hence is it that a withering blast has
passed over our land, and we see its effects
in the roar of intemperance, the emaciated
votary of dissipation, the lowering looks
of the worldly sensualist. Now this early
profligacy in youth would, in a considerable
degree, be preyented from deforming their
character, if the mother who gave them birth,
and under whose immediate care' they are,
from the years of their infancy placed, poss-
essed that enlightenment of the mind which
education gives, and acquired a strong
relish for those intellectual pleasures and40	Indian	Domestic	Reform.
enjoyments which are superior, both in quality
and amount, to any which the world can
supply. But if, on the other hand, the
female guardian of youth has no idea of the
manner in, which the understanding is en-
lightened and expanded, if her thoughts,
views, and prospects do not extend beyond
her present condition, and if she is incapable"
of appreciating the true worth of the soul,
and of providing the means of moral and
religious instruction to the young immortals,
then, I grieve to think, an uncommon degree
of juvenile rudeness, grafted on that innate
corruption which lies at the foundation of an
unrenewed heart, will, in spite of all, acquire
an uncontrolled predominance. If therefore
we wish our children to be good and pious,
modest and respectful, circumspect and
prudent, it must be the object of a serious
and primary importance to us, as individuals
and to the community at large, that their
mothers, whose views and principles from
constant habit will form essential ingredients
in their character, and colour the whole of
their after-life, that their mothers, who have
the sacred duty imposed upon them by
nature, of watching over, and providing for
them, be first well-grounded in the higherIndian Domestic Reform.	41
truths of religion and morality, and be
brought to habits of rational contemplation.*
It is my constant and earnest prayer that the
lesson which this part of the subject teaches
us may press home to the hearts of our
native friends, with all the weight of an
awful responsibility, and that they, by a ready
renunciation of all national prejudice, may
unite in strenuous exertion in educating their
female friends, and thus prove effectual
instruments in preventing those direful con-
sequences of juvenile depravity which spring
from a want of a proper religious discipline
under the fostering care of the mother, those
complicated disasters that are confined, not
to the depraved youths alone, but also extend
themselves to the relations who conceal or
countenance their crimes, and to the com-
munities that fail to provide the means
whereby the prevalence of evil principles and
of vicious examples may be prevented or
restrained.
* This very important duty of well-grounding
mothers in the higher truths of religion, Ac., is yet, to
a very great extent, neglected.
e42	Indian	Domestic	Reform.
7.	The treatment of children in their
EARLIEST TEARS IN NATIVE FAMILIES.
We would now say a few words about
the treatment of children in their earliest
years in native families.
That parents have a great influence on
their children, especially the mother, is an •
undoubted proposition. Such is the arrange-
ment of family systems, that the children
born in them carry along with them in the
world the views, the principles, the prejudices,
and the doctrines which characterized their
parents; and these are rooted into their
hearts to such a degree, as almost wholly to
colour their after-life and give to their actions
and character a new tinge, scarcely effaceable
even by years of strict discipline and strenu-
ous exertion. On the mode in which they
are brought up amidst their family circle,
depends their future well-being or misery.
A child is naturally prone to take his views
of things and persons around him. What
daily presents itself to the eyes and ears of
children invariably forms their character.
At its very early age, the child is capable of
reasoning, of comparing different objects
with one another, and drawing general con-Indian Domestic Reform.
43
elusions from them. Its rational and percep-
tive powers soon unfold themselves,: nor is
it that its passions fail to display themselves
as early—perhaps they are the. fastest in
their development. We may however find
it difficult to reconcile ourselves to the idea,
that the passions of our nature could unfold
themselves so early in children, while yet
their bodily powers have not attained their
full vigour. For we maintain that it is im-
possible to look at the placid countenance of
a child without being impressed with the
belief that it presents a faithful index of
gentleness and mildness within, that as yet
no angry passions have begun to rage
within its breast, nor any guilty imaginations
polluted the exercise of its new-born powers.
The conclusion, however, is not right. We,
on the contrary, not unfrequently see obsti-
nacy, jealousy, anger, petulance, &c., dis-
playing themselves in the countenance of a
little child yet sucking at its mother’s breast.
How important then it is that when the
powers of the mind so early open, when the
passions of our nature so early develop
themselves, and when children are capable of
reasoning, observing, comparing and deducing
conclusions from the different objects that44	Indian	Domestic	Reform.
present themselves to their notice, that no-
thing disgusting in its nature, or dangerous
in its effects, should be brought within their
observation. Yet, what great carelessness
is displayed by parents in this country with
regard to the proper treatment of their
children, whose present and future happiness
wholly depend upon them ! They carelessly
allow them to remain in the company of men
whose ignorance or narrow-mindedness make
them especially the most dangerous ministers
of folly and vice. They entrust them to
the care of servants who having nothing else
to do, amuse themselves with these young-
sters in any way they choose. False objects
are represented to their minds merely for
their own personal amusement; these hired
guardians of our children often teach them
to chatter some bad words, and perform some
unseemly gestures. Their minds are stuffed
with a confused mass of imaginary ideas ;
small harmless things are magnified into large
tremendous images. Frightful hobgoblins are
represented as having been seen in darkness.
Stories of witches, demons, and appari-
tions, are gravely related to children by
servants and even sometimes by their sisters,
brothers or other members of the family.Indian Domestic Reform	45
They are often frightened into obedience by
the terror of some one of these visionary
beings suddenly making his appearance.
Frequently does it happen that when a child
cries out for something which it wants, it is
threatened to be thrust into a dark room
which is represented to be the haunt of some
frightful demons—that when the child per-
sists in its importunities, and none of the
householders have the means of gratifying
them, the foolish mother or father cries out
a “ black man,” and immediately to the terror
and astonishment of the child, a servant dis-
guised under a black coat makes his appearance
before the child—that if the child be always
in the habit of crying, and thereby disturbing
the peace of the family, the parents even put
themselves to the expense of having some
frightful heads made of different forms and
covered over with black or some other colour
—and that if the child be again found crying
or doing some mischievous thing, the parents,
or the servants, or some one in the «family
take care to present forward one or two such
heads before them, and- thus to frighten them
into silence. Hence, we find superstitious
notions deeply rooted in the hearts of many
native boys and girls, and images of terror or46	Indian	Domestic	Reform,
horrid phantoms so much associated in their
minds with darkness that they cannot ap-
proach it with courage or confidence, unless
some older or more experienced person be at
hand. Hence, in many a native family,
children are more easily brought under con-
trol, or under subordination to some required
discipline, by frightening their imagination
than by enlightening their reason—by pre-
senting before them the “ disguised servant”
or the “ black man,” than by laying before
them a set of moral precepts and wise counsels.
Hence, therefore, instead of the direct
authority of parents being here found suffi-
cient to bring children under control, mere
superstitious terror holds an acknowledged
supremacy over them. When, therefore, at
an early age children are capable of reason-
ing and comparing different objects, and all
their passions begin to unfold themselves the
fastest, when at this time, impressions of all
kinds are the most lastingly and deeply made,
and tend to give direction to their future
principles and conduct, it is of the greatest
importance that they should be guarded
against associating with men of wrong prin-
ciples and vicious habits, so that they may be
prevented from coming into contact at allIndian Domestic Reform.	47
with the sources of moral corruption; that
the parents should adopt such a method with
regard to the good training up of their child-
ren and their establishment in the principles
of truth and moral rectitude, as would prove
most beneficial to the children themselves and
the community at large with which they
may be connected ; that they should, from
the moment they observe the minds of their
children to open, and their passions to operate
endeavour by all means in their power to
regulate them properly with a special view
to improving their interests in time as well
as in eternity, and to instil into their minds
principles which may have wholesome influ-
ence on their conduct in life; that their
connection with vices of every kind or hue
should as far as possible, be entirely prevent-
ed from the moment that they are yet young,
and the impressions of objects around them
are yet weak and faint on their minds;
that every symptom of carelessness or of
degeneracy in their manners should entirely
be checked—that the parents should guard
them against everything that might excite
them to vanity or self-conceit—that they
should seek to obtain authority over them
neither by the tone of their voice, nor48
Indian Domestic Reform.
by threatening language, nor by frightful
gestures, but by an even,, firm, moderate
disposition of the mind which is master of
itself—which is only governed by reason, and
which never comes under the impulse of angry
passions or irregular fancy. Children treated
in this way would be happy in themselves,
and a comfort to their parents. The neces-
sity of frightening children into obedience
would no more occur; and those threatenings
and scoldings, and sounds of discord, now
so frequently heard in the family mansion,
be entirely prevented.
8.	The system of the early tuition op
CHILDREN IN NATIVE FAMILIES.
The obligation which is upon parents of train-
ing up their children in every kind of useful
knowledge, is felt and acknowledged by every
Hindu ; but however deeply the responsibi-
lity may be felt, it is often found difficult to
devise a system of instruction that shall be
best adapted for the accomplishment of an
object so desirable. The difficulty is ren-
dered still greater by the ignorance of the
parents themselves—consequently, it often
happens that the earliest years of our native
children, when their hearts can be mostIndian Domestic Reform.	49
easily reached, and most lastingly impressed,
are permitted to pass away without the
communication of religious knowledge, or the
infusion of religious principles. Thus, all
the while these very children, though only
perhaps two or three years of age, are busily
engaged in laying in a stock of knowledge
and imbibing a mass of principles which go
to form the elements of their future character.
It is from the habits, principles, and dis-
positions of childhood that the whole aspect
of our future history takes its origin. Hence
the high importance that is attached to the
early training up of young children in the
paths of learning and wisdom. We therefore
propose to consider the system of the early
tuition of children followed amongst the
natives, and to suggest the method, or the
means, by which the efficiency of their
instructions may be promoted.
Hitherto the practice is quite common
among native parents either of sending young
children to some schools in the neighbour-
hood, or, if means fail, or parental fondness
prevail, of allowing them to mis-spend their
time in the trifles of home and the insigni-
ficant, though harmless, amusements of the
domestic circle. Those, however, who have50
Indian Domestic Reform.
it in their power to send their children for
education to schools out of doors, do so with-
out giving any heed to the wrong sentiments
they shall imbibe from their association with
other children, and the worse habits they shall
consequently be led to contract. The parents
do not care to observe the growth of their
children in useful knowledge or in sound
morality. The children go to and return from
their school without ever being once asked by
their parents as to the manner in which they
get on in their studies, or the mode in which
their education is conducted by the school-
masters. Early in the morning, at five or
six o’clock, does the young boy rise up from
his bed, wash his mouth, and run to his
school with a napkin in one hand and an ink-
stand in another. He looks backwards and
forwards, to see if any boy goes before him,
and with the hope of getting some reward, or
occupying a higher place in his class, he runs
out of his breath, enters the school, bowing
down his head to the name of some god
posted to the front wall, and joins his fellow-
students. It is here curious to see the young
lads stirred up by emulation, trying all their
efforts to get above one another, and to win
the smile of their teacher. They are hereIndian Domestic Reform.	SI
one and all subjected to a common discipline
by their master, like bullocks ranged in a
row and laid under a heavy yoke—once they
rise up joining their hands and feet, again
they sit down, resuming their writing pens,
and going over their prescribed .exercises—
once moving from their place in one order of
marching, again returning to it in another—
once raising up their hands at the first signal
of their master, again lowering them down at
the next—once saying this merry rhyme, and
returning to another again, chanting that,
and thus finishing the whole. The time of
breakfast arrives and the word of dismissal is
sent. The school breaks, and the children go
away to their respective homes—some the
master himself conducting—others entrusted
to some elder and abler leaders. And what
follows their return to their homes ? Here
one boy sets up crying for something which
he wants, disputing with the servants at
home for their crossing him in his little
wishes ; there another is fondly playing with
the little urchins of home, and instead of
revising the lessons he learned at school
vainly repeating some foolish tales or stories
he heard from his sisters or mother, and
chanting this merry rhyme and that. The52	Indian	Domestic	Reform.
father, engaged at this time in his prepara-
tion to go to his labour or service out of
doors, has no leisure or perhaps no ability to
attend to them. The mother is busied with
the affairs of the kitchen, oppressed with her
domestic cares and anxieties, and perhaps has
some little infant at her breast which requires
her chief attention—feeling herself somewhat
relieved from the oppressive burden of her
household duties, and from the heat and
smoke of the kitchen which had exhausted
her, and her pots and pans being arranged in
neat order, the mother with a melodious voice
of affection, calls her children for breakfast,
and threatens or scolds them with an angry
tone, if they refuse to obey her commands.
The children meet and eat their bread. They
then freely join their fellow-mates, and
indulge in their wild gambols without fear of
being checked in their heedless career by
their mother, or by any one superior to them.
At the hour of attendance, the boys put on
their dirty clothes, which they scarcely wash
clean once a week, and trot their way to the
school. There they repeat the same kind of
process, with all its usual accompaniments,
that was observed there in the morning, and
in thè evening they return home. TheIndian Domestic Reform.	53
father and mother are then both at home, the
former little eased from the toils and labour
of the day—and the latter still burdened with
the same anxieties, occupied with the same
concerns, disturbed by the same perplexities,
heated by the same fire, smothered by the
same smoke, and busied, in short, with the
same round of affairs. But they scarcely
ever hear the lessons of their children in
moral and religious truth repeated. It is
because they have little or no knowledge of
the branches of learning taught to their
children in schools. They are however now
and then desired to attend to their studies by
their parents, who though they may be igno-
rant of the nature of education given to their
children, and be unable to appreciate its
value, yet take deep interest in their improve-
ment from the consciousness that education,
in whatever degree acquired, will enable
them to raise their condition and character in
the world. The children in fact have none
at home under present circumstances to
attend to their studies, and direct them in
their prosecution of them. The father being
occupied during the whole day with his toils
out of doors, the younger branches of the
family must of course fall to the immediate54	Indian	Domestic	Reform.
and watching care of the mother. She has a
greater authority over them than any one
else in the family. They are more in the
hands and under the influence of their mother
than of their father at all times and under all
circumstances. But it is often the case that
she is uneducated. She has received no share
of the mental enlightenment which is ade-
quate enough to enable her really to appre-
ciate the blessings of knowledge, and efficient-
ly to discharge the important duties of her
station. She is incapable from her own
ignorance to pour into their minds wholesome
lessons of piety and morality, and can there-
fore have no right conception of the manner
in which their understanding might be im-
proved, or the several powers of their mind
be properly regulated and disciplined. Not
being herself well grounded in the knowledge
of moral and religious truths, she can hardly,
beyond what common sense will dictate, be
expected to recommend her children to hold
fast what is good, and reject what is evil.
She must, as there is no other alternative,
countenance her young offspring in the indul-
gence of their foolish whims, and their juven-
ile extravagances. Brought up within the
narrow circle of her home, secluded from allIndian Domestic Reform.	59
intercourse with refined society, and having
received no enlightenment which education
alone gives, she can hardly be expected to
preserve any regular discipline in her house,
and to devise .such methods as shall be best
adapted to promote the progre.ss of her
children in learning. She is only taken up
with the ideas of their worldly prosperity and
not of their religious and moral well being ;
under such an ill-qualified mother, instead of
any instructions being furnished to her
children in the higher truths of useful learn-
ing, their attention is wholly directed to
subjects that interest her own fancy or amuse
her own imagination. The whole family
partakes too much of a non-interference
system, leaving the children to spend their
most precious years without the slightest
attempt being made to convey to their minds
those truths which shall prepare them for
eternity. A few good advices are indeed
from time to time administered, a few of the
more flagrant outbreakings of their nature
are reproved; but seldom do the Hindu
parents, whether high or low, resort to the
systematic plan of conveying to the young
minds of their children those important
lessons in mosality and religion, which would56
Indian Domestic Reform.
more effectually tend to subdue the evil
tendencies of their hearts, and rear them in
the knowledge of divine truth. Nor is this
culpable neglect to be charged upon the ignor-
ant and foolish parents of most of the Hindu
families. Even in the households of those
who are brought to appreciate the value of
education, the younger branches of the family*
are allowed to pass several years of their
childhood without any attempt being made to
impress their hearts with the importance of
the soul and the awful realities of the future
world. The family fireside of our homes is
scarcely ever encircled by a truly enlightened
and God-fearing people, or edified by pious
conversation. Round our family altars are
scarcely seen to assemble, father and mother,
brother and sister, husband and wife, master
and servant, to mingle their hearts in grati-
tude for common blessings, or in humble
supplication for the supply of their common
wants ; seldom is heard a father’s voice in our
families tenderly instructing his beloved
children in divine things ; rarely are seen the
mother’s tears of love and affection, as the
mind of her child begins to open to clearer
views of God and his duty, and to give a
strong evidence of the heavenward directionIndian Domestic Reform.
57
of his desires. It is true that the early dis-
cipline of children may be accomplished by
their tuition at schools, where they are sent
at the earliest period of their lives. But the
purpose is defeated there by the non-inter-
ference system observed at home with respect
to their education, at least so far as the
youthful minds themselves are concerned.
Even taking it for granted that in those
schools, the right object and spirit of instruc-
tion are upheld, their efficiency, as great
instruments in enriching the youthful minds
with solid learning and sound principle, is
entirely lost by the neglect and ignorance of
parents at home. It is only at the family
hearth that piety and duty are best taught,
and if they do not receive such instructions
at home from their parents, all their mental
exercises in the same matters presented to
their notice in school will be of little or no
avail. If instead of the communication of
moral truths, and the infusion of religious
sentiments, they hear or see under their pater-
nal roof, nothing but what tends to fill their
minds with worldly views, • with unprofitable
tales, and the trifles of the kitchen, they will
then become, as sad experience has shown, but
idle, ignorant, and profligate members of the
858	Indian	Domestic	Reform.
community, unhappy in themselves, pests to
society, curses to their family, and to the
parents who bare them. Now, therefore, if we
would have children to be good and pious, and
to prevent all instances of profligacy from
deforming their early character, it is a matter
of serious importance to usas individuals and to
the community at large that their parents,
under whose care they are placed, be well
grounded in the higher truths of religion and
morality before they can be expected to infuse
pious sentiments into their children’s minds
and to prepare them for eternity. Under their
present state of ignorance and superstition, the
native parents are scarcely able tt> feel the re-
sponsibility of their situation as consisting
wholly in the promotion of the spiritual welfare
of their children, and so far to appreciate the
importance of the onerous charge imposed
upon them as not to resign too soon the care
of them to strangers. The melancholy truth,
as we are well aware, is, that they often
allow the younger branches of their family
to pass away their earlier days when their
hearts are yet capable of being the most
easily reached, and deeply impressed, with-
out any attempt being made to endow their
minds with the riches of useful learning, andIndian Domestic Reform.
59
to impress their hearts with the awful realities
of the immortality of the soul, and the exist-
ence of the future world. But when they
themselves are thoroughly enlightened, the
result will be far different and far more
beneficial. Feelingly alive to the dearest
interests of their children, and fully sensible
that by their being sent away too early to
schools they might necessarily be exposed
to the moral contamination which reigns
abroad, they would attend to their education
not with remissness or neglect but with great
care and watchfulness, and establish a sys-
tem of discipline at their own houses
lending to promote the moral and spiritual
welfare of their children. Schools though
opened for the reception of boys throughout
the different parts of this country, with the
special object of communicating instruction
to them in the higher branches of human
learning, are yet ill-adapted to the state and
situation of young children, who can derive
greater benefits from the pious instruction and
example of wise parents at home than from
those of the schoolmasters themselves, whose
attention is di vided among a vast number
of children entrusted to their care and tuition.
Besides, children are there exposed to the60	Indian	Domestic	Reform.
evil example and habits of those whom they
see around them, and are themselves natural-
ly prone to slide into congenial habits and
practices. There, the * imperfect cultivation
of their minds is too often accompanied
by the corruption of moral feeling. The
capricious and frivolous restraints added
to the example of dissipation and luxury,
the selfish spirit and premature vices which
discredit many of our schools, will com-
bine with the wilfulness and pettish-
ness acquired at home. I do not however
mean to speak disparagingly of schools. My
argument consists in suggesting that all the
exercises at schools with reference to the
training up of the youthful minds, will be of
little avail, unless a regular discipline be
observed at home. For the forced mental
activity which they might acquire at school,
will otherwise be counteracted by the indul-
gence and indifference to learning observed
und^r the paternal roof. Those pious and
enlightened parents, therefore, who have any
regard to the interests of the rising genera-
tion, should in preference to sending them
too early to such schools, adopt a system of
early discipline for their children and follow
it in their own domestic circles. Of theIndian Domestic Reform.	61
results arising from such a method of pro-
cedure, their own experience would be wit-
ness. The effects would, indeed, be highly
beneficial. The younger branches of our
families would not be permitted to pass the
earlier years of their childhood without en-
joying the benefits of real instruction under
their own paternal roofs. Under parents so
well qualified to discharge the important
duties of their station, the necessity would
not be so deeply felt, as under present
circumstances, of resigning the care of them
to strangers at a period when the heart is
most easily reached, and most deéply and
lastingly impressed. When parents were
thus enlightened and impressed with the
sentiments of piety, they would act in mutual
harmony in all the commands and instruc-
tions they might give to their children, and
strictly observe all those modes which might
be well calculated to promote the best inter-
ests of the young children entrusted to their
care by a gracious Providence. Seldom
would recur those altercations and disputes
which now so freqently take place between
parents about trifling matters, and which so
surely tend to subvert the very foundations
of family government, to lay the seeds ofIndian Domestic Reform.
many future sorrows and perplexities, and to
endanger the interests of those whom they
profess to hold dear. Domestic order and
peace would not be overthrown, deceit and
hypocrisy wouldnot be cherished,superstitious
notions would not be imbibed, filial affection
would not be undermined, misrepresentation
of things would not be practised, and those
scoldings and punishments which now do not
unfrequently occur, would be entirely pre-
vented. Nothing would be allowed to pass
under the notice of children which would
only serve to nurse them up in habits of vice
and intemperance. Nothing will be done in
their presence that will only tend to fill their
minds with mere worldly and unprofitable
views. A perfect systematic discipline will
be observed throughout the whole family
circle. The domestic economy of the Hindus
would exhibit a perfectly changed scene.
All disagreeable effects would be prevented,
and all positive enjoyments be introduced.
Those family feuds, those jarrings of oppo-
site interests, those violent altercations which
now fill the pages of the calendar of crime,
would be less frequently obtruded upon
public notice.Indian Domestic Reform	63
9.—The common pursuits, amusements and
CEREMONIES, IN WHICH THE ELDERLY FEMALES
AS WELL AS THE YOUNG GIRLS OF OUR F AMI-
LIES ARE GENERALLY ENGAGED.
Having got thus far it is for us now
to describe with some minuteness the com-
mon pursuits, amusements and ceremonies,
in which the elderly females as well as the
young girls of our families are generally en-
gaged. The long chain of their duties and
amusements extending from the kitchen at
home to their intercourse with society of
their own sex abroad, carries an interest with
it which I hope cannot fail to excite the
attention of the general reader. But the
prevailing tinge which distinguishes their
pursuits and employments throughout life, is
that which ignorance alone has given, and
which education only can suffice to remove.
Every one is well aware that the education
of woman is here systematically neglected.
She is not brought to taste those refinements
of learning, which her enlightened sisters in
Britain do so amply enjoy. The untutored
state of her mind is discovered in the cir-
cumstances of the narrowness of her ideas,
the limited sphere of her understanding, her64
Indian Domestic Reform.
attachment to absurd ceremonies, her exclu-
sive devotedness to the duties of the kitchen,
and her extreme bigotry to notions and pre-
judices, the folly ‘of which she might easily
have been brought to conceive. Access to
every Solid information is shut against her.
She is allowed no place in enlightened
society* no share in literary or scientific
discussions. In fact she is incapable of both.
She grows as a mere flutterer in the passing
sunshine—a sordid drudge, whose plans and
schemes are only confined to her present
state and her domestic concerns, and never
extending beyond the narrow walls of the
kitchen. The history of her life presents a
scene wholly diversified by domestic quarrels,
superstitious fears, trifling ceremonies, &c.
At the crowing of the cock does she rise up
in the morning, busies herself with the affairs
of the kitchen, calls her domestics to assist
her in their management', disputes .with them
as to the prices at which articles necessary
for domestic purposes are sold, sometimes
furiously beating them, but often abusing
and gnashing at them if ever they should
question her authority in superintending
them, or fail in properly executing her little
commissions. Then kindling the fire, sheIndian Domestic Reform,	€5
sits unremittingly blowing it, till she is
fatigued and half smothered in the smoke.
During the afternoon she explains in detail
the operations of the morning to her fellow-
mates who go to her from motives of friend-
ship or from some special calls of duty—telling
them how scrupulously in the morning did
she attend to the business of the kitchen,
what great exertion of skill and perseve-
rance did it cost her to arrange neatly the
articles connected with her domestic employ-
ment, how vigilantly was she engaged in
detecting in her servants any degree of in-
attention, want of diligence, or the slightest
deviation from the prescribed rules—com-
plaining to them of the faithlessness of her
servants in executing her orders, and of
the frequent broils in which she ' was obliged
in the morning to engage with them, and by
which her sleeping lord in his bed was dis-
turbed—fondly dwelling upon the character
of her husband—applauding his zeal in
complying with all her favourite inclinations,
and in endeavouring to contribute to gratify
them, admiring his vigour and resolution in
opposing difficulties and dangers, praising
him for his ardour in gaining money and his
economical diligence in saving it. She does
966
Indian Domestic Reform,
not stop here ; she goes on explaining to her
fellows the different ceremonies which are
generally observed in her house, and the
enormous expenses usually incurred on their
account, the peculiar taste and views which
characterize her male friends in the family,
the thousand ties of relationships by which
she is connected with several other people of
her own caste, the cares and anxieties with
which her mind is engrossed as to the
advancement of her own and her husband’s
interests, and as to the promotion of her
children’s welfare and prosperity, the difficul-
ties which she has to encounter in the accom-
plishment of her particular objects in view,
the inquiries which she has instituted into
the nature and character of the families with
which she has the intention of connecting
her daughter or son by way of marriage, the
compliances by which she encouraged the
demands of some for either, or the refusals
by which she discountenanced those of
others. On these topics she loves to expatiate
with peculiar interest and delight. While
she is occupied as she generally is with her
household duties, she now and then calls out
her daughters, who may be otherwise en-
caged, bids them lend her their assistance in
o o 'Indian Domestic Reform.
67
looking over and superintending the different
concerns of her family, taking every oppor-
tunity to instruct them in all household
duties, and to acquaint them with their right
nature and character; advising them to
imitate her own skill and zeal in managing
the affairs of the kitchen ; and thus endeavour-
ing to qualify them for all the necessary
duties of a woman so as to make of them
good wives when they shall have been mar-
ried, or if already married, when their marri-
ages shall have been consummated. She
directs her daughter-in-law, who is always in
dread of her, to arrange neatly thec several
articles of the domestic economy, to observe
strictly the several ceremonies which she
may be called upon to perform, and to attend
seriously to the numerous affairs of the
kitchen. She is engaged in acutely discover-
ing in her the slightest degree of inattention
to the general business of the house, the
smallest symptoms of remissness or neglect
to the duties connected with her situation, or
the fewest instances of deviation from the
rules by which she ought to guide herself.
She narrowly watches her conduct and some-
times her principles. She scolds her severely
if she should ever go amiss in her duties.68
Indian Domestic Reform.
She abuses or beats her when she happens to
do wrong, though her intentions were quite
pure and innocent. If she perceives in her
any want of docility, of inattention to her
own commands, she thunders forth all the
fulminations or reproach against the poor
simpleton, and even threatens the certainty
of her being separated from her own husband ;
she spends some of her time in making new
bargains for the use of herself and of the
family in general. She occasionally recounts
in her mind the several expenses she went
through during the day, and unable either to
write ox calculate, she frequently repeats
them so as easily to recollect them, and ren-
der a proper account of them to her husband
in the evening. She is also too much en-
grossed with the thoughts of some ceremony
to be observed in her own house, and the
several different circumstances which may be
connected with it. Custom dictates a circu-
lation of notices to that effect among her
friends and relations. She therefore invites
them to attend and witness the performance
of the ceremony, and enjoy the opportunity
which it might afford them of gratifying
their frivolous tastes, and amusing their
wrong fancies. This she does through theIndian Domestic Reform.	69
hands of her daughters. For this purpose
she dresses them in rich clothes, decks their
bodies with ornaments, and endeavours to
heighten their personal beauty with all the
charms of artificial decorations—requisites
without which they are apt to be overlooked
and despised by all. She then gazes at them
for some time with a significant stare,
minutely observing every part of their dress
and ornaments, and trying to mind every
fault she might discover as to neatness or
regularity. Thus feeding her own vanity,
she calls out a few of her fellow-mates in the
neighbourhood to see the young girls, and to
admire her own skill and judgment which
she has displayed in so dressing them up.
Equipped in such grandeur, the young girls
prepare to set out in executing the commis-
sion of their mother, inviting all her friends
and relations whom she may wish to attend
on her. Their gilded trappings and glitter -
ing ornaments attract every eye as they pass
along. At home the blessed mother is
busily engaged in making every necessary
preparation for the reception of women,
whom she has invited to attend on the cere-
mony at her house. She receives them with
all that gentlenesB and mildness peculiar to70	Indian	Domestic	Reform.
her sex, and seating them on a carpet or
cloth spread for the purpose, administers to
them every kind of ceremonial service which
religion or custom has rendered necessary,
and dismisses them with presents of plates
laden with fruits and flowers as the reward
of their courtesy. Thus is the elder female
of the family occupied during the whole
course of the day. In the evening again she
prepares herself to repeat the same round of
experiments at her kitchen which she .per-
formed there in the morning, never allowing
any important consideration to engross her
mind but the gratification of some present,
humour or fancy, ^and scarcely ever thinking
of the duties she owes to God and to her
fellow-creatures, and of the consequences
which their performance or neglect would
bring about. So much for families of the
higher orders of natives ! With regard,
now, to those of the lower orders, there is
much, however, calculated to excite pity.
The elderly female there is subjected to all
the privations and miseries as it were of a
life of servitude.- She submits on all occa-
sions and under all circumstances to a routine
of several burdensome toils, and laborious
duties. Fatigue and labour quite exhaustIndian Domestic Reform.	71
her—she is denied that ease and comfort
which are the portion of the blessed female
of the higher families. She does not possess
much money : and therefore she lacks that
ambitious spirit which her fellows moving in
higher spheres display in gilded trappings or
shining ornaments. She cheerfully submits
herself to every variety of mechanical work
wherever she can find it. Not unlike her
own husband, when she has fully accomplish-
ed her household duties in all simplicity—
contracted with that pomp and dignity which
mark the conduct of the haughty female of
the other family—she waits on her toils
without doors. Rarely is she found work-
ing within during the greater part of the day.
She goes to the neighbouring house of some
wealthy individual, and there accepts some
piece of work or other for some petty means
of subsistence. If we enter the houses of
wealthy natives, we should there see one of
these low-bread females attending at some
petty work—one engaged in grinding the
rice at the mill—another in winnowing corn
of different kinds and reducing it to powder—
one attending on some sick individual of the
family and ministering unto him all the
services which it is her duty to render to7 2
Indian Domestic Reform.
him—another waiting as a midwife on some
childbed woman, helping her weak body to
rise out of her bed and lie on it again, lead-
ing her from one place to another by holding
her hand or supporting her on the back,
washing her body, dressing her, cleaning the
clothes of her child, and performing a variety
of diverse duties in connection with her
peculiar employment with a well-grounded
hope of meriting some good reward. Some
of these lower classes of women again go to
some distant jungle with hatchets and knives
in their hands, cut down the wood from
some tree or the grass that grows carelessly
under foot, tie them up in bundles, and carry
them home to serve as fuel within their
kitchen walls, or as provender to the cattle,
which most of them are in the habit of rear-
ing.	And it is needless to observe that this
truth does	every day obtrude itself upon
our	notice	in the circumstance of many
of	these	poor wretches being seen
carrying such heavy burdens on their
shoulders through our streets. Some again
are busy in the farm of their husbands,
assisting them in all their farming operations,
ploughing the ground, breaking the plods and
sowing the seed. Some go to the marketIndian Domestic Reform	73
and there expose a variety of articles for
sale—-many of these wretched females are
seen busily engaged under the bright sun in
working at the foundation of some building
to be reared on it, or, the erection of some
new road at the expense of the State,—some
in breaking down stones and reducing them
to powder for giving strength and consistency
to our streets, and others in watering them in
common with their husbands. Many aré
seen busy at some of the different manufac-
tures throughout this country. Not a few
are seen bearing heavy stones or earth in
baskets over their heads from one corner of
the town to the other. Groups of these
females are beheld, as evening advances or
morning dawns, passing through the streets,
each having an earthen pail in her hand, and
going to some distant well to draw out water
for the use of her family. Their labour
indeed during the greater part of the day, as
we have already remarked, is exceedingly
great and tiresome. It may even some-
times unnerve the energies of the mightiest
arm that ever wielded a sword. All of them
are indeed engaged in employments, which,
as they are diversified, are extremely intri-
cate and burdensome. Yet they are satisfied
10n
Indian Domestic Reform.
to endure every kind of hardship, provided
they find their labour rewarded with a suffi-
cient return. Man must eat by the sweat
of his brow. But that gentleness, that
flexibility of disposition, and that unsuspi-
ciousness of temper, which are the charac-
teristic virtues of woman, mark her out as
a being fit only for those kinds of employ-
ment that are suited to the fineness of her
nature, and not for those hard and laborious
mechanical duties which the circumstances of
her situation in this country seem to enjoin
upon her. In the case, however, under
consideration they appear in fact to do work
in place of men. They carry heavy burdens
on their shoulders for distance of miles
together, as well in the burning heat of
summer as in the severe cold of winter.
They are compelled in short to submit to
every kind of laborious and difficult work.
But let me not be understood by these few
observations to insinuate that woman should
not work at all. She must; and it is her
duty—yet not in that degree and manner in
which she is here obliged to work. We
would shortly notice the effect of this on the
children of their family. We have seen that
both the parents are employed at their re-Indian Domestic Reform, • 75
spective toils out of doors during the hours
of the day. And the circumstances, of the
case render it necessary. Thus then the
children of the family are often left away
without that full measure of superintendence
which is needed for their welfare.. Whether
the parents are fit to give the needed super-
intendence or not is questionable. Even
though the mother, instead of her being
occupied abroad, were at home, yet we are
aware of few instances in which children
have received much benefit from her imme-
diate and affectionate watchfulness. Still
the look of a mother is some, if not a great
restraint on the wayward youths, however
unable she may be to exercise her due
authority over them. But when the cir-
cumstances of the family, as in this case,
preclude the possibility of her being at home
to watch the growth of the tender minds,
the depravity of the young children acquires
then a full play. Both parents are out of
doors, the hands of both, wheresoever they
may be, are full of toils; they are taking
their parts in providing for their daily bread,
—poor souls ! There at home, a different
scene is observed. Instead of domestic en-
dearment or instruction, which but for the76	Indian	Domestic	Reform,
immediate watchfulness of the parent would
not be so grievously neglected, there is now
nothing but what serves to nurse the youths
in almost unceasing animosity and brawl. The
children are left to ¿hemselves without that
control or superintendence which must needs
be exercised over them,—they run about in
the streets with all the wantonness of freedom.
They are there exposed to the hurtful changes
of the weather, their morals are there exposed
to contamination; they there listen to the
language of profaneness; they are confirmed
in all the wildness of insubordination and
disobedience,—and their whole character is
tainted by practices which they ought never
to know, and from which they ought ever
carefully to be far removed. This, my dear
reader, is no exaggeration. It is a statement
of plain truth.
10.	Employment and duties of native
GIRLS BOTH OF THE HIGHER AND
LOWER CLASSES.
We shall now notice the several employ-
ments and duties of native girls both of the
higher and lower classes, in reference to their
connection with the family of their parents.
First, in reference to the higher classes.Indian Domestic Reform.	77
(1.) There seems to be, as it were, a regular
system of the division of labour observed in
Hindu families. Certain duties are perform-
ed by young girls, and others are left ex-
clusively to the disposal of the elder females.
Be it known that we refer to families of the
higher classes of natives. When, in the
morning, the necessary articles are brought
by the servants, it is the business of the young
girls to observe and examine them. One
of them selects a certain quantity of those
things brought from the market, washes and
cleans them, cuts them if necessary, arranges
them neatly, and upon every preparation
being made, presents them in order to her
old mother who is engaged in blowing the
fire and kindling the flame within her kitchen
walls. Another prepares a like thing in
the same manner, and follows the example
of the former. Another girl prepares to
assist the mother in her management of the
affairs of the kitchen, displaying her activity
by running from one corner of the kitchen to
the other, to please her old mamma, readily
handing to her anything which may be placed
without her reach, expertly cleaning some
vessels that must be employed in the business
of cooking, skilfully blowing the fire herself78	Indian	Domestic	Reform.
if her mother be fatigued and exhausted, and
doing everything that she can possibly do for
her mother by way of helping her in the
management of her domestic concerns, and
lightening the oppressive load of those duties
and affairs by which she is always over-
burdened. In the midst of all this process,
their eyes are filled with smoke, the watery
humour is trickling down their nose, the hand
is occasionally seen wiping the face, drying
the eyes, and cleaning the nostrils. Time
gradually runs on ; and the mother and the
young girls, as they proceed on with their
duties at the kitchen, observe and watch its
flight. A word is sent through some domes-
tic of the house to the father who may then
be superintending the concerns of his family,
and to the young boys who may be playing
in the streets,* or may have just returned
from their schools, intimating to them all,
that the time is full, the breakfast is ready,
and they must be prepared for receiving it.
The mother gives the command, and in obe-
dience to it, the young girls, who are always
ready to please their old mamma, at once cry
*	This may be said of the time of the author, but of
the present time this is true only as regards boys in
lower classes.Indian Domestic Reform.
79
out the names of their papa, and younger
brothers with a voice peculiarly tender,
We will however, by the way, give a brief
sketch of the operations in which the male
portion of the family are engaged at this
part of the day before they go abroad to'
their duties, and leave the females at home
to themselves. The father and the boys take
to their bath, and then engage themselves
in their religious exercises in a room set apart
for the purpose, rubbing their foreheads,
hands, and breasts, before they commence
their operations, with some white powder
sanctified in the SMstras, muttering some
holy words taught to them by their priests,
and, when in this manner they fulfil their
devotional duties, repairing to the eating
room which is always close by the kitchen
walls, which do not prevent the smoke within
from going without, and giving to the
males, who are quite unaccustomed to it,
much irritation and annoyance. The mother
working in the kitchen, or the young girl
assisting her, then serves up to them the
meals either in plates of some metal or on
convenient leaves of some plant, as circum-
stances may permit. The boys and the old
man their father, on eating their food, and80
Indian, Domestic Reform.
washing their hands and mouths, and going
through a certain round of ceremonies that
their own habits or custom may have render-
ed necessary, put on their clothes, and
hasten to their respective duties, he to his
office, they to their schools. Now all matters
connected with the household business are
left to the exclusive disposal and manage-
ment of the leading females in the family.
The young girls now resort to their particu-
lar amusements, living in the house of their
own parents, where every one is disposed to
regard their faults with a smile of compla-
cency and to correct them only with a gentle
reproof, moving in a circle where all those
by whom they are surrounded are bound to
them by a mutual sympathy of habits and
manners, and forming parts of the family
where they are guided in all their operations
by a voluntary impulse of their own will,
rather than the dictate of obligation, where
they have no settled object to aim at, or no
particular avocations to be engaged in, and
where the idea of their whole happiness
consists only in the good disposition of their
parents towards them, and their wishes, they
seek only after amusement as the chief
element of their present happiness, and findIndian Domestic Reform,	81
it in everything that is variety. They en-
gage themselves differently. Some are
busily employed in weaving their little play-
things in wreaths of flowers, some in orna-
menting them in various ways, according
as their humour or fancy may direct them,
some in buying new toys or new play-
things and carefully laying them in store to
serve for the use of their children they expect
to be after blessed with. This circumstance
shows their love of marriage and the extreme
anxiety they indulge for being possessed of
children, and having it in their power of
administering various ceremonies consequent
upon their birth, and the several succeeding
periods of their lives. Some of them are
found busy with their needles sewing cloths
belonging to themselves, as well as those
belonging to the rest of the family. A
few of them, we are happy to declare, seem
to have arrived at such perfection in this
art, that all the females, if not the male
portion of the family to which they belong,
quite dispense with the necessity of employ-
ing tailors. Clothes of their workmanship
cover the limbs of many of their relations
and friends, especially of their own sex; and
they are often so nicely made that the rude
IX82	Indian,	Domestic	Reform.
hand of the tailor can easily be distinguished.
The author has to boast of having a sister
whose skill in this interesting art once
rendered her an honour to the family of her
parents, and now makes her the most useful
member of that of her husband. This part
of their employment is certainly the most
interesting, and so far as the state of our
present families is concerned, the most honor-
able. And well might we exclaim with a
most distinguished writer, who observes in
reference to the employment of ladies, that
“ whenever chance brings within my obser-
vation a knot of young ladies busy at their
needles, I consider myself as in the school
of virtue, and though I have no extraordinary
skill in plain work or in embroidery, I look
upon their operations with as much satisfac-
tion as their governess, because I regard
them as providing a security against the most
dangerous snares of the soul by enabling
themselves to exclude idleness from their
solitary moments,” and so on.
But, unhappily, the case is such that
those girls of the native families who may
have acquired any degree of proficiency in
this interesting art, are few compared with
multitudes of them who are often engagedIndian Domestic Reform.	83
in several frivolous and unworthy pursuits;
yet these few are not free from the faults of
others, no less are they given up to those
absurd and unprofitable ceremonies which
always occupy the attention of those around
them. No less are they wrapt up in notions
of the importance and necessity of those
ceremonies as giving life and interest to the
objects of the family circle.* Many of them
even renounce this kind of employment as a
vain drudgery, and do not unfrequently
unite themselves with others in the obser-
vance of foolish ceremonies, and in idle
amusements. Indeed the time of native
girls upon the whole is miserably spent.
They are often engaged in unnecessary
ceremonies, in useless rivalries, in vain med-
dling with others’ matters, in idle talking,
and petty frauds. The marriages of their
fellow-mates, and the features, manners, and
dispositions of their husbands, the money
which the parents of the parties spent in
their marriage, the ornaments bestowed upon
the bride by the parents of the bridegroom,
and the articles of furniture given in exchange
*	Nothing but time and liberal education would
remove these notions.84	Indian	Domestic	Reform.
to the latter by the parents of the former,
and various other circumstances connected
with their marriage ceremony, form the
subjects of their talk, laughter, and amuse--
ment. They insist upon their parents to get
them married to some one or other whom
they think fit, to prepare some golden
ornaments for them, that they may the better
be able to shine in the little society of their
fellow-mates, to purchase for their use some
varieties of cloths, and to do all those things
for them which may please their owp taste
or amuse their own fancy. Few girls might
be seen reading some religious book or
hearing with attentive ear some moral in-
structions which a pious guest may happen
to give them.* They mistake his instruc-
tions for the outbreakings of some madness
or religious enthusiasm, and reward his
attempts with mockery and laughter, which
the better informed may have regarded with
reverence. When some particular religious
ceremony takes place in their house, the
young girls are occasionally employed in
*	This 3tands true even to this day, though most
of the girls have attended schools and learnt to read
and write.Indian Domestic Reform.	85
singing some interesting rhymes during some
hours of the day and night, and by taking
large swings in a sort of cradle hung up for
the purpose. They sing indeed in such
sweet and delightful tones as almost wholly
to ravish the ear. Jovial and gay. in their
disposition they often intermix and enliven
their songs with humorous hits which they
aim at some one amongst themselves, of
whom they intend to make a sport. And
this they manage so dexterously and in such
an appropriate manner as perfectly to make
their song adapted to the case of the person
against whom they thus point their hits.
They then take a share in the ceremonies
going on around them. They make certain
tows and resolutions in imitation of the
elder females of the family, under some
supposed difficulty or inconvenience. They
observe certain fasts and go through a
routine of numerous other ceremonies which
afford them excessive delight and interest,
They engage themselves in such frivolous
kinds of pursuits, not so much from a sincere
religious feeling being awake in their minds
as with the view of deriving some amuse-
ment or employment from them. Thus they
allow the hours of the day to pass away.86	Indian	Domestic	Reform,
At night having worked for some time in
the kitchen as they had done there in the
morning under the superintendence of the
mother, they then assemble together, talk,
laugh, mock, sing, and perform their curious
trifles, even in the presence of their elders,
without dread of punishment, or the fear of
any one reproving their wild outbreakings,
or checking their intemperate mirth. The
father passes by them, heedless of their
trifles. Knowing that they are but tempo-
rary residents in his family and that they
can have no other opportunity of indulging
their humours so freely when the restraints
of fathers and mothers-in-law shall have
been imposed upon them, he never discounte-
nances them in their free gambols, but
rather contributes to multiply circumstances
which would warrant their indulgence in
their sports. The look of the mother is
always smiling upon them, she takes peculiar
interest in their amusements of which the
father seems to have no idea. Freed from
her domestic affairs and the concerns of the
kitchan, she even occasionally participates in
their gay amusements, and their pleasing
trifles. The want of gaiety in her daughter
she mistakes for a natural stupidity orIndian Domestic Reform.	87
dulness : and her who displays such a
disposition she quite despises, and bestows
upon her only a sparing measure of her
regard and esteem. She likes those much
who display all possible vivacity and mirth
in their sports and amusements. .Her face
beams upon them with favour and delight.
A few expressions of her approbation as
evidenced by her words or countenance,
afford them sufficient encouragement in their
trifling exercises and frivolous amusements.
But we should never think that this miser-
able state of affairs will always remain
unaltered. We have cheering hopes of
better days to come ; and better changes may
we then see ! Our girls are capable of being
considerably raised in the scale of intelligence,
if right discipline be observed with regard
to them. Trivial circumstances develop
great latent genius. And instances are not
few, trifling as they are, which go to prove
that our girls possess minds not inferior to
those of the most talented, and capable of
the highest degree of cultivation. Their
simplest amusements display to us the < force
of their talents. We have already remarked,
in the preceding sentences, with reference to
the proficiency acquired by some of them in88	Indian	Domestic	Reform.
the art of sewing and to their petty excellent
workmanships, which indeed do the highest
credit to their judgment and skill. Now
there is another kind of employment
equally harmless and interesting, which
indeed sets forth their talents to the best
advantage. This employment may be called
rather occasional than daily ; for it is engaged
in only during some part of the year.
What we mean, shall be evident from the
following brief description of it. Some time
previous to the Dasarâ and Diwdli, the two
great festivals of the Hindus, young girls
are seen employed every evening in our
native towns in drawing out various lines and
figures, first with white powder and then
filling the vacant spaces with other colouring
powders of different descriptions on small
elevated pieces of ground prepared for the
purpose, and attached closely to the verandas
of their houses, and they always acquit
themselves so well in their undertaking that
we are happy to have it in our power to say
that their performances display forth their
skill and abilities in the most prominent
light.* The curiosity of every man on this
*	We allude to the drawing of what are Kanâs.Indian Domestic Reform,	89
subject will be satisfied by his taking a short
trip after sunset in our native towns, when
numbers of those interesting young gills are
found employed in their busy manipulation
out of doors under the cool shade of the
advancing eve. It is indeed a mos.t delight-
ful spectacle to observe a parcel of these
young native girls busily engaged in their
harmless employments in the open air during
these calm hours. Their beautiful round
faces blooming with the red blushes of
modesty, and beaming with intelligence, remind
the spectator of those rosy blushes, which
tinge the yonder sky, and excite the most
pleasing vibrations in his heart, as if he were
really transported to the seats of the heaven-
ly angels. Would to God that such
interesting beings, gifted so richly by nature
but depraved so miserably by custom alone,
were removed far away from a state in which
they cannot live long without being exposed
to the moral contamination which reigns
around, and were brought up in a family
whence the clouds of superstition and ignor-
ance have been dispelled by the irradiating
beams of knowledge, and where the blessings
of education continue to shed their benignant
lustre on all around.
1200
Indian Domestic Reform.
(2.) The remarks we have just made,
the reader must be aware, refer to the
families of the higher classes. With regard
to those of the lower ranks nothing worthy
of mention occurs. The girls belonging to
those families are not so merrily employed as
girls of the higher classes. They do not
buy new toys and adorn them with various
ornaments like their fellows in the other
families. They have no fine cloths to sew.
They are not so careful about attend-
ing to different ceremonies, for they have
no money to discharge the expenses attending
them. They practise no singing, for they
are so far removed from the polish and
refinement of the higher classes, as never to
have been able to acquire a taste for that
art. They draw out no hands,* like the girls
of higher families, and if few of them do so,
their performance is the rudest of its kind.
They interchange no presents among one
another as the others. In fact they are
engaged in no interesting employments
during the hours of the day. From some
*	The art of drawing figures and lines on some clean
spots of ground prepared for the purpose as above
noticed.Indian Domestic Reform,
91
instances, however, it appears that their
whole amusement consists in a few slight
skirmishes with their brothers or then mo-
thers, in picking up a few small stones,
playing with them, and throwing them away,
or in collecting some quantity . of earth,
moistening it with water, and making some
fancy work of it. Amusement is found in
variety, and variety is procured by money ;
whereas these girls are brought up amidst
want and poverty—yea, they are nursed up
in scenes of animosity and brawls, which
are the unexceptionable characteristics of
their families. Theirs is no amusement—
theirs is rather a hard troublesome work.
With their poor wretched mothers, they wait
on their toils out of doors, and submit again
at home to the duties of the kitchen, envy-
ing the lot and enjoyment of their fellows
moving in the higher circles of life.
• '
11.	A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE CEREMONIAL
part of Hindu marriages.
We now propose to give a brief sketch
of the ceremonial part of Hindu marriages.
Their nature, the manner in which they are
formed, and the effects resulting from them,
will be treated of separately, in the following92
Indian Domestic Reform.
pages of this essay. Such is the desire
prevailing in Hindu parents with regard to
the marriage of their children, that to say
the least of it, the children are betrothed
while yet they are in the womb of their
parents. In that case, should the issues be
of opposite sex as expected, the betrothment
is confirmed by the parents, or if the matter
turn out the reverse, the question is dropped.
In most cases, however, girls are betrothed
to boys while they both are yet infants and
nearly of the same age with but a slight
difference of years.* The mother of the girl
prides herself upon the circumstance that her
daughter has obtained a husband at such an
early age. She frequently invites her son-
in-law to her house for dinner, confers
on him some little presents, and sends him
home with a servant to lead him, or asks his
consent to remain with her and his little wife
for some days. On some great holy days she
sends a few plates—some filled with flowers,
others with fruits, to the mother of her
*	As a rule the bridegroom must be older than
the bride, but in Kattyawar (as the Editor is aware)
bridegrooms are, in some cases, much younger than the
brides.Indian Domestic Reform.	93
son-in-law, and receives a like kind of return
from her in acknowledgment of the present
which she had sent to her. Thus, things
move on until at last the day of their
marriage ceremony is fixed upon by the
parents of both parties, after having con-
sulted the opinions of their respective priests,
in whose hands the parents of the children
are generally like mere tools. The expenses
to which the parents are put on this occasion
are enormously great, but they shall be
spoken of particularly by and bye. Two or
three days previous to the day of marriage,
ceremonies are observed at the respective
abodes of the boy and girl, of the most
trifling description, which the unbounded
rapacity of the priests always multiplies, and
the slavish disposition of the parents tacitly
countenances. The boy is at his house seated
on the ground, his body is rubbed over with
different powders, and washed perfectly clean.
He is surrounded by all his female relations,
who pour out water upon him in drops,
reciting a few rhymes in praise of the
intended bridegroom. Visitors consisting of
females come from every quarter of the town
to witness the joyous scene. They all lift up
their voice in an exalted chorus accompanied94	Indian	Domestic	Reform.
by the sounds of music without, adoring and
praising the fabled deities whom they suppose
as presiding over human affairs, and implor-
ing, them to shower down their blessings on
the boy and the girl throughout the whole of
their life after their union, a circumstance
which points out their deplorable ignorance
of the only living and true God, who is the
disposer of all events, and whom they thus
exclude from their supreme regard, and the
fatal illusion under which they labour in
rendering to beings which have merely an
imaginary existence, a superstitious homage,
quite derogatory to the honour of the only
Governor and Preserver of all things. Well,
the officiating priests who administer the
ceremonies, impose upon the surrounding
superstitious multitude by the . solemn
grandeur of their appearance, the sonorous-
ness of their voice, and the hard, unintelli-
gible, words which they pronounce. The
boy is from time to time made to walk up and
down the house to attend at the performance
of certain ceremonies, followed by females
who wash, clean and dress him, and adminis-
ter unto him every possible service that it
is their duty on those days to render. The
boy thus undergoes a variety of triflingIndian Domestic Reform.	95
ceremonies without a moment’s respite. The
girl is dealt with in the same manner at the
house ofher parents, as the boy, surrounded
by the same superstitious multitude of females,
and oppressed by the same overburdening
number of ceremonies. To-day are invited
all the relations and friends of the bride and
bridegroom, by the parents at their respec-
tive dwellings, when to-morrow is their
wedding day. Every preparatory or neces-
sary measure is at the preceding night so
planned and arranged by the females of the
family, as to bear on the grandeur of the
method in which the great marriage ceremony
is intended to be performed the next day.
The female members of the houses of the
bride and bridegroom entirely abstain them-
selves from sleep, and they are deeply
engrossed with all their preparatory engage-
ments during the whole night. The morn-
ing dawns, the trumpet sounds, the drums
beat, and the music commences at both the
houses. The priests attend, the parents' of
the boy and girl are dressed most sumptuously
and preside at the administration of the
ceremonies passing before their view. A
great sacrificial fire is erected in the middle
of the house by the priests, who on the96
Indian Domestic Reform.
plausible ground of religion, impudently and
unceremoniously consume many useful articles
of thd parents in the great devouring element
raging in the centre. This fire is considered
as forming the moet essential part of the
whole ceremony of that day. About sunset,
numbers of people, all consisting of relations
and friends, attend at the house of the
bridegroom. The boy is equipped in the
most magnificent apparel, decorated with the
most glittering ornaments of gold, and the
most brilliant jewels. Long wreaths of
beautiful and elegant flowers are wound
round about his head, and thrown over his
shoulders, flowing down his feet. He is then
seated on a horse, the most sumptuously
equipped, a cocoanut covered with tinfoil is
put into his hands, the trumpets sound forth
their echo in the air, music is set to work, the
drums beat, a perfect concert flourishes, and
a most splendid procession follows. The
whole procession stops as it comes within a
short distance from the house of the bride.
The horse of the bridegroom, who is still
riding on his back, steps onward in front of
the door of the bride’s house. A curious and
unmeaning ceremony then follows, which
might seem almost to mock a stranger.Indian Domestic Reform.
97
There goes first the brother of the bride and
squeezes an ear* of the still riding bride-
groom. He meets with his reward, carrying
off a splendid dress which the parents of the
bridegroom bestow upoii him. Then steps
on the mother of the bride in her splendid
apparel faith an arti\ in her hand, which she
moves about the face of the bridegroom, and
gives him some sweatmeat to taste a little of
it. She meets with her reward too for all
her trouble. Then follows the father-in-law
with a majestic pace, a piece of cloth held
over his head as he moves on, and offering
some sweatmeat to the lad, carries him in his
arms into the house, and places him on a
chair. The bride is brought forward, cover-
ed all over with gold and silver, and placed
before the boy. Another ceremony equally
ridiculous with the former attracts the notice
of an observer. It is that upon whose issue
the marriage knot of the pair does substan-
tially depend. A shawl is interposed
between the bride and bridegroom. The
reverend priests commence pronouncing their
hallowed benedictions and prayers. * The
*	Always the right ear.
t A plate in which some kind of lamp is put.
1398	Indian	Domestic	Reform.
intervening shawl is still held suspended
between the pair. Perfect silence reigns
throughout. Every present soul remains in
breathless expectation of the issue of the
ceremony. Every eye is rivetted on the boy
and girl. Every ear is given to the words of
the priests who pour out their benedictions
and prayers in the loftiest strains of their
hollow voice. All of a sudden the reverend
priests stop. The intervening curtain drops.
The hands clap. The drums, the tomtoms,
the pipes, the trumpet, make their mingled
roar. The bridegroom puts a string* of black
beads round about the bride’s neck. It is
this string which binds up as it were their
marriage-knot, proving a sufficient guarantee
for the bridal fidelity, and a satisfactory
vouchsafe to that devoted service which the
wife is enjoined to owe to her husband
through life. The bride and the bridegroom
are thus united together for that moment by
the flimsy cord of mere ceremony, which
shall be broken by the fiery edge of passion,
as the thread of tallow is broken by the flame
of a burning candle. Yet rejoicings ensue.
The female voice is exerted in loftier and
*	Called Garsoli.Indian Domestic Reform.
99
sweeter notes. Joy beams forth in the eyes
of the parents, and lights up the countenance
of the married couple. Warm and cordial
embraces are mutually interchanged between
the parents of the married children on the
one hand, and their relations and friends and
visitors on the other. The money and
cocoanuts and betelnuts are distributed
among the Brahmans and visitors and
strangers and men of all descriptions. The
bride and the bridegroom are then seated
on a horse,* whose gaudy accoutrement vies
with the gilded trappings of the riders upon
his back. They are followed by a most
splendid procession to the house of the
latter—the bridegroom. Many other cere-
monies follow one another in uninterrupted
succession for several weeks together. The
bridegroom is most ceremoniously invited
to the house of the bride immediately on
the next day to observe the continuation of
their nuptial ceremonies. There the young
boy and girl are made to sit together, and
permitted to pass away a few hours in some
interesting trifles to which custom has given
*	This custom has now gone out of use, and the
married couple is seated in a carriage.100 Indian Domestic Reform.
the appearance of importance. Eating-
Jeaves* are rolled in small cylindrical parcels.
A few of them are given to the boy, a few
to the girl. Their female friends surround
them both on all hands. The girl is advised
secretly by a friend who sits beside her to
catch one of the pieces strongly in her teeth
at one of its ends, allowing the longer end
to remain without. The boy, assisted by a
like friend on his side, puts out his mouth,
and bites off the outer end of the rolled piece
of leaf. Thus, indeed, after the wedding
ceremony is entirely over, multitudes of
several other vain, trifling and unnecessary
ceremonies do still continue, without inter-
ruption, to be observed for a succession of
days, weeks, and months, as if they were
calculated to keep up the fading grandeur
and interest of the past great nuptial
ceremony. And those ceremonies are indeed
of such endless varieties that an enumeration
of them would be a mere waste of paper.
Those that we have adverted to, can well
suffice to give to the general reader an idea
of their extreme absurdity, and the unneces-
sary waste of time and money which their
*	Of the Piper Be tie.Indian Domestic Reform. 101
observance involves. But it often happens that
when the ceremonies in which the, native
females so fondly indulge themselves, inter-
fere with the pressing duties and callings of
the males, the latter always demur as to the.
unnecessary length to which the w,omen are
anxious of carrying the ceremonies, and as to
the vain expenses of money to which they
lead. Hence sounds of discord and conten-
tions are heard in our family mansions on
these occasions, which a right view of the
subject would have entirely prevented.
Here, discontent marks the brows of the old
mother, there the eyes of the old father flame
with anger. Thus a damp is thrown on the
excited spirits of all the females of the family,
who ere-while lingered unconsciously amid
the scenes of their favourite ceremonies. It
is not, however, our business here to descant
on a vast number of other trifling ceremonies
beside those we have noticed, which even for
a considerable time after the principal
ceremony of marriage is performed do not
still cease to be observed in our families.*
m A most intelligent native writer in his essay on
Female Education has dwelt at sufficient length on the
ceremony of Padar and others of a kindred nature, to
which we mean to allude.102 Indian Domestic Reform.
Custom, unconquerable custom, sits however
lofty on the throne of ignorance, and bids all
defiance to the prejudices or notions of
particular individuals.
12.	Treatment of the newly-married
SON-IN-LAW BY THE PARENTS AND
RELATIONS OP HIS WIPE.
I shall here advert to the treatment of the
newly-married son-in-law by the parents and
relations of his wife. The boy, immediately
after his nuptial ceremony is over, is occa-
sionally invited to attend by his father or
mother-in-law at some feast held or some
other ceremony observed at their house. At
every visit which he thus pays to his wife’s
house, he receives presents consisting of
clothes, fruits, or sweet-meats at the hands
of his wife’s parents. His treatment at the
house of his wife by her relations while he is
yet young, and his marriage has as yet lately
taken place, is made to adapt itself to the
circumstances of the time or occasion in
which he happens to be present before them.
Whea on some merry day or some great
festival, he is invited to attend at his father-
in-law’s house, notwithstanding every neces-
sary honor and reward conferred upon himIndian Domestic Reform. 103
by the parents of his wife, he is not allowed
to pass away without being treated by the
other members of the family in any manner
which their own present humour or fancy
might dictate to them. Several young girls,
and even elderly females surround him on all
sides, gazing at him with eager attention,
making remarks on his features, disposition,
and dress, whispering into one another’s ears
the probability of his rising to fame and
distinction in future, as if they could read his
fortune in his physiognomy, flattering him at
first with some small praises, presenting
forward some sweat-meat for him to eat or
some water to drink, describing in his face
the proportions of his wife’s body, the features
of her countenance, the peculiar tastes which
distinguish her, the ornaments of which she
is very fond, and the amusements in which
she loves most to indulge, and telling him to
be kind and favourable towards her in spite
of all the aversions and opposing views which
his other relations may have against her.
This zeal on the part of the relations of his
wife in acquainting her husband with aH the
circumstances connected with her, may be
accounted for by considering the want of a
free and familiar intercourse between them,104 Indian Domestic Reform.
which would alone enable the husband in
arriving at any correct knowledge of his wife’s
real character and concerns. But the relations
of the young married girl do not rest contented
with this short discourse with their son-in-law,
which is rather to the benefit of the girl than
their own. They have not yet attained the
end which they originally sought after. They
therefore, now proceed with their tricks with
the son-in-law. They contrive different plans
by which they might amuse themselves with
the married couple. They forcibly drag the
young lad into the presence of the girl, who
instantly hangs down her head on seeing
him. They play jokes upon him, and use
with him every indecent freedom without
thinking of the consequences that might
arise,—of the displeasure which their tricks
might naturally give to the boy, and the
prejudices which they might lead to exist in
him against them. Of this, indeed, the girl’s
relations are perfectly insensible, and they
therefore persist, though unconsciously, in
their jokes and tricks to the fullest extent of
their wishes. But when he is invited at his
father-in-law’s house on such days as the
Holi festival, the liberty which the females
of the house, who are always on the alert toIndian Domestic Reform.
105
find some matter for amusement, use with the
poor lad, goes beyond its due bounds. They
then conduct with him in a manner highly
offensive to him, and quite incompatible with
the nature of the relation in which he stands
to them. They proceed to tease him in a
thousand different ways. They rub his face
.with the red powder* and oblige him to rub
that of his wife with his own hands. They
squirt upon his clothes some red fluid, which
they prepare beforehand for the purpose.
They throw handfuls of some red powder
upon him. They then mock at him, laugh
at him, and amuse themselves in various
other ways with him, taking advantage only
of his silence and bashfulness. The girl stares
with amazement at such a free and indecent
conduct of her relations towards her young
husband. The mother-in-law, father-in-law,
and brother-in-law have seldom any direct
hand in those proceedings, though they may
privately connive at them. They stand all
the while like mute spectators of the foolish
play around them, without attempting to
check or reprove the free conduct of their
relations towards the poor solitary boy—
14
*	Gnlal.106 Indian Domestic Reform.
their son-in-law. Such a freedom of conduct
exhibited on these festive occasions with
reference to the son-in-law by the relations
of his wife, is rather to be attributed to, and
is certainly encouraged by, the young age of
the boy himself. Adult sons-in-law are
seldom treated with such liberty even on
occasions of festivity and mirth. But
instances of adults being married at the first
time are under present circumstances indeed
very few in the annals of the Hindus in
comparison to the great majority of instances
of the early marriage of children. With
regard to the relation in which a son-in-law
of any age and under any circumstances stands
to the family of his wife’s parents, a
lamentable want of sociality of intercourse is
to be observed between him and the relations
of his wife. True it is, that whenever he goes
to his wife’s house, he receives all marks of
respect from her parents, and from all those
who may be related to her. They rise up as
he passes by them in token of respect,
especially the females : but never once
throughout the whole tenor of his connection
with them does an instance occur, in which
there exists a friendly and familiar intercourse
between him and his mother-in-law or evenIndian Domestic Reform.
107
his father-in-law. Go he may as often as
opportunity permits, he can never once have
the fortune of seeing his wife, far less of
speaking to her. While she is at her parent’s
house as well as at his own, he can scarcely
ever hold a free conversation with her for fear
of shame ; nor can he send her a message
through a mediator, thereby conveying to her
all the sentiments which he might otherwise
have fully communicated to her himself.
Written messages are under the circumstance
of her ignorance impossible ; or if possible, the
practice might be prohibited by the fear of
giving rise to hurtful and evil suspicions.
In fact he can hold no free or friendly
intercourse with any of the members of his
father-in-law’s family. For the mother-in-
law to speak to him or to use any manner of
familiarity with him, it is considered a violation
of that mo’desty which her peculiar relation
to her son-in-law necessarily enjoins upon her
to observe in her conduct towards him.
Indeed he enjoys every respect and regard at
his father-in-law’s house from all the members
of the family ; but he enjoys none o^ those
delights which he could have derived from a
friendly intercourse with them. He is there
like a solitary being left amidst a circle of108 Indian Domestic Reform.
those who can scarcely enter into a real and
close sympathy with his feelings. Those
who a^e there, are so miserably destitute of
every social sentiment towards him, that
they scarcely even fully talk to him, or when
they speak to him speak so sparingly as to
seem to number out as it were their very
words. We can little expect to enjoy in a
society of such individuals those pleasures
and delights which free and mutual inter-
change of ideas is calculated to afford. He
is there left to shift for himself. We might
easily believe, that from their peculiar
relation to him, they may have his good
sincerely at their heart; but it is difficult to
take it for granted that they prove it so by
their conduct towards him.
Unhappy therefore is that native lad, who
under any circumstances, even the most
pressing, leaves the family circle of his own
parents, and consents to live among relations
of such description, with whom he can
expect to hold no friendly intercourse which
is so essential to contribute to his real
domestic enjoyment. Ere long, however,
sad experience will tell him that his is a
sorry and ill-judged exchange. Indeed, the
respect and veneration in which he may beIndian Domestic Reform. 109
held by a few females of the family, may be
somewhat gratifying to him. Want of
sociality of intercourse would certainly by
him be much felt there. But in addition
to that, those feelings of respect and esteem
which the male portion of the family might
have cherished towards him, begin gradually
to diminish. The male portion particularly,
of native families, are more prone to
haughtiness and pride than the other sex,
and would therefore bear hard the necessity
of always paying that homage and respect
to their son-in-law, which they would
willingly have paid him if he were at a
distance from them. They think it hard
even to speak to him, and they soon naturally
grow weary of him. Such is the nature of
the treatment which the son-in-law receives at
his father-in-law’s house. Thus have we
seen that under circumstances in reference
to the native families, nearness tends in no
small degree to diminish, in addition to the
want of social intercourse, that respect and
esteem which they ought to cherish towards
the son-in-law, and which distance may have
inspired and kept alive. The wisest policy,
therefore, that I can recommend a Hindu,
son-in-law to observe, is never to trust110 Indian Domestic Reform.
himself to the relations of his wife, for by so
doing he might subject himself to all the
miseries which want of social intercourse, and
consequent diminution of respect, as has been
shown, would entail upon him. And he shall
afterwards have to look up to that part of his
life which he spent in his father-in-law’s
family, as of the most miserable kind. These
observations, we may however remark, are
applicable not to a particular family amongst
the Hindus, but to all of them universally.
13.	The state, treatment, and character
OF MARRIED GIRLS.
The state, treatment, and character of the
married girl, are the next points which must
deserve notice-in this place. The girl, when
she gets married, generally assumes a dignity
and grandeur which betoken the wonderful
influence of the state upon which she has
entered, and in the gravity and seriousness
which now mark uniformly her conversation
or her conduct, we discover the effect of her
marriage state, as distinguishable from the
pettiness and frivolity which had charac-
terised her in her other state. After her
being so betrothed or married, she remains
a considerable time in the house of her
parents. There does she explain to herIndian Domestic Reform. Ill
mother the details of relations which connect
her to the family of her husband, and amuses
her with accounts of those peculiar habits and
dispositions which her short residence in her
husband’s house may have acquainted her
with, as having characterised its several
members. When the household duties are
finished, and the females of the family are a
little eased from the burden of their domestic
concerns, the married girl, with her body
decked with ornaments and her hair covered
with flowers, takes a seat with her newly
acquired gravity, amongst her sisters and
her other fellow-mates who look upon her
with a stare of wonder and admiration which
she takes for a compliment to her. She
looks on her own body, prides herself upon
the golden ornaments which so richly adorn
it, compares them, with those of others, and
expresses her contempt of them, if her own
be larger and more valuable than theirs.
She is under her parent’s roof free from all
domestic concerns. Amusement is her
highest idea of happiness, and she can find
it in everything that is variety. She has
there no particular duties to attend to, no
particular avocations to follow. Her time
is generally spent in employments which112 Indian Domestic Reform.
have been adverted to under the head of the
amusements and employments of girls. She
feels here so easy and so free from a sense of
responsibility with reference to any domestic
concern of her parent’s house, that nothing
would seem to check her happiness except
some positive or present harshness. There
indeed is nothing hers. But soon the scene
changes. Time soon flies away; circum-
stances change, and the state of separation
in which she had so long remained from her
husband, becomes no longer necessary or
lawful. I hope the reader understands what
I mean. She grows older, and hitherto
quite pure in her actions and intentions,
passes, a modest virgin, into the chamber of
her husband. She now leaves her father’s
house and goes to her husband’s. By the
way we shall stop to describe the ceremony
which follows her puberty. The ceremony
which goes by the name of Sold takes place
on the day in the evening of which she is
intended to be united with the husband,
some trivial ceremonies having already been
observed on the preceding days.* The
*	For information relating to these ceremonies I
would recommend the reader to peruse Mr. Krishnanath
Raghunathji’s interesting work on the Prabhus, 1879.Indian Domestic Reform.
113
whole body of the girl is thickly decked with,
ornaments, her head is covered with a variety
of fragrant flowers, and her limbs loaded
with large heavy bracelets to such a degree
as almost to crush her under their enormous
weight. She is scarcely able to move her
hands and feet freely. The husband is
similarly equipped, though not to such a
degree of profusion as the wife. They both
are then seated 011 an elevated place. Dressed
in all the elegance of clothes, and decked over
with costly ornaments, and seated on a lofty
place, the happy pair appear the most com-
manding figures in the house. The first
thing which strikes and fixes the attention is
the costliness of the girl’s ornaments. The
husband and the wife are then made to attend
to a certain routine of ceremonies, at which
the cunning priests usually officiate. The
next thing which fixes the attention is the
loud vocal strains which resound through the
whole house, and heighten the effect of the
imposing scenes around. Numerous women
come from every different corner of the town
to witness the merry pair. The ceremony
occupies the whole day, and at night some
short ceremonies of a trifling nature being
observed, the two youths are united together
15114 Indian Domestic Reform.
and left to themselves after a highly formal
and mutual introduction. Thenceforth the
girl really makes one of the body of her
husband’s family, and her duties and rights
are there now fully recognised. She is now
introduced as it were into a new system of
existence. She sees new objects around her,
and a new order of things quite different from
that which she used to observe at her
parents’ house. Everything here is hers.
She now gains some station in life, some
object in the avocations of home. New
scenes open to her view and new duties press
upon her notice. Amusement is no longer the
object of her pursuit. The present has lost
half its charms in her sight, and cares about
her future happiness engross her attention.
She now lives upon the future. Hope and
pursuit are now necessary to the full-grown
being. All this is true. But she is here
subjected to the tyranny of her husband,
father-in-law, and mother-in-law, who have
the power of treating her in any way they
choose. Of all the others, she is most under
the influence of her mother-in-law, who
exercises her authority over her, not only in
matters related to household affairs, but even
in those which involve her immediate andIndian Domestic Reform. 115
personal interests. She is there bound to
respect all, to obey all, to rise in their presence,
to listen to their commands and diligently to
execute them. None on the other hand
respect her, none even take of her so much
notice as to acknowledge any service which
it may lie within her power to render. The
goodness of her husband alone can be her
only hope amidst circumstances of such a
gloomy description. But if he be un-
principled and violent, as is often the case,
her misery is beyond conception. She then
labours under a most heavy curse that can
ever in her life befall her, for the happiness
of her existence depends upon her husband.
She is rejected, despised, scarcely spoken to,
and beaten by him, and even under
circumstances of an extraordinary nature
deprived of all participation of his bed itself.
She is smitten with despair. She is obliged
to submit tamely and silently to all the horrors
of his despotic sway, which the unhappy
circumstance of her marriage with him has
alone conferred upon him. She is not only
there subjected to thè tyranny of father and
mother-in-law and her husband, she is also
subjected to the tyranny of custom. She
takes her meals in the same plate in which116 Indian Domestic Reform,
her husband may have previously dined
without taking a clean one for herself. She
sometimes washes and cleans the vessels
which may be rendered any way useless for
the purposes of the kitchen. She often cleans
those spots of ground where all the members
of the family may have previously dined by
covering them with a thin wash of cow-dung.
She is then burdened the whole day with
domestic concerns in which she is so busily
engaged as scarcely to be able to obtain a
moment of relief. She is regulated in her
neat management of them by her mother-in-
law, who always keeps a watchful eye over
her conduct. She is indeed like a mean
homely drudge, who does what she is bid to
do, without any reflection or judgment on
her own part. She must have some elderly
and experienced female of the family to guide
her even in the simplest operation of the
kitchen ; for otherwise she is likely to be
crushed beneath the oppressive weight of
household duties which might wholly devolve
upon her. She is there always puzzled and con-
founded, and is at a loss to know what to do.
Neither does she prove, such as she is,
an easy and useful companion to her hus'band,
She has received no education which couldIndian Domestic Reform. 117
enable her to discharge with judgment and
skill the most important duties of her
husband’s family, or to assist him in any
difficult part of his undertakings. Her views
are not sufficiently enlarged by education, and
her feelings are not directed by it into a
proper channel. The girl had indeed the
best opportunities of improving herself under
her parents’ roof. She had much time at her
command and few cares to vex or disturb her.
If she had then employed her leisure hours
in storing her mind with useful knowledge,
and directed her attention with full advantage
to subjects which enlarge and strengthen the
understanding, and counteract the influence
of petty cares, she would now have proved
not only a useful but an agreeable companion
to her husband. But her time, instead of
being so usefully employed, was lamentably
wasted in the performance of unnecessary
ceremonies, in idle amusements, in vain
rivalries, or in useless meddling with some
neighbour’s affairs. With such tastes and
inclinations, she goes to her husband when
the proper season arrives. Little wonder
then is there that she docs not in many cases
prove an easy companion to her husband.
Her mind is full of those childish impressions118 Indian Domestic Reform.
and prejudices which she had received
under her paternal roof, and which now
become fixed principles of her reasoning and
conduct. The names of parents, of relations
and of home, strengthen her bigotry to those
notions or sentiments which she may have
received in their company, and the absurdity
of which she might have been easily
brought to conceive. And stronger of course
do her prejudices against education become.
“ What,” when she is told of the value of
learning, she asks herself, “Were my
parents in a mistake ? Can it be that they
did not know what was best for me to do ?
How can I now change my course of life
which they have hitherto allowed me to
follow ? Can it be that those wise parents
led me astray ? (What, have I to become
a writer ? What, have I to go to offices ?
Ed.)”#—and similar other questions in the
same tone. Here, however, opens wide the
field for the husband to call into play all his
active energies, to train her up in the
*	This is emphatically true with respect to some of
our friends who have invariably received this answer
from their wives as soon as the question of female
education is alluded to.Indian Domestic Reform. 119
principles of sound education, and to pro-
mote as much as possible the interests of
her immortal soul, which as a husband upon
whom the chiefest good of his wife greatly
depends, he ought never to overlook. From
the very nature of the situation which she
fills, she presents the tenderest claims
on his affection and regard. To suppose
him exhibiting an ominous listlessness and
indifference to her eternal interests, is a
contradiction which we can never conceive
to be realized when piety and benevolence
retain any hold of the mind.
14.	Peculiar predilections displayed by
Hindu parents in favor of
their sons.
An important consideration now pre-
sents itself to my mind. Having somewhere
in the preceding pages of this paper,
directed the reader’s attention to the treat-
ment of young children in Hindu families,
I hope it will not prove unprofitable to
advert in this place to the peculiar predilec-
tions which Hindu parents display in favour
of their sons, and the aversion they have to
their daughters.
It is scarcely necessary to advert to the
superstitious notions entertained in regard to120 Indian Domestic Reform,
the births of a male and a female child. The
joy and satisfaction felt by native parents at
the birth of a son, far exceed that which
attends the birth of a daughter. Hence she
is held in the lowest estimation of the family ;
and hence is the peculiar kindness and
interest displayed towards a son, not only by
his parents whose hearts are filled to the brim
by his birth, but by one and all of the
members of the family. To the intensity of
that natural feeling which is implanted in tiie
breast of every parent, the idea of a son’s
being the heir to the family adds not a little.
The daughter is considered here as a mere
property, first in the hands of her parents, and
next in the hands of her husband. The son
carries about him an air of consequence
which procures him the greater share of the
respect and attention of the rest of the family.
The daughter, however careful she may be
to secure the regard of her parents, is often
sadly neglected or despised. The kindred
in the house even rail at her, the servants
ridicule her. The parents, though they may
cloak their feeling of aversion for her under
the disguise of an apparent regard or favour,
often secretly wish that she had been born a
male child. The son is their peace and rest.Indian Domestic Reform. 121
He is the delight of their eyes. On him are
set all their affections and desires. He is
therefore treated by his parents with an
intenseness and affection which do not mark
their treatment of their own daughter. All
that they eagerly wish to do for her, is
getting her married to some one whom
chance or circumstances may entitle to their
notice. Until the time of her betrothment,
they feel it their duty and interest to
accommodate her in every possible manner,
and when the marriage-knot binds her to
another family, it, in fact, severs her from
those ties which had bound her since her
birth to the family of her parents. That
real solicitude with which the parents’ hearts
yearned towards her whilst she made one of
their own family, is now much diminished in
its intensity. Those offices of kindness which,
as dictated by natural feeling, they adminis-
tered towards her till then, do now ^ cease or
are prompted only by a sense of duty. Every
link of connection which had bound her to
her father’s family, now breaks off, but that
which natural affection, may keep up. She
is now regarded by her parents as a stranger,
and even sometimes treated as such. She is
now a property, not in the hands of her
16122
Indian Domestic'Reform.
parents, but in the hands of her husband.
He is her lord, and his word is her law.
Her parents occasionally call her to their house
and make her stay with them, and enjoy
their society for some weeks or months ; but
scarcely now does she receive that marked
attention and notice from her parents, which
her jealous eye observes unsparingly bestow-
ed on her own little brother, whose slightest
cry awakens the mother’s anxiety, and
arouses the father’s affection. Now it is
difficult to conceive the propriety or reason-
ableness on the part of native parents
of exhibiting such different conduct and
displaying such different feelings, towards
their sons and daughters. Why should
joy prevail at the birth of a son, and
discontent follow that of a daughter ? Is the
event of the birth of the former fraught with
propitious consequences, and that of the latter
with mischievous ones ? Such is however
the common belief of Hindu parents ; and
superstition, no doubt, comes in to the
support of this foolish and absurd belief. The
girl is thus neglected and despised, because
her parents have fewer prospects of her
future usefulness to them, combined with the
idea of the flexibility and weakness commonIndian Domestic Reform. 123
to her sex, which unfit her for any important
and arduous duties of life, and also because
she is soon afterwards to be separated from
them, and united to another family. The
son, however, is regarded with peculiar
respect and attention, not only as being heir
to all their earthly possessions, as forming a
principal part of the family, and as being
unlikely to be ever severed from it except by
the ruthless hand of death, but as being
capable in future of discharging the most
important duties of society in whatever
station he may happen to be placed. It is
owing to this circumstance that parents
reserve from their daughter the fullest share
of their sympathy and regard ; and this
conduct, founded as it certainly is on one of
the most selfish principles which discredit
our nature, is directly opposed to the duty
which nature herself has imposed upon them
of watching over the interests of their
children as much as possible, and highly
repugnant to the dictates of reason and
humanity, which would never warrant such
partial and interested division of regard and
favour. The flexibility and weakness which
distinguish the gentler sex, are their natural
defects, if defects they can be called. This124 Indian Domestic Reform.
weakness does not originate in her wrong
use of those abilities or powers- which nature
may have bestowed on her in a full and
sound state. Her inadequateness therefore,
to discharge the momentous duties of life,
cannot for a moment justify her being un-
avengedly exposed to the calamity of being
so universally disrespected or despised, or to
the harsh treatment of those under whom
Providence has placed her, not to be so ill
behaved to, but to be attended to with all the
respect and gentleness due to her sex.
Nature has constituted her such as she is,
and she has constituted her so, with the
benevolent intention too that she may become
a proper helpmate for man, and be best adapted
to the peculiar situation which she is intended
to occupy in the scale of human existence.
In harshly treating her therefore for this
deficiency of her nature, and denying her
every accession of comfort and enjoyment
which is placed so much within the reach of
the son, Hindu parents seem evidently to act
in direct opposition to the dictates of reason,
and to the benevolent purposes of Providence.
But Hindu superstition will not be reconciled
to any such liberal sentiment on the subject.
It will degrade the female in the scale ofIndian Domestic Reform. 125
existence, and subject her to every species of
domestic tyranny. She is, in fact, rendered
a passive being rather than an active one.
Such a partiality of conduct is highly dis-
honourable to our nature, and highly inju-
rious to the best interests of society over
which woman has so great a control. Let
therefore every Hindu parent treat his
daughter with the same degree of attention
as he shows towards his son. Let him
consider them both as beings created by God
to serve their peculiar purposes in existence.
Let him avoid his extreme predilection for
the one, and his aversion to the other.
One great reason, besides, for which Hindu
parents treat their daughters with such
neglect, and have such aversion to them, is
the idea which they entertain of the natural
inferiority of their mental endowments to
those of the other sex. This, however, as
will readily be admitted by every enlightened
person, is an erroneous idea, the indulgence
of which has done incalculable injury to
their highest interests, both in their
relation to this w.orld and to that which
is to come. Hence their education, by
which alone they may be improved, as moral
and intellectual beings, is systematically126 Indian Domestic Reform,
neglected; and hence are they subjugated to
the tyrannizing will and authority both of
their parents and husbands. Considered as
it naturally is, that their mental endowments
fall infinitely short of the important duties of
life which they may be called upon to perform,
they are entirely neglected as useless human
agents, and generally used as mere tools in
the hands of their superiors. But it is
needless to observe, (for who can assert the
contrary?) that woman possesses a mind
capable of the most refined cultivation, that
she is endowed with faculties and powers
which would enable her to search into the
refinements of literature and the depths of
science, to follow out the most difficult
processes of abstruse reasoning, and to indulge
in the loftiest flights of imagination. We also
perceive in her a breathing after immortality,
which betokens a creature destined for a life
to come. He must have a very narrow
acquaintance with human nature, who goes to
the length of saying, that woman is only
fit for the affairs of the kitchen, and not for
the duties of society at large. History and
experience tell us that women have turned
out great writers, poets, philosophers and
divines, and their beautiful productions—theIndian Domestic Reform. 127
offspring of their talents and genius—do
now adorn our libraries. What folly and
ignorance, then, on the part of Hindu parents
to treat with such harshness and contempt,
beings so fair, so useful, and so great ! What;
cruelty and harshness in the conduct of those
parents in allowing their daughter to grow
up in total ignorance, not only of the ele-
ments of learning, but of all moral obliga-
tions,—a daughter, who if trained and well
educated, would prove the greatest blessing
to her parents and to society ! Instances
are not wanting even in the remotest periods
of history, to show that women have proved
themselves useful members of the family in
which they once lived, and that they are
scarcely inferior to men in point of natural
talents and understanding. To Cicero the
conversation of his daughter was a comfort
under every affliction. To Milton his
daughters proved most useful in writing for
him his Paradise Lost and Regained. Several
women have ruled over kingdoms and
governed States in all ages and nations, and
displayed great skill in the political matters
in which they might be concerned. The
wives of several foolish husbands in the
families of the Peishwas have distinguished128 Indian Domestic Reform,
themselves for their learning and wisdom as
well as cunning. And now Britain furnishes
us with an interesting host of excellent
female writers and divines. Woman, then,
at all times has displayed her powers by no
means inferior in perfection or excellence to
those of man. These instances, few and
solitary as they are, would still be quite
enough to discountenance the tyranny of
Hindus who coniine woman wholly to the
drudgery of the kitchen, and never allow her
to look into the world, and to participate in
the enjoyments of refined society. O! If
•Hindu parents could divest themselves of all
their prejudices and attend to these consider-
ations, they would at least discover no
shadow of reason in that superstitious belief
which makes them glad when a son is bom,
and discontented at the birth of a daughter.
Such extreme predilections for the one and
such aversions for the other, are rather the
dictates of a most cruel despotism and of a
most dishonouring and debasing superstition.
Ignorance and superstition alone can uphold
them. Humanity, however, shudders, piety
is abashed, reason shrinks at their very idea.
In the manner and on the principles
described above, are son and daughterIndian Domestic Reform, 129
universally treated in Hindu families, one
like a lord, the other like a slave, one like
an ornament of the family, the other like
a mere tool in hands that can wield it. But
this is during the earliest part of their
childhood. The scene, however, soon changes,
and circumstances soon put on a new
appearance. The son, the beloved and
respected child in the family, becomes a boy
of perhaps five or six years of age; the
daughter, the most neglected arid dis-
respected child in the family, becomes a girl
of perhaps the same age. Their marriage
is the point which then engrosses the parents’
attention.
15.	The manner and the principles on
WHICH THE MARRIAGES OP HlNDU
CHILDREN are formed.
The manner and the principles on which
the marriages of those children are formed,
shall now, in fulfilment of our promise, be
adverted to. When they arrive at an age fit
for their betrothment, the father’s anxieties
turn-about the acquisition of money, and the
careful mother exerts all her economical
'diligence in saving it. He resorts to every
means by which he may acquire money. He
engages himself to form intimacy with the
17130 Indian Domestic Reform.
great and wealthy men of the land. He
constantly waits on them, flatters them, and
uses every artifice or stratagem, by which he
may succeed in securing their favour, and
making them subservient to contribute to his
own selfish ends. His thoughts being wholly
bent on the pompous and splendid performance
of the great marriage ceremonies that are to
take place in his family, he thinks of nothing
but filling his coffers with cash from every
quarter he can. The ambitious mother, who
loves money, gold, silver, and nothing else,—
who is anxious to shine in rich and gaudy
trappings and to attend to several expensive
ceremonies,—who is extremely desirous to
attract attention and procure respect by a
display of her riches,—the ambitious mother,
I say, who takes a great pride in presiding
over all her domestic affairs, and glories in
the idea of her being the head of the whole
family which fears, obeys, and respects her,—
such an ambitious mother ever feels vexed
and discontented when her husband maintains
an humble establishment, brings no money
home, and is too poor to satisfy all her
aspirings after gold and silver. His own
wife gets, in that case, tired of him, the
family does not like him, and his kindredIndian Domestic Reform. 131
are even ashamed to own their connection
with him. Apprehensive of the odium of
his relations being cast on him, he engages
himself more zealously in his pursuit after
money. Be this as it may, having gathered
in a sufficient mass of money by whatever
means or stratagems he can, he is ready to
pour it out in every form and shape of luxury
on the great occasions of his children’s
marriages. The daughter is the first object
in view. At her proper age, that is, when
she is 5 or 6 years old, she is married to a
boy perhaps a year or two older than herself.*
And married how ? By consulting her own
choice in the adjustment of the matter ?
No! How then? By bringing the boy
into her presence, and allowing' them both
to remain in one another’s company so as to
acquaint themselves with each other’s views,
motives and abilities, and to be able to
judge whether there is a mutual harmony
and accordance between the tastes and
sentiments of both ? No ! They both are
yet too young for that ; the whole matter
is left to the disposal of the parents themselves,
*	Happily this practice is now growing out of fashion
altogether, and there are instances where girls are not
married before the age of 11,12, or sometimes 13 years.132 Indian Domestic Reform.
who settle the business either as it suits their
own convenience, or their present benefit,
without regard to their daughter’s future
interests. How then is she married ? By
taking into account the mental abilities and
moral qualities of the boy to whom she is to
be given, his attainments in learning, or
general competency in useful knowledge ?
No ! Money, large estate, large family,
preponderate far in their views. How then ?
It is by enquiring after the external
appearance of the boy, the proportion of his
limbs, and the neatness of his features,—
next, after the amount of riches possessed
by his parents, the extent of their property
and interest, and the nature of the family with
which he is connected,—next, by enquiring
after his father’s and mother’s disposition,
his sister’s habits, and temper, the influence
which she has over her parents and the
character of all the members of the family,
—and lastly, by sending the girl’s birth-
record to the boy’s house to be examined
there, and to assist both the parties to come
to a decisive conclusion as to the propriety
of the match.* Whether the arrangement,
*	This is true to this day.Indian Domestic Reform. 133
so far as it is got up, will succeed or not, is
another thing. But the results which follow
the custom by which the marriages of Hindu
children are formed, will clearly appear
from the following observations. The mar-
riage state is the most important event in
the history of one’s own domestic life. It
is that state upon which his happiness or
misery in this world in a great measure
depends. It is generally believed that high
and charming as are all the enjoyments of
the family fireside, marriage alone is best
calculated to give a higher tone to the sacred
endearments of the domestic circle. The
great, the grand, and the beautiful, may be
described by the beauties of language. But
who can describe love as it springs up fresh
in the bosoms of the newly made couple,—
that love which beams in the bright
intelligence of the eye, and which carries
an air of grace and loveliness in those
persons by whom its stroke is felt,—that
love which likes to dwell on the grace and
beauty of youth when they are already gone
by, and which outlives even the shrivelled
form of old age, the infirmities of our nature,
the wayward humours of an unsteady
health, and the temporary langour which134 Indian Domestic Reform,
checks our better purposes,—that love which
carries the animation of its early spring
through all the varied forms of old age, and
languishing health, and of tenderness and
care, which life requires in its passage from
youth to age. Such love, regulated by high
moral sentiments, raises us, if anything can
do so on earth, even to the pure and unalloy-
ed bliss of the angelic creation. In a family
where the hearts of a husband and wife are
united by such an affection as this, purity
and virtue burn like vestal fires which are
in the sacred keeping of both ; and mutual
tastes giving interest to their generous
pursuits, animation to their intercourse, and
variety to their daily conversation, render
their passage through life, beset though
it may be by many ills, gladsome and
happy* The world wears no threaten-
ing aspect; and the allurements of pleasure
and ambition lose their danger, when the
sacred halo of virtue, love and affection rest
over home, and when there is an angelic being
*	“ What is there in the vale of life
“ Half so delightful as a wife,
“ When friendship, love and peace combine
“ To stamp the marriage-bond divine ?”—Cowper.Indian Domestic Reform. 135
within, the radiance of whose countenance is
shed on everything around. Who that has
once tasted the sweet delights of such a
companionship, does not afterwards look back
on it with a longing heart ? But we can
scarcely hope to have such pictures realized
in the case we are considering, and under the
circumstances by which marriages in our
families are attended. Here the picture is
reversed. Here, as it is often found, the
tastes of both the husband and wife disagree,
the views and pursuits of both do not
harmonize, collisions of jarring interests ensue,
and turbulence and discontent are at hand
when that interference which the wise and
upright will never attempt, except for a
reasonable and consistent purpose, the selfish,
the ill tempered, and the unprincipled employ
only to gratify their own caprice and wayward
humours. And it is no wonder that these
things have often occurred and do occur when
marriages are formed with such views as we
have already described, views in regard to the
property, largeness of the family, and the
bodily qualities of the married parties, and
not in regard to their mental endowments,
their virtuous habits, their attainments in
general knowledge, and the degree of their136 Indian Domestic Reform.
moral worth, as also when the marriages are
formed without any reference to the
consequences that might arise from them,
without any regard being paid to the
agreement or disagreement between the
mutual tastes, views and pursuits of the parties,
and without their free choice and will being
consulted as to their mutual union. But the
evil is not only that they are married without
any determination of their own choice,
without consulting their own judgment and
will. The evil is not only, that they are
married under such circumstances, but that
they are married at a very early age, an age
when they are neither capable of thinking
for themselves well, nor of understanding the
nature of objects presented to their notice,
when they cannot entirely depend upon their
judgment as to the undertaking they must
enter upon, the pursuits they must be
engaged in, or the ways and principles which
they must follow in the world,—an age when
they are extremely unable to understand the
nature of their union, and the several duties
which from such a union must necessarily
arise,—an age in which the only escape
which they can have from the sensibility of
the injury, which by such a step is inflictedIndian Domestic Reform.
137
upon them, consists in their ignorance.
Alas, that a point of so serious importance
should not claim the regard and attention of
the natives, who by their laziness and apathy
are the destroyers of their own interests.
But we will see the mischiefs arising from
this system of early marriage more clearly
by and bye, as we progress on. The evil
appears to be greater on some reflection than
at first sight.
When the marriage contracts are formed
on the principles as explained above, it is
evident what results may follow from such.
But in addition to this, it is most lamentable
to think that enormous sums of money are
vainly spent away upon those occasions.#
Of the large expenses that are then made, the
long splendid processions that pass by our
streets in those days, the magnificent equipage
in which the young pair are accoutred, and
the heavy ornaments with which their bodies
are loaded, the great show of powder work
that is then exhibited to the view, and the
large number of Indian musicians who then
*	Many families have been reduced to a state of
poverty on account of these large expenses and have
had to sell away everything they possessed.
18138 Indian Domestic Reform,.
crowd our streets, echoing the air with their
discordant tunes as they pass along, can only
serve to give but an inadequate idea. This
is only the public exhibition of the thing. But
who that is an alien from native manners and
ways, can without difficulty conceive the
innumerable incidents that occur to render
other and larger expenses necessary, the
incredible sums of money lavishly expended
in grand shows of ornaments and clothing,
in splendid feasts and in other jovial
entertainments, in the extensive distribution
of plates, laden promiscuously with varieties
of dress, playthings, sweetmeats, fruits, and
in various other things which would merely
swell any paper into a tremendously bulky
volume. In such kinds of enterprizes, however
much almost all natives may feel themselves
interested, the people of Bombay especially
take the most prominent lead. And, indeed,
1 can, without fear of contradiction, say that
such exhibitions of grandeur are at few other
places marked with the same uniformity ot
fashion, and the same effect, not to say a word
about the great folly of natives in performing
early marriages of their children and the
lamentable effects arising therefrom, how touch
have we still to deplore, considering the veryIndian Domestic Reform.	139
poor and unhappy circumstances in which
many of our people are now-a-days plunged,
the immense expenses which they are on
those occasions obliged to incur even beyond
their incomes, and for a purpose too, from
which there is generally no good hope left of
better results to issue. Ere the marriage day
itself arrives, we have already seen what
extreme solicitude seizes the bosom of the
anxious mother, and what dangerous
enterprizes the industrious father is ever ready
to encounter. The large debts in which the
latter is at times obliged to run in order to
save his character, may be easily conceived by
any class of my readers from the state in
which the generality of natives are placed ;
and the extreme fondness which our women
display for shows and expenses may also be
easily judged of from the deplorable ignorance
under which they labor. Every Hindu who
has a family around him may well feel the
force of what I say, but the enlightened head
of our native families may have the solitary
lesson pressed to his heart that the education
of females is a great blessing. For half of the
expense that takes place in native families
arise3 from the ignorance of women ; tond I
fully believe that in consequence of their140 Indian Domestic Reform.
enlightenment the greater portion of misery
now entailed upon poor natives would be
effectually prevented.
I would request the serious attention of
my ^earned native friends to this point,
especially of those who may have become
fathers. Let them set a fair example when
it is high time for them to do so, and by their
own economical conduct, discourage the more
expensive pursuits of their semi-enlightened
brethren. If they have daughters or sons to
marry, let them act upon the principles set
forth in the preceding article ; let them not
yield to the fancies of their wives, their
mothers, or their sisters ; let them not heed
the suggestions of the priesthood ; but let
them walk erect amid the dull multitudes
which may surround them, and, with a
firmness of purpose trample down under
their feet the “ ill-bred worms” of old custom
which tease and annoy them. If you do so
my frijends to-day, India’s sun will shine on a
better) land to-morrow, and peace and
happiness would dwell, as it were, in
matrimonial friendship in the families of all
our native brethren. But the present system
of things here, so far as it goes, is also the
most lamentable of any that we know. TheIndian Domestic Reform.	141
generality of our native parents are so taken
up with the importance of making expenses,
on occasions of marriage ceremonies, that a
failure in this part of their duty, as they call
it, is regarded as an indication of the meanest
spirit, and a fairest acquittal in it, as a mark
of great magnanimity. During the wedding
days the expenses that occur in the family, it
is not in the power of language to give an
adequate idea of. Mutual interchange of
presents passes between the houses of the
bride and bridegroom, the new candidates for
the marriage state. And when emulation
operates, as it often does, an acting principle
between the opposite parties, the ceremony
reaches its utmost height, and the expenses
pass all bounds of credibility. Much money
is wasted, principally upon gold and silver.
Other articles are on such occasions objects of
minor importance. Dresses, ornaments,
sweetmeats, furniture and various other
things, which the fruitful imagination of the
native woman can invent, are distributed
between both the • parties in luxuriant
profusion. The parents of the bride, however,
have indeed little to do in comparison of
what the others ought to do. But it is the
bounden duty of the bridegroom’s parents to142 Indian Domestic Reform.
-----, --------------------------------—   ——1
confer every kind of rich gift on their boy’s
wife. In preparing large ornaments of • gold
and silver for the use of the girl, great
anxiety is evinced by the parents of the boy
for hip wife, or else her parents, but especially
her mother will take offence, and the people
at large will regard the omission on the part
of the boy’s parents as a token of effeminacy
or meanness of spirit, and not only as wholly
unbecoming of the community to which they
belong, but as highly derogatory to the
honor of the customs and usages which are
handed down from their ancestors, and which
they profess to hold in sacred reverence.
Applause and admiration follow the display
of an unbounded profusion of wealth on
ceremonies of this kind, and the author of
such ostentatious shows flutters with joy
amidst the acclamations of the people.
Elated with delight which the voice of the
admiring public affords, he looks with care-
less indifference on the shrunken appearance
of hi$ bags of money, and in his enthusiastic
ardour for acquiring the name of a rich great
manf, forgets to exercise his foresight as to
the several drawbacks, disappointments, and
discomforts to which he may, by such a* vain,
useless, and extravagant show of his money,Indian Domestic Reform. 148
be hereafter necessarily exposed. By the
fear of the world’s contempt the poorer
classes of the community too, who, in
ordinary circumstances of life cannot even
well afford to maintain their families in
decency are induced on such occasions, desi-
rous to keep up the common forms and shows
of the ceremony, even by running into large
debts far beyond their power ever after to
repay. Afraid of being rendered the subject
of laughter and joke in other families, the
poor man, notwithstanding the hazards which
may likely befall him, is tempted, m order to
satisfy the people, and please his own wife,
children, and relations, to observe, though in
a less showy manner, the several ceremonies
which custom enjoins, and thus to be some-
what able to maintain the dignity and honor
of his ancestors, and to countenance the
cunning policy of the priests who attend on
him in numbers for the sake of money.
Believing firmly that it is a duty imposed
upon them by nature, as well to marry their
children as to feed and clothe them, the rich
and the poor are alike occupied with serious
thoughts concerning the marriage of their
children as soon as they are born. From this
time they commence preparing some small144 Indian Domestic Reform.
articles of use and ornament for their
children, so as to unburden themselves from
half that load of troubles, expenses, and
anxieties which would befall them on a
sudden in a few days afterwards like an
oppressive weight, at the time of their
children’s marriages. They go on preparing
ornaments in this manner for their children
until the approach of the grand ceremony.
The day of ceremony at length arrives, and
the expenses attending it are surprisingly
great and enormous. What was hard earned,
what was obtained by the sweat of the brow,
what was accumulated by the labour of years,
is dissipated in one day in shows, grand
expenses unbounded, and pleasures unheard
of. The swollen bag shrinks into empty
nothing in a day. The coffers so long care-
fully filled with cash, now spontaneously
vomit forth their contents. The hand that
was ere long unweariedly employed in draw-
ing in money, is now as untiringly busied
with throwing out the 'same. As greedily
was it once sought after and accumulated, so
liberally is it now squandered and lavished
away on frivolous ceremonies. Merchants
come in with their goods of merchandise,
goldsmiths with their quantity of the yellowIndian Domestic Reform,
145
' metal with spectacles to their eyes, and scale-
balances in their hands, jewellers with their
admirable jewels, and almost all dealers in
different trades come out from every different
quarter of the town to have their respective
articles sold off in bargain at the house
where the great expensive ceremony is about
to take place. Every silver coin is then con-
verted into pieces of gold. The goldsmith
who is just at hand transforms the gold into
a variety of ornaments, such as anklets,#
bracelets, &e., which are intended to grace the
body of the future bride. Plates richly laden
with a profusion of different articles, are
distributed among friends and relations as
tokens of joy and delight. The restless and
ambitious Brahmans come from all quarters
of the town, city or village, as the case may
be, and run into the joyous home of marriage
festivity for the sake of money with an avidity
scarcely paralleled. Thus, and in a variety
of several other ways, is spent away on such
vain and frivolous ceremonies the money of
native parents, which, as acquired by great
labour, they ought to employ for some nobler
and better ends. Thus under an impression
*	Anklets are, as a rule, made of silver.
is146 Indian Domestic Reform.
that their chief duty consists as well in
marrying their children as in feeding them,
the parents in this country lavish away
profusely and unscrupulously all their money
on a class of unnecessary and trifling
ceremonies—that money which they acquired
by the sweat of their brow, the labour of their
hands and the length of years—that money in
acquiring which they had to contend with
many hardships, dangers, and difficulties, and
for the sake of which at times they willingly
submitted to the sacrifice of being separated
from their home, their ralations and their
friends, even by leagues of distance. No one
can escape from the necessity of making such
enormous expenses. The poor as well as the
rich are alike strictly enjoined by custom to
observe ceremonies so expensive yet so
unnecessary. The higher classes of the
community who may enjoy an income far
exceeding the utmost bounds of expenses
which attend such ceremonies, would perhaps
not be in the probability of injuring
themselves so much seriously by following on
these occasions an extravagant mode of
conduct as might be imagined. But what
soul thinks of the fate of the poor Who enjoy
no real certainty even of the. means of dailyIndian Domestic Reform. 14 7
subsistence, and who spend almost the whole
term of their existence in amassing that money
which is so easily dissipated and lost in thè
marriage of a single child, and the numberless
ceremonies by which it is attended. Instances
are not wanting of many poor families of our
country being ruined by a fatal observance of
such unnecessary, useless, and expensive
ceremonies. Those families which ere-while
appeared to be placed amidst fulness of
domestic comforts and enjoyments are soon
afterwards found going into ruin. The poor
old man who but yesterday was the father of
several healthy children, and the head of a
flourishing family is seen arraigned to-day
before the city judge by his creditors for
some large sums, which he borrowed of them
likely for such purposes, and which he could
not afterwards repay. The sentence passes,
and the fetters are rivetted to his neck or
hands or feet. He is put into prison for
some long term or other, and is condemned
there without hope of exciting pity or
obtaining redress, to endure all the hardships
and torments of a tedious confinement.
The wretched mother is left alone in her
miserable abode at the head of her few
children. She now accepts some low mecha-148 Indian Domestic Reform.
nical work in the neighbourhood, and
subsists herself and maintains her family by
the scanty pittance which she earns. The
children are now left to themselves without
a father to attend to their education or to
train them up in the ways of goodness and
holiness. Think of the condition of the
married child itself, whose marriage probably
subjected the father to those enormous
expenses which carried him to the bar of the
city court, and entailed upon him at last
the miseries of a solitary prison. If the
child be a girl, she might look for dependence
upon her husband. But if it be a boy, he
is then placed in a situation of great trial.
Not to speak of the present domestic
misfortunes to which he might be exposed,
he is left amid circumstances which preclude
the possibility of his enjoying those resources
of mental improvement which he has none
so much interested in his welfare as to
provide. Being too young, he is yet
insensible of the responsibility which his
late union enjoins upon him. He is ignorant
of the duties he owes to his wife as well as
to those by whom he is surrounded : and
deprived for some time of the assistance of
so valuable a guide as a father, probablyIndian Domestic Reform, 149
during his earlier days which is the best
season of improvement, he is removed to a
distance from every possibility..of his being
thoroughly prepared for an intelligenc per-
formance of those duties. 0! How in
such cases are the early marriages of children,
and the enormous expenses which usually
attend them, detrimental both to the
happiness of the family itself and the interests
of the children. Now, to what advantage,
we may ask, does an expense so enormous,
and made for such purposes, turn at last ?
Does it lead to produce any favourable result
which without it could not possibly be
brought about ? Does it do anything more
than merely procure a bare name to the
party who expend money so profusely ?
Does it do anything beyond leading to
procure them the reputation of possessing
large sums of money, and the title to being
called the wealthy men of the world ?
Is the marriage of children rendered more
productive of beneficent results by expending
money so profusely upon it than otherwise ?
No ! Such enormous expenses by which the
marriages of Hindu children are accom-
panied, are dictated by no higher motives
than those which superstition and ignorance150 Indian Domestic Reform.
alone can supply. Rather than lavishing
money on ceremonies which are so vain and
frivolous, and which, in the end, produce
such unhappy results, how far advantageous
would it be to the public at large, if they
would employ the same money in the erec-
tion of hospitals, schools, &c., and in the
establishment of several other institutions
calculated to promote the common good !
Certainly we hope the adoption of such a
method of procedure would bring about a
happier and better change in the aspect of
things, and the renunciation of prejudices and
customs which lead to such enormous
expenses and consequently to the ruin of
native families, would produce results highly
interesting and beautiful.
16.	The effects produced from early
MARRIAGES.
Having so far enlarged on the expenses
attending the marriage ceremonies of the
Hindus, I shall now proceed to point out the
effects which early marriages are calculated
to produce, inasmuch as they affect the
interests of the parties concerned. (1.)
Early marriage is calculated to render boys
who are thus married indifferent to their ownIndian Domestic Reform. 151
education, the children rather being/ fully
assured in consequence of their being married
so early, that their parents themselves have
put within their power the means of
gratifying their natural passions, and by
endowing them with valuable ornaments and
some portions of money, have conferred on
them the ability of supporting the family
which might arise from their conjugal union,
are apt to become not only sluggish but
grievously indifferent to their own education.
There are few amongst the natives who desire
knowledge for its own sake. They seek it
that they may obtain a just title to be
recommended first to a good match, and
afterwards to a good situation. They do not
desire knowledge that their views may be
enlarged and enlightened by it, but that they
may get a good wife belonging to some
respectable family, that they may be qualified
for the common business of life, and that they
may be better enabled than the ignorant and
unknowing, to procure money so as to live
decently and honorably among their own
family and the different relations and friends
with whom they may be connected. With
these objects before their view, most of them
set themselves on in the career of learning ;152 Indian Domestic Reform.
and it may therefore be justly concluded that
so soon as these objects are removed from
their view, just as soon will their anxiety and
zeal f6r learning cease. Whatever degree of
zeal and diligence they may evince in the
pursuit after learning, all that is done, is with
an especial reference to those remote objects.
When therefore those objects are placed
within their reach altogether, when their
parents get them married so early without
any labour or anxiety on their own part, the
necessity of self-education does not press itself
home so forcibly to their minds. They then
think little of cultivating their understanding,
and enlightening their mental faculties. They
then care little whether they are learned or
unlearned ; for, what they needed learning
for, has already been placed within their
reach, without any expense on their own part,
and whatever they may now happen to turn
out, whether good or bad, they can enjoy its
possession so long as frail humanity permits.
They have now no prospects to gain, no fear
to lose, having no important object to engross
their'attention, they indulge themselves in
every trifling pursuit with all the wantonness
of an unrestrained liberty. The chief
circumstance, therefore, which opposes aIndian Domestic Reform,. 153
formidable obstacle to their progress in
learning consists in the removal of these
objects, caused by their being married at an
earlier age, when besides, their minds are the
least tainted by worldly prejudices, and when
therefore they are the most favourably
situated to receive the blessing of education.
Their coldness and indifference to the
cultivation of their minds are not only to be
accounted for by their being married at such
an early age, but at an age when they are
not in a fit condition to be duly able to
appreciate the feelings displayed by their
parents in getting them married at such an
enormous expense of their money, labour and
influence, and to feel the necessity of rewarding
the labour and exertions which their own
marriage has cost their parents, by a cultiva-
tion of good disposition, and an acquirement
of superior abilities, which their parents can
only expect from them as suitable returns.
Surely the extremely young age at which
they are married would not warrant any such
expectation on our part. They are yet too
young and ignorant to think in this manner.
Nothing can induce them to direct their
attention to the acquisition of useful know-
ledge without being prevailed upon by the
20154 Indian Domestic Reform.
persuasion of some one superior to them ; and
even when they grow up, they still cling to
that lethargy which they have long since
hugged, and which the prospect of future
marriage could alone in their case have
sufficed to shake off. But in consequence of
their being early married, the boys feel less
disposed to learn than they otherwise would
have been. They give up all thoughts of
study. They live idle. They rest contented
with the boon their parents conferred upon
them, that of having them married. Their
parents are consequently put to the two-fold
trouble and expense of getting them educated
in addition to their having so profusely
lavished their thousands and tens of thou-
sands on their marriages simply. Their
idleness and their total indifference towards
their education beget new cares and anxieties
in their parents’ bosoms. Other cares and
anxieties arise. Other objects rivet the atten-
tion of the parents—-namely, their sons' wives,
whose welfare or misery depends wholly upon
the circumstances in which their husbands
may be situated. The parents are taken up
with the consideration of what might be the
state of the poor girls in case their sons grow
up in ignorance and error. Hence we mayIndian Domestic Reform, 155
come to the conclusion, that the marriages of
children at an early age, attended as they
generally are by very enormous expenses,
instead of doing any good, prove the source
of much evil. Thus we see that the early
marriages of children, so far from relieving
their parents from half the portion of that
heavy load of perplexities and anxieties which
prey upon their spirits, only tend to
aggravate their misery, and increase the
number of their cares and regrets. Thus instead
of any material benefits resulting to parents
from the enormous sums which they expended
on the marriage of their children beyond the
impression left upon the multitude of their
great riches, they are only repaid in the
bargain, as it were, by the wanton indul-
gences of their children, their careless
indifference to the cultivation of their own
minds, and their extreme avidity for the
pleasures and fashions of the world. How
much would the peace of the parents be
secured, and the sources of unnecessary
vexations and disappointments removed and
the cause of education promoted, if they
wisely deferred the marriage of their children
to a period when they themselves shall have
grown big and become well experienced by156 Indian Domestic Reform.
an acquaintance with the different scenes and
chances of the world, when their judgment
shall have been matured and enlightened,
and when their pursuits shall have been
properly directed, their objects settled, and
their views enlarged.
(2.) Early marriage is calculated to throw
obstacles in the way of those who may be
willing to learn, by multiplying too soon the
cares of the family.
Boys are married here, as we have already
said, at an age which is the most favourable
season for their improvement. From the
circumstance of their being married so early,
it often happens that while they career on in
their pursuit of knowledge they are in fact
gradually approaching nearer to days of cares
and anxieties. Their wives grow up and
soon arrive at womanhood, carrying along
with them a train of prejudices and
associations to which they were accustomed
in their infancy. Hitherto, the young
husband was engaged in the quite pursuits of
literature and science. Hitherto, the young
student was immured in his closet, poring
and dreaming over his ponderous volumes,
undisturbed by any cares, but those* of
outstripping his fellows in the race of learning.Indian Domestic Reform,
157
But soon, the silence of his closet is broken
by the buzz of relations, the noise of tom-
toms, and the sounds of music. Every day
now presents fresh subjects for observation
and notice in the family. He is called in to
the performance of certain ceremonies. His
wife becomes a full grown being, looking
upon him for her support, for the satisfaction,
of her desires, a,nd the supply of her wants.
She therefore becomes the object of his
anxieties and cares.^ His mind is insensibly
diverted away from those objects and pursuits
upon which it was so long firmly intent. He
is gradually led to feel an interest in
everything relating to his wife. New duties
and new ceremonies daily press upon the
notice of the young husband. He is now
drawn within a circle of household affairs and
ceremonies where he must move his round in
common with others. The young student is
thus frequently interrupted in his pursuits.
His attention is occasionally drawn away by
numerous calls of family concerns, by some
trifling ceremonies to be engaged in, some
petty cares to be attended to, some "small
business to be settled, some frivolous disputes'
to be adjusted, some bargains to be made,
some expenses to be performed, some presents158 Indian Domestic Reform,
to be sent or exchanged, some small requests
of the wife to be listened to and complied with.
Should his parents be living, should they be
so favourably circumstanced as to enable
them to encourage his education, and to
prevent his being under the necessity of being
too soon employed, and getting his livelihood
through the labour of his own hands, and
should the family consist of members living
in mutual amity and friendship, haying no
disposition to quarrel,—he is then not so
likely to be stopped in the career of his
studies as otherwise, by the several duties
which he might have to observe as arising
from his connection with his wife, or by the
oft-repeated necessities by which he might
be obliged, on her account, to submit to
certain expenses of an intolerable nature.
But if, on the other hand, as instanced in a
majority of cases, the parents be poor, and
the family be constantly agitated by domestic
feuds and quarrels, he suffers a grievous pause
in his studies. The demands of his wife grow
daily more importunate, and his means not
allowing him to comply with them, he seeks
for some employment or some situation which
might confer on him the power of satisfying
all her desires and gratifying all her tastes.Indian Domestic Reform. 159
He must make for her new ornaments of gold
and silver, buy for her new clothes, and place
everything within her reach which her wants
might demand or her fancy might dictate.
Brought up in habits of idleness, accustomed
from her infancy to an indulgence of all her
foolish whims, and ignorant of every subject
which leads to strengthen the understanding
and counteract the influence of petty cares,
the wife becomes, in fact, an intolerable burden
to her husband. Ambitious of decking her
body with glittering ornaments and dressing
it in rich and gaudy apparel, she becomes the
cause of heaping upon her poor studious
husband a multitude of vain cares, and
involving him in a thousand intricate and
perplexing expenses. He then strongly feels
the necessity of renouncing his studies, and
enters upon those pursuits from which he can
expect to derive no new accessions to his
knowledge, but can draw some pecuniary
resources for the gratification of his wife’s
ambition. H© is obliged to leave his school
where he can see no prospect of his being
rendered able to provide for his wife and
supply her diverse wants. He goes to some
office in his town, and there works like a
sordid worldly drudge whose thoughts are160 Indian Domestic Reform,
wholly bent upon gaining money. The
importunities of his wife at home, the
necessity of complying with all her wishes as
a being dependent upon him alone, and the
fear of shame consequent upon a display of
his want of power ip satisfying them, act as
powerful stimuli in his pursuit after money.
There are not a few native youths, however,
who are thus drawn away from their
intellectual pursuits, and obliged to engage in
those that are purely worldly, because of their
wives whose demands it were otherwise
impossible for them to satisfy. But the evil
does not stop here. It extends itself gradu-
ally to that long train of cares and anxieties
which the increase of family brings along with
it. The husband, young though he be,
becomes, in a short time, the father of a few
children, and gets himself surrounded by a
little family arising out of himself. New
scenes now open to his view. He is now loaded
with new cares, new difficulties, new anxieties,
and new duties. And the meagre education
which he received at school, and which he
was obliged to leave off on account of his
wife, is infinitely far short of the requisite
ability to discharge those duties which, both
as a husband and father, he must observe inIndian Domestic Befornt. 161
--------;-----------------------------------------©•
relation to his wife and children. Unless
therefore he has some one to direct or to assist
him, or unless he enjoys a moderate income;
he can have worse hopes of coming oif better
in the world. He is involved in difficulties
and embarrassments which for want of method,
become the more intricate and perplexing,
and with which he must now without inter-
mission continue to struggle. He has brought
beings into existence without the requisite
ability to support them. He must therefore
be in good speed to procure means for their
support, and the proper supply of their own
and their mother’s wants. He then looks
about for some employment which would
relieve him from his present inconvenience.
But his meagre education fails him ; his age
is too young ; his experience is premature.
Yet he is a husband, a father, and the head
of a little family. Unavoidable difficulties
press upon him on all sides from which he
can hardly get soon clear off. He is discon-
tented and perplexed ! He knows not what
to do ! He no longer looks upon his early
marriage as a boon conferred upon him by
his parents, but rather as a curse laid for him
instore. Hence marriage unions formed in
Hindu families so early, instead of promoting
21162 Indian Domestic Reform.
mutual enjoyment, lead to burden them with
many unnecessary cares without compensa-
ting for it by an accession of happiness and
comfort to the parties themselves.
(3.) Early marriage tends to prevent a
Hindu from travelling to distant countries,
and thereby sets a most formidable bar to the
improvement of his knowledge. It is admitted
by all, that travelling is one of the best
means by which knowledge is promoted ;
and truly, so it is. Combined with observa-
tion and reflection, it proves the means of
vast improvement of the human mind, by
presenting before it several objects for the
exercise of its various faculties. It enlarges
the sphere of man’s observation, and increases
the amount of his general information. It
extends the sympathies of his nature by
bringing him as it were into an intimate
intercourse with new people, new objects, and
new scenes, and by removing from his mind
all those prejudices which he may have
imbibed from a long and habitual intercourse
with people by whom he may have from his
infancy been surrounded. Thus travelling
leads to produce a great change for the better
in his moral and intellectual character. • But
an .institution so hateful as that of earlyIndian Domestic Reform. !163
.----------------------------------:----------;---c
marriage among the Hindus is a bar to- all
the improvement that they can expect to
derive from travelling. If we " carefully
examine the state of things as they exist in
this country, we shall find that of all those
prejudices which are generally held forth as
presenting most formidable obstacles to
travelling, none can really be said' to have
greater influence over the Hindus in that
respect. It is not religion which renders
travelling impracticable. (? Ed.) It is not
the fear of losing caste which prevents a
Hindu from travelling to distant countries.
(? Ed.) It is not the law of the country,
it is not the prejudices of home, it is not the
‘old custom’of ages—it is neither of these
things that comes in the way of going to
distant and foreign countries. What then is
it ? Why ! It is early marriage itself. It is
this, and this alone, which operates as a
formidable check on his inclination to travel,
and prevents all possibility of his enjoying
those advantages which travelling is calculated
to afford. What difficulties then has a married
youth to contend with in carrying his
intentions about travelling into execution, will
appear from the following observations :—
This early marriage involves him sooner164 Indian Domestic Reform.
than otherwise in certain connections which
exercise a considerable influence over him.
It draws him earlier into a vortex of worldly
cares which become every day more intricate
and numerous, and from which he cannot in
the whole of his life easily extricate himself.
This marriage multiplies his relations, and
thereby increases his difficulty of travelling
far into distant countries. He becomes the
husband of a wife, and is bound to discharge
all those duties which his marriage enjoins
Upon him. This separation therefore from
her, which might be caused by his going to
distant places, is rendered impossible. From
a son he becomes a son-in-law, and engages
the affections and anxieties of the parents of
the girl to whom he is married, and whose
interests therefore wholly depend upon him
as her husband. Being involved in such
connections he has, as a matter of course, to
contend with several difficulties which other«
wise he might have avoided. Of all those
difficulties, however, be they what they may,
his connection with his wife and her relations
is the most formidable. This connection
with his friends and with his own parents is
indeed a great difficulty in his way, but that
he may be able successfully to get over. ByIndian Domestic Reform. 165
persuasion or remonstrance lie may prevail
over them, so far as to prevent their
presenting any great hindrance to his
inclinations. But he cannot with so much
ease get over his connection with his own
wife whose destinies wholly rest upon him,
and from whom therefore he cannot be
removed far off, without doing injury to the
interests of her, who is the bride affianced of
his future career. All her worldly happiness
depends upon him. Without him her
existence is a mere blank in creation She
can enjoy all the rights and privileges of her
sex only during the life of her husband, and
after his death she loses her claims to a
greater part of them. Her welfare then
necessarily arises as it were from that of her
husband. When such is the state of her
dependence upon her husband, he cannot leave
her though for his own advantage, and remove
himself to a distance, which might preclude
all possibility of communication between
them both. The parents of his wife are much
interested in his welfare as the husband of
their own daughter, and would therefore
be the first persons to oppose him in his
views, and in the accomplishment of every
one of his designs which might prove fatal to166.
Indian Domestic Reform.
the interests of their daughter. They would
never allow him to do that , which, though
advantageous to himself, would tend to affect
in some degree the welfare of his wife.
They would, therefore, exert all their power
and influence in preventing him from going
to a distance where he cannot take along
with him his wife, and consequently his being
separated from her, whose whole good is, as
it were, altogether embodied in her husband’s
welfare. Imagine for a moment that a
married youth, enlightened by sound educa-
tion, and directed by motives of benevolence,
is desirous of travelling into different
countries, and of having the opportunity to
reduce all the knowledge which he acquired
from books to its practical applications.
Imagine that no religious prejudice comes in
his way, that his friends, kindred, and; even
his own parents, give their consent and
express their approbation of his noble inten-
tions, that he is furnished with all the
requisites for the purposes of travelling, and
with all that may be needful to the best
furtherance of his views. Now he would
seem to want nothing for setting out on his
expedition. Nothing now might seem likely
to prevent the accomplishment of his object.Indian Domestic Reform. 16 7
But, indeed, the greatest and most perplex-
ing difficulty is yet to be removed. It is
really a formidable difficulty. No sooner do
his father and mother-in-law hear of his
intentions, than they become astonished
artd change colour. Holding the life of
their son-in-law dearer than that of their
own daughter who is married to him,
they feel it their interest and duty to use all
their entreaties, their power and their
influence, to prevent him from entering upon
his intended enterprize. They would rather
have their own daughter dead than suffer her
husband to go away from her. All the
power of his persuasion and remonstrance
which did well with his parents and his other
relations, loses its effect amid the urgent
importunities of the father-in-law, and the
fervent appeals of the mother-in-law. The
married youth feels himself already
overpowered by the entreaties and
remonstrances of his wife’s relations. He
is naturally thrown into a dilemma as to
what he should now do. He is at last
prevailed upon without the power of
resistance to stay at home, and give up all
thoughts of going abroad. If, notwithstanding
all the affecting appeals of his wife’s parents168 Indian Domestic Reform.
and notwithstanding his consciousness of the
dependent state of his wife upon him, he
leaves her and all her relations, who can
conceive the misery of the poor girl ? What
then is she to do ? To whom ought she to
look for her future maintenance and support ?
How is she to spend the future days of her
life ? How, when she becomes a full grown
being, how then can she go on in the world ?
Upon whom can she depend for her food and
clothing and all kind of happiness, when he
is separated from her ; and her old parents
go down to their graves ? Such questions
would naturally suggest themselves to the
heart of the husband, and they are suffi-
ciently affecting to weigh him down from his
purpose. How then can the husband, de-
sirous of going abroad, avoid this perplexing
dilemma ? By taking his wife along with
him, and journeying with her through several
distant countries ? No ! That he can hardly
do. It would subject him to an enormous
expenditure of money which the majority of
poor Hindus cannot well afford. The life of
a woman, besides, whose character is not
marked by that energy and vigour which
distinguish the male sex only, is not well
fitted for travelling either on sea or land, andIndian Domestic Meform. •	160
visiting distant and inhospitable climes. True
examples can be produced to prove the
contrary. But the ignorance of native
females, combined with the prejudices and
superstitious notions which they imbibe at
home, disqualifies them entirely for travel-
ling ; and, moreover, the peculiar circum-
stances in which they are generally placed in
this country render their going abroad almost
impracticable. Under these disheartening
circumstances, for the husband to leave his
wife, who is a creature so wholly dependent
upon him, whose welfare and misery are, as
it were so closely entwined with his own, for
him, I say, to separate himself from a being
who is the bride affianced of his future career,
it is not only incompatible with the relation
in which he stands to her and her parents
but highly repugnant to the feelings of love
and affection which his marriage with her
might have involved. Thus then, the young
husband, or the married youth, as we have
termed him, though he may not yet be
burdened with the cares of a family or
anything of the kind, is prohibited from
travelling and enjoying all the benefits
derivable from it by the single circumstance
of the peculiar relations which the marriage
22170 Indian Domestic Reform.
state involves. He is. thus obliged to lay
aside all his intentions of going abroad. So
much for the difficulty which lies in the way
of the husband alone !
But the difficulty of travelling to distant
countries is rendered still greater by the cares
and anxieties which a family brings along
with it. Native boys, from being married at
a very early age, soon become the fathers of
a few children, and are consequently drawn
into a vortex of new cares and perplexities
from which they cannot without difficulty
get clear. All the cares therefore which
attend a family must now detain the father.
The several difficulties and dangers to which
his wife and children might be exposed by
his being separated from them, render his
stay at home absolutely necessary. For,
who can discharge all the duties of the family
without him ? His wife is, of course, under
present circumstances, scarcely able to
procure the means of subsistence for herself
and the rest of her family. It is scarcely
necessary to advert to the manifold distresses
and perplexities to which native families
here are subjected from the want of a proper
person to guide and regulate them. Thus
the difficulty which would be experienced inIndian Domestic Reform.	171
carrying on the common business of his
family during his absence, and the fear of
its being exposed to several disasters and
accidents, when it shall be thus left alone,
strongly enforce the necessity of his staying
at home. But there is yet one other view
of the subject which imperatively demands
his stay at home when he has got a family
of his own around him. He has still higher
and more important duties to perform in
reference to his family than those above
alluded to. Those are in relation to this
world, and these in relation to the eternal
world. He has only to look around him
and reflect seriously in order to feel the
importance of those higher duties which he
owes to his family. He shall find himself
surrounded by beings who have the strongest
claims upon his regard, beings who depend
upon him, not only to be clothed and fed,
but to be cared for, especially as regards
their relation to an eternal world. If deserted
by him, who is to guide their feet into the
ways of peace, of goodness, of virtue, and of
righteousness ? There is, indeed, a very
valuable charge laid to his care, which he
cannot neglect entirely without violating his
most important duty. He is bound to his172 Indian Domestic Reform.
wife, his children, and all his family by ties
which it is sin for him to break asunder. He
is bound to stay with them, and never to go
abroad where he pleases. Such, reader, are
the obstacles which early marriage presents
to his going abroad. Such are the cares and
anxieties in which early marriage so soon
involves a Hindu. Indeed, single life, which
is not burdened with the cares of a family,
is best adapted to the accomplishment of an
object so desirable as that, of travelling,
and best calculated to promote the improve-
ment of the mind. It aifords the best
opportunity for any man to prosecute his
studies with perseverance and even with
success. But when he is surrounded with
several other objects which demand an
exclusive share of his attention and care,
all his plans of improvement, however
founded on motives of benevolence, are apt
to be prematurely ended and grievously
frustrated. We do not however mean to
insinuate that celibacy is preferable. No;
by no means. But what we mean to urge
on the attention of the reader is, that
marriages, instead of taking place so early,
should be delayed to a later period of life, so
that the youth may have ample opportunitiesIndian Domestic Reform. 173
of improving his knowledge without being
interrupted by those unseasonable cares
and anxieties which marriage begets and
family increases.
(4.) Early marriage is the source of much
of that unhappiness which dissimilarity of
taste, or disagreement in views, or difference
of temper, is calculated to produce. The
marriages of children here, are, as we have
said, founded upon no free choice or will of
the parties who enter the marriage state.
Parents alone settle as well as perform the
marriages of their children. On what
principle and manner they do so, we have
explained under that particular head. The
young age of the parties themselves, whose
judgment is not yet informed, nor whose
understanding is yet enlightened, does not of
course admit of their free choice and will
being consulted in the arrangement of matters
relating to their marriage. They are,
therefore, wholly dependent in this as in
other things upon their parents, whose
judgment is well displayed in the consequences
that issued from their union. And indeed
the consequences are greatly deplorable.
After the marriages of children are formed,
after the general afflux of oriental luxury174 Indian Domestic Reform.
and magnificence has passed on the sides of
both parties, after halls have resounded with
the chorus of Indian music, after jests and
laughter have diffused animation throughout
the whole family circle, and after the whole
routine of ceremonies has been gone through,
the husband and the wife mutually separate
from one another. A sudden stillness falls
in, and custom throws between the newly
formed pair a line of separation so broad
that, those faces, which just lately glanced
with joy, see one another only when a
succession of years, months, and days has
rolled over. But those germs of love, which
sprung up in their bosoms on this occasion,
wither and die away for want of that nourish-
ment which can only be supplied by mutual
intercourse, mutual converse, and mutual com-
munion of sentiment and feeling. The girl lives
so long under her paternal roof, always busy
with the trifles of the kitchen. The boy lives
so long with his own parents, busy in prepa-
ring to follow the profession of his forefathers.
One looks into the kitchen. The other looks
abroad into the world. Both are engaged
in different pursuits, under different circum-
stances and in different societies. That
portion of life when their minds are yet theIndian Domestic Reform.
175
least biased by prejudices, and when the firm-
est kind of attachment is yet capable of being
formed between them both, is spent away in
a state of mutual separation from one another,
and in different situations, without the
opportunity of enjoying the mutual inter-
change of their ideas, and determining their
mutual choice of the mode of life they both
should follow. But though they were to
live together, and to enjoy the benefit of
mutual intercourse, their age is yet scarcely
fit for the accomplishment of any such
object. They are yet too young and unable
to form a correct judgment as to the mode of
life they should pursue, and to determine
their choice rightly about things by which
they are surrounded. Unable, from the
circumstance of their extremely young age,
to exercise their judgment in matters
presented to their notice, all the different
scenes and circumstances by which they
may, from the earliest years of their child-
hood be surrounded at their respective
abodes, make deep impression on their minds,
and become at last, as they grow up, the
principles of their reasoning and conduct in
life. The consequence of all this is, that
when after so long a separation, they meet176 Indian Domestic Reform.
together, the incoherence of their mutual
views and tastes becomes evident in the
mutual discontent and unhappiness which
follow Mutual disagreement in their views
and pursuits ensues. One does not like the
other. What pleases the one displeases the
other, the objects which occupy the attention
of the one are always different from those
which occupy the attention of the other.
Their tastes disagree, their pursuits differ,
their views are opposed, their interests jar.
If one is engaged in the higher pursuits of
science, the other is busy with the trifles of
the kitchen. If one takes delight in the
exercises of the intellect, the other is pleased
with some meaner kind of occupation. Each
despises or scorns the employments of the
other ; or, at least, both do not derive
pleasure or interest from the same kind of
pursuit. The consequence of this inequality
between both as to their pursuits and tastes,
proves very injurious to the happiness which
the marriage state is calculated to produce.
Supposing, for instance, what is often the
case, that the husband has received a sound
education, and enjoys the result of real
instruction, and the wife is utterly ignorant
of the very first elements of learning, thenIndian Domestic Reform. 177
they both cannot derive from their mutual
society that amount of pleasure and happi-
ness which an equal degree of mental
cultivation would have proved capable of
affording. A husband of enlarged views
cannot possibly draw solid enjoyment from
the companionship of a narrow-minded
creature, who cannot appreciate even the
value of things which engage his attention.
When the wife is altogether incapable of
sympathizing with her husband in his views,
and of appreciating the worth of his
attainments, he cannot enjoy that blessing
which marriage is otherwise calculated to
afford. And such unhappy results always
follow when marriages take place early, at an
age when both the parties are incapable of
judging for themselves, or of finding out the
right views and tastes of one another.
. Again, in cases of such early marriages,
the husband and the wife may not only differ
with respect to their mutual pursuits and
views ; they may have also very different
dispositions. The effects of this difference
are greatly deplorable. Perhaps the husband
may happen to be an unprincipled and violent
man. He then exercises over his wife an
absolute authority, the limits of which can
23178 Indian Domestic Reform.
scarcely be defined. He tyrannizes over her
in every way, and inflicts upon her the severest
tortures. The slightest mistake of his wife
clouds his brows and sours his temper. Her
condition indeed in that case is so wretched,
that the humblest slave that trembles under
the lashes of his master is far better treated.
She spends her days and nights in the most
unhappy manner. Her mind rests with
melancholy broodings over the several
instances of harshness she daily receives from
her husband. Her pillow is wet by many a
nightly tear, and her time wasted in many
sobs and sighs during the day. Mutual
hatred and envy prevail, and their marriage
state, so far from producing any real happiness,
presents to the view a perpetual scene of
animosity and brawl. They both dislike one
another. A smile is never seen on their
cheeks. Anger always furrows their brows.
Mutual discontent and hatred are then given
vent to in those abusive languages with which
they wantonly charge one another; those
horrid imprecations in which they speak of
the conduct of their parents in forming their
union; those severe beatings which the
violent and unprincipled husband inflicts’upon
his wife; those tears of sorrow and repentanceIndian Domestic Reform, 179
which frequently bathe her eyes; those
breaches of fidelity which they were bound
to observe towards each other ; and those
mutual separations which not unfrequently
take place between them. This, reader, is no
fanciful picture i It is attested by fact and
experience. As an effect of this difference of
tastes and disposition between the parties,
occasioned by their early marriage, divorces
take place, and second and third marriages
are necessarily resorted to. The consequence
of this we will treat under a separate head
and therefore we proceed as follows:—
(5.) Early ma/rriage having produced, as
has been shown, mutual discontent between the
parties, leads at last to their mutual separation.
Vexed and discontented with the present
wife, the husband divorces her and turns his
thoughts and affections to another object.*
He performs his second marriage with the
greatest pomp and splendour. He deprives
his former wife of all her ornaments which
were given once to her by himself, or, which
is the same thing, by his parents, and which
*	There are not a few instances in which the Brahmans
and Prabhus have, from the cause above alluded to, been
obliged to leave their first wives and marry again.180 Indian Domestic Reform.
he has the right of taking back from her
when he pleases. He exposes her in every
way he chooses, and tries every argument in
his pewer to convince the people of his
innocence, who may be inclined to put an
unfavourable construction on his conduct.
Thus having vindicated himself in the sight
of the people, and married another girl as he
wished, he feels somewhat contented, at the
time resting assured that his future days now
would pass better and more happily. With
an apparently warm, but really assumed,
fondness does he embrace and kiss his second
wife on the one hand, while on the other,
with bitter jealousy and hatred, he spurns
away from his presence the poor creature to
whom he was first wedded. Those relations
of the first wife, who used first to caress him
with all marks of fond attention and regard,
now look upon him in the light of an enemy,
frown at the very recollection of his name,
and contemplate his conduct like that of a
wild brute. Party feelings are excited,
disputes set on foot, each other’s evil is sought
after, hatred and animosity reign in the
families. The poor relations of the despised
and neglected girl, feeling themselves power-!
less, weep and bewail the fate of the unhappyIndian Domestic Reform*	181
..... * . • *
poor and nearly divorced girl, and at last
spend their wrath upon her, and give vent
to all their excited feelings in severe expres-
sions against her alone. Married then, as
he now is, it is difficult to say whether or
not, under present circumstances, the husband
would be subjected to the same troubles
and vexations to which he was exposed in
the society of his first wife, unless from the
fear of bringing down the same disgrace and
mischance which befell her fellow, the
second should prudently forbear crossing
him in his views and inclinations. She
should take care to agree with him in all
his views, and patiently submit to every
species of tyranny, which her lord may choose
to exercise on her. When the proper season
arrives, the new wife goes to her husband’s
house. There, perhaps still, she sees her
rival, and burns with jealousy towards her.
But everything there is her’s. She usurps
the place of the former wife of her husband,
quarrels with her, and finds out every subject
to tease and vex her. She now wears all the
ornaments of which the former wife was
stripped off naked. She dresses herself in
all those rich clothes which had first covered
the body of her rival. She gains an182 Indian Domestic Reform.
important station in her husband’s family, an
uppermost place in her husband’s affections.
Interesting scenes open to her view, and
important duties press upon her notice, and
all this to the disadvantage of her rival.
Now the poor degraded first wife is compelled
to seek refuge from the violence of her
husband and jealousy of her rival under the
roof of her parents. If they be living, she is
received into their arms. And what is her
state there ? They outstretch their protec-
tion towards her as they do towards every
other member of their family. They watch
over her with peculiar tenderness and care, as
a being rejected by her husband, and removed
far off from all the sources of conjugal
felicity. But all the rest of the people regard
their conduct with suspicion and hatred.
She there spends her days most miserably
in a dark solitary chamber, having no fixed
object in view, no particular avocation to be
«engaged in, in fact, having nothing else to
do but to eat and sleep. All her relations,
except a few of the most dear and her parents,
despise her as unworthy of being seen and
talked to. If disease attacks her, and lays
her prostrate on the bed of sickness, she is
doomed to suffer its horrors without anyIndian Domestic Reform. 183
kind of comfort or relief. Even her nearest
relations refuse to administer to her any
necessary medical aid, thereby seeking to
get rid of one on whose account they are
exposed to public odium. The silence of
her sick chamber is broken only by the rude
voice of a few strangers to whom she was
probably a friend, or with whom she was
merely acquainted. She is nearly reduced
to a state next that of a real widow. If she
were now to die, difficulty is felt in finding
people to attend on her remains. It is a
eustom in reference to all Hindu women,
that on their death the relations of their
husbands are entitled to attend to their fune-
ral obsequies, and to perform all the other
ceremonies connected with them. But the
relations of her husband are utterly pre-
judiced against her, they refuse to wait on
her remains, much more so her husband who
had divorced her. Such is the condition of
the unhappy wretch who, after her separation
from her husband, lives under her paternal
roof.
If her parents be not alive, or if they be
unwilling to receive her into their protection
from the fear of drawing down public odium
over their heads, she is then lost to the world184 Indian Domestic Reform.
without pity—without redress. All her
prospects of conjugal felicity vanish away
“ like the baseless fabric of a vision.” The
religion of her country and . parents forbids
her second marriage entirely. She is left to
the solitary enjoyment of her own resources,
if she has any. Suspecting the jealousy of
her rival and the harsh treatment of her
husband, if she should remain in his house,
having none to assist her in her distress, and
to provide her with food and clothing,
trembling with the fear of receiving the most
unwelcome treatment from her relatives, she
has no other alternative left but one. She
therefore agrees with herself, as it were, in
deep despair and in the agony of mental
anxiety, to consign herself as a prostitute to
the mercy of the world, regardless of the
honor of her father’s family, and the incalcu-
lable injury she may thereby do to the credit
and reputation of her husband. Hence while
passing through the streets of this large city,
we meet with immense numbers of prosti-
tutes, a great part of whom consists of
Brahmans and subordinate castes of the
Hindus, who, probably in consequence of
some disputes with their lawful husbands,
were obliged to leave them, and consent toIndian Domestic Reform, 185
lead such dishonorable lives. Such are the
wretched consequences of early marriage.
If the custom then of not marrying early
prevailed generally, these disastrous effects
would entirely be prevented. * There should
be familiar intercourse between the sexes
allowed, and it should be regarded by no
man in the light of an intrigue. Much
opportunity might then be given to the
parties intending to marry, of finding out
kindred dispositions and of forming those
strong and lasting attachments without
which the married state is often more pro-
ductive of misery than of happiness.
Marriages formed on this plan would be
productive of much good. Such separations
and such instances of matrimonial infidelity
would less frequently occur, and such
open divorces less frequently be observed.
The husband and wife would live in mutual
esteem and love, and the ardour of
attachment between them accompanied by
a purity of conduct, would so much heighten
the enjoyment of their mutual comforts
and happiness, as to make the married
state really capable of affording the blessings
which it is certainly calculated to produce.
(6.) Early marriage of children is
24186 Indian Domestic Reform.
calculated to subject their parents to many
unnecessary cares, expenses, and perplexities
which might otherwise be avoided.
First, with, ref erence to the parents of the boys.
They are particularly careful to observe and
watch over the conduct and character of
their son’s wife. As she is in future to form
a part of their family, they become extremely
anxious as regards her behaviour to those
by whom she is surrounded. Once having
married their son with her according to
their own choice and will, they begin
afterwards to display some anxiety as he
grows up with regard to the probability or
improbability of his liking her. Apprehensive
of many disagreeable circumstances being
likely to be produced in the event of his not
being pleased with his wife, and of a mutual
.difference of views prevailing between them
both hereafter, the parents of the boy
occasionally invite their daughter-in-law even
when she is yet young to their own house,
set her some particular work to be busy with,
or tell her to attend to some duties of the
house, the performance of which would require
some exertion of skill and talent, thereby
seeking to afford their son the opportunity of
making himself acquainted with her realIndian Domestic Reform. 187
merits. But true love between the sexes is
not founded upon such forced external
exhibitions of character. It resides in the
mind, in the feelings, in the affections. It
yearns towards that which is kindred, that
which is congenial to its nature. It does not
yield its sympathies, its emotions, to what is
bodily and external. It cries aloud for
congeniality of nature, of aim, of disposition.
And this congeniality, if it really exists, is
found only on close and intimate intercourse.
But this is not allowed to take place between
the husband and wife before a certain time.
However solicitous, therefore, the parents
may be to make their son pleased with a
girl of their own choosing, their anxiety is
unanswered by the result. Few pairs could
be found to love each other sincerely, whose
union is not founded upon love itself, but
upon the present and wayward humour of
some elders or superiors. The parents of
the son are moreover put to several enormous
expenses in addition to those which they had
made for his marriage. The expenses grow
as the wife and the son grow in years.
Though the parents are poor and unable to
stand all the necessary occasions of expense,
yet the tyranny of fashion must prevail.188 Indian Domestic Reform.
Their son is yet young and drudges at school.
The whole weight of expenses must fall on
the shoulders of the poor parents. When
his wife arrives at the age of puberty, a
great ceremony follows as elsewhere noticed,
on which not less tha n a quarter of a thousand
rupees is imperceptibly lost. Innumerable
other ceremonies of a similar kind frequently
occur, and they must also be duly attended
to. The parents of the boy have to make
ornaments, to buy clothes, and to do many
other things for his wife which he is yet
incapable of doing. They must gratify all
her wishes, supply all her wants, satisfy all
her tastes, and lastly exercise all their control
over her. Their son is indeed a husband, but
he is yet incapable of discharging all the
duties of a husband. In lapse of time the
husband is converted into a father. He
brings new beings into existence whose wants
and necessities his own parents are obliged to
supply. This is no hasty conclusion.* The
several expenses attending the feeding, the
clothing, the education of his children, his
*	Many Hindu boys upwards of 16, reading a spell-
ing book in the Native Education Society, are fathers
of more than two children.Indian Domestic Reform. 189
old parents still must submit to. He is yet
young and scarcely competent enough to
discharge himself his duties to his children
whom he has brought into existence. He
involves his parents in expenses more and
more intricate without the ability of helping
them by his means. They become quite
exhausted by the successive pressures of
expenses rising upon them, and look towards
their son for his help and assistance in
lightening their burden, and making their
way smooth and easy through those
difficulties into which he was the cause of
involving them. They wait in anxious
expectation of seeing him employed. Days
after days, weeks after weeks, months after
months, years after years, roll away ; but the
youth, the inexperience, and the meagre
education which the boy received, unfit him
for any respectable or important employment.
His parents’ anxiety daily increases, their
cares daily multiply, and their patience is
exhausted. They become so extremely
anxious as to their son’s being somehow or
other furnished with the means of supporting
his wife and children and their being
consequently relieved from the duty of
providing for them in his stead, that they190
Indian Domestic Reform.
cannot sometimes contain themselves. They
occasionally feel the necessity of breaking out
into such disagreeable expressions as almost
to wound the feelings of the boy, and in fact
to draw a tear of repentance from his eye.
The parents daily cContinue to threaten and
scold the boy till he gets himself somewhere
well situated, and attains the ability of
providing for the necessary wants of his own
wife and children.
Secondly, with reference to the parents of
the girl. The expenses to which her parents
are subjected on her account go only so far
as will, and not necessity, is concerned.
Excepting those which attended the marriage,
few occasions of expense occur to them
compared with those to which the parents of
the boy are called upon to submit. This
circumstance arises only from the state of
absolute dependence in which the girl is
placed upon her husband, and the family to
which he belongs. For the girl, as was
observed before, when she is betrothed, is no
longer the property of her parents. But
though she is separated from her parents in
form and fashion, yet she is not separated
from the fibres of their hearts. Their
solicitude for her welfare leads them eagerlyIndian Domestic Reform. 191
to wish the good of her husband upon whom
the dearest interests of their daughter depend.
They become extremely serious as to the
manner in which the husband of their
daughter may be brought up, the kind of
education he may receive, the line of profession
he may follow, the accidents that may befall
him, the temptations to which he may be
exposed, the excess in which he may be led,
and several other circumstances that may
lead to affect his own interests, and with
them those of their own daughter who is his
wife. The good reports which they may
hear of him overwhelm them with joy. His
dispraise, however, sends a thrill of sorrow
and indignation through their hearts. They
are then vexed and disturbed by the agony
of a restless anxiety. When they hear of
their son-in-law as being engaged in the
pursuits of dissipation, or as being confirmed
in the habits of sensuality, or as being in the
habit of sauntering about in the streets, as
growing indifferent to the cultivation of his
mind, they are seized with just anxiety about
the future welfare of their own daughter.
Their irritated feelings are. well depicted in
the features of their countenance, in their
reddened cheeks, and in the sneer which plays192 Indian Domestic Reform.
over their brows.. They send servants after
servants to the house of their son-in-law, to
have a conference in their name with his
parent? regarding the conduct of their boy,
to make them acquainted with the reports
which they had heard to his disadvantage,
and to warn them to keep a strict and careful
watch over him in future. Every subject in
which the interests of their daughter may be
involved, rouses their anxiety. As. in refer-
ence to the case of the parents of the boy,
their cares and solicitude grow with the
growth of their daughter. She may in a
short time become the mother of a child as is
too often the case. But if her husband be
young and incapable of providing for her,
what is she to do ? Who is to provide for
her child and supply all her wants ? The
father of her husband ? True ; but how
long is he to do so it is difficult to say. Not
more certain is it however that he would live
long. These enquiries occur to the minds of
her parents as their daughter becomes a full
grown being. Such cares and anxieties
always agitate the breasts of the parents of
the girl from the moment that she is betrothed
to the moment that she is firmly established
in life. Such then, are the effects which theIndian Domestic Reform. 193
early marriage of their children is calculated
to produce in reference to the case of their
parents.
(7.) The miseries entailed upon women by
early marriage next merit attention. The
injury done to the female sex by this
pernicious system is indeed incalculable. We
have already remarked that woman is married
at the early age of five or six, at an age when
she is incapable of judging for herself, and
when no attempt can be made to distinguish
her peculiar tastes, and to find out kindred
dispositions in her future husband to whom
she is intended to be betrothed. She is not
at all at her disposal in her marriage. After
her betrothment she lives, as was observed;
before, in the house of her parents for a
considerable time. If during this period her
husband die, though she may never once
have seen her husband except on the day
of their marriage, she is considered as a
widow. Religion entirely forbids her second
marriage, and the penalty imposed upon
those who would disobey this solemn
injunction of the SMstras, is the forfeiture
of caste, house and relatives. She is
condemned to the miseries of perpetual
widowhood. All her brighter prospects in
25194 Indian Domestic Reform.
life are covered by an eternal cloud of despair
which not a single ray of hope is left to
penetrate. She in fact ends her existence
just as she began it. She was indeed
married. But she knew as little of her
husband as if she was not married to him at
all. She was married with the prospect of
enjoying the pleasures of conjugal bliss.
But her prospects and hopes are buried for
ever with her husband in the grave. She
was married that she might have the pleasure
of a happy intercourse with her husband,
and be the means of leaving a few children
on earth behind her and her husband, as
representatives to commemorate their ex-
istence, and perpetuate their names. But
she had never perhaps once seen her
husband’s face any more than on the day
of marriage ; far less could she have spoken
a word to him. She may have attended on
a few ceremonies in which females feel the
extremest delight. But all ceremonies are
now for ever lost to her except those of
shaving her head and stripping herself of all
her ornaments. Her husband is suddenly
cut off by the stroke of death, when yet the
married couple had scarcely passed the
portals of youth, and were lingering amid theIndian Domestic Reform.
195
scenes of childhood, when they were neither
able to understand the important nature of
their connection, nor to appreciate the
important duties, which arose from their
union, when they could neither speak
with one another, nor could sympathize
with each other in their thoughts and
feelings, when they had no idea of the
relationship in which they stood to one
another, and the obligations they owed in
reference to those by whom they were
surrounded. When both the husband and
wife were so young, and the world, as it
really is, was just beginning to dawn upon
them, the former is cut off from all its ties.
The husband dies ! And alas, the shock is
stunningly great. Who is now to care for
the girl when she is thus deserted ? Who is
to guide her through the numberless cares
and perplexities of the world, when she is
thus left alone without him upon whom
depended all her hopes and prospects ? But
still the miseries of her bereavement are
aggravated in a ten-fold degree by her age,
and the circumstances in which she was
placed, when such a bereavement befell her.
She was too young as we have already
remarked. She might be just indulging196 Indian Domestic Reform.
in all her plays and gambols within the doors
of her father’s house when the dismal news
of her husband’s death arrives. The news
reaches her ears, but it passes by as
unheeded and neglected as the idle wind
that goes along. She is too young to
appreciate her loss. O poor little innocent
girl ! Her parents fall crying out, beating
their breasts, and bewailing the melancholy
fate of their daughter, and crying out often
that she is gone—lost for ever. Yet the
bereaved wife is unconscious of the loss she
has sustained, and not a tear is seen starting
up in her eyes, but what may be drawn by
the sympathy of passion. Thus unconsciously
does she sustain the blow, but miserably is
she obliged to drag out the tedious existence
of a widow almost from her birth. Parents
and kindred paay still all be around her, but
he who was the bridegroom affianced of her
future career, upon whom depended all her
hopes and prospects, has withered away from
her path, like a flower cut down in the dewy
light of the morning. Alas ! the cloud of grief
which hangs over her is indeed a heavy one.
Hers is a wretched dreary existence of a
widow, and hers is an incomparably severe
and heavy loss. She is solemnly prohibitedIndian Domestic Reform. 197
from choosing another husband with whom to
begin again her earthly career. She is
condemned from her very childhood to all
the miseries and privations which widowhood
can entail upon her. She is deprived of ail
the rights and privileges and duties of a
married woman. She is rendered perfectly
useless both to herself and to those around
her. She can partake in none of the cere-
monies performed at home. She can take
share in none of the feasts which might take
place either in the family of her parents or in
that of her deceased husband. She is
considered as a being wholly unfit for any of
the duties of her life. The seeing of her face
alone is considered as an unpropitious omen.
In addition to the heavy loss which she has
sustained by the death of her husband, an
unspeakable injury is done to her by those
who are living. Her hair is shaved off,*
her ornaments are taken off, the red powder
which painted her forehead in a point is
rubbed off. The fine apparel which had
adorned her person is changed into a coarse
dirty cloth which she is obliged to wear till
she is no more. She is obliged to keep
*	This practice is now somewhat waning away.198 Indian Domestic Reform.
herself confined for a considerable time in a
dark room without being seen by anybody
lying on bare ground covered sometimes with
a few ragged clothes, eating sparingly and
rejecting all wholesome food. For everything
sweet, she now contracts an aversion ; and of
everything bitter and sour she is willing to
taste a little portion. She in fact submits
herself to all privations and sufferings.
Instead of attending to the performance of
certain ceremonies and the celebration of
certain festivals which so frequently engage
the attention, and occupy the time of the
wife of a living husband, she must now turn
all her thoughts to pilgrimages to some holy
shrines, and devote her life exclusively to
religious and melancholy contemplation (and
to the worship of Mudrddhari and ensnaring
Gurus.—Ed.) She is secluded from all
intercourse with society, and allowed no
place in conversation or discussion of any
kind either with men or with those of her
own sex. O ! mournful thought, that a girl
who has not yet passed the portals of green
youth, and upon whom the world is but just
beginning to dawn, such a girl to be so
deprived of all the enjoyments which she
might be capable of enjoying, to be condemnedIndian Domestic Reform. 199
to pass her valuable life in such dreary
solitude of the world, and to be consigned, so
to speak, to a living tomb, and all for the
death of her husband alone. Observe then,
reader, the dangerous effects of the system of
early marriage which leads so suddenly to
blight, as if by a withering blast, all the
fairest prospects of a being so gentle and
young, and buries all her hopes with her
dead husband in the silent grave for ever
and ever ! Think of the miseries of her life,
of the dreary solitude in which she is
condemned to spend the whole term of her
existence,—of her perpetual exclusion from
all participation in the charities of the
domestic circle and of her unhappy doom to
suffer without pity or without any alleviation,
all the privations and sufferings which the
wretched system of Hinduism enjoins on
widowhood. Think of a being who was
certainly brought into existence for
accomplishing the higher purposes of life,
who possesses so extensive control over
human society, and upon whom depends the
formation of its character, to be so cruelly
exposed to the harsh and wicked treatment
at the hands of her relatives ; to be so
grievously neglected, and condemned to lead200 Indian Domestic Reform.
a life of uselessness and of unnecessary
privations and sufferings ; to be so entirely
devoted to perpetual solitude, and to be
deprived of the enjoyment of all those rights
and privileges to which she has a right claim
in common with all the fellows of her own
sex.
17. Condition of widows.
A minute account of almost all the
particulars connected with the condition of
widows is to be found in an essay on Female
Education written by an intelligent native,#
and recently published in one of the last
numbers of the Christian Spectator.t We
shall therefore refrain from making more
than a few remarks on the subject. Deplorable
indeed is the condition of Hindu women on
the death of their husbands. It is alike
deplorable under whatever circumstances of
life they may be placed. When the husband
dies, the wife becomes a perfectly changed
being—changed not of course for the better,
but for the worse. Her head is shaved,
and all her rights and privileges as a woman
are lost. She eats little, sleeps little, rises
*	The late Mr. Hari Keshavaji. f July 1841.Indian Domestic Reform. 201
very early in the morning, and gives herself
up to melancholy thoughts the whole day.
She is exposed to the severest privations
incident upon her state. She is generally
excluded from all the enjoyment of her
husband’s property, and the male portion of
her relatives claim the possession of a far
greater part of it. In the higher classes of
the native community, widows of rich
husbands seem to command some degree of
respect and attention, but this we can only
say in reference to such few of them, whose
husbands on their death may have committed
to them the management of the family, or
left to their inheritance some valuable portion
of their property in testimony to some
extraordinary affection which may have
existed between them both. With respect
to many, however, we have the most
melancholy truths to declare. They are
placed under the control of their sons if they
have any, or of some male relatives who may
have the power of supporting them so
situated; the perplexities in which they are
involved, the sufferings to which they are
exposed, and the cruel treatment they receive
at the hands of their relatives, can only be
conceived. Subjected to the tyranny of
28202 Indian Domestic Reform.
their parents when young, treated by their
husbands in a manner worse than slaves, and
exposed to the harsh treatment of their sons
and those around them after their husbands’
death, they present themselves forth as the
most pitiful objects to the eye of benevolence.
But indeed, their state of widowhood is the
consummation of all their miseries, and
affords a full specimen of man’s triumph over
woman in this country ; neglected and
despised during their lives, they also lie
unnoticed and forgotten in their silent graves.
18. The practice op “ Sati.”
In connection with this branch of the
subject there is a remarkable circumstance
which we cannot avoid noticing here briefly.
It is the most revolting custom of a besotted
superstition to be found in the records of
ages. I mean the “ Sati.” When the
husband dies, the faithful wife must bum
herself upon the body of her dead husband.
The hope of effecting an emancipation of her
husband from the bondage of his sins which
he may have committed in this world, and
the prospect of securing for herself the enjoy-
ment of immortal felicity in heaven,—
motives which are supplied by her ownIndian Domestic Reform. 203
superstition, prompt her to the perpetration
of this horrible deed. The indifference with
which she now observes those objects which
had once most engaged her attention is
remarkable. She leaves her sons, her
daughters, her dearest relatives, with a firm-
ness of purpose which the prospect of some-
thing higher, something nobler than mere
earthly good, can be expected to inspire ; and
absorbed wholly in the contemplation of some
higher duty upon which her mental eye is
henceforth constantly fixed, the unhappy
victim plunges herself into the burning pile
of her husband. Myriads of such miserable
victims were a few years ago doomed in our
country, to such premature deaths, and to a
most horrible death too. Myriads of such
cruel piles were then seen continually blazing
forth on the plains of India. But blessed be
God ! Throughout all the British territories
of our country, this cruel practice has entirely
been suppressed, these cruel piles have
entirely been extinguished. In some of the
independent Native States, however, this
abominable system is still reigning in all
its unmitigated practical horrors. But were
the voice of British majesty to be heard in
those dark regions of superstition, to-morrow204 Indian Domestic Reform.
those cruel piles would instantly be quenched,
and the system would there too be entirely
checked the next day. But excuse me
reader, to have detained you so long. Though
the mercy of the British rule has rescued
widows in this country from the fate of being
burnt alive, yet no means is hitherto adopted
to deliver them from the miseries of widow-
hood to which by the wretched system of
Hinduism they are grievously condemned.
19.	Widow marriages.
We shall therefore just proceed to offer
a few remarks on the marriage of widows.
After the death of their husbands, Hindu
women are solemnly prohibited from marrying
again. They are subjected to all the horrors
and miseries of perpetual widowhood as
described above, Nothing, in my opinion,
can be more tyrannical and unreasonable
than the system which enjoins such
unnecessary privations on widows. Whatever
may be the religious sentiments of others on
this subject, we deprecate such a cruel system
altogether. Man exercises such a despotic
authority over woman in this country, that
she is held to be his slave and not his
companion, and always treated as such.Indian Domestic Reform.
205
When the wife dies, the husband has the
right of marrying another and then another^
and he may go on marrying till he is unable
so to do. Man’s sway over woman here is so
unprecedented and despotic, and yet so
undisputed, thao he is at liberty to dispose
of his living wife just as it suits his taste,
and even to marry another if he should
dislike her, or, as was said before, if no
congeniality of sentiment and no sympathy
of feeling should exist between them. But
alas ! woman once married can marry no more.
If her husband should die even when she
may be very young, she is entirely prohibited
from marrying another husband. It does
not however clearly appear, why woman
should be condemned to perpetual widowhood,
when man is permitted to marry again. The
great good and eternal Father, when he had
formed our earth and all things that live and
move and have their being on it, last of all
created man and woman, placed them in the
choicest spot, and endued them in an equal
degree with the highest range of intellectual
faculties and moral capacities. When he had
so equally constituted them both, and placed
them under circumstances exactly fitted to
their mutual condition, there appears no reason206
Indian Domestic Reform.
why a line of distinction, should now be drawn
between them, and why woman alone should
be excluded from the enjoyment of those
rights and privileges which man possesses,
and which are calculated to affect the deepest
interests of both. An argument generally
brought forward by the bigoted Hindus
against the re-marriage of woman is this, that
if she be permitted to marry again she may
be inclined to kill her o wn husband in case
she should not like him, and thus make it
easy for her to marry another whom she
would choose. But this argument, so far
from proving against her re-marriage, only
proves against the custom of early marriage
itself. For, she would scarcely have found
reason to dislike her husband, if she had been
married late and left at her own disposal in
choosing out a husband. The same argument
rather tends strongly to confirm our own
views with regard to the effects of early
marriage, in its causing between the parties
dissimilarity of tastes and views, which
ultimately produces their mutual dislike and
hatred. Mutual separations do sometimes,
as we have seen, take place in consequence.
The result of this is easily perceived. In
that case the divorced wife, as it were, whoIndian Domestic Reform,.	207
is prohibited from marrying another husband,
is obliged to be a prostitute and to support
herself. In consequence of the same prohi-
bition, many women after the death cf their
husbands find themselves necessitated to
proceed to the same disgraceful extreme.
Wearied with the miserable life of widowhood,
and goaded on by passion or by pressure of
wants, from which they have none in their
present state to relieve them, they submit,
themselves to the base necessity of forming
unlawful intrigues, and that they may break
off at once from all restraints, give themselves
up wholly to the mercy of the world, to the
great dishonor of their own families, and of
the community to which they belonged.
Instances of this nature too frequently
obtrude upon our notice to be here enumerated.
The youngest classes of widows should in this
respect be particularly guarded against. They
are exposed to more powerful temptations
than those of the other class. But however
watchfully their conduct may be observed
and scrutinized, the heart cannot be laid open
to human view, and the ways of passion are
often hid under an ambush. Hence many
acts of immorality are secretly practised which
the state of widowhood was intended directly208 Indian Domestic Reform
to check. The fickleness of youth soon,
however, hurries them into dangerous and
open extremes, and not unfrequently do they
too become the public ministers of vice and
sensuality to the gay world. Not a few of
them are led through deep despair to the
necessity of committing suicide, whose wild
inclinations the more immediate restraints of
their family might oppose.
The prohibition of the re-marriage of
widows leads to subject them to all those
miseries which the want of connubial
enjoyment is calculated to produce. Its too
much indulgence as well as its want tend to
commit incalculable injury to the health of
body and mind. What we have now to do
with is its want. And to all the miseries
and diseases, therefore, which it produces, all
the native widows whose re-marriage is
prohibited are more or less necessarily exposed.
It is a truth admitted by all medical men,
whether European or native, that mortality
prevails most in the two periods of human
life, namely, young and old age. The young
are apt soon to die as well as the old, the
middle age is much less exposed to the attacks
of mortality. Now, according to the present
system of early marriage among the Hindus,Indian Domestic Reform. 209
young girls are married to husbands at least
four or five years in advance of them. The
girls at the time of their marriage are generally
six or seven years old. And as the principle
of mortality rages most in the two extremes
of human life, a greater number of young
husbands who are so early married, and who
are a few years more advanced in age than
their wives, are apt sooner to die. Hence
the young wives become widows from their
very early age, and in consequence of the
prohibition of their re-marriage become
necessarily exposed to all the miseries which
are incident upon the want of connubial
enjoyment. Many young widows in this
country are consequently suffering very much
from this evil. How great a blessing
therefore might be conferred upon the poor
native women by permitting them to marry
again !
The custom of prohibiting the re-marriage
of widows is again highly contradictory to
the intentions of providence, and extremely
injurious to the interests of society. God
created woman to be man’s help-meet for life,
and to fructify unto him children who should
be their representatives on earth; and when
woman is allowed to remain unmarried after
27210 Indian Domestic Reform.
her first husband is dead without children,
the benevolent design of Providence is directly
opposed. Society also would have been much
benefited by the addition of new numbers
which the births of children may have
supplied. But the circumstance of women
not being allowed to marry again, prevents
the fulfilment of this end. How many
children would have been born and added to
the number of our population, if those women
who have been condemned to lead the life
of perpetual widowhood, and to bemoan in
vain the loss of their husbands in the silent
loneliness of their chamber, were permitted to
marry again, and to partake once more of the
enjoyments of society.
Perhaps, the re-marriage of those widows
who have no children may appear to some
not so odd and strange as the re-marriage of
those who -have. But if they divest themselves
of their prejudices, they might see nothing of
an odd nature in the re-marriage of the latter
class too. They must remember that among
the natives the Hindu fathers of living
children, when their wives die, marry a second
time. On the same principle may widowed
mothers of children be married again.
Disputes and jealousies, it is true, may takeIndian Domestic Reform.	211
place between the new husband and h*er
children, but they are no less frequent in the
other case. This circumstance should not
be allowed to operate over the minds of man
so far as to affect the principle we intend to
establish. Right education will have its due
influence, and will produce its effects.
20.	Polygamy.
Polygamy was practised	to	a con-
siderable extent among the Hindus some
years ago.	The	Brahmans,	Kshatriyas,
Vaishyas, and even Shudras were allowed to
marry many more wives, than one, two or
three. The first of those were permitted to
marry sometimes a hundred wives, and the
latter classes looked upon it as a high
distinction	to be	possessed	of ■	several.
Jealousy and contentions were the inevitable
consequences. But the system which
prescribed this custom is not suppressed, and
the spirit which excited it is not extinguished.
Put a sufficient sum of money into the hands
of the people, and permit one example to be
first set, and you will see thousand others
instantly following it. Nothing can be more
indicative of the complete ignorance of the
natives with reference to the most important212 Indian Domestic Reform.
duties and relations which marriage involves
than the prevalence of this odious custom
among them. The evils attendant on this
institution are obvious. The family that rises
out of such an abominable and promiscuous
intercourse is always divided and sub-divided
into smaller branches, and can never form
itself into one compact body of union, all
whose parts harmonize with another, and
“ Create the according music of a well mixed state. ”
The affections between the sexes are exhausted
in the highest degree, and the passion of love
which, when its gratifications are few, burns
with a brighter flame, is entirely extinguished
by the excessive sensuality which is promoted
by numerous temptations peculiar to poly-
gamy. The attachment between the sexes
loses its ardour and fervor which diffuse glad-
ness over the domestic circle and render the
simple married state happy. It would merely
be waste of time to dwell on this subject long.
Enough it is to state, that its effects, are
well understood by the general reader. To
the honor of Hindu families, it may be said,
that a practice so abominable, so debasing to
human nature, and so mischievous in its
effects, has now been repressed in some, if
not sufficient degree, and the day will soonIndian Domestic Reform. 213
come when it shall be entirely extinguishe*d.
It is difficult, however, to account for thé
origin of this institution any other way than
by attributing it to the peculiar circumstance
of the procreation of children having been
laid down as one of the chief duties of man
on earth, and to the excessive desire, bordering
almost on religious enthusiasm, which was
evinced by the sexes to be possessed of
children. Those who have a numerous
offspring are considered as having best
answered the end of their existence. And
we may safely come to the conclusion, that
the institution of early marriage has originated
in the prevalence of the same moral sentiments
which are universally held on the subject by
the people of this country. Now we may
here take the opportunity of observing, that
the custom of early marriage has tended to
lead to a result closely approximating to
polygamy. Early marriage, I say,
approximates to polygamy in rendering
necessary, second, or third, or many more
marriages, under circumstances already
explained. It resembles polygamy in
substance though not in form. Polygamy
was or is practised through free will and
choice, unchecked by law or religion. And• 214 Indian Domestic Reform.
the seyeral divorces and re-marriages which
are the consequences of early marriage are
founded upon pretext, and pass off under the
plausible show of necessity, unchecked or
unrestrained. Yea, under present circum
stances, in which matters here stand, so
numerous are the grounds on which a husband
may dismiss his first wife and marry another,
that if he would, he may never want a
plausible pretext for so doing. The power
of divorcing reserved to him is unlimited and
intolerable. And we may come to the
conclusion that these unhappy circumstances
arise not only from the system of early
marriage, but from those loose and incorrect
notions entertained by the natives with
regard to the marriage relation itself. We
have therefore just as much reason, and
perhaps more, to deprecate the practice of
early marriage as that of polygamy, both of
which are productive of no small amount of
evil, though different in its nature, and though
modified by different circumstances.
Permit me now, reader, to request your
particular attention to the following and
concluding remarks on early marriages. If
the custom of early marriage did not prevail,—
if it, be entirely abolished by all the membersIndian Domestic Reform. 215
of the community who practise it,—if the
marriages of children be not allowed to be
dictated by the prejudices of custom, and the
selfish views and interested feelings of the
parents,—if the marriages of children be
delayed to that period of their lives when
their judgment would be cleared and matured,
and when they would obtain clearer views of
their respective rights and duties,—if the
sexes be allowed to have free and friendly
intercourse between one another, so that
better opportunities may be given to them
for discovering kindred tastes and dispositions,
and for forming those lasting attachments,
without which the married state is more
productive of misery than of happiness,—if
the choice and will of the parties who are to
enter upon the marriage state be consulted,
rather than the opinion and judgment of
others,—the marriage state would prove an
overflowing source of felicity on earth, and
be the means of great blessings to society in
general. Late marriages taking place in this
manner would be far different from those
early marriages where unions between the
sexes are now only prompted by the pleasure
and whims of the parents, and would in the
end prove highly beneficial in their results*216 Indian Domestic Reform.
The earlier years of life would be spent in
the quiet pursuits of knowledge, and the
future in the calm enjoyment of conjugal
felicity. Mutual hatred, mutual jealousy,
mutual separations between the sexes, and
all the train of evils attendant on early
marriage, would be entirely prevented or less
frequently obtruded upon public notice.
The affections would not be exhausted.
The delay of gratification would add to the
intensity of the feeling ; and the passion of
love so far from being utterly quenched,
would only for a time be suppressed, that it
may afterwards burn with brighter lustre.
The sexes would be united by the strong
feelings of genuine attachment, and from such
a source of affection between them, there
shall flow down beautiful rills of enjoyment,
which shall branch into a thousand rivulets,
and at last swell into a mighty river of human
felicity, enriching, fertilizing, and adorning
the whole field of life. The happiness of the
married state whi h is now considered as the
means of early indulgence or gratification
would then be looked upon with delight as
the reward of real attachment, founded upon
the mutual sympathy of kindred views, and
dispositions.Indian Domestic Reform. 217
Much more indeed could be said on tfie
subject of this essay, if time had permitted
us. But we earnestly request the serious
attention of our readers, especially of the
natives, to those considerations which we ard
conscious we have so imperfectly meditated.
Remember, my dear native brethren,
remember that the present subject over which
we have just passed, is the most important
one that can occupy your attention.
Remember that you need not be admonished
that the subject must come home to your
hearts with all the might of an awful
responsibility. See that you strain every
one of your nerves in pursuing the reformation
of your own families upon which depends the
happiness or misery of your present or future
life. Summon all your energies at this
important crisis in battering down the
strongholds of prejudices and superstition,
which set a bar to all useful improvement.
If you neglect to do this now when it is high
time for you, depend upca it, that you are
ruined—utterly ruined. But pause a little !
Methinks there is a voice keenly reproaching
me for being hitherto so unmindful of this
awful responsibility, and neglecting to suggest
or use the means by which the good of my
28218 Indian Domestic Reform.
countrymen may thus be accomplished.
Methinks, it accuses all the most renowned
lawyers and legislators of India, for their
having allowed to grow to such a huge bulk,
those institutions and systems which now-a-
days we see occasioning such an unspeakable
injury to many a family in this country.
Methinks it accuses you all, especially such
of you as have the means and power of
thinking aright—it accuses you all for your
having displayed such an apathy towards
the dearest interests of your brethren in the
circumstance of your neglecting to do that
which as involving your concerns of the
highest moment, you ought never to overlook,
being the moral, intelligent, and responsible
creatures of God. And that voice is surely
the small, still voice of conscience. Indeed,
in this awful predicament do all of you, my
dear native brethren, from the least knowing
to the most intelligent, really and fearfully
stand. If therefore you have any regard to
your own interest, and to those of the fellow
members of your own community, do away
instantly with every one of those prejudices
and customs which have hitherto so debased
your character and degraded you in the
scale of civilization. If you have any regardIndian Domestic Reform, 219
to the eternal welfare of your frien3s,
relatives, and your wives and children,
instantly do away with those ceremonies
which occupy their attention and engage
their affections in detriment to the immortal
interests of their souls. I do not say that
your united efforts in levelling to the ground
all those huge systems which have hitherto
been fondly cherished by yourselves and your
ancestors, will be without failure in accom-
plishing that grand and glorious task. We
ought to feel our dependence on the grace of
God. We ought never co separate in our
thoughts his grace from our exertion, and we
ought to undertake our plans imploring his
aid and confiding in it. We ought sincerely
to pray to God to help us and to guide us in
the accomplishment of our design. We
ought humbly to pray to Him to direct us
into a right path, and to lead us all into the
way of salvation. For what avails it that
we have gained the whole world and lost our
soul ? Think upon this, ponder upon this,
my dear brethren ; pray that your souls may
be saved, or else your ruin is unspeakable,—
is eternal. I beseech you again and again to
press these considerations home to your220 Indian Domestic Reform.
hearts, and do not repudiate them as the
effects of a heated imagination.
Before I take leave of this interesting
and important subject, permit me, my friends,
to say a few words with regard to the
education of our females. We have already
contemplated the state of our countrywomen,
and found it greatly wretched. If it still
remains so, civilization in our land can
certainly make no great advance. It is
indeed difficult to conceive any as the cause
of this state of intellectual, and what is still
worse of moral des titution of women in India,
but the want of education which is grievously
neglected to the sacrifice of their interests in
this world and those in the world to come.
The degradation of the women of this country
in the scale of intelligent agents is to be
accounted for, not because that woman is
endowed, as some suppose, with an inferior
order of natural talents, that she is naturally
incapable of a vigorous intellectual exercise
and of mental discipline, but because the
cultivation of her mind is here systematically
neglected, because she is allowed no place in
conversation or discussion, and because she is
not permitted to enjoy the society of enlight-
ened persons. In woman, however, we seeIndian Domestic Reform. 221
a higher range of intellectual faculties, and
moral feelings, aye, an etherial spirit which
betokens a creature destined for immortality.
There is within her a peculiar sense which
all mortals possess, and which enables her
not only to regulate her passions and direct
them into a proper channel, but also to
understand the duties which she owes to
God and to her fellow-creatures. She is
impressed with all the characteristics of a
rational and immortal nature. Woman is
possessed of the same affections, the same
desires, the same motives, the same inclina-
tions, the same passions, the same appetites,
as man whose companion for life, by an all-
wise and overruling Providence, she was
intended to be, and of whose best affections,
as far as their chief mutual interests in this
world and the next are concerned, she was
designed to be on earth, the great and the
central object. She possesses a mind capable
of the most refined cultivation, and is
furnished with a variety of powers which
when matured and unfolded by an enlight-
ened education, will prove to her sources of
the highest kinds of happiness that the world
can supply. If then we admit that woman
is not only endowed with a higher range of222 Indian Domestic Reform.
intellectual faculties which can confer on her
a superiority in cultivated societies, but also
possessed of a soul endowed with powers and
feelings dissimilar in nature and higher in
their degree than those of the brutes,—if
there is in those, her frail, ephemeral tene-
ments of flesh, a soul of immortality which
death cannot touch, but which is destined to
survive the dissolution of the corporeal
framework, and to expatiate with improved
powers over another and a more glorious scene,
—if she is distinguished with all the charac-
teristics of a moral, intelligent, and immortal
being, and possesses within her a faculty
invested with powers more than merely
human, I mean conscience,—if she has all the
affections, the desires, the motives, and the
feelings suited to the dignity of an immortal
creature, which dignity she indeed holds but
never enjoys,—if she must enter into eternity
where alone her powers of mind are destined
to reach a full maturity,—if there she must
enter with a soul bearing the same stamp
which it has acquired in this world,—and
must carry the same ideas, and the same
moral principles which she has formed in
this world,—and if her happiness not merely
for ^life’s time, but for an endless duration,Indian Domestic Reform. 223
be dependent on the spiritual image which
that stamp bears,—then surely it cannot be a
matter of indifference whether the mind of an
immortal being be left shrouded in ignorance
or be trained in the knowledge of its high
destination. It must doubtless be a matter
of the highest importance that she must be
instructed in all the departments of knowledge
which may tend to the enlargement of her
mind, and to the discipline of her intellectual
and moral powers ; which may qualify her for
forming more enlarged and comprehensive
views of the purposes of God’s moral govern-
ment, for indulging in the most exalted and
sublime investigations of the divine perfections
and operations, as displayed in the economy
of the universe, and for - relishing the
pleasures and enjoyments of the future state.
Nothing can be of a higher value and
importance to an immortal being than to be
grounded in the solid truths of physical, but
especially of moral science, and acquire a true
knowledge of her Creator, of herself, of her
own duties, and of the several diversified
relations in which she stands to this world
and to the next. From her state of mental
bondage, how cheering and refreshing is it to
see a woman of India trained to habiw of224
Indian Domestic Reform.
reasoning and reflection, bursting asunder the
fetters imposed upon her soul by superstition
and priestcraft, acquiring a double relish for
the noble delights of intellectual refinement,
and making perpetual progress towards
intellectual and moral perfection,—to see
her exerting all the energies of her thoughts
and labour on subjects of high moment,
indulging in the profoundest speculations of
philosophy, pursuing at one time, with eager
desire, the refined enjoyments of intellectual
taste, and at another engaging in pleasures,
more lasting, in enjoyments more exalted,
than the mere gratification of sensual
appetites ? How glorious, again, is it to see
her rise to the knowledge, the belief, and the
confession of truth, to see her forming
enlightened idea of divine perfections as
displayed' in the works and providence of
God,—to find her anxiously and devotedly
engaged in the preparation for eternity, and
in all those employments and pursuits which
will qualify her for the higher scenes of future
world.
Let us, my native brethren, soon shake off
our prevailing lethargy as regards the
educating our females, and with perseverance
and self-command set about the task ofIndian Domestic Reform. 225
instructing our wives, sisters, and daughters*
in the departments of solid learning,—not
that learning, I mean, which would only
qualify her to talk or write, for that is a
foppery of literature, and so far from rendering
her wiser or better, would only tend to
deteriorate both her intellectual and moral
character, so far from strengthening her
7	o	O
virtue, only tend to weaken it,—but that
learning which will teach her her duty to
God and to her fellow-creatures, give her
enlightened ideas of the future state for which
her immortal soul is destined, foster in her
an ambition for excelling in every good, and
enable her to recognize the far more interesting
relation in which she stands to the Supreme
Ruler a nd to an unseen but eternal world,
and to discern clearly the mere semblance of
truth and moral rectitude from reality. Let
us, my native frifends, from a consideration
of the narrow and limited conceptions of an
untutored mind, contrasted with the ample
and extensive range of view presented to an
enlightened understanding,—from a consider-
ation of the debasing influences and
tendencies of ignorance unopposed by the
counteracting effects of solid knowledge,—
and from a consideration of the noble ix^'ire
89226 Indian Domestic Reform.
of the intellectual faculties, of the state and
interests of the immortal souls with which
our native females are endowed, and of their
capacity of making a perpetual progress
towards moral and intellectual perfection,—
betake ourselves to the highly interesting
employment of training our wives, sisters
and daughters, in all the higher branches of
education, which shall qualify them for
habits of reflection, and which by leading
them to take clear and right views of all
things, shall render them best and most
valuable members of human society. It
must be remarked, however, that the chief
circumstance which of all others is most to
be lamented with reference to the economy
of the Hindus, and which has tended to the
destruction of those pleasures and enjoyments
which are peculiar to domestic life, and to
the production of vices and crimes fatal to
the cause of virtue and the cultivation of
social peace, is the education of the females
being entirely neglected, and the apathy or
indifference with which the improvement of
their best interests is regarded by the
generality of the other sex. How then can it be
expect ou that while the education of females
is JaUs neglected, upon whom indeed muchIndian Domestic Reform, 227
of domestic happiness depends, the natives
of this country will enjoy all those real
comforts and enjoyments, of which home,
above all other objects on earth, is decidedly
the chiefest scene. When the mistress
herself of the house is not endowed with a
portion of useful knowledge, nor has acquired
a relish for intellectual enjoyments, and is
destitute of all qualifications for engaging in
rational and intelligent conversation, it cannot
be expected that our home would be capable
of conferring on us those blessings which are
peculiar to it. Those pure and high
enjoyments of which domestic life is the scene,
cannot under such circumstances, be enjoyed
to their fullest extent. The stream of
genuine love and pure affection issuing from
the fountain head of family association, would
then cease to flow and adorn tne field of
human life. Our home would then indeed
present a most pitiful spectacle to the view.
Instead of its being an abode of comfort and
peace, vice and intemperance would be its
reigning inmates,—instead of a sweet commu-
nion of sentiment and feeling, there would be
a perpetual exchange of mutual enmity and
hatred,—instead of its being a scene of mutual
esteem, mutual friendship and mutual I ^ve.228 Indian Domestic Reform.
it would present a spectacle of perpetual
struggles, jarrings and contentions,—instead
of rational delights enlivening the scene of
domestic enjoyments, a loud laugh of
intemperance, and a wild piirth of insensibility
would be the substitutes. In short, alas !
our fond home, instead of proving a blessing,
would prove a curse. If, on the other hand,
all the female individuals of a domestic
association be endowed with a certain portion
of knowledge, how interesting then the scene
of family converse ! An enlightened educa-
tion, by expanding and invigorating the
energies of their minds, would tend to a
refinement of their manners, to the ameliora-
tion of their tempers and dispositions, and to
the effectual subjugation of all the malignant
and destructive passions which spring from
the corruption of our hearts, and destroy the
peace and harmony of our social and domestic
enjoyments. The belief can be sufficiently
grounded that when an enlightened educa-
tion has subdued every moral principle, and
reason resumed its sovereign authority, all
the disagreeable effects would be prevented,
and all positive enjoyments introduced. Those
feuds, ^Lose collisions of jarring interests,
the" „ contentions, those separations, andIndian Domestic Reform, 229
those bitter persecutions which now swell
most of the pages of the calendar of crimes,
would be less frequently presented to public
notice, when over the family circle will rest
the sacred halo _>f education, and its general
beams radiate fi xu ¿he heart all«around.