of their master or mistress by name. A man never mentions his wife's name; nor does a woman mention her husband's; unless by compulsion in a court of justice: where it is considered a hardship and indignity. A woman speaks of her husband as j£r»c33*js£^i&JSo or as 'Fer <sfc|S Master, or my Lord.
Though Sita (the spouse of Rama) is a feminine name (in Telugu it is also borne by men, with the masculine affix, viz. |>3cSS£ Sitaya (as Maria forms the name of some Frenchmen; or as Helena and Helenus in Greek). But Telugu ladies of rank (Velamas) use the masculine affix : and sign their names as |>3ctfg Sitaya, or tfoXcjCg Rangaiia ; instead of |>3°£> Sitamma or tfoxsfc Rangamma.
This refinement originates in pride: the common salutation "Madam " is 'Amma' Mother; but a proud Hindu dame scorning to let every man, whatever his caste, addresses her as mother, assumes the title «*a«6e 'Ayya' "Father "—equivalent to Sir or Lord. Such is the reason alledged.
Thus Moriamur pro rege nostro Maria. Theresa. The Highland Scotch use the word Sir respectfully to ladies.
Hindu letters generally commence with absurd flatteries. "To the most noble, most reverend" &c. which are mere expressions of course, like'your obedient servant.' In modern days Hindus see the emptiness of this ; and to get rid of the custom many begin their letters with "My dear Sir" (written in English) adding, at
the end, "Your obedient servant" while the rest of the letter
is written in Telugu or Tamil. In the native newspapers correspondents fairly commence in the English fashion, with 'Sir' ending with #jfc^siSo^iS 'your servant.' Even the English mode of using a fanciful signature "A Friend" " An Observer" &c is imitated.
Ill as the natives pronounce English names we enunciate their names yet worse. Thus on the map we see Kotta Kotta for E~ S^ii Kotta Kota, (New Fort) and a^^a&AJsio Visakha Patnam becomes Vizagapatam, LfT^&tfrfao Sricaculam is written Chicacole: )fr'lSvT'& Giidulur becomes Cuddalore. :Sc«sr»^ Vandavasi becomes Wandiwash: Hiroda is turned into Errode.
