WESTERN

MRS. POSTANS is fitvourably known for her pleasant little work on Cote!' ; and these volumes on Western India will add to her repu- tation. Like her previous book, they are somewhat superficial; there is also a good deal of " pure description," and occa- sionally upon matters that have been described before. But much of what she tells is new ; most of it is pleasing; and she bas de- voted considerable space to three interesting subjects—the condition and character of the peasantry, the progress of education amongst the natives, and the mode of life of the native women.

Her geographical field of observation has this extent. She opens with Bombay and its vicinity ; whose appearance, population, and manners, she sketches. The once splendid but now deserted Portuguese city of Bassein, on the Gout Bander river, and the de- clining emporium of Surat, are visited and described, both in their fbrmer history and present state. She made journies to the Deccan and the Surashtra Peninsula, so celebrated for the magnificent re- mains of Buddist superstition ; and she appears to have travelled

pretty well over Guzzerat. But the more valuable parts of IVestern LaTia consist of sketches from actual life, or are the result of a longer and more varied observation than appears in the nar- rative of her tours and sojourns.

According to Mrs. Possesxs, " a change is taking place amongst the gentry," and a main object of her book is to sketch that change. We have not, however, been able to trace any very numerous or striking instances of this mutation, or to gather many results from her pages, though we do not doubt the filet she aSserlS. We see that at Bombay, and probably hi all towns where the means z)re offered, the higher class of Pagan natives are anxious to have their childreneducated in "all the learning of the Egyptians ;" though some prefer acquisitions which will be of use, as arithmetic and English, to the more abstract branches of learning. Vdll- Macailing but over-zealous persons endeavoured to convert the educational institutions at Bombay into a means of proselytism, by introducing the Scriptures. To this the natives mildly ob- jected, with a national argument, that Meg did not require their own holy books to be used in the schools, and they could fitirly ask that their youth should not be taught to despise the religion of their ancestors. The religion of the present generation of intelligent Hindoos, when they have been widely conversant with the English world, would seem to be rather a habit, or a point of honour, than a belief. With the rising race the superstitious observances appear

to be shaking rapidly ; same pupils having gone so for as to attend

anatomical demonstratiens, though to touch a dead body is pollu- tion. Mrs. PosrAxs predicts that the present generation of' culti- vated Hindoos will be Deists—which is most probable; and hopes that the next may be converted to Unistianity. The INIahometans do not attend the schools; nor are they so willing, so docile, or so "capable," as the various sects of idolaters ; whom, however, they profess to despise.

"In convey: 1n:: with flu' or two fiderably informed Miscall:tea, on tip capa- bilities of the lb inthu.s, I have been amused by the instant depreciation of the poor I :lean s, whichu ro..ed from the curled lips ot the haughty Moslems, now,' ea V Cal! :(IV t121'1 these people any thiag they worship stenes, and their ficaTh and 111L're idols are made ti. mu the same 'docks. "

This coot enipt is eepad with hatred ; the Hindoo dreading nothing so much as the rastablishment of the Moslem sway ; whilst the Malminetans, our author thinks, are galled and dissatisfied with the English rule.

The Iiindoos, however, have amongst themselves plenty of the greatest of all pride, the pride al caste. To the Bombay esta- blishments no tradesman's son is admitted, nor the sons of any one below the caste of a Purvoe or writer. Half-castes are also ex- cluded on their mother's account.

Publie examinations of scholars by masters are not evidence of

education, or of information in a steiet sense, owing to the practice of preparation ; nor, confined to a teat- book, would they be it' con- ducted by strangers, from the fiteilit,y most children p.'s of learning hy rote. However, they are the readiest and almost the only general test ; and as such must be taken. hero is part of Mrs. POSTANS' sketch of

AN ENAmINATION or NATIVE SCIIOLAIIS.

The subject of the first exalniltation was English history, conducted by Mr. Ilenderson ; the questions on the most minute incidents were answered with ease and readiness, ',anther's work beiog selected fur ref..renee, whit wbiall the studeats seemed perfectly conversant ! A son of a rich Prime, (Dadabhuy Pestonjce.) rendered himself conspicuous by the information he possessed ; a scholarship had been the reward of his diligence ; but the attendant emolument haul been declined, Pestonjee having largely contributed to the funds of the institution.

The scrotal examination was in mental arillmietie; and to an acute observer of the effects ofeharaeter and education in developing peculiar varieties of phy- siognomy, few occupations would have proved more interesting than the en- deavour to trace the bent of minds in this strong mental exercise, and to watch the knitting brows and working muscles of the animated countenances which beamed around us. A. little ladi of seven years of' age, with an overhanging *" Soft were my numbers ; who could take offence, Whilst pare description held the place of sense?"

forehead and small sparkling .eyes, peculiarly attracted our attention : the mo- ment a question was proposed to the class, he quielsly took a step before the rest, contracted his brows in deep and anxious thought, and with parted lips and anger eagerly uplifted towards the master, silently but rapidly worked his problem in a manner peculiar to himself, and blurted out the solution with a startling baste, hall-paiuful, MX-ludicrous. The little fellow seemed wholly .animated with the desire of excelling, and his mental capabilities promised him a„rich reward. Bs• birth he wria a Parsee ; and it is remarked that even at an early age lads of this class display a capacity for calculation and mercantile

• pureuits, which accompany them through life. It is certainly true that this part of the native community value information only as it leads to emolument, and being wholly destitute of taste, esteem the most sitch description of know- ledge as may be rendered available in the countinghouse. The third examination was on the six first beoks of Euclid, int-Laing plane trigonometry. In this the Hindoo lads were distinguished fin. the correctness of their demonstrations ; and I was inform ,d, that in all descriptions of ab- sh.act or exact science, the Mutton students ■11ay an aptitude fur superior to any other clam Correct translations of Luclid knee been rendered into the Mahratta language; but the lads demonitrating in the school read and speak English fluently.

It would be a long and pethaps a useless task to speculate upon the effects of English education and companionship upon the fortunes of India. 'One thing ia more certain—they will promote a demand for English commodities amongst the richer natives, and connect us, if our rule lasts long enough, by indissoluble ties with Vindostan. This taste for European fashions is shown by very finny instances. Some of it peeps out in this account of a visit to IIORMARJEE 13031AN.IRE, ESI10110; the title of Squire being rather incongruous affixed to the name of a follower of Zoroaster.

A PARSEE souls= AT 11031E.

• Having been long anxious to observe swnewhat of the domestic !winners of the: Parsecs, I gladly availed mys:If of the invitation of Hormarjee Bomanjee,

Esq., to visit his famils. at " Lowjee This splendid mension is situated

'near the Governor's residence at Pavel! ; and hes limg been in possession of the same family, who intik amongst the most wealthy and influential Parsecs of the Bombay Presidency.

After entering the spacious hall of Lowjee Castle, we found ourselves 'ushered up a flight of bnsad and handsome stairs, which le,1 to a megniticent

itrawing-room, decorated with the utmost rhdriu,s. Luxurious couches, and

ottomans covered with damask silk, were arrmeed with gilded fimteuils of the most commodious form : good paintings, including full-length portraits of Lord

Nelson and Sir Clunks Forbes ornamented the walls ; and. superb windows of painted glass cast the brilliantly tinged rays of the departing sun on chande- liers of dazzling lustre. Princely in general effect, the whole combined lien with the dignified end graceful d.,portment uf its posFessor.

Receiving us with considemble address, Ilor:nerjee introduced. his family ; the flower of this interesting group being a little damsel of about eight years of

age,--a lovely svlph-like creature -prettily attired its the costume other people, which although .not accordiug with our usual bless of the dress best suited to childish 'midis, assimilated well with the laru'mid air and fragile form of the little Parsee maiden. Rich plimsoll satin trousers were confined by gold bangles around her slender ankle; a chemise of delicate and snowy fabric, fastened at the throat by a single gem, was adorned with numerous necklaces, Midi's, or talismans; and a small crimson and embroidered cap concealed her luxuriant tresses.

The brothers of the little beauty were intelligent and handsome lads, pupils of the college school. They spoke English fluently, and seemed gratified at any inquiry on the subject Of their studies. Each wore the simple cotton an krika and chintz turban, of that precise form peculiar to the Parsecs; but their family rank was announced by a remarkable fairness of complexion, as well as by the brilliant gems which Mashed on their tiny hands, and the size of the superb but onset emerald which depended from the left ear of each.

The Guebre appears by no means to have been such a stiff-necked maintainer of his opinions as the race whom Mr. MOORE has comme- morated in his " Fire-Worshippers ; " but, on the contrary, quite a reasonable man of the world, with a touch of complying Conserva- tism in his views. This account of his conversation is very cha- racteristic.

" Hormaijee, with an air of the easiest good breeding, entered into conversa- tion on a variety of subjects of general interest ; speaking of the extensive trade with Chine, and the value of the rich freight frequently- imported to Bombay by his own vessel, the 'Lowjee family.' Hormarjee mentioned how much the Parsecs were indebted to European protection in the commencement of their .commercial enterprises. He spoke also of the abuses of the free press ; and lamented that the Chnbonk and its editor should be encouraged by native so- ciety in the Radical tone adopted against the acts of the local government. On the subject of education, Ilormarjee expressed great satisfaction at the establishment of the 'Junior College School,' and the appointment of its nd- mirable teacher. I ventured to inquire, if, with his liberality of opinion, he did not wish his daughter to share shinier advantages to those now enjoyed by his sons? and whether he would individually object to the introduction of suitable acquirements among the ladies of his Emily? " llormarjee replied with readiness, as if the question had been one which bad previously met with his consideration. The time, he said, had not yet (w- aited for the education of Asiatic women; he doubted not, however, that the progress of enlightened views would achieve this mighty triumph over usage and opinion ; meanwhile, lie assured me the condition of Parsee women was one of great ease and serenity ; that their time was agreeably occupied by domeetic duties and trifling accomplidiments; that they were not secluded in the man- ner generally supposed ; but if restrained from intercourse with foreigners, yet constantly permitted to enjoy the society of their relations and friends. In addition to these remarks, Honnarjee expressed his conviction, that a few veins would introduce great alterations in the manners of the PU6E:a people, and the increased liberty and. enlightenment of the women would inevitably result.

In the course of Mrs. POSTANS' tour through Guzzerat, she visited the Nabob of Junagarh, a worthy who would appear to have sat for the original of the "Nabob's Six Ages" in the Confessions of a Thug. However, he treated the European travellers with great distinction; invited them to his court ; got up a play and entertainment for them ; visited them in torn; and allowed Mrs. POSTANS free access to his seraglio, containing four wives and fifty concubines. As Junagarh is an out-of-the-way place, the manners of the people are more aboriginal than in many places throughout the East, where the march of one thing or another has tended to strip them of all that is genuine. We will therefore draw at some length from our fair writer's account of a morning visit to the Nabob's principal 'wife. Surrounded by slave •girls, all Chatting- merrily together, andsiome With thvir inftnts in their arms, we proceeded through a suite of several apartments to the

Beehee's sitting-room. There was an air of' privacy and quietness about thiS

little Moliamniedan boudoir particularly inviting ; and while its arrangement promised an 'unusual degree of comihrt, a free circulation of air was insured by its height. - Numerous windows of wrought stone-work which surrounded it afforded the fair inmate a charming view of the sacred mount and the tine minarets of the neighbouring mussals towering above the majestic trees which skirt the town.

Seated next the Habit Thackt6, I hind full opportunity for Mimiring, the taste with which her apartment was adorned. The floor was covered with

crimson cloth, over which was tightly strained linen of spotless purity ; aril

the ceiling concealed by a fine white cloth embroidered with gold stars the produee or the celebrated looms of Ahmedabad. A rich border wrought in

gold represented a cornice, to the edge of which was attached n flounce of crimson and greun silk. From the corners depended green glass hoops; and on one side of the floor rested a pile of cushions, covered with a Palampore, or coverlet, of' hymn purple broidered and fringed with gold. The colours, though so varied, were harmonious, and the combined effect was one of rich.

it, rather than gaudy display. Tire walls of the apartment, beautifully whitened, were decorated with Chinese paintings and lookingglasses in gilt

frames, while the 5Pacs were occupied with little gold and silver golaubdanis, (rose-water sprinklers,) and ersamelted lotahs, suspended in bead nets.

As the Bechee's mehtali or steward was present, a tine gray-bearded gent-looking man, I ventnred to inquire whet were her pecuniary resosn'eas, as I felt a little anxious on the matter of Mohammedan husbands' generosity, and the weighty atfair of pin-money.

The Balk Pittekte: most unreservedly explained, that 011 her marriage the Nuwatth had bestoweit on her a gras or estate, consisting of eight villages, which she farms on her own account. The chief produce consisted of man- goes, lull- the value of the vilhiges varied ; the svliole seemed to average about three 11111;4,1 rupees, or thirty pounds a month. The Rah i t Bucktvproved I ier.,eit during our conversation to be a good woman of business, quite ne ,t:;( on the subject of grain, ploughs, mangoe-trees, &c., from which her reVenit.:h a,,tir;(1; large ledgers, written in the Guzzeratee chareeter, were produced, eitil particuler pages readily referred to in explains- tion of the subject. Iter e,tate, the Beebee told. me, was situated between Junaarli and the sea, where the country, from its natural fertility, was called the Neil Negir, or land of the blue waters. The Rahit Buckt6 is considered a mirmde of learning by the inhabitants of the harem ; she reads and writes Persian, Guneratee, and Hindostance, which she acquired front her father's priest or peer, when a little girl. The Nuwaub had married her as a widow, which is a very unusual circumstance in Mohammedan families. Fully aware of the strict system of seclusion which forms the etiquette of the harem, I was surprised to find her inetali admitted to her presence; but she said, with the Nuwaub's family it was usual to receive personal attendants of either sex ; but that the servitors of one Beebe° were excluded from the apartments of the rest, if of the forbidden sex. The Beebee chattered a great deal, and made many inquiries into our cus- toms of 'manage, baptism, amid dress. Her great curiosity, however, seemed to be awakened on the peculiarity of our owning the rule of a female sove- reign ; and she desired to know wfiether our Queen's power was great ; whether she sat supreme upon the gaddee or throne of England; whether she rode on horseback, as I assured her was customary amongst English women; undethether her Majesty showed herself in open durbar amongst the men. She seemed a little incredulous when I told her the power of our Queen far exceeded that of Alia Bliye, and that she was inure learned, more beautiful, and more wise titan the celebrated Noor Johan. The Habit Buckte then inquired what jewele our great Ranee wore. And when I described the countless diamonds which adorn the royal ermvn and stomacher, the Beebee, the slave-girls, and the gray. bearded metah, all, with one impulse, lifted up their hands, exclaiming, " Allah Kureem ! rest ust? " (God is merciful! but con this be ?) The Beelwe's surprise subsiding, she insisted upon writing the Queen's name in the fly-leaf of her Koran; but the Guzzeratee language not possessing the neeessaiy V, a W became the acting capital, and our royal lady's name most grievously transformed.

The Habit Buckte accompanied me to the apartments of the languid but pretty Dosie Beebee. It is well arranged that the wives of the Nuwaub have • till separate apartments; which prevents domestic bickering and the exhibition of many of those little arts, practised by ladies whose leisure affords them abundant time to become proficient in the science of ingeniously tormenting. Here the fair rivals never meet, or even hear of each other, unless from the prattling; of slaves. I asked the Habit Buckte, on our way to the Dosie Bee- bee's apartments, whether she liked or was intimate with any of the other ladies; but she said " No; they were too idle and illiterate to be agreeable friends."

Every fresh observation of remote or barbarian people tends to overthrow an opinion, once sedulously inculcated by the wise, and still believed by many of the vulgar, as to the sudden invention or rather creation of arts. The Gods introduced what were useful— Ceres discovering corn, Bacchus wine, and so forth ; whilst god- like men produced the ornamental—as II03IER epic poetry, TUESPIS the drama. Alas for wonders! go where we will, the germs of arts, mechanical and fine, are fbund planted in human nature, like language, to be matured by a long progression. The savage of Australasia, the most barbarous of his race, mimics the European ; he chants, though monotously ; and his limited machines are as much specimens of' arts as of mechanics. The probable parent stock of these barbarians, the :Malayans of the Indian Archipelago, have plays like their Polynesian kindred of the South Seas. Write essays on the invention or revival of the drama f—the drama is inherent in human nature. The true credit of the dramatist is to have excelled all his countQ men in his art, they having exactly the same means as himself. This is the praise of the Classical re- mains ; this is the praise of SHAKSPERE. This digression has been produced by the description of a moral fiirce played before the Nabob of Junagarh, apparently without effect or thought of effect upon his morals.

THE EVIG or TWO W/VES.

A much RIM novel entertainment, however, awaited us—a theatrictd exhi- bition by four accomplished Thespians. Scenery or stage effect we had none; but the whole was in the very height of comic humour. The story of the farce selected Was, that a rich Patan thief, leading a peaceful and happy life with a single occupant of hit harem, feels an irresistible desire to travel, and leaves his tender wife half heart-broken, but somewhat reassured by his vows of eternal fidelity. Mounting his fiery steed, the chief sets out, and after a long and safe journey, be meets a lady weeping on the roadside and as a widow, imploring h sympathy pathy and protection. 'I be Patan declares id:itself a bachelor about to seek his fortune, arid not caring to be encumbered; but honeyed words preraill he metrics the widow, and seating her behind him, returns to his own house. In the recesses of the harem we see his first wife sitting desolate on the ground, her same drawn closely over her face to conceal her, grief, and lamenting in tones of sadness the absence of her beloved lord. A servant rushes in and announces his return; the with springs up, and the faithless hushand enters, carefully concealing his recent acquisition behind the folds of his travelling dress.. A dish of rice (represented by a turban) is brought in, and the husband and wife sit down on the most loving terms, and commence their feast. A most absurd and characteristic dialogue follows, in which the Paten, %vial all the enty boasting of a class notorious for their Falstalr-like cowardice, relates the imminent escapes of his jourres ; how he was attacked by rohlters, and how the spear of their chief produced a dangerous womal ere his Kliirk: levelled hint ut ith the dust ; and how princes and chietS rivalled cad' other to do Lim honour for his valiant bearing; essnying as he told his vaunting tale to con- ceal his starving companion, "who sits crouching at his back, and whom lie coo. trivvs to feed by rai,ing his hand in violent affirmation of his story and drop- ping :woe grains of rice hit° her open mouth. At length discovery takes place; violent reproach follows; the litst \rife her husband nrinst the second, and the seconul returns hint to the first, and thus the poor man is !Dade to reltound between his thir companions until he falls to the ground exhausted; and the ttudience, amidst roars of laiighter, iliseover the moral, %chilli is somewhat singular for a 11ultannacthta ttlRC the evil. of a duplicate of wives.

What is good of the drama is good of the actor ; and here we have

AN INDIAN

The hero of this perk comNh., a lm was really a mimic of considerable talent—albeit the ugliest and almost the dirtiest nem I have ever seen—nest gave imitations of birds, after the manner of a zitneur, and that must ad- mirably. :.;eale.t upon the ground, with a saree over his head he mimicked the 'Ann, with its conceited attenq t at smug ; the colah, or mangoe bird ; the copper- smith, with its single, St sip, tapping note; the sweet gurgle of the bultoil aial the raw of an excited and angry crow. Again, thesate. actor commenced it series of laughable cariva tures of native mantors ; aud n itt jut oilier aid than I long red scarf mid his own talent as a dn-de, he carried you at once with him loutthe seems lie represented. We saw 11 proud Patan thief set 00 t tiltah a ret ice Kattia war steed thy Lad; a mph smoking his lionhoil in all darbar; a horse-dealer pulling a !rid steel ; a dissipated chief bar•.eivieg wills a stood. for the disbursement ot les adds ;til equally just as deliiications of native character.

The are many other topics left untouched,—as the character of the natives and the di,sipation of European soldiers ; the con- dition of the people in the interior; some curious accounts of

native arts, and the nest lull of colonization in India. Eat the r ee!er who is interested in the subject, and pleased with :Ile spe- e:mous quoted, may seek the volumes.