Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations in color. See 64697-h.htm or 64697-h.zip: (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/64697/64697-h/64697-h.htm) or (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/64697/64697-h.zip) Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive. See https://archive.org/details/childrenofindia00kelm Transcriber’s note: Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_. CHILDREN OF INDIA [Illustration: A VILLAGE STREET] CHILDREN OF INDIA by JANET HARVEY KELMAN With Eight Coloured Illustrations [Illustration] Fleming H. Revell Company New York Chicago Toronto Printed by Turnbull and Spears, Edinburgh CONTENTS PAGE I. THE STORY OF THE WORLD 9 II. THE STORY OF THE GANGES 12 III. THE STORY OF LIFE AND DEATH 16 IV. THE STORY OF CASTE 17 V. THE STORY OF FATE 21 VI. THE STORY OF THE PROPHET 24 VII. CHILDREN IN HINDU HOMES 27 VIII. BOYS AND GIRLS 39 IX. THE KING OF INDIA 52 X. NEW SIGHTS IN INDIA 56 XI. ANANTA, THE SEEKER 65 XII. THE PANDITA RAMABAI 72 XIII. HORMASDJI PESTONJI 79 XIV. SITA THE WIDOW 82 XV. DILAWUR KHAN AND THE KING 87 XVI. SOOBOO 91 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 1. A VILLAGE STREET _Frontispiece_ PAGE 2. ON PILGRIMAGE TO THE MOUNTAIN 10 3. FAKIRS 18 4. A SNAKE CHARMER 28 5. A WAYSIDE SHRINE 46 6. RESCUED FAMINE CHILDREN 64 7. A SCHOOL FOR GIRLS 72 8. RESCUED CHILD WIDOWS 86 CHILDREN OF INDIA CHAPTER I THE STORY OF THE WORLD India is a very old land, and those who live there look far back into the past. They listen to the stories that were told of men and gods in those old days, and follow the customs that were followed then. There are many gods in India, and many priests who serve in their temples and at their shrines. The priests have more power over the lives of the people than the gods have, but custom has far more power than either gods or priests.