Life and Travel in India

Fiction & Literature, Literary
Cover of the book Life and Travel in India by Anna Harriette Leonowens, anboco
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Anna Harriette Leonowens ISBN: 9783736416000
Publisher: anboco Publication: September 29, 2016
Imprint: Language: English
Author: Anna Harriette Leonowens
ISBN: 9783736416000
Publisher: anboco
Publication: September 29, 2016
Imprint:
Language: English

In the following pages, gathered from voluminous notes of early travel, I have tried to give a faithful account of life in India, as well as of the sights and scenes visited by me, with my husband, before the days of railroad travel. It is well known that the introduction of the railroad into India has in no sense affected the life of the people, and has only very slightly modified the general appearance of the country. India is still what it was in the Vèdic period, a land of peasant classes; she still invokes, as did the ancient Aryans in the Rig Vèda, the "Khe-tra-pati," or the divinity of the soil, for blessings on the land. The Hindoo to-day lives, as did his forefathers, close to the heart of Nature, deifying the mountains, streams, woods, and lakes, while the sun, moon, stars, fire, water, earth, air, sky, and corn are his highest deities. The most beautiful personification in the Ramâyânâ of womanly grace and virtue is called Sita, "a furrow," showing how deep was the national reverence paid to the plough; and to this day at the Rathsaptimi, the day on which the new sun is supposed to mount his heavenly chariot, a feast is observed in honor of the sun, and the ryots on this occasion decorate with flowers and paint their ploughs, and worship them as the saviors of the land. I do not, however, mean to say that India has made no progress whatever in all these years—her imaginative and glorious youth has no doubt been succeeded by the calm reason of mature age—but this transition has been gradual and progressive rather than fitful and sudden.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

In the following pages, gathered from voluminous notes of early travel, I have tried to give a faithful account of life in India, as well as of the sights and scenes visited by me, with my husband, before the days of railroad travel. It is well known that the introduction of the railroad into India has in no sense affected the life of the people, and has only very slightly modified the general appearance of the country. India is still what it was in the Vèdic period, a land of peasant classes; she still invokes, as did the ancient Aryans in the Rig Vèda, the "Khe-tra-pati," or the divinity of the soil, for blessings on the land. The Hindoo to-day lives, as did his forefathers, close to the heart of Nature, deifying the mountains, streams, woods, and lakes, while the sun, moon, stars, fire, water, earth, air, sky, and corn are his highest deities. The most beautiful personification in the Ramâyânâ of womanly grace and virtue is called Sita, "a furrow," showing how deep was the national reverence paid to the plough; and to this day at the Rathsaptimi, the day on which the new sun is supposed to mount his heavenly chariot, a feast is observed in honor of the sun, and the ryots on this occasion decorate with flowers and paint their ploughs, and worship them as the saviors of the land. I do not, however, mean to say that India has made no progress whatever in all these years—her imaginative and glorious youth has no doubt been succeeded by the calm reason of mature age—but this transition has been gradual and progressive rather than fitful and sudden.

More books from anboco

Cover of the book Myths of Greece and Rome by Anna Harriette Leonowens
Cover of the book Walter Crane's Painting Book by Anna Harriette Leonowens
Cover of the book Philippine Folk Tales by Anna Harriette Leonowens
Cover of the book Princess Mary's Gift Book by Anna Harriette Leonowens
Cover of the book Hans Andersen's Fairy Tales. First Series by Anna Harriette Leonowens
Cover of the book The Unbidden Guest by Anna Harriette Leonowens
Cover of the book Agincourt: A Romance by Anna Harriette Leonowens
Cover of the book The Double Life by Anna Harriette Leonowens
Cover of the book Miss Esperance and Mr Wycherly by Anna Harriette Leonowens
Cover of the book The Hand of the Mighty and Other Stories by Anna Harriette Leonowens
Cover of the book Father Brown: The Works G. K. Chesterton by Anna Harriette Leonowens
Cover of the book Agnes of Sorrento by Anna Harriette Leonowens
Cover of the book Mission Furniture: How to Make It I by Anna Harriette Leonowens
Cover of the book A Woman's Philosophy of Woman - or, Woman affrancnd other modern innovators by Anna Harriette Leonowens
Cover of the book Watermelon Pete and Others by Anna Harriette Leonowens
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy