Batta-money 1805. prize-money is made. There is indeed an allowance of table-money by the East India Company, May. called batta, in the following proportions; viz. Post-Captains, 500l. per annum; Masters and Commanders, 2501. ditto; Ward-Room Officers, 241. each, ditto. What a falling off is here! The Midshipmen and Warrant-officers are not allowed any thing; but a proportion of tea and sugar is served to the men, sufficient for breakfast. Now every officer drawing pay to the amount of 1001. per annum, by being obliged to take the pagodas at 9s. 6d. or 10s. each, the intrinsic value of which is only 8s. thus loses 20 or 25 per cent. on his pay, which absorbs the whole of his batta. He cannot go ashore on either duty or pleasure, without hiring a palaukeen, which subjects him to an expense considerably exceeding that day's pay. Add to this, the great price of every European article, completely counterbalancing the cheapness of the Indian. In short, all officers below Captains, on the India-station, are extremely ill off; and something should certainly be done to enable them to draw their pay without such an enormous discount on their bills. It is somewhat singular, that at Madras, and on the Coromandel coast in general, there are few other diseases than those of the liver; while at Bengal, that disorder is not so frequent; but fevers and some other complaints are more numerous and fatal. It has been supposed that the dry sandy soil on the Coromandel coast tends, by reflecting the heat of the sun, to produce liver complaints; while the low marshy grounds of Bengal, on the other hand, are more favourable St. Thomas's Mount. 1805. to the production of fevers. Madras does not May experience the little winter which Bengal does, in December and January; but it is more refreshed by sea breezes than the latter place, on account of its situation. It is often asked, who are best adapted to stand the effects of this climate, the gross, the lean, the lively, or the serious? If I can trust to my own observations, I would say the gross and the lively; as I have often remarked, that moping, melancholy, lean, and irritable people, are the first to be affected with sickness. There are some very pleasant roads about Madras; that which leads out to the Mount is extremely beautiful, being lined with trees on each side, whose foliage is so close, that in the evenings and mornings the sun is completely excluded; and of course, at these seasons, the road is crowded with all ranks and descriptions of people, Europeans as well as natives. St. Thomas's Mount, a pleasant little elevation, in the shape of a cone, on the summit of which is a Portuguese chapel, and a house for the Padré who officiates here, stands about six or seven miles from Madras, in a westerly direction; and forms the principal land-mark for ships approaching this settlement from the southward, the white buildings on its top making a conspicuous figure. It is believed by the Portuguese that St. Thomas suffered martyrdom in a cave on this mount; having fled from his persecutors, he was discovered here and transfixed by the lance of a Brahmin. The padré shows a painting representing this transaction, and likewise points out the spot where it is said to have happened. From Pantheon at Madras, this place there is a very fine view of Madras and its environs, with an extensive prospect of the Coromandel coast; along the whole of which, the surf breaking in three distinct lines, and the Massula boats crossing it in various directions, form a very interesting picture. Notwithstanding the great heat of the climate, the Pantheon at Madras exhibits, once a week, a brilliant assemblage of our fair countrywomen; who having bravely traversed an immense ocean, cheerfully reside on the sultry shores of Hindostan, to solace their husbands, parents, and friends, while absent from their native isle! It is really a pleasing sight to behold this lovely group Gaily trip it as they go On the light fantastic toe, forming a most singular contrast with the swarthy attendants behind them. Besides this public assembly, there are frequent private ones; and the Hon. Basil Cochrane, whose hospitable doors are always open, gives a ball and supper once a week to the ladies and gentlemen of the settlement, to which the officers of the army, navy, &c. are generally invited, 1805. May. Hindoo Mythology. CHAP. XI. Summary View of the Mythology, Religion, Manners, and 1805. THE Black Town, a place of considerable exMay. tent, and immense population, will be found well worthy the attention of the passing stranger, where he will have an opportunity of seeing, not only natives of every cast and colour, with their various ceremonies and modes of life; but also an assemblage of Arabs, Armenians, Persees, Malays, Chinese, &c. which cannot fail to gratify his curiosity, (if he is possessed of any,) and will repay the trouble of an occasional excursion through this motley group. In order, however, that he may be enabled to comprehend many things, which here, as well as in various other parts of India, will be presented to his view, I shall take this opportunity of introducing (from the best authorities) a summary account of the mythology, religion, manners, and customs, of the Hindoos; which, though concise, will, I hope, embrace every subject that may be necessary for the information, or conducive to the amusement of the young voyager and cursory visitor, for whose use these sketches are principally intended. The Hindoos, or Gentoos, are those inhabitants of that part of Hindoostan, or the Mogul's empire, who profess the religion of the Brahmins, supposed to be the same with that of the ancient Division of the Hindoos into Casts. Gymnosophists of Ethiopia. From the earliest 1805. period of history these people have maintained May. the same religion, laws, and customs, which they do at this day; and indeed they and the Chinese are examples of perseverance in these respects, altogether unknown in the western world. In the time of Diodorus Siculus they are said to have been divided into seven casts or tribes; but the intercourse between Europe and India, in his time, was so small, that we may suppose the historian to have been mistaken, and that the same tenacity for which they are so remarkable in other respects, has manifested itself also in this; at present they are divided only into four tribes; viz. 1st, the Brahimin, 4th, the Soodera. All these have distinct and separate offices, and cannot (according to their laws,) intermingle with each other; but for certain offences they are subject to the loss of their cast, which is reckoned the highest punishment they can suffer; and hence is formed a kind of fifth cast named Pariars on the Coromandel coast, but in the sanscrit, or sacred language, Chandalas. These are esteemed the dregs of the people, and are never employed but in the meanest offices. There is, besides, a general division, which pervades the four casts indiscriminately, and which is taken from the worship of their gods Vishnou and Sheevah; the worshippers of the former be ing named Vishnou-bukt, and of the latter Sheevah-bukt. Of these four casts the Brahmins are 4 |