Page:Life in India or Madras, the Neilgherries, and Calcutta.djvu/88

72 a little knot, discussing their last arrest. They wear wide Moorish pantaloons of red silk, and a white close-fitting robe, ending in a flowing skirt; over the shoulder they wear sashes as marks of office, and red turbans on their heads. They are usually tall fine-looking men, and very well dressed; their behaviour, however, does not commonly tally with their looks and pretensions. A rupee or two has a remarkable effect in blinding and deafening these ministers of the law. The poor, who cannot afford the bribe, have but a sorry chance in the race for justice, as the peon's eyes and ears are only open on the side that pays him the best fee.

Beyond the police station the streets are formed of connected rows of houses, usually but one story high, with a narrow portico in front, and a door, but no window opening on the street. The houses have a mean appearance, when compared with those of our cities, but are not devoid of neatness; they are plastered and whitewashed, and frequently have seats of brick-work, covered with polished chunam on the verandah, where, in the evening, the men lounge and smoke. Several of the streets are bazaars, consisting of long rows of shops; but at this early hour they only show empty stalls