246 HINDOO MANNERS. 



affectionate in service, and submissive to legal authority. 

 Their temperance is demonstrated in the simplicity of their 

 food, and their total abstinence from spirituous liquors and 

 other substances of intoxication." According to Heber, 

 " they are a lively, intelligent, and interesting people. 

 The national temper is decidedly good, gentle, and kind ; 

 they are sober, industrious, affectionate to their relations; 

 generally speaking, faithful to their masters ; easily attached 

 by kindness and confidence ; and, in the case of the mili- 

 tary oath, are of admirable obedience, courage, and fidelity, 

 in life and death." This excellent prelate maintained 

 always the most friendly intercourse with the people ; and 

 the amiable tone of his feelings and manners would tend 

 to draw forth whatever was best in their disposition ; yet 

 he admits that their morality does not extend beyond the 

 reach of positive obligations, and where these do not exist 

 they are oppressive, cruel, and treacherous. For these bad 

 qualities he considers their system of religion, and their 

 exclusion from the moral lessons which even their sacred 

 books inculcate, as mainly answerable. Mr. Mill, on the 

 contrary, endeavours to show that all the virtues ascribed 

 to the Hindoo consist in mere outward seeming, and are 

 often in direct opposition to his real conduct and pro- 

 pensities. Mr. Ward sums up the character of that people 

 as " destitute of generosity, patriotism, and gratitude ; as 

 disobedient to parents, grossly impure, false, litigious, cruel, 

 treacherous, covetous, ostentatious, destitute of compassion." 

 The most recent statement is that made to the board of 

 control by Rammohun Roy, who is entitled to be heard on 

 the subject of his own countrymen. According to him, 

 " the peasants or villagers who reside away from large 

 towns, and head stations, and courts of law, are as innocent, 

 temperate, and moral in their conduct as the people of any 

 country whatsoever." He admits, however, that the in- 

 habitants of the cities and large towns, those holding much 

 intercourse with foreigners and with persons employed in 

 legal proceedings, are as inferior in point of character, and 

 "very often made tools of in the nefarious work of perjury 

 and forgery." His opinion, that the difference is owing to 

 the strong impressions of religion prevalent in the former 

 class, but which are effaced among the latter, does not 



