Sir P. Wodehouse, the Governor of Bombay, seems to possess
both nerve and energy. The riots between Mussulmans and Parsees which we noted last week were rendered more dangerous by the unusual earliness of the Mohurrum, when, with the Mohammedans half mad, a most dangerous outbreak might have happened. Sir Philip, therefore, while soundly lecturing the Parsecs, who have at such times an exasperatingly gratifying confidence in British rule, informed the Mohammedan Moollaha that the grand taboot procession would this year be prohibited entirely. To show that his word meant action, he raised the garrison of the island to 4,000 men, stationed a battery of 12-pounders on the esplanade, and posted guns at the end of every great street. The Mohammedans, though furiously excited, quailed, and the festival passed over without riot. We rather regret that Sir Philip did not allow the Mussulman procession, as the principle of the Indian Government is to tolerate every reli- gious ceremony, and only shoot down rioters, but his pluck and decision are most undeniable. Natives seldom attack a man who has faced and defeated them thus, and the Parsees outsidethe island are very few. The real reason of the riots is unknown, the nonsense about the Parsee translation of a book, Irving's " Life of Mohammed," which is sold openly in every bazaar, being evi- dently a pretext ; but the appearance of the Seedees in the affray may furnish a clue. They, at all events, have not stirredjithout their pay, in one shape or another. The police, of course, broke down, as they-always will break down when the cry of " Deen, Deenl" is once fairly raised. There is nothing for it then but the European.
Previous page
