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ORIENTAL MEMOIRS:
A NARRATIVE OF
SEVENTEEN YEARS RESIDENCE IN INDIA.
BY JAMES FORBES, F.R.S., &c.
SECOND EDITION,
REVISED BY HIS DAUGHTER,
THE COUNTESS DE MONTALEMBERT.
IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. II.
LONDON:
RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET, Publisher in Ordinary to His Majesty.
J. B. NICHOLS AND SON, 25, PARLIAMENT STREET.
CONTENTS
OF
THE SECOND VOLUME.
CHAPTER I.
Administration of Justice in Dhuboy-Trial by Panchaut-Sacred
Trees in the Durbar Courts-Minutes in the Dhuboy Courts of
Justice-Three extraordinary Trials-Infanticide-Suicide com-
mon among the young Hindoo Widows-Singular Petition in the
Court of Adawlet at Baroche-Remarks on the Devils or Genii
mentioned therein-Modes of ascertaining the Guilt of the Ac-
cused-Demons in Sacred and Profane History-Hidden Trea-
sure common among the Ancients-Wonderful Accumulation of
Asiatic Wealth-Guarded by Serpents-An extraordinary event
of this nature in the Dhuboy Purgunna-One similar at Surat-
Anecdote of a Naga or Hooded Snake-Ordeal Trials permitted
at Dhuboy-Dherna-Koor-Hindoos buried alive-Story of a
Suttee, or self-devoted Hindoo Widow reclaimed-Ablutions and
other Customs in India-Salt the Symbol and Pledge of Hos-
pitality . 1
CHAPTER II.
General State of Agriculture in Guzerat-Morning Beauties in India
-Best Mode of Preserving Health-Guzerat Villages described-
Tanks and Wells-Hospitality to Travellers in Guzerat-Peasantry
-Right of Landed Property-Mode of Cultivation, and Appropria-
tion of the Produce-Massaulchee-Illustration of a Parable-
Washerman-Cullies, or Farm-Yards-Oppression of the Zemin-
dars-Hindoo and Mosaic Charities-Unfavourable Traits in the
Brahmin Character, and the Hindoo Religion-Human Sacrifices
-Contrasted with Christianity-Jaghires and different Tenures in
Guzerat-Scale of Oriental Despotism-Mahratta Cruelty in the
Sheep-skin Death-Hindoo Bill of Sale of Land-Lease of Land
at Baroche
33
-
CHAPTER III.
Bhaderpoor-Eastern Highways-Isaiah Illustrated-Beauty of the
Country-Mawah-tree Palmyra-tree- Sugar-cane-Bamboo-
Curious Banian-trees-Wells-Simplicity of Indian Manufactures
-Fraudulent Deceptions in Weighing Cotton-Cunning and Du-
plicity of the Hindoos-Excursion in Purgunnas-Beauties of
Cachemire-Travelling Brahmin-Account of British India under
Mr. Hastings-Description of the Hindoo Mendicants-Anecdote
of a Brahmin destroying a Microscope-Extraordinary Feats of
Indian Jugglers-Hindoo Drama-Arab and Scindian Infantry in
India-Hawking-Fighting Rams-Hospitality of the Arabs-
Power of Music on Antelopes in a Spectacle at Poonah-Destruc-
tion of Monkeys by Tigers-Cruelty of Bheels and Gracias-Pre-
sentation of a Gracia's Head-Death of an Indian Female from
Futty Sihng's Seraglio-Hindoo Soothsayers, and Diviners-
Wilds of Bhaderpoor-Description of a Tiger-hunt by Sir John
Day
58
CHAPTER IV.
Zinore Purgunna-Town of Zinore-Manufactures-Presents from
Zemindars-Brahmins of Guzerat-History of Shaik Edroos, a
leper-Kama-deva, the God of love-Religious groves-Wretched
state of the Chandalahs -Mud-palace at Zinore-Amiable traits
in the Hindoo character-Bhauts and Churruns-Fortune-telling
Brahmins-Three extraordinary anecdotes of Prophecies fulfilled,
after predictions by a celebrated Soothsayer
94
CHAPTER V.
District of Chandode-Juggernaut-Funeral Ceremony of the Hin-
doos-Four Grand Divisions of Hindoo Castes-Temple and Village