This book is written from the viewpoint of a Westerner on a first visit to the East. No criticism or condemnation is intended in its presentation. It is simply recording the interesting and delightful differences we found in the customs, beliefs and general lives of the people in this great country.
I have talked to many Indian people who have resided in Western countries for a time and they have described to me some of the things they found new, strange and sometimes fascinating in our way of life. Were one of them to write a book on his impressions of the West, it would be similar to this book, only in reverse.
It is impossible to generalise about Indian peoples or customs. Both differ in every province. What is true about Calcutta may not be true about Madras or Bombay. Therefore I have written in this book only about the people among whom we lived and whom we grew to love, in Calcutta, city of contrasts.
The Author
Note: All Indian words used in this book have been spelled phonetically to facilitate pronunciation.
This book has been adapted for the Internet by Kendall Down, the author's son. The footnotes at the end of some chapters are his.