A HINDOO IN DIFFICULTIES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1168, 1 November 1883, Page 3

A HINDOO IN DIFFICULTIES.

During the hearing of a civil case in the Christchurch R.M. Court the other day, the plaintiff in the action, a venerable Hindoo, whose grey locks and beard contrasted with his dusky visage, and whose name was given as Wuzurrah, put the Court to some trouble and afforded some amusement to those who had, up to that time, been occupied in hearing the wearisome details of a sheep-stealing case. The trouble (says the Lyttelton Times) arose about the oath. The Bench inquired whether plaintiff’s solicitor, Mr Tanner, had satisfied himself as to an oath which was binding on his client’s conscience. The solicitor seemed to be as much at loss as to the nature of an Indian oath as the Bench ; but ultimately the difficulty was got over, as the plaintiff, though he would not recognise the Bible, gave the Court to understand that he had a belief in God, and his declaration to tell the truth was accepted, though probably none of those who heard it knew anything of the particular Deity appealed to. The amusement came about when the venerable Hindoo had to give evidence. Mr Tanner informed the Court that though he had not been able to procure an interpreter who could speak Hindoo, there was a man in Court who could understand the mixed utterances of the plaintiff and translate them into the Queen’s English. * Very well,’ said Mr Beetham. ‘ swear the man to translate the pigenn-English into English and the English into pigeonEnglish.’ The novelty of the situation raised more than a smile from those present, and was altogether too much for the gravity cf the sedate constable who ordinarily administers the oaths. He began, ‘ You shall well and truly interpret the English into the piegonEnglish and but at this point bis countenance did not look at all like

a man engaged in any solemn occupation, and he was unable to forbear from joining in the general laughter that ran round the Court. His Worship got over the difficulty by bringing his superior gravity to bear and administering the oath himself, and the case proceeded without anything remarkable except an unusual abundance of gesticulation.