THE HINDUS IN THE WEST INDIES. 



By Archdeacon Josa. 



In the December Journal some note 5 appeared on the Religion of 

 the Hindus and on the Caste System. We propose in the present number 

 of "Timehri" to give furth-r notes on Woman as she is treated in 

 India and here, and on some Marriage customs that prevail in India as 

 well as amongst our own East Indians. 



" Woman." 



'• What are little girls made of — - 

 Sugar and spice and all that's nice, 

 And that's what little girls are made of." 



If the Indian ayas, or nurses, indulge in nursery rhyme?, we wonder 

 whether they would not rather pay that little girls are ma le of " snaps 

 and snails, and puppy dogs' tails." Woman holds no place of honour in 

 Hinduism. And although there are many goddesses yet these goddesses 

 have nothing in common with woman — is we understand that term. 

 These goddesses are worshipped because they are dreaded. The goddess 

 Kali, the most popular of all goddesses, haunts cemeteries, her garlands 

 are serpents, her necklaces human skulls ! She is the destructive deity. 

 Her hands are dyed with gore, and one of her four hands is represented 

 as holding a naked sword, ready for vengeance. 



But let us trace woman from her infancy, as she is in India and here. 

 We have read somewhere that as soon as a baby girl is born into the 

 world, the accowcJieuse looks into the face of the father, and if a certain 

 sign is made, the accoucheuse places her hand on a well-known spot on 

 the head and the child ceases to live. It is terrible to think on such 

 things. Ln Demerara it should be stated no such thing is ever practised 

 amongst our coolies, as a child of-either sex seems welcome. 



A female child, as a first-born, is a source of mourning to a family ! 

 The Hindu believes that, no one can perform his funeral rites but his son ; 

 ami so he dreads that his soul will not rest in peace, if there be no male 

 to perform them. Then again for a female child a dowry is to be pro- 

 vided — in fact she is a continuous source of trouble. 



The poor girl leads a life of entire subordination. She is ignorant, 

 and kept so purposely. A learned Pandit once said words to this effect, 

 that it was impossible for their women to be taught to read, unless Indian 

 literature is entirely changed. It is too immoral for them to read ! When 

 the time of marriage arrives the girl is asked no questions. She marries 

 the one chosen by her parents. The following free translations from 

 Hindu sacred books will show, how that such a thing as ' : Woman's 

 rights " are unknown in India. It is said " woman whether she be a 



