Page:McCosh, John - Advice to Officers in India (1856).djvu/214

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194
ADVICE TO OFFICERS

Europe. Their original language, the Sanscrit, is highly refined,abounds in the greatest beauties of literature, and is extensively studied in colleges and schools. The colloquial language, the Hindostanni, is the channel of communication of numerous newspapers. Banking and commercial transactions are carried on upon the most extensive scale, with branches all over Asia, and the poorest shopkeeper, in the poorest bazaar, keeps his accounts on slips of palm-leaves as carefully and correctly as in a wareroom in Piccadilly.

6. SECLUSION OF FEMALES.—It is true that the female part of the population knows very little of these accomplishments, but this is only a peculiarity in their national manners; for such learning is considered as superfluous as it was in the early days of British history, when the maids of honour could not write their own love letters. Much sympathy has been wasted in England, and great commiseration has been expressed at public meetings respecting the secluded lives to which the females were doomed. But the ladies of India do not consider seclusion in the light of a grievance; on the contrary, they would think it the acme of misery to be subjected to the public gaze and admiration as in English society.

7. WORSHIP.—Much horror has been expressed respecting their idolatry;but the Mussulmen are not idolators,but nearly pure deists,and the Hin-