Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 242

DUBOIS AS A GURU
202
a Feringhi guru, I was also the priest of all those castes of
natives who had embraced the religion of Sarveswara \
that I adhered strictly to all the Brahmin rules, made
frequent ablutions, just as they did, abstained from meat
and all intoxicating drinks, &c, &c.
These last assertions were pure falsehoods, which, on my
honour, I had never sanctioned but all the same they
were made and repeated unknown to me, whenever my
followers thought it to their interest or mine.
Neverthe-
less, in spite of the greatest attention and circumspection
on my part to avoid giving offence to my hosts, I occasion-
ally found myself involved in a difficulty without its being
in the least my fault.
Here is a curious case in point.
Travelling in South Mysore, I arrived one evening at
a village where I was obliged to pass the night. As there
was no public lodging in the place, my people asked the
village headman to provide some shelter.
The headman
was a Brahmin, and at first made some difficulties but to
gain his help my people told the usual falsehoods about
myself.
The Brahmin, before making any promise, came
to the place where I was waiting, and after gazing at me
from head to foot silently and attentively, asked me simply
if I was accompanied by any Pariahs or dogs (for these
both occupied the same level in his opinion). I told him
that I allowed neither Pariahs nor dogs near me, and that
all my followers were men of good caste.
After a few
moments' reflection, during which he fixed his eyes with
evident predilection on my beard and my native costume,
he said to me
You are a European, but out of respect
for your dignity as guru, and in consideration of what your
people tell me with regard to your strict conformity to the
customs of the country, I will give you lodging in my own
house.
Take off your shoes and follow me.' I entered
his house with my followers, and installed myself in a tidy
part of the house which he assigned to me.
Shortly after-
wards my host, hearing me cough, ran to me in great
haste, and with a very serious air expressed the hope
;
;
'
:
1
A word
which Native Christians employ to express God. It means
the Ruler of all things
(the Lord of all).
Protestant mis-
sionaries have objected to the use of the word, because it is one of the
titles of the god Siva.
Dubois.
literally,
'
'