The Bramins, suspected of being wealthy, were particularly the objects of Tippoo’s inquisitorial tyranny; and one method of extorting money from them, and his other subjects, was as follows, with which we must conclude our quotations and remarks:—
“Were they accused of being rich, it was enough; and no small pains were taken to procure their accusation, Tippoo’s emissaries and spies being in every corner of his kingdom. Once informed against, all pleas were useless, and they were instantly dragged to Seringapatam. On their arrival, they were sent for by the paymaster-general, who would address them mildly, stating, that he had received information they were worth a certain sum of money, which he named, and that he wanted so much for his master’s services. If the proposal was acceded to, all was well, and perhaps the Bramin would be put in a more lucrative situation; but a denial, or a supposed prevarication, was sure to be accompanied with the most exquisite tortures. In this process, the first mode was, piqueting for a given number of hours; then, if this was found of no avail, the addition of scourging; if this also proved ineffectual, needles, fixed in corks, were incessantly applied to their bodies, while still under the scourge. This mode of punishment continued several days; and if all this could not make them confess where their supposed riches were, they would be then led to the large pagoda yard, and there put into cages of iron, on half a pound of rice, and a certain quantity of salt, per day, but not a drop of water, or any thing but those two articles. In this situation I have seen them, with their souls looking through their eyes, and God knows my feelings at the time; but a look of pity at them from us would have been construed into guilt. They would thus linger a few days, and expire in agonies,”—pp, 115 to 117.
Review.—Popular Tales and Romances of the Northern Nations. 8vo. 3 vols. pp. 346—316—349. London. W. Simpkin, R. Marshall, and J. H. Bohte. 1823.
The Author of Waverley, whoever he may be, has given a decided bias to the public taste, in favour of works of fiction; in consequence, such books are now constantly issuing from the press, and perhaps at no time has so much talent been employed merely for the purpose of amusing the public, as at present: formerly, a novel writer held about the same rank in the circle of literature, that a sonnetteer does in the suite of the muses; the consequence was, few men of genius would, as they conceived, demean themselves by writing novels. The “great unknown,” as he has been called, proved to the world, that a man of genius might not only combine instruction with amusement; but also acquire to himself fresh laurels, by entering upon this department of literature. The works of fiction which seem to have principally engaged the public attention, are what may be called historical legends; and it is no wonder, since the legends of their own country have been so well received by the British public, that authors should be found to write and translate, and booksellers to publish, those of other countries.
The “Popular Tales” is not the first work of this nature which is of German origin; in the beginning of the preceding year, a book made its appearance, entitled “German Popular Stories;” it consisted merely of the nursery stories of Germany, and was rather curious than entertaining: its chief aim seemed to be, to shew the antiquity of many of our nursery tales, and their evident Saxon and German origin. The present work has higher pretensions to notice in a literary point of view; the tales are longer, the plots more complex, more interest is excited, and the ideas and language are better adapted to “children of a larger growth.” Whoever takes up these volumes, must take them up merely as a work of amusement, and give the full rein to his imagination; there is not any appearance of probability in them; a supernatural or diabolical agency is the main spring in almost the whole of them; but the
