Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 368

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crossed on their chests. Whenever relatives or very great
friends meet after a long separation, they clasp each other
in their arms and take hold of each other's chin, shedding
tears of joy.
Hindus who visit or meet each other after a long absence
have, like ourselves, a set of commonplace phrases which
But in
they make use of for want of anything better.
most cases the ideas they express are diametrically opposed
to ours.
Thus, for instance, if we Europeans were speak-
ing to a friend or acquaintance, we should think he would
be pleased if we congratulated him on his appearance of
good health, his increased stoutness, or his good complexion,
&c. If we think him altered for the worse, we take care not
to let him see that we notice it, for fear it might pain him.
Hindu, on the contrary, when he meets a friend, no
matter how strong and well he may be looking, never fails
sadly you have
to offer him the following greeting
thin and worn you
altered since I last saw you
I fear you must be very ill,' and other equally
look
consoling remarks. It would offend a Hindu deeply if
you were to say he was looking well on first meeting him.
Any one who was so ill advised as to make so indiscreet
a remark would certainly be suspected of feeling jealous,
envious, and regretful at the signs of health which were
the theme of his unfortunate compliments.
A
'
:
!
How
How
!
In the same way, you must never congratulate a Hindu
on his good luck you must not say that he has pretty
children, a lovely house, beautiful gardens, fine flocks and
;
herds, or that everything that he undertakes turns out
well, or that he is happy or lucky, &c.
he would be sure
to think that envy prompted compliments of this kind.
Long ago, before I knew anything about Hindu etiquette,
I was walking one day at the edge of a large tank or lake,
where some men were fishing with nets. I stood still to
watch them, and seeing that they landed a quantity of
fish each time the nets were let down, I thought I might
congratulate them on their good luck. But my civility
had a most unlooked-for result, for these worthy people
gathered up their nets and their fish without a word, and
looking at me very indignantly, promptly went off, grum-
bling to each other under their breath
What have we done
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