Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 44

AUTHOR'S PREFACE
4
country which extends for twenty-four degrees of
latitude north and south and for nearly the same number
over a
of degrees east
And
and west.
it is still
more
difficult to
understand how these few men are able to maintain within
the bounds of duty and subordination a population whose
creeds, habits, customs, and manner of life are so absolutely
different from their own.
Yet one will have little or no difficulty in accounting for
such a phenomenon
spirit,
character,
if
and
one examines on the one hand the
institutions of the people governed,
and on the other the system adopted by those governing
them. The people of India have always been accustomed
to bow their heads beneath the yoke of a cruel and oppres-
sive despotism, and moreover, strange to say, have always
displayed mere indifference towards those who have forced
them to it. Little cared they whether the princes under
whom they groaned were of their own country or from
l
The frequent vicissitudes that
power were hardly noticed by their subjects.
foreign lands
in
.
befell those
Never did
of one of these despots cause the least regret
never did the elevation of another cause the least joy.
the
fall
;
Hard experience had taught the Hindus to disregard not
only the hope of better times but the fear of worse. The
fable of the ass urged by its master to escape from approach-
ing robbers is most appropriate to these people.
They
have always considered themselves lucky enough if their
religious and domestic institutions were left untouched by
those who by good fortune or force of arms had got hold of
the reins of government.
The European Power which is now established in India
is, properly speaking, supported neither by physical force
nor by moral influence. It is a piece of huge, complicated
machinery, moved by springs which have been arbitrarily
adapted to it. Under the supremacy of the Brahmins the
people of India hated their government, while they cherished
and respected their rulers under the supremacy of Euro-
peans they hate and despise their rulers from the bottom
of their hearts, while they cherish and respect their govern-
ment. And here I would remark that the rule of all the
;
1
This
Rama
is illustrated in the familiar proverb,
reigns or the Rakshasa (Ravana) reigns
'
?
What
matters
'— Eu.
it
whether