File:The Kacháris (1911) (14577681608).jpg

Identifier: kachris00endl (find matches)
Title: The Kacháris
Year: 1911 (1910s)
Authors: Endle, Sidney, 1840?-1907 Gurdon, Philip Richard Thornhagh, 1863-
Subjects: Kacháris
Publisher: London, Macmillan
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

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occupy quitedomestic, the same influential position as seems to be enjoyed by theirsisters in the Khasi Hills, where something like a matriarchateapparently holds the field of social and domestic life. Still,with this interesting race the position of the wife and motheris far from being a degraded one. The Kachari husband andhouseholder has neither sympathy with, nor tolerance for, thatdegrading and demoralising creed which says that womanis but dust, a soul-less toy for tyrants lust. On the contrary,he usually treats his wife with distinct respect, and regards heras an equal and a companion to an extent which can hardlybe said to be the rule among many of the Indian peoples.Kachari women, both in early life and as matrons, enjoy a largemeasure of freedom, a freedom which is very rarely abused forevil purposes. On being spoken to on the wayside, the Kachariwoman will generally reply at once with absolute frankness,looking the questioner straight in the face and yet with the of women.
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II SOCIAL AND DOMESTIC LIFE 23 most perfect modesty. It has often happened to the writerduring the last forty years to enter a Kachari village forpreaching purposes, or with a view to opening a school. Onasking for the village headman, that personage is usually notslow in making his appearance ; and after a few friendly wordshe will, quite as a matter of course, introduce his wife, and thatwith no small pride and pleasure. In discharging this socialduty, he will very commonly use much the same language asmay be heard among the working classes in England. Thephrase most common is Be ang-ni burui, literally This (is)my old woman. The words are not used jeeringly at all, butwith much real respect and affection ; and are obviously soregarded by the speakers life-partner, whose face and features,somewhat homely in themselves, may often be seen to light upat once with a very pleased and pleasing smile on hearingherself thus referred to by the sharer of her lifes joys andsorrows. There is, t

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