them ‘whose _chauker_ he is?’ would be considered a gross insult: the
inferior class are, on the other hand, very ready to assume the former
designation; holding it to be far more respectable in the eyes of their
countrymen; who comprehend, and value, that distinction, which, among
Europeans, is little attended to; far the greater portion being, indeed,
absolutely ignorant of any reputed difference.
The _Banians_ being, without doubt, the first in fortune, as well as in
rank, claim priority of description. These are, invariably, Hindus,
possessing in general very large property, with most extensive credit,
and influence. So much is this the case, that Calcutta was, some twenty
years ago, absolutely under the control of about twenty or thirty
_banians_, who managed every concern, in which they could find means to
make a profit. It is inconceivable what property was in their hands;
they were the ostensible agents in every line of business, placing their
dependants in the several departments over which themselves had obtained
dominion. Was a contract to be made with government, by any gentleman
not in the Company’s service; these became the securities, under the
condition of receiving a centage, and of appointing their friends to
such duties as might control the principal, and save themselves from
loss. When a person in the service of the Company, was desirous of
deriving benefit from some contract, in the disposal of which he had a
vote, and which, consequently, he could not obtain in his own name;
then, the _banian_ became the principal, and the donor either received a
share, or derived advantage from loans, &c. answering his purpose
equally well. The same person frequently was _banian_ to several
European gentlemen; all of whose concerns were, of course, accurately
known to him, and thus became the subject of conversation at those
meetings the _banians_ of Calcutta invariably held, and do yet hold,
after the active business of the day has been adjusted.
It cannot, however, be denied, that many speculations have been carried
on by the aid of _banians_, which, but for the strength of their
resources, could never have been attempted. We owe our present extended
trade in the fabrics of Dacca, &c. in the sugar of the western and
northern districts, in indigo throughout the country, and numerous other
branches of commerce, to the support given by this class to such
gentlemen as appeared to them likely to succeed. It has ever been a
maxim among them, never to back an unfortunate man; their opinion being,
that misfortunes in trade ordinarily arise from want of management: if
their own prosperity may be adduced in support of that sentiment, it
will be found strongly to exhibit their policy of combining with those
who have not, on any occasion, embarked on a rotten bottom.
A _banian_ invariably rides in his palanquin, attended by several
underling _sircars_, _hirkarahs_, &c. He, to a certain degree, rules the
office, entering it generally with little ceremony, making a slight
obeisance, and never divesting himself of his slippers: a privilege
which, in the eyes of the natives, at once places him on a footing of
equality with his employer. Under such a system, it has been easy for
the tribe of _banians_ to effect the ruin of any individual; while it
was impossible for any man in distress to conceal his circumstances, so
as to obtain a loan, or to extend his credit: hence, the courts of law
were full of causes in which _banians_ were plaintiffs. Of late years,
the case has altered greatly; for, if we except a few large concerns,
such as banking-houses, and the principal merchants, who, having
valuable cargoes on hand, are each under the necessity of retaining one
of this jew-like gang, for the purpose of obtaining cash to make up
payments, or to advance for investments, _banians_ are become obsolete.
In former times, there was little alternative how money should be
secured, except on mortgage, or in the Company’s treasury; whereas, few
now think of lending money at less than 12 per cent., which is the legal
interest; and, as the Company do not receive loans at that rate, except
when pressed by exigency and, that the great agency-houses continue to
make such an immense profit as enables them to pay so high for money
accommodation; the floating property belonging to individuals, with
little exception, falls into their hands: consequently, there is little
occasion for _banians_; the principal remains of whose extensive
influence are to be seen in the above concerns, and in the management of
elephant, bullock, or other contracts; which they often buy of the
contractor, either for a specific sum paid down, or by allowing him an
annual contingent; so as to exempt him from the responsibility, as well
as from the management, altogether.
I shall only add, that this description of persons may be classed with
the superior _debashes_ of the Carnatic; and that, although there
certainly have been found some individuals who might fairly claim
exemption from the accusation, yet, that, generally speaking, the
present _banians_, who attach themselves to the captains of European
ships, may, without the least hazard of controversion, be considered as
nothing more or less than _Rum-Johnnies_ ‘of a larger growth.’ Some of
these gentry usurp the designation of _dewan_, which should imply an
extensive delegated power; that office, under the emperors of Hindustan,
and even now in the courts of Lucknow, Hydrabad, &e. being confidential,
and never bestowed but on persons in high favor.
The _Darogah_, or _Gomastah_, or factor, or superintendant is an office
rarely held under Europeans, though extremely common in the services of
native princes, and of men of opulence. Some of our merchants appoint
persons to attend to their concerns in remote parts; such as the
timber-dealers in the Morungs; the iron-smelters of various parts; the
contractors for elephants, camels, bullocks, horses, &c. have also their
agents at the various stations. In general, these are common _sircars_,
who assume the title of _darogah_ by way of pre-eminence, without any
authority from, and often without the knowledge of, their employers. The
latter, however, are rarely averse to such an assumption; which, while
it tickles their vanity, costs not a farthing. The _darogahs_, or, I may
rather say, the _sircars_, frequently call themselves _naibs_, or
deputies: this should seem a more modest term; but, among the natives,
is considered at least as consequential as the former; especially when
the principal never eclipses the self-created dignitary, by personal
attendance to his own affairs in that quarter. Many of this class are
considered as approaching to menials.
The _Moonshy_, or linguist, is ordinarily a teacher of some language,
particularly the Persian and Hindui: though numbers are employed only as
interpreters, or as scribes. Learning is their sole pursuit; and so far
as that can reach in a country where but little is understood of
philosophy and mathematics, some of them do assuredly advance themselves
considerably. But, speaking of them in general, it will be found, that a
few volumes of tales, the lives of those great men who have either
invaded, or ruled, the empire, some moral tracts, and the Koran, (for
_moonshies_ are Mussulmans) constitute the acquirements of this very
haughty class of servants. A _moonshy_ is never so well pleased, as when
the payment of the domestic establishment is confided to his charge.
Here he is sure to touch the penny, and to create an influence very
injurious to his employer’s interests: the whole tribe of menials,
considering him to have full command of the whole concern, and viewing
their master as a mere cypher, dread the _moonshy’s_ authority, and
crouch before him in the most submissive manner.
The _banian_ rarely receives wages, or any immediate remuneration for
his services; he knows full well, that no money can pass the files on
his fingers without leaving some dust. The _darogah_ is sometimes paid
by centage on the quantity of goods he transmits, or on the amount of
his account; but the _moonshy_ is ever in the receipt of wages, which
vary according to his own talents and reputation, or to the rank of his
employer. Perhaps, a few may be found who receive more, but two gold
mohurs, (equal to four guineas,) per month, may be taken as rather a
liberal, than an ordinary, rate. Some do not receive more than eight or
ten rupees; but, whatever the learning of such men may amount to, their
conduct is generally influenced by motives wide from purity. Many of
this class might formerly be seen attached to those young officers, and
civil servants, who found an easy mode of gratifying their ostentation
by that display of study they never realized, and who employed these
pretended tutors in all the drudgery of expenditure; not forgetting
those meaner offices, which, while they disgraced themselves, levelled
all distinction between the man of letters and the common pander!
The private habits of _moonshies_, in general, by no means correspond
with the respectability of their profession. Having only to attend their
employers at stated hours, and the residue of their time being wholly
unoccupied, it is not to be wondered, that, with their liberal salaries,
they should rather court, than shun, pleasure. Hence, with very few
exceptions, we find them extremely debauched and unhealthy. What with
venery, drinking, smoking, &c. nine in ten of them exhale the most
intolerable effluvia! This, by no means, lowers their pride: on the
contrary, they apparently resort to arrogance, and to that precious
species of fastidious hauteur, ordinarily to be found under the same
sheep-skin with every consummate hypocrite!
The _Jemmadar_ is considered the most confidential, and important, of
all that class of servants forming the retinue of a person of
distinction. The despatches, and consultations of the various members of
the council, are usually conveyed by, or presented to, the several
_jemmadars_, in small boxes, of which each member has a key. Some
_jemmadars_ are retained merely with the view to superintend buildings,
and commercial operations; but such cannot be classed, strictly
speaking, with those who are merely state servants; although the wages
of each may be nearly on a par; viz. from twelve to twenty rupees
monthly. This servant bears no insignia of office, but, for the most
part, studies to imitate the appearance of a _moonshy_ of a respectable
class; from which he may, however, be often distinguished by the dagger,
ornamented with gold and tassels, or in a crimson velvet case, tipped
with gilt guards, worn in his _cummer-bund_, or waist-cloth: whereas the
_moonshy_ never wears any weapon whatever.
The _Chobe-dar_, or silver-pole bearer, is retained only by persons of
consequence; sometimes only one, but usually two are employed, and even
four may be seen in the retinue of very exalted characters. The pole,
(or _chobe_,) may be about four feet and a half in length, tapering
gradually, from the metal ferule at its base, to the top, which may be
about four inches in diameter, and is generally embossed with some
figure, such as a tiger’s head, &c.; while the rest, for the whole
length, is of some pattern such as volutes, scales, flowers, &c. The
pole consists of a staff, perhaps three quarters of an inch in diameter,
spreading towards its top, so as to assimilate to the form of the
exterior case; which is of solid wrought silver, often weighing 150
rupees or more, into which, the staff being placed centrically, melted
rosin is poured to fill up the intermediate space; the same as our
plated knife handles are done, thereby rendering the whole sufficiently
substantial, without adding too much to the weight.
The _chobe-dar_ is generally a man of some prudence, versed in all the
ceremonies of court etiquette. He stands at the inner door of the
audience, or receiving, apartment; announcing the approach of visitors,
and conducting them to the presence. The _chobe_ being in itself of some
value, and the office of considerable trust in many instances, it is
usual for this servant to give adequate security, by means of creditable
persons who vouch for, and take upon themselves, the actual
responsibility regarding his conduct. The wages of _chobe-dars_ vary
considerably, but we may take from eight to twelve rupees as the
average. They attend early in the morning; and, besides the
above-noticed duty of announcing visitors, run before the palanquins of
their employers, or, if there be no _jemmadar_, at the sides, so as to
receive orders without being called. They likewise carry messages, or
notes, on formal occasions; especially to superiors.
To this particular, great attention is paid; it being considered, that
the rank of the servant bearing the message, or note, implies the degree
of respect the person sending would pay to the person receiving. Thus, a
message sent by a _jemmadar_, is held to be more ceremonious, than one
by a _chobe-dar_; by a _chobe-dar_ more respectful than by a
_soontah-burdar_; and by a _soontah-burdar_ than by a _peon_, or
_hirkarah_. So well is this understood, that, the precursors of a great
man always arrange themselves according to the above rules; the
_hirkarahs_ and _peons_ are the foremost; next to them the
_soontah-burdars_; then the _chobe-dars_; and, lastly, the _jemmadar_;
the latter running at the side of the palanquin, but being replaced
during occasional absence by a _chobe-dar_; and thus throughout. It must
not be forgotten, that, in India, the retinue precede the employer: a
custom by no means suited to the climate, though perhaps gratifying to
those who take pleasure in seeing two lines of sweating domestics
preceding them; it need hardly be urged, how unpleasant the clouds of
dust raised by them must be to the person seated in the palanquin.
The dresses of the _jemmadar_, and of the _chobe-dars_, may be
considered the same; there being no characteristic difference, though
the former usually make their _jammas_, or robes, which are always of
white calico; unless where colored broad-cloath may have been presented
to them for the purpose of making up liveries: which, however, do not
usually extend to this class of messengers; white being considered by
themselves more dignified. Nor do they feel any partiality for colored
turbans, or waist-bands.
The _Soontah-burdar_ bears a baton of about thirty inches in length,
generally curved at its upper extremity, so as to resemble the ordinary
form of bludgeons. These batons are made of the same materials as the
_chobe_, or pole; but, while the latter are borne, when their bearers
are proceeding with a palanquin, by a suitable balance near their
centres, like trailed arms, the former are held by their lower
extremities; which, since they never are rested on the ground, as the
_chobes_ are, require no ferules; the crooked end of the _soontah_ being
carried over the shoulder.
_Soontah-burdars_ are frequently employed by persons in a second or
third rate of office, or of opulence, where no _jemmadar_, nor
_chobe-dar_, is kept. As already explained, the absence of one
state-servant calls up the next in rank to supply his place; a
circumstance which by no means impairs the dignity of the _locum
tenens_. The pay of this servant varies according to circumstances, but
may be from six to ten rupees monthly: the dress differs from that of
the superior class; it, in most cases, being confined to a much shorter
_jamma_, reaching only to the knees, or but little below them, and there
being less objection to wear colored turbans, &c.
The _Kansamah_ may be classed with the house-steward, and butler; both
which offices appear to unite in this servant, who, in his dress,
generally imitates the _jemmadar_, or the _chobe-dar_. Those who have
but rarely seen a table laid out in India, must wonder at the elegance,
and perfection, which may there often be found: this must appear still
more surprizing, when it is considered, that none of those concerned in
the preparation of the viands, would, on any account, taste of them
during the course of preparation, any more than when returned from the
table. It must not be supposed, that every servant bearing this
description is equally acquainted with the several minutiæ the character
ought to include: in fact, but very few of them possess such
qualifications as should entitle to pre-eminence: generally, some of the
more observant, or intelligent, of table-attendants of the lower order,
contrive by application, and even by paying those _kansamahs_ who are
considered clever in their business, to climb up the ladder of menial
rank, and ultimately to reach this station; which is the _ne plus ultra_
in its branch of servitude. The wages are supposed to correspond with
the talents; but, there being no scale whereby to regulate estimation,
we may be better guided, in this particular, by the rank of the
employer; though a few instances may be adduced wherein epicures, of
very moderate income, have retained _kansamahs_ at very exorbitant
rates. Perhaps I may be right in taking from twelve to fifteen rupees
for a common standard; from fifteen to twenty in families of rank, or
opulence; and from twenty to forty among the first circle. I have known
instances far beyond even that monthly stipend: a few cases might be
adduced where not less than _a hundred rupees_ have been given! As that
corresponds with £l50. per annum of British currency, a sum which all
below princely magnificence could but indifferently afford, it may be
concluded, that, in the East, as well as in the West, there are to be
found individuals who think no expence too great, when their appetite
and taste are to be indulged.
The _Sircar_ is a genius whose whole study is to handle money, whether
receivable or payable; and who contrives either to confuse accounts,
when they are adverse to his view; or to render them most expressively
intelligible, when such would suit his purpose. These rogues are pretty
nearly the same as the Madras _debashes_: I believe all, who have
experienced the kind offices of either, will readily confess that no
compleater knaves are to be found in any part of the world. And this
under the most sedulous appearance both to please, and to serve, those
whom they are about to plunder. As _peons_ and _hirkarahs_ rise to be
_chobe-dars_, and _jemmadars_; and as _khedmutgars_ succeed to the
appointment of _kansamahs_; so may _sircars_ in time become _banians_,
_dewans_, _darogahs_, _gomastahs_, &c. Many of them even set up as
_shroffs_, or bankers, and establish such an extent of credit as would
astonish the inhabitants of Lombard Street. There are _sircars_ of all
ages, and of all degrees; from the shrewd lad of twelve, to the
superannuated monster, whose sixty, or seventy, years of worldly
intercourse, may be considered a record of fraud and extortion.
Nothing can perhaps be more forcible in exposing the characteristic
traits of _sircars_, than the fact of their ordinarily tendering their
services to young men, under the declaration that _they seek for no
pay_; nor for remuneration in any form, beyond the _pleasure_ of laying
out master’s money to the best advantage. I should premise, that, on
account of the immense variety of coins current in India, it is
customary, whenever any large sum is to be received, to employ an
examiner, called a _podar_; who, having confined his pursuits to the
acquirement of a most accurate knowledge of their several values, at
once decides upon the correctness of a payment. The precision,
quickness, and touch, of these persons, are beyond description. I have
been assured that many of them can, even in the dark, distinguish
between several kinds of money, whose size and weight bear no great
dissimilarity: besides, even those coins that bear the same value, and
come from the same mint, differ greatly in both those particulars; some
being broad and flat, like a shilling, though not defaced; while others
are more dumpy, and, though of purer metal, not so ponderous.
Many of the _sircars_, especially of late years, unite the office of
_podar_ with their own business. This, it will be supposed, should
enable them to secure their employer from loss, but is, on all
occasions, made the means of injuring both his pocket and his credit, by
passing inferior money at an unjust value into his chest, and issuing it
at a _less_ rate, if to a native colleague; but, if to an European, then
at a _higher_ value; the _sircars_ of each joining in the device: when
circumstances fit, this operation is reversed. I am prepared for the
following obvious question; viz. ‘If the master knew the rate at which
the money was paid to him, how happens it, that, after entering it in
his books, he allows it to be paid away at a different, or, at least, at
a lower, rate, than that at which it was received?’
This query should appear sufficient to stagger any person to whom it
might be put; but to a _sircar_ would not prove in the smallest degree
difficult of solution. He immediately tells master, that the _batta_,
_i.e._ the exchange, is altered, and, in saying that much, he may have
the truth on his side. I have already hinted at the fluctuations that
take place in all coins, whether gold, silver, or copper. This up and
down price of money, if I may use the expression, is managed by the
_shroffs_, or native bankers; who invariably, except on particular
holidays, meet towards midnight, compare accounts, and settle the value
of money for the succeeding day. Notice is accordingly circulated in an
underhand manner; and, throughout the great town of Calcutta, covering
perhaps three thousand acres, and well peopled, the whole of the parties
concerned, nay, even the ordinary retail shop-keepers, are apprized of
the alteration. Sometimes the exchange is allowed to remain at the same
rate for a few days in succession: this rarely takes place except when a
particular currency, say silver, is to be bought up at a low rate, such
as 58 or 60 _pice_ to a _rupee_, to be sold again when the rate has
been, for that purpose, raised to 64, or 65. So soon as either purpose
is accomplished, the exchange alters by the same invisible means.
The number of _pice_ in a _rupee_ constitutes its value; as the number
of rupees and _annas_ do that of a _gold mohur_; which, if _sicca_, from
the Calcutta mint, ought invariably to pass at sixteen rupees. But the
regulations of government have too often been openly trespassed, in the
most daring manner. This was carried to such a pitch, that the whole of
the silver currency at one time disappeared; the _shroffs_ and _sircars_
had bought it all up; so that persons in business were induced to offer
premiums for silver; without which mercantile concerns could not
proceed. It is a well known fact, that, for some months, the troops at
the presidency were paid in gold, issued to them at par; but which,
owing to the infamous combinations above described, would not pass in
any part of the market, unless a deduction of one-eighth was allowed!
_Sircars_ contrive to defraud all parties with whom their masters may
have concerns; thereby disgracing them on many occasions, especially in
payment of card-debts; which are soon distinguished by this _Argus_
race.
Besides the advantages thus made, the _sircars_ derive a very
considerable emolument from all purchases made in the markets, of
whatever description. Whenever an European, even in person, buys goods
of a native, his servants have, from time immemorial, a claim on the
vendor of half an anna in every rupee the latter receives. This, which
is called _dustooree_, or customary gift, being a thirty-second of the
disbursement, amounts to no less than 3⅛ per cent.: it may therefore be
imagined what immense sums these gentry must pocket, when serving
gentlemen who have large establishments to support, and whose servants
are numerous: for even from the very domestics does the _sircar_ claim
the above gratuity, when paying their wages!