of habit, in Master and servant being accus- and cupidity, and unparalleled in any country tomed to each others ways; and this, if it be in the world? Are they to be grateful to us in allowed the name gratitude, is infinitely strong- having by absurd laws and the appointment er among the natives of India than it is among of a succession of young men as Collectors, the English. or even Judges, who were totally ignorant of Some persons entertain a notion that they the customs of the people, reduced the landed are entitled to the gratitude of a servant, sim-tenures of the Upper Provinces to such a ply because they have retained him for several state of confusion that it is almost impossible years; or to that of a tradesman, because they is almost the last security which a man who to make a title to a single yard, and that land have dealt with him for a considerable time.

But unless any peculiar favors have been advances money will take? Are they to be received at either hand, out of the common These are I think about the sum of their obli grateful to us for our purveyance system? way, I cannot see that such expectations have

any reasonable ground. The accomodation gations to the British Government. For the has been mutual; the master kept the servant treatment which, generally speaking, they rebecause he performed his duty to the satisfac-ceive from individuals, I beg to refer to No. 4 tion of the former, and the servant remained in his place because he found it suited him :and the servant has as much right to expect the gratitude of his master as the reverse.

of these papers, 66 on the behaviour of the English towards the natives." After reading much reason the natives have, on the whole, that, my readers will be able to judge how to be grateful to the English as individuals.

But the universal outcry which is raised by the English against the ingratitude of the The truth of the above description is undenatives reminds us very much of the apposite that during the last two or three years, a more niable, but it is indeed delightful to perceive remarks of Byron on the same accusation brought against the Greeks-" they are unkindly and benevolent disposition towards the grateful; notoriously, abominably ungrate- people of India has begun to manifest itself ful! This is the general cry-now, in the among the English, both individually and on name of Nemesis, for what are they to be the part of Government. May I be allowed to grateful? Where is the human being that indulge the thought that the frequent appeals ever conferred a benefit on Greek or Greeks? to the better feelings of my countrymen which They are to be grateful to the Turks for their rise have made, may have had some share in these papers and others to which they gave fetters, and to the Franks for their broken promises and lying counsels; they are to be producing this change. Still, however, in grateful to the artist who engraves their ruins, natives of India, we are apt to form our judgspeaking of the gratitude or ingratitude of the and to the antiquary who carries them away; ment on a completely false standard. All our to the traveller, whose janisary flogs them; notions are derived from the intercourse beand to the scribbler whose journal abuses them. This is the amount of their obligation to tween the natives and ourselves, whereas our foreigners"-so we may ask with regard to the opinion ought to be formed from their behavinatives of India--Are they to be grateful to our towards their own native chiefs and mas. the British Government, which by a succes- ters.

sion of force and fraud has obtained a large Let us consider our position in this country: portion of territory, and has inflicted on them the little gounds which exist for any commua Government which they detest? Are they nity of feeling; the hardships and annoyances to be grateful to us for having deteriorated which the natives are often obliged to underthe landed interest and reduced almost every go in our service; the almost certainty of the individual of respectability connected with service not being permanent; and the great it to penury? For having daily taunted them chance of its being of very short duration; with the utter corruption, dishonesty, and in- and we shall then be better able to judge on efficiency of the native character, and for the subject. Every native knows that it is the discharge from office of every one con- the object of every Englishman to return nected with it on our acquisition of the home as soon as he has acquired a comperespective provinces, as well as their subse-tence to enable him to do so that if taken quent exclusion from all situations of trust seriously ill, a voyage to sea, or perhaps to and honor? For having established a system England, is the first thing thought of; and that of miscalled justice of which the civil de almost every one of us, so far from being a partment was a nonentity, and of no benefit member of a family, is, as it were, an unconto any but the dishonest; while the Police nected and insulated individual, who at his was in such a state that even the Government death leaves no trace behind; since his widow was obliged to pronounce that "to the people and children, if he have any, immediately of India there was no protection, of person or return to England. For either of these cases, property." Are they to be grateful to us for an Englishman's establishment is entirely brohaving taxed them in every possible way to ken up; his property sold off; and his seran extent far beyond what they had ever paid vants, after receiving their wages, are turned before, so that almost all landholders in the adrift. It is these circumstances, and not our unsettled provinces have been reduced to a foreign extraction, and difference of faith and happy equality of poverty? Are they to be complexion, that causes the natives of India grateful to us for having nearly annihilated all to exhibit such an indifference to us and to our internal trade and manufactures by a system service. I have often known servants obtain of internal duties, prescribed by ignorance two or three months leave from their masters

at Cawnpoor to visit their families, perhaps| Now can any such feelings be expected to at Benares or Patna; who never returned to exist between the English and their native their old services. The fact was, opportuni- attendants so long as our sojourn in this ties of service offered themselves on the spot, country is upon its present footing? Had the and they preferred taking advantage of them, English become permanent settlers in India, instead of going such a distance; though it they would have found as much attachment was a probability (in some cases a certainty) on the part of their native servants as is exthat they would ere long have to move with perienced by the native chiefs. When one of their new masters to a long distance from their the young men joined the Army, or was aphomes. Had these been asked why they did pointed to a civil employment, he would be not rejoin their old masters, they would pro-attended by some of the old family servants : bably have replied as I have heard before we should seldom hear complaints of any ill now a native do in similar circumstances, behaviour or of servants running away, and "An Englishman's service is so precarious leaving their masters in the lurch. If they that I thought it a hardship to travel so many were detained from home for a long period hundred miles, and perhaps find my master without the youths' being able to obtain leave dead or going on sick leave, or gone, in con- to visit his family, they would be relieved by sequence of orders to some stations three or others of the family servants: and after visitfour hundred miles further off;" on the other ing their houses, would again return to their hand, I have known some instances of a duty. Nevertheless, despite of the unfavorcontrary nature well worth recording, to able position in which we are placed for obwhich I shall allude presently. taining the attachment of the people, there But as before observed, it is not only from are some splendid instances of devotion on the the conduct of the natives towards ourselves part of native servants and attendants towards that we should judge of their grateful or their European masters, when the latter have ungrateful feelings whether of the greater deserved their regard; while on the other or inferior descriptions; we must look at hand I am rejoiced to hear my testimony in their recriprocal behaviour to each other; favor of the kind return made by these to their we should visit the families of the native faithful domestics; not only providing for chiefs and nobles who have occupied the same them during their residence in this country, residence for many years, and who have but ensuring the regular payment of the penold hereditary servants, whose fathers and sion after their return to England. grand fathers have served the ancestors of the present chiefs for many generations. Here lowed themselves to be cut up and wounded The servants of Mr. Forbes, of Bombay, alwe shall find as much devotion and respect in the most cruel way, when they might have among the attendants and menials towards saved themselves by telling the simple truth all the members of the family as much pride that their master of whom the banditti were in in making every thing appear to the best search was not far behind, whereas to save advantage, and as much identification of him, and mislead the miscreants, they persisttheir interest with that of their masters as ed in asserting that he was a day's journey a was to be seen among the old hereditary head, quite out of their reach; which comfamilies in England, Scotland, or Ireland pletely succeeded, the robbers leaving the even in the feudal times: and if those who high road and returning to their homes. About have been led by curiosity or intelligence to three years ago a man with a drawn sword visit the (alas! they are almost all which now rushed into the office of the Magistrate at Futexist) ruins of palaces and mansions of de- tehghur, with the intention of attacking him, cayed greatness in this country would inquire when the Nazir of the court, grappled with among the few aged and decrepid beings who him, and although severely wounded secured usually surround them, the history of their the scoundral without assistance. How often former inhabitants, they would usually find have native soldiers sacrificed themselves to that they were old dependants of the family, lingering like withered leaves about the attached. The late instance of the chuprassave the lives of officers to whom they were fallen tree, and perhaps subsisting on the sie (Luchman) at Jeypore is fresh in every pension of which the ruin of their masters one's memory. In short the instances that

had not deprived them.

might be collected would fill a volume,

In the history of India we may find abun-not to speak of the inferior (though to dant instances of the most devoted attachment the individual for the time being scarcely less shewn by servants to their masters in times valuable) instances of devoted attention and of peril: of masters attended by their servants sympathy which are so constantly exhibited for months, in situations where the latter by natives to Europeans in sickness and sorcould hardly procure food to eat; and even of men sacrificing their lives to save a master to whom they were attached. These were the consequences of permanent and hereditary connection between people who were residents of the land: on the other hand, at the houses of the chiefs, old worn out servants may still be seen, quietly ending their days under their masters' protection and maintained by his bounty.

row, and of which I believe there is scarcely a European in the country, however undeserving, who has not had some experience, however indisposed he may feel to acknowledge it. All this is so much additional proof that our foreign extraction, and difference in colour, creed, and customs, is no impediment whatever to our obtaining the respect and esteem of the people, provided we behave so as to

merit it.

Nor are examples wanting of gratitude, al- many bad qualities, and are constantly drawthough of a less striking nature. A native ing conparisons between them and the servants who obtained his livelihood by letting out in England. Now, in the first place, those three or four camels for hire, once went to an civil and military officers who have never been officer of the 24th Dragoons, and stated that at home since their first arrival in India, with he had been unable to procure any employ- the exception perhaps of one in a hundred, ment for them for so long that he could not are totally incapable of forming an opinion avoid getting in debt; and that unless as- of English servants. They leave England so sisted, he should be obliged to sell one of his young that they have never had any controul camels. The officer lent him, I think, thirty over servants; all they had to do with them rupees. Not long after his camels were was to have their coat brushed and their shoes hired, and he was enabled to repay the money: cleaned and to be waited on at table. Of all but afterwards, if ever he received an offer to the difficulties and annoyances connected with engage his camels, as long as that officer re- the internal management of the family attenmained at the station, he invariably before he dants, they neither knew nor understood any accepted it went to ask him if he were in want thing; all this fell on the parents or heads of of carriage, observing that he was of course the family. On the other hand, on their first entitled to the preference. A native was ar- landing in India, they are surrounded by a set rested for debt, due to a merchant and indigo of scamps who are known by the cant name planter, by process issued by the latters' agent Rum Johnnies: (corruption of the Moosulman who remained usually about the district Court name Rumzanee, which is commonly given to to superintend his legal business. As the boys born during the Rumzan or lent) these debtor resided at a considerable distance from men are convenient, for they all speak Engthe Court, close to the merchant's house, he lish-they only attend on new comers during begged in the first instance to be taken to the the few days or weeks they may remain in merchant, to whom he said, "It is true, I have Calcutta, when they take their leave. Few of owed you this money for a long time and have them would take settled service in a family, behaved very ill in not paying it: you have and no respectable persons who had been any me in your power now; do not disgrace me time in India would knowingly engage one of by sending me to jail, and I will pay you in a them. About the Writers' Buildings, there short time: only trust me this once, and you are a regular set of these attendants, forming shall have no reason to repent it. The mer- part of the fraternity of these Rum Johnnies, chant took pity on him and procured his re- who serve the Writers as long as they remain lease. The debtor faithfully paid the money, in the buildings; but the greater number deand though this transaction occurred some part as soon as the young civilian is out of the years ago, the man would at any time do any College, particularly if he be going to leave thing for this merchant, and when the latter is riding out, if the man catches sight of him at a distance, he will run up, merely to make his salaam.

Calcutta, although at a station of only a few miles distance. These men, what with the perquisites of the old English and ship-clothes and the sums they contrive to make by being employed in buying various articles, generally contrive during the short period of their service, to realize some three or four times the amount of their pay, which on taking their discharge, they spend in riot and debauchery until they are fortunate enough to meet with another novice.

On the whole, I should say, that the comparison on this head between the lower orders of English and the natives of India was in favor of the latter, and that they have more of real gratitude in their nature, as well as of the inferior quality above described, at least I have experienced and witnessed a good deal of it myself in India; whereas in England For some years Government have appointed an officer to take charge of the young cadets, the upper classes seem to condemn the common people, almost in toto, as not having a procure them servants, and such articles of spark of the feeling. The universal complaint for their journey to the interior; but in reality, furniture and other necessaries as are required is, that do what you will, you can rarely pro- the business is chiefly left to a native clerk, duce any sentiment of gratitude or even thankfulness: whatever you give them, whatever and the description of servants furnished to you do for them they look upon as a right-the young men is not much better than for"You are well off in the world, therefore we merly. Nevertheless, all circumstances conhave a right to expect assistance from you" is sidered, I believe the establishment of this the only idea which they seem to entertain. Such at least is the invariable complaint of all the gentry who attempt to ameliorate the condition of the poor around them, though of course, exceptions are to be met with there A few observations in conclusion on the character of native servants will still further illustrate the subject.

as elsewhere.

Most young men on first arrival in India, and many during the whole of their residence, complain bitterly of the native servants, of their roguery, inattention, and I know not how

officer has been a considerable advantage to them. The young writers are as badly off as they were before. Only imagine a Frenchman who knew not a word of English landing at the London docks, and engaging one or two servants of the above description who had never been in any reputable establishment, but who had been hired for a month at a time by different sea Captains and passengers, cheating each as much as they possibly could.

Rumzan, better known in England by the corruption Rhamadan.

Where they got the h I do not know; the other mistake is easily ex plained. In Persian the same letter which without a dot is a d, with

a dot over it is a harsh z.

I do not think the Frenchman would be likely |sion while in their own apartments, will find to form a very favorable opinion of the Eng-themselves treated with even more respect lish in the capacity of servants. here than at home; and would they condeAgain, while the masters are constantly scend to adopt a little of the habits and lancomplaining of the servants, they seem quite guage of the upper classes of the female soto forget, that to be well served, certain qua-ciety in this country, instead of the disrepulifications on the part of the masters are in- table class of women by whom they are usudispensable in all situations of life. Temper, ally attended, they would after a few years' discretion, and the science of government and residence in the country, have little or no discipline form the chief: to which must be difficulty in engaging women of respectable added some knowledge of the people and the character, who would perform all those serability to speak the language understood by the vices for them which to the infinite degradaservants like a gentleman. In his own country tion of the English female character in India every man learns this naturally, in a foreign are now usually performed by men.* A fixed country it must be acquired at whatever cost, residence has also a considerable effect in if a man wish to be well served. My readers procuring a better class of people for servants. may think I lay too much stress on this point, Were I to arrange the English population but it is impossible to inculcate it too often. into classes, according to the respectability No native servant can ever believe a foreigner of their attendants, I should certainly place whom he knows to have resided several years the indigo planters and merchants first, (I in the country to be a gentleman, nor will he mean in the Upper Provinces, I am told the really respect him unless he speak Hindos-Bengal planters are a very different style of tanee as one of their own native gentry would people :) secondly, the Civilians, about onedo. There is nothing extraordinary in this; third of whose servants may be respectable, it is perfectly consonant to our own feelings. and the rest of very indifferent character: Suppose a Frenchman even though attended third, the Company's Military Servants, onewith the external marks of fortune were in- fifth of whose servants may be respectable, troduced to us who spoke the language, used and the remainder of very bad character; by our lowest servants-" I comed up to Lun- and, fourthly, the King's Officers, whose sernon two days ago."-" Hand us over that ere vants are, with few exceptions, the very scum plate," &c. &c.-even should he have brought of the country; regular English-speaking credentials to establish his respectability, we Rum Johnnies who hang about the same regishould immediately conclude him to be a man ment, and will rarely leave it. Yet, notof low birth and education who could never withstanding that so large a proportion of our have mixed with gentlemen, but who had ac- servants are all of so low a description and quired a fortune by some accident. If the of such doubtful and disreputable characters, Frenchman who had been some years in Eng- they give infinitely less annoyance to their land could not speak English at all, he might masters than any foreigners would receive in pass for a gentleman if his conduct and man-England from servants of the same stamp. ners were observed to be correct although we On marching, they will wait day after day for might wonder at his stupidity. So with the several hours after the usual time of taking natives. If an Englishman is wholly ignorant their meal, while they are working hard to of the language, they are ready to believe make their masters comfortable. Very few he may be a gentleman, if told so, putting English servants would bear this even for him down for a new arrival; but if he speak two or three days: indeed in travelling, if the vulgar Hindoostanee fluently, but is ignorant servants are not as well fed and as well off in of the style in use among the native gentry, their way as their masters, they are always the people will never believe him to be a gen-grumbling and discontented and in almost all tleman. It is also a curious fact, worth notic-instances receive higher wages and other ading, that generally speaking, the better an vantages to compensate for the little inconEnglishman can speak Hindoostannee, the veniences to which they may be exposed. more respectable will his attendants be. The But besides the knowledge of the language reason is this. A foreigner who can speak and customs of the people, the other qualifiHindoostannee like a native gentleman is cations of temper, and the art of government supposed to have mixed with the native nobi- and discipline are equally necessary. Caplity and gentry; to have consequently obtain Hall has made some excellent remarks served their habits, among whom beating or on this subject regarding naval discipline; abusing servants is looked upon with great and describes the same crew which under disgust, as something excessively low; and one Captain was always in disorder, notwithis supposed to have adopted the tone of the standing constant floggings and other punishupper classes in managing his servants. Con-ments, under another in the best order possequently many natives of a much more re-sible, while not one punishment occurred duspectable class than usual will enter the ser-ring five or six months. The principle is previce of one who is believed to have the above cisely the same, although the object may be qualifications, while nothing would induce them to go near one of the jargon-speaking Englishman. So also ladies, who are mild and gentle in their manners to their female servants, and who preserve the habits which are equally characteristic of gentlewomen in England and in India, of delicacy and seclu

Allusion was made in No. 4 to this indecent custom which the majority of English ladies have adopted of allowing their menservants of all descriptions to be constantly coming into their bed rooms. That there is not the slightest necessity for it, which is the excuse offered by some, is provided by the fact that many ladies are decent enough to prohibit it: in whose houses all the work necessary, inside the room, is performed by the ayahs. Such ladies are respected accordingly; I will not say in broad terms in what light the others are looked upon by the people.

of minor consequence in the government of These two men instantly set off on foot to Calservants. With attendants of the same de-cutta, although they were so ill provided with scription and disposition, you will see one mas- the means of paying their expenses that they ter who is constantly abusing or beating his were obliged to beg their way for the last half servants, and can never get his household of the journey which they performed in an exinto any thing like order; while the esta-cessively short time; and sometimes all they blishment of his neighbour is in the most got to eat during the day was a little parched perfect discipline: yet the master seldom grain. Now if these men had been the rasspeaks a harsh word to his servants, and cals which the natives are so constantly repreprobably the highest penalty ever inflicted sented to be, how easy would it have been for is a fine of a few pice. The following instance them to have remained at home quietly enjoyis of occurrence not uncommon. A man whose ing themselves, and to have rejoined their servants were all in excellent order was about master on his return (for they knew he was to return to England. Of course his servants coming back as quick as possible) and to have were paid up and discharged. A friend of invented a story of their having been taken his who had as he said very bad servants, ill. I have known several instances of men dismissed them all, and engaged the others in on their return from England on furlough his service. But after a short time, he was hiring an establishment of servants from twennot a bit better served than before, the new ty-five to seventy or eighty in number, none servants soon became as careless as those he of whom they had ever seen before, and immehad discharged: simply because he had not diately setting off to march up the country. the art of managing them. The instances of people hiring servants in Some people are always complaining that this way and travelling by water to the intethey cannot get good servants: but the fault|rior are innumerable. Yet where the masters is chiefly in themselves, and in their igno- knew how to manage them, there was not a rance of the art of discipline and authority; single quarrel or annoyance of any sort. on the other hand I do not hesitate to say, What would be the result of hiring a heterothat wherever a man possesses these indis-genous mass of servants in this way in Engpensable qualifications for conducting an In-land. The man who would attempt it would dian establishment, he will find the native ser- be worried out of his life by the disputes and vants infinitely more attentive, more obliging, trouble with which he would be beset. and more ready to submit to inconveniences to promote his comfort than ninety-nine out of a hundred English servants would be. There are several little points which it would be wise in masters to attend to. If a servant is sick, visit him (provided he live within the enclosure of the grounds) now and then, or send to ask him how he is. If he goes on leave to visit his home, ask him on his return if his family are well; if he goes to a wedding feast at the marriage of one of his relations, ask him if all went off well; and so on. If masters would condescend to show these little attentions and proofs of interest in the wel-are usually considered the best. fare of their dependants, it would promote kind feeling between himself and them to a great extent: but not one in fifty, perhaps not one in five hundred ever think of it.

On the whole, therefore, I repeat, that where the lower orders of natives had met with any thing to excite their gratitude they have evinced this virtue in a much higher degree than the corresponding class in England; and that when properly managed, they are infinitely more ready, more obliging, more willing to submit to inconveniences for the benefit of their masters than any English servants, except, perhaps, here and there a few old and faithful domestics reared from childhood in their masters' service,-I have ever met with; though my experience has been among what

One more anecdote I must beg leave to mention, though it would have been more in its place above; merely to show how exceedingly quick the natives are to perceive wheA few anecdotes of native servants will ther a man understands their conduct or not. conclude the present remarks. I have known On a ship arriving from England and anchormen who resided from four to five hundred ing at Chandpal Ghaut, two passengers landed; miles from Calcutta, no sooner apprised of the one who had been many years in India the return of their former master from England, | other a fresh arrival. Each was speedily surthan they set off and travelled at their own ex-rounded by about a score of the Rum Johnpense to Calcutta for the chance of being nies abovementioned, all making their saagain allowed to enter his service, although laams and presenting their written characters. from the time which must have elapsed be- The "old hand" quietly returned their satween the receipt of the intelligence of his lutes, upon which every one instantly left arrival and their journey to Calcutta, it was him. The thought which passed their minds almost certain that the masters must have pro-was something to this effect:-This man revided themselves with other servants. Would turns the salute of a common native (an exany English servant travel at his own expense such a distance, or even the twentieth part of it upon such a risk? A Colonel, whose name I forget, was proceeding by water to Calcutta to send his children home. He allowed two of his servants to go ashore some miles above Khanpoor, to visit their families and rejoin him at the latter place: but by the time they reached it the Colonel's boat had passed.

cessively rare thing for an Englishman in the Government service to condescend to do) he must have lived much in the interior of the country among the people, and must be well acquainted with our customs: he is not the man to hire people of our stamp.

A FRIEND TO INDIA. July 5, 1835.-Bengal Hurkaru.