THE COLOR AND ORNAMENTS OF THE HINDOOS.
My dear children--If you will take a piece of mahogany in your hands,
and view its different shades, you will have a pretty good
representation of the color of a large class of this heathen people--I
say, of a large class, for there is a great variety of colors. Some
appear to be almost of a bronze color. Some are quite black. It is
difficult to account for the different colors which we often see in the
same family. For instance, one child will be of the reddish hue to which
I just referred; another will be quite dark. When I was in Ceylon, two
sisters of this description joined my church. One was called Sevappe, or
the red one; the other was called Karappe, or the black one.
This people very much resemble the English and Americans in their
features. Many of them are very beautiful. This remark will apply
particularly to children, and more especially to the children of
Brahmins and others, who are delicately brought up. But however
beautiful any of this people may be, they try to make themselves appear
more so, by the ornaments which they wear. These ornaments are of very
different kinds, and are made of gold, silver, brass, precious stones,
or glass. All are fond of ear-rings. Sometimes four or five are worn in
each ear, consisting of solid gold, the lower one being the largest, and
the upper one the smallest. Some men wear a gold ornament attached to
the middle of the ear, in which a precious stone is inserted. Sometimes
they wear very large circular ear-rings, made of the wire of copper,
around which gold is twisted so as to cover every part of it. These are
frequently ornamented with precious stones. The females, in addition to
ear-rings, have an ornament which passes through the rim of the ear,
near the head, half of it being seen above the rim, and half of it below
it. An ornamental chain is sometimes attached to this, which goes some
distance back, when it is lost in the hair. They sometimes also wear a
jewel in the middle of the rim of the ear, and another on that little
forward point which strikes your finger when you attempt to put it into
the ear. Nose jewels also are worn. Sometimes three are worn at the
same time. Holes are made through each side of the lower part of the
nose, and through the cartilage, or that substance which divides the
nostrils, through which they are suspended. The higher and wealthier
females wear a profusion of ornaments of gold and pearls around the
neck.
A very pretty ornament, about three inches in diameter, having the
appearance of gold, is also frequently worn by them on that part of the
head where the females in America put up their hair in a knot. In
addition to this, the little girls sometimes wear one or two similar but
smaller ornaments below this, as well as an ornament at the end of the
long braid of hair which hangs down over the middle of their backs.
Occasionally the whole, or the greater part of this braid is covered
with an ornament of the same materials with those just described. They
also wear an ornament extending from the crown of the head to the
forehead, just in that spot where the little girls to whom I am writing
part their hair. Attached to this, I have seen a circular piece of gold
filled with rubies. Rings are worn on the toes as well as on the
fingers, and bracelets of gold or silver on the wrists. Anklets similar
to bracelets, and tinkling ornaments are worn on the ankles. The poor,
who cannot afford to wear gold or silver bracelets, have them made of
glass stained with different colors. I have seen nearly a dozen on each
wrist.
The little boys wear gold or silver bracelets; also gold or silver
anklets. I just alluded to finger-rings. I have seen a dozen on the same
hand. In this part of the country, the little opening which is made in
the ears of the children is gradually distended until it becomes very
large. At first, the opening is only large enough to admit a wire. After
this has been worn for a short time, a knife is introduced into the ear
in the direction of the opening, and an incision made large enough to
admit a little cotton. This is succeeded by a roll of oiled cloth, and
by a peculiar shrub, the English name of which, if it has any, I do not
know. When the hole becomes sufficiently large, a heavy ring of lead,
about an inch in diameter, is introduced. This soon increases the size
of the opening to such an extent, that a second, and afterwards a third,
a fourth, and a fifth ring are added. By these weights, the lower parts
of the ear are drawn down sometimes very nearly, or quite to the
shoulders. Not unfrequently the little girls, when they run, are obliged
to catch hold of these rings to prevent the injury which they would
receive by their striking against their necks. I need hardly say, that
in due time, these rings are removed, and ornamented rings are
substituted.
A different plan is pursued with the Mohammedan little girls. They have
their ears bored from the top to the bottom of the ear. The openings
which are at first made are small, and are never enlarged. A ring is
inserted in each of these openings. I have seen a little girl to-day in
whose ears I counted twenty-four rings.
Flowers in great profusion are sometimes used to add to the adornment of
the jewels.
I cannot conclude my account of the jewels of the little girls, without
giving you a description of the appearance of a little patient of mine
who came here a few days ago, loaded with trinkets. I will give it in
the words of my daughter, which she wrote in part while the girl was
here. "On the 17th, a little dancing-girl came to see us. She was
adorned with many jewels, some of which were very beautiful. The jewel
in the top of the ear was a circle, nearly the size of a dollar. It was
set with rubies. Nine pearls were suspended from it. In the middle of
the ear was a jewel of a diamond shape, set with rubies and pearls. The
lowest jewel in the ear was shaped like a bell. It was set with rubies,
and from it hung a row of pearls. Close by the ear, suspended from the
hair, was a jewel which reached below her ear. It consisted of six bells
of gold, one above the other. Around each was a small row of pearls,
which reached nearly to the bell below, thus forming a jewel resembling
very many drops of pearls. It is the most beautiful jewel that I ever
saw. In the right side of her nose was a white stone, set with gold, in
the shape of a star. From it hung a large pearl. There was a hole bored
in the partition between the nostrils. This hole had a jewel in it,
about an inch in length, in the middle of which was a white stone with a
ruby on each side. It also had a ruby on the top. From the white stone
hung another, of a similar color, attached to it by a piece of gold. In
the left side of the nose was a jewel about an inch in diameter. It was
somewhat in the shape of a half-moon, and was set with rubies, pearls,
emeralds, etc. etc. This jewel hung below her mouth. On the back of her
head was a large, round gold piece, three inches in diameter. Another
piece about two inches in diameter, hung below this. Her hair was
braided in one braid, and hung down her back. At the bottom of this were
three large tassels of silk, mounted with gold. Her eyebrows and
eyelashes were painted with black. Her neck was covered with jewels of
such beauty, and of such a variety, that it is impossible for me to
describe them. Around her ankles were large rings which looked like
braided silver. To these were attached very many little bells, which
rung as she walked. I believe all dancing-girls wear these rings. We
felt very sad when we thought that she was dedicated to a life of infamy
and shame."
There is an ornament worn by the followers of the god Siva, on their
arms, or necks, or in their hair. It is called the _lingum_. The nature
of this is so utterly abominable, that I cannot tell you a word about
it.
Married women wear an ornament peculiar to themselves. It is called the
tahly. It is a piece of gold, on which is engraven the image of some one
of their gods. This is fastened around the neck by a short yellow
string, containing one hundred and eight threads of great fineness.
Various ceremonies are performed before it is applied, and the gods, of
whom I will tell you something by and by, with their wives, are called
upon to give their blessing. When these ceremonies are finished, the
tahly is brought on a waiter, ornamented with sweet-smelling flowers,
and is tied by the bridegroom to the neck of the bride. This ornament is
never taken off, unless her husband dies. In such a case she is deprived
of it, to wear it no more for ever--deprived of it, after various
ceremonies, by her nearest female relative, who cuts the thread by which
it is suspended, and removes it. After this a barber is called, who
shaves her head, and she becomes, in the eyes of the people, a
_despised_ widow--no more to wear any ornament about her neck but a
plain one--no more to stain her face with yellow water, nor to wear on
her forehead those marks which are considered by the natives as among
their chief ornaments.
I have now told you something about the jewels of this people. I hope
that you will never be disposed to imitate them, and load your bodies
with such useless things. They are not only useless, but tend to
encourage pride and vanity. All that you need is, the "Pearl of great
price," even Jesus. Adorn yourself with this Pearl, and you will be
beautiful indeed--beautiful even in the sight of your heavenly Father.
Have you this Pearl of great price, my dear children? Tell me, have you
this Pearl of great price? If you have not, what have you?
I just now alluded to those marks which the natives consider among their
chief ornaments. These are different among different sects. The
followers of Siva rub ashes on their foreheads. These ashes are
generally prepared by burning what in the Tamul language is called
[Tamul:] _chaarne._ They also apply these ashes in streaks, generally
three together, on their breasts, and on their arms. Some besmear their
whole bodies with them.
The followers of Vrishnoo wear a very different ornament from that just
described. It consists of a perpendicular line drawn on the forehead,
generally of a red or yellow color, and a white line on each side of it,
which unite at the bottom with the middle line, and form a trident.
Another ornament consists of a small circle, which is called pottu. This
is stamped in the middle of the forehead. Sometimes it is red, sometimes
yellow or black. Large numbers of women, in this part of the country,
wash their faces with a yellow water, made so by dissolving in it a
paste made of a yellow root and common shell-lime. The Brahmins
frequently instead of rubbing ashes, draw a horizontal line over the
middle of their foreheads, to show that they have bathed and are pure.
Sometimes the people ornament themselves with a paste of sandal-wood.
They rub themselves from head to foot with it. This has a very
odoriferous smell.
When the people are loaded with jewels, and covered with the marks which
I have just described they think themselves to be highly ornamented But
after all, "they are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear
beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all
uncleanness." The "Pearl of great price," to which I before alluded,
the only Pearl which is of any value in the sight of Him who looketh at
the heart, and not at the outward appearance, they possess not. Millions
in this Eastern world have never even heard of it. O how incessantly
ought you to pray that they may come into possession of it. How gladly
should you give your money to send it to them. I wish, in this place, to
ask you one question. Who of you expect, by and by, to become
missionaries to this land, to tell this people of the Pearl of great
price?