Among the great changes which are now passing over our gigantic
dependencies in the Indian peninsula, not the least noteworthy is
the rapid spread of a knowledge of the English language among the
native population. In certain districts of the Madras Presidency, this
knowledge of English may almost be said to be extending like wild-fire.
The English civil officer riding through a native village will
sometimes be greeted with a ‘Good-morning, sar,’ from a small boy whose
sole costume may be a string tied round the waist, and whose English
education may have extended no further than a few such interjectional
phrases. But among the school-boys, college lads, and a heterogeneous
collection of half-taught young men in search of employment, we meet
with most extraordinary feats in the use of our language. A well-known
story is told of a native clerk who, being detained at home by a boil,
wrote to his employer to say that he could not attend his duties ‘owing
to the suffering caused by one boil as per margin.’ And in the margin
of his letter was delineated with accuracy the form and appearance of
the offending growth!
The following was the amusing though pertinent answer of a student in
the University of Madras to a question about earthquakes and volcanic
action: ‘A month or two ago, says the _Times_, a violent eruption of
an unusual kind took place in Peru and Chili in South America; smokes,
flames, and hot melted matter were thrown with great violence on the
neighbouring districts from the hollow tops of the volcanic mountains.
Thousands of people of all orders and sexes were destroyed. When this
was the case an abominable earthquake took its part. Magnificent
houses, huge piles, largest trees, splendid temples, different kinds of
people with their relatives, and even large mountains were swallowed up
and goes on.’
The letters of native applicants for employment are often couched in
most comical terms. The writer once received a letter from a clerk who
thought he had not received the promotion he deserved. The missive
began: ‘HONORED SIR—Fathomless is the sea of troubles in which I sail
for 1 year.’ This mixture of poetic fervour and numerical accuracy
is unique of its kind. The following petition speaks for itself; the
style is common enough; but the writer is glad to say that it is the
only instance he has known of such an offer of apostasy as is here
disclosed; the proper names are suppressed: ‘The humble petition of
—— most respectfully sheweth; I am a Tanjorean [that is, native of
Tanjore]. My name is ——. My age is 20. I came here to my uncle’s house.
My uncle is the Police Inspector of ——. I want to be a Christian. There
are two Police Inspectors are vacant. Please recommend me to be one of
these Inspectors. As soon as I received the Inspector’s employment, at
once you may take me in Christian. There is no a single doubt at all.
If you want to see me tell a word to your Head Constable.... I heard
that you are mild, simplicity, and probity. I don’t know to write more
than this to you. Please excuse me if you find any mistakes. Shall ever
pray.—I am your most obedient and humble servant, ——.’
The next letter was sent by a clever hard-working native clerk who had
fallen ill. The signature alone is in his own handwriting, and the
letter was probably dictated to a friend. ‘MOST HONORED SIR—I have been
suffering from severest fever and bile for the last 10 days and I am
quite unable to move or to do anything. I lay quite prostrate on my
bed senseless (now and then)—continually painting—my sight fails—not a
drop of water I drank—no food—and having been under imminent danger day
before yesterday, my lucid intervals are very few, dangerous symptoms
frequently appear and I am not sure whether I will be able to see the
days before me—My case is very doubtful, precarious and dangerous. I
therefore most humbly pray that your Honor will be most graciously
pleased to grant one month’s privilege leave.... I beg to remain, ——.’
The following petition reads somewhat as though Lord Dundreary had
helped to compose it. It is from a pleader or attorney in a petty
civil court applying for the post of cashier in a government treasury.
Such cashiers have to give security in a considerable sum for the
due performance of their duties, and as a precaution against fraud.
It is this security (L.500) which is meant by the word ‘bail’ in the
petition. ‘MOST HONOURED SIR—This application is with great humility
presented to your honour by ——. The gazette reads that such as have a
wish to find themselves suffered to occupy the room of cashier, now in
vacancy, should undergo a greatly advanced bail of Rupees 5000. He is
appointed a pleader on the 11th D. day 1869, and by the civil judge in
character with his petitionally implored request, and he attends since
the heresaid down to the present age very punctually indeed his dearly
bought post.... He is, here he does very hopefully indeed state, ready
no matter at any while to give the here-demanded bail, Rs. 5000. Your
humble and very punctual petitioner implores your of course very widely
diffused charity to point to him his most humbly requested employ, or
otherwise, if ever so, any other one not far below it. Your honour’s
petitioner in requital and in duty bound very closely, will perhaps
never add even a second, while to diligence without bending his whole
heart to pray to the universal God to take care of and to cherish, your
honour together with all your family members for ever and anon. He
remains very affectionately truly yours, humble waiter, ——.’
The following curious epistle was addressed to an officer holding an
important post. It is hardly necessary to add that he was neither
Duke nor Lord. It will be observed that the writer does not directly
ask for monetary aid to relieve him from his difficulties, but simply
his ‘Lordship’s’ protection, and as a relief to his own feelings and
troubles. ‘MY LORD DUKE—I have the honor to inform to your Lordship’s
information that I will always obey your Lordship’s order ten thousand
tims do not be angry my Lord Duke upon me. I beg that your Lordship
that should excuse my faults it is my duty to get your Lordship’s
favor ten thousand times excuse my all faults my Lord Duke. I am much
fearfull I am very poor men my poor family requires to your Lordship’s
favor. My family is very poor family. I got a Mother Grandmother
Daughterinlaw and my family &c. I had a debt twenty-five thousand
Rupees. I am suffering much trouble for debtors. I believe that you
are my father and mother for my part only I want your Lordship’s kind
favour. If your Lordships be angry or even little angry immediately
I and my family must die at once, certainly it is my opinion I have
no protector but your Lordship. If your Lordships angry I must die at
once. I am much fearfull. If I had your Lordship’s favor It is quite
enough for me. You are Governor I am poor men. If your Lordship be
angry upon me it is quite my misfortune and my family therefore do not
be angry. This is not Government memorial. I thought that your Lordship
is my father and mother for my part therefore I have written all my
poor affairs to your gracious informations. Hereafter I never write any
letter to your Lordship nor I did not require any answer. only remember
me with kindness it is ten thousand profits for me. excuse the trouble
I have given your Lordships most valuable time. I have, &c.... _P.S._
I beg your Lordship will continue your favor towards me and my family.
Protect my Lord Duke. This is not memorial only for your Lordships
Gracious information. Protect me my Lord. This is First Mistake.
Execuse me my Lord, hereafter I never do any mistakes. I remain, &c.
——.’
Some years ago a great flood carried away a fine bridge over the
river Tambrapurni, near the chief town of the province of Tinnevelly.
This bridge had been built some thirty years before by a rich native
gentleman named Sulochana Mudaliar, to whom a memorial was erected at
one of the approaches to the bridge. The magistrate and collector—as
the ruler of the province is termed—by dint of great exertions raised
in subscriptions about seven thousand pounds; a sum sufficient to pay
for the restoration of the bridge. When the work was at last completed,
a grand opening ceremony took place, which gave occasion for a number
of poetic effusions in Tamil and in English by native aspirants. The
translation from the Tamil is the work of a native, and the following
is the reply of a great feudal landholder, who had been invited to
attend the opening ceremony: ‘MY DEAR SIR—I received your affectionate
ticket wanting my company on the occasion of the reopening of Sulochana
Mudaliar’s bridge on the 2d December. I was quite pleased to come down
for the occasion but I regret to inform you that I and —— are prevented
from coming from being a little sick. You will I humbly trust possibly
forgive me.—I beg to remain, Sir, Yours most obediently, ——.’
Extract from a translation of a Tamil poem:
Who is to judge of the might of Mr ——. He and Messrs —— and ——
of the eminent Tinnevelly District have had the pleasure of
constructing the bridge so as to be praised by the world and
allowed the people to pass over it freely. May they live for
ever.
The bridge fell down in the evening of Sunday, 18th November
1869. By the noise of which I swooned away and trouble came
also.
How can I describe your pains O Mr ——. You worked as diligently
at the words of Mr —— as the swinging of a swing and
constructed the bridge with success and very soon and completed
it within the fixed time. You beauty!...
I have sung upon you in my adversity and hunger. I pray you
eminent men to place your mercy upon me at your pleasure.
While you are all occupying this eminent world with great fame,
I undergo troubles like bees that tumbled down in honey. What
can I do. Cause some employment to be given me without failure
through the hand of —— with certainty.
We will conclude with a specimen of female composition in the form
of a letter sent home by a good old nurse or ayah named Martha, who
had accompanied her employers to England in charge of a baby, and who
had then been sent back to her native village in India. Both in its
sentiment and diction the missive is extremely touching.
‘To the Presens of —— and —— most Respected and Honored sheweth
The under Signed your Honor’s obediend The Mortha Ayah with due
Respectfully Begs to in form you about my considerations which I hope
will meet of your honor’s kidest aprovall. Respected Master and Misters
I and my Relations are all well By thanks of God and Faver of your
Honor’s while in this Time I hope you will be all right By thanks of
All mighty’s. This Poor and Obediend servend wrote a letter to your
honor when I came to —— I hope you may Receive it, I am doing Nothing
Since I left you by the Reason of no any Respected Place to work. here
is great Chalara in this year and all so Greatest Famine. 3 mesures of
Rice per a Rupee [between three and four times the usual price]. I hope
Dear Baby will speek and Walk at this Time I am very angshes to see her
and I lovely Thousan kisses to the Dear Baby, Respected Madam will you
kindly send me the Picture of the Baby’s to keep with me as you Promist
me. I humbly begs you to say my meny Thanks to the Mr and Mrs —— and
the childrens of them. Please tell my thanks to Miss Lysa and Miss
Looois [servants Eliza and Louise]. I hope I can see you very soon Back
in this Place. Therefore I humbly Begs to Remain Most Honored Madam
and Sir Yours truely most obediend servent Mortha Ayah. Misis —— she
looking to get me a Employmend anywhere. They are all well. The Dobin
[a favourite horse called Dobbin] he all right. Madam That this Poor
widdowe was Very much hapy at the Lost Year By your Exalend honor’s
kindness. But this new year I pased very miserably.’