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Article PENCILLINGS EROM THE SKETCH-BOOK OE A MA... ← Page 6 of 9 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Pencillings Erom The Sketch-Book Oe A Ma...
common thing to see there , the corpse of a Hindoo which had been therein deposited , instead of being interred on shore or burnt , floating past on the surface of the water , and insisted on the dandies or boatmen hauling up the defunct bod y * and carrying the decomposing remains to the nearest station , that it might be conveyed into the
presence of an European magistrate , from a belief in his mind that the man had been murdered ; and that if no notice was taken of it , the ends of justice would be defeated . The crew were disgusted and angry , at having to perform the office of undertakers , and the
wellmeaning youth , in addition to the ridicule to which he had exposed himself by forcing this supposed duty upon them , was mulcted in a heavy fine by the magistrate for his obstinacy , as nothing else would appease them for the damage done to their caste , and as a means of purifying their boat from the contamination of a dead body .
Another griffin , when marching up the country with his corps , thought proper one fine morning , accompanied by his horsekeeper , to have a little shooting . Being somewhat near-sighted , he could not see distinctly what appeared to him some strange wild animal , on the opposite side of a fence , at which he was about to take aim , but was instantly checked by his native attendant . Our griffin , however ,
not knowing Hindustani , could not fathom his meaning beyond the sign that he should not fire . On return to camp he told his companions the story , one of whom asked the horsekeeper what the animal was ; he replied , " Dhobee ka guddha , saheb" ( Sir , it was a washerman ' s donkey ) ! The creature having its ears back , and being in a strange position , was not recognized by the short-sighted gentleman . Of course , there was a good laugh as his expense .
Here , too , is one of a similar kind : —A young officer , when out for field-sports , fires at some birds , of the name of which he is ignorant ; his horsekeeper , wishing to explain to him their worthlessness , and the waste of powder and shot , exclaims , on seeing what he is about , " Khooch nay , saheb , " meaning to say , They are nothing at all , sir . However , the gentleman bags six of them , takes them to his friends ,
informing them he has killed six khoochnays , —they were sandlarks One more : usually there is no great appreciation by natives of what among Europeans will pass as bon mots . They seldom appear to indulge in witticisms ; but this seems to be an exceptional case . A person , not belonging to the service , soon after his arrival in
India , being unacquainted with more than a few words of the vernacular , whether from necessity or motives of economy , I know not , managed to secure a transit up country by a parcel-delivery van from Calcutta . The black driver proceeded much slower than his passenger liked , and he , unable to ascertain the cause , could say nothing beyond calling out repeatedly , " Juldee jao" ( Go quicker ) . The native , probably half in consequence of the other ' s grumbling
without sufficient reason , and partly in fun , replied , " Chooproo jee , loom Jclialc parcel % " ( You have no business to [ literally don't you ] talk , for you are nothing but a parcel ) . And thus much , by way ol digression , in regard to griffins . VOL . IT . 5 1 )
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Pencillings Erom The Sketch-Book Oe A Ma...
common thing to see there , the corpse of a Hindoo which had been therein deposited , instead of being interred on shore or burnt , floating past on the surface of the water , and insisted on the dandies or boatmen hauling up the defunct bod y * and carrying the decomposing remains to the nearest station , that it might be conveyed into the
presence of an European magistrate , from a belief in his mind that the man had been murdered ; and that if no notice was taken of it , the ends of justice would be defeated . The crew were disgusted and angry , at having to perform the office of undertakers , and the
wellmeaning youth , in addition to the ridicule to which he had exposed himself by forcing this supposed duty upon them , was mulcted in a heavy fine by the magistrate for his obstinacy , as nothing else would appease them for the damage done to their caste , and as a means of purifying their boat from the contamination of a dead body .
Another griffin , when marching up the country with his corps , thought proper one fine morning , accompanied by his horsekeeper , to have a little shooting . Being somewhat near-sighted , he could not see distinctly what appeared to him some strange wild animal , on the opposite side of a fence , at which he was about to take aim , but was instantly checked by his native attendant . Our griffin , however ,
not knowing Hindustani , could not fathom his meaning beyond the sign that he should not fire . On return to camp he told his companions the story , one of whom asked the horsekeeper what the animal was ; he replied , " Dhobee ka guddha , saheb" ( Sir , it was a washerman ' s donkey ) ! The creature having its ears back , and being in a strange position , was not recognized by the short-sighted gentleman . Of course , there was a good laugh as his expense .
Here , too , is one of a similar kind : —A young officer , when out for field-sports , fires at some birds , of the name of which he is ignorant ; his horsekeeper , wishing to explain to him their worthlessness , and the waste of powder and shot , exclaims , on seeing what he is about , " Khooch nay , saheb , " meaning to say , They are nothing at all , sir . However , the gentleman bags six of them , takes them to his friends ,
informing them he has killed six khoochnays , —they were sandlarks One more : usually there is no great appreciation by natives of what among Europeans will pass as bon mots . They seldom appear to indulge in witticisms ; but this seems to be an exceptional case . A person , not belonging to the service , soon after his arrival in
India , being unacquainted with more than a few words of the vernacular , whether from necessity or motives of economy , I know not , managed to secure a transit up country by a parcel-delivery van from Calcutta . The black driver proceeded much slower than his passenger liked , and he , unable to ascertain the cause , could say nothing beyond calling out repeatedly , " Juldee jao" ( Go quicker ) . The native , probably half in consequence of the other ' s grumbling
without sufficient reason , and partly in fun , replied , " Chooproo jee , loom Jclialc parcel % " ( You have no business to [ literally don't you ] talk , for you are nothing but a parcel ) . And thus much , by way ol digression , in regard to griffins . VOL . IT . 5 1 )