Identifier: indiaindians00elwiiala (find matches)
Title: India and the Indians
Year: 1913 (1910s)
Authors: Elwin, Edward Fenton
Subjects: India -- Social life and customs India
Publisher: London : J. Murray
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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t, he wenton to say, the other men led him such a life,just because he was honest, that I had to transferhim to a new district. This testimony was themore significant, because there is no sphere inwhich there are greater opportunities of exactingunlawful commission than in the departmentwhich deals with the distribution of water. The common criticism of the casual English-man, when he is talking about missions, thata Hindu servant is better than a Christian one,has an element of truth in it. That is to say,the Christian servant will not be so submissive asthe heathen one. His Christianity has developedhis grit, and he will be less willing to put up withinjustice, or violent language, or the habit, oncecommon but now almost universally reprobated,of cutting his pay as a punishment for oflPencesreal or imaginary. He will not be quite so readyto be on duty for unlimited periods at his masterspleasure, and he will expect to be allowed time togo to church. Some of these new characteristics
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The Inhian IJctler. 1 To face p. 242. HOUSEKEEPING 243 may be of the nature of defects, but they alsomean that he is more of a man than he was inhis heathen days. And as regards honesty andgeneral trustworthiness, although every IndianChristian is not altogether impeccable, he is ona completely different plane to his heathen com-rade. It is also an unspeakable relief, to anyonewhose Christianity is something more than form,to have Christian servants round about you. Housekeeping in India is either difficult orvery easy, according to the view that is taken ofthe moral responsibility of a householder. If youfeel it a duty, or if poverty compels you, toendeavour not to allow yourself to be cheated,the process of housekeeping will become a contestbetween you and your heathen servants in which,in spite of your vigilance, you will be continuallyworsted. If, on the other hand, you are reconcilednot to worry much about prices, and if you donot grudge the traditional gifts of certain seasons,y

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