Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 700

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HINDU STOICISM
cupidity, he is denounced, arrested, and imprisoned.
If
these high-handed proceedings are not sufficient to induce
him to transfer the contents of his strong box into the
prince's treasury, harsher measures, such as torture, are
resorted to.
Mahomedans treat even the Brahmins in their service
with the same severity. But, it must be admitted, the latter
only experience the kind of treatment that they have so
often inflicted on their fellows.
No one can be harder, more
cruel, or more pitiless towards the poor agriculturists than
a Brahmin invested with authority, when he sees a chance
of wringing money from them.
Nevertheless there are
many Hindus, and Brahmins
particularly, who endure with
unshaken firmness and courage the most horrible tortures
inflicted on them, even when their lives are in danger, rather
than give up their treasures. I have known Brahmins who
have been thus persecuted for year after year and without
They may be seen with their bodies so covered
success.
with bruises and wounds, that they appear to be but one
large festering sore, a prey to all kinds of vermin
and in
this sad plight all relief is denied them, even to the extent
of refusing dressing for their wounds.
;
If the poor prisoner survives these cruel tortures, his tor-
mentors, astonished at his fortitude, will set him at liberty,
ashamed at last of their unsuccessful efforts at coercion.
This faculty of bearing the most excruciating pain with
calm endurance is very common among the Hindus. There
are some, however, who are not thus gifted by nature, and
who, after resisting as long as possible, at length submit
and come to terms with their oppressors. These weaker
members receive a present, perhaps, of a new turban or a
Their persecutors express much regret
piece of new cloth.
at having been obliged to resort to such harsh measures,
remarking at the same time that their victims might have
spared themselves much pain and torment by acceding to
The victims are then
their requests in the first instance.
Filled
restored to their former honours and employments.
with the desire to recoup themselves for their losses, they
seize every opportunity for extortion, until they become
rich once more and are forced to disgorge their plunder.
But whatever crimes they may commit or whatever tortures