Many a time and oft have I seen my fellow-countrymen
taken in by their consummate acting and patience in
order to gain their ends, and have likewise been duped
myself. They are great readers of character, and find
out your strong or weak points very quickly. They are
past masters in the art of flattery. I have seen many
Europeans fall before it, and through flattering become
the personal confidants of their masters, to the detriment
of any honest men in their department. In all my time
in Kashmir nothing has distressed me more than to
see my fellow-countrymen done down by these clever
flatterers, for over and over again have I seen in conse-
quence of it the honest men go under and the scoundrels
flourishing. I can say further that I have seen honest
men utterly beggared, and I know of several scoundrels
now rejoicing in their riches who ought to be in gaoL

143




Brahmans &^ Sadhus

Many years ago at a ruridecanal meeting in London
we were discussing how best to deal with that class of
sharper who trades on religion in order to procure charity
out of the tender-hearted, and giving our experiences
how we ourselves had been taken in by them. When
a certain padre stood up and told the house that as for
himself he had always proved to be a match for them and
had never been taken in, this statement was received with
a roar of laughter, as this particular man was known to be
an easy prey to the cadger, simply because he thought
himself infallible. I fear we only hurt the feelings of
this padre and were unable to shake the faith that was
in him. It is a misfortune for anyone in England to
believe himself to be a cadger-proof, but it is absolutely
disastrous for those in authority in India to consider
themselves proof against flatterers and intriguers, for it
leads to so much unnecessary suffering and injustice.
