THE VISIT OF A SILVERSMITH, AND 
ITS RESULTS, 
surprised to have heard the order given for the carriage, 
as the coolies were to see the tattan’s wife gadding about 
in her silk clothes and bracelets after the serious dis- 
pute she had with her husband ; and it is often the 
case, that we hear people commenting on the follies 
and foibles of others, in a very severe way, because 
they have become known, never at all thinking that 
many of their own deeds and actions, should they 
happen to become exposed, would present much more 
curious and absurd phases of life, than the ones to 
which their attention has been called. Many features 
in oriental domestic life are exposed to remark and 
criticism, just because that life is not so private as 
European, and remarks are passed on the frequently 
apparently different characteristics which they present, 
remarks, which may be, are unjust, because the posi- 
tion and circumstances under which they are made 
are very dissimilar, in every respect. Before judging 
or condemning the actions of any people, or even indi- 
viduals, let us first be careful, with wisdom and consi- 
deration to scan the correct position which they hold in 
life, as also their true attainments in knowledge or edu- 
cation, in refinement, or civilization, for one of the 
greatest errors that is often made in the management of 
Asiatics, say coolies, is in judging them by our own 
fixed standards of principle, because they do not nearly 
come up to that. How can you expect it ? They are all 
pronounced to be a pack of incorrigible thieves, liars, 
and debauchees. Now, a man, or a woman, must be 
very bad indeed, who is utterly destitute of all correct 
feelings ; he or she must have some, hidden, it may be 
choked up, and concealed somewhere. Take a little 
trouble and search them out. If you find the smallest 
seed or germ of any sort, endeavour to develop and 
cultivate it, until it reaches some maturity, and becomes 
self-supporting, even extending its influence to and 
upon others. Some, it may be many, will thoughtlessly 
exclaim, “ Just coming it too strong now, taking 
trouble to investigate and search out the characters of 
coolies !” Yes, and just upon the general principle, 
that all, in any position of power and authority what- 
ever, under any circumstances, if they themselves expect 
to succeed, and attain success in their calling, must, to 
a certain extent, study the character and various 
characteristics of their subordinates, and it often results, 
when this line of policy is altogether omitted or ignored 
by an employer, he, although exact, just, even lenient, 
in every, or many respects, fails utterly, in favour, or 
popularity, with his people, who, if asked the reason, 
would possibly find some difficulty in rendering 
a just reply. All they say is, “We don’t like 
