52

DRESS OF THE HINDOO TRIBES.

virtues of the Hindoos are, piety, obedience to superiors, resignation in misfortune, charity, and hospitality: filial, parental, and conjugal affection, are among their distinguishing characteristics. They are extremely sober, drinking only water, milk, or sherbet; and none but those of the lowest order are ever seen in a state of intoxication. They eat in the morning and evening; their cooking utensils are simple; their plates and dishes are generally formed from the leaf of the plaintain tree, or the nymphea lotos, that beautiful lily which abounds in every lake; these are never used a second time: the furniture of their houses is equally simple; seldom extending beyond what is absolutely necessary for a people whose wants are very few, when compared with those of the inhabitants of northern climates.

The men, in most of the Hindoo tribes, shave the head and beard, but leave the mustachios on the upper lip, and a small lock of hair on the head. The better sort wear turbans of fine muslin, of different colours; and a jama, or long gown of white calico, which is tied round the middle with a fringed or embroidered sash. Their shoes are of red leather, or English broad-cloth, sometimes ornamented, and always turned up with a long point at the toe. Their ears are bored, and adorned with large gold rings, passing through two pearls, or rubies; and on the arms they wear bracelets of gold or silver. The princes and nobles are adorned with pearl necklaces and golden chains, sustaining clusters of costly gems; their turbans are enriched with diamonds, rubies, and emeralds; and their bracelets composed of gold and precious stones.

the superior Hindoos; their dress generally consists of a turban, a short cotton vest and drawers; but some wear only a turban, and a cloth round the waist; although the poorest among them usually contrive to purchase a silver bangle, or bracelet, for the arm.

The Hindoo women, when young, are delicate and beautiful; so far as we can reconcile beauty with the olive complexion. They are finely proportioned; their limbs small, their features soft and regular, and their eyes black and languishing: but the bloom of beauty. soon decays, and age makes a rapid progress before they have seen thirty years: this may be accounted for, from the heat of the climate, and the customs of the country; as they often are mothers at twelve years of age, and grandmothers at five and twenty. Montesquieu justly remarks," that women in hot climates, are marriageable at eight, nine, or ten years of age; therefore in those countries infancy and marriage generally go together. They are old at twenty; their reason therefore never accompanies their beauty: when beauty demands the empire, the want of reason forbids the claim; when reason is obtained, beauty is no more!" And he further observes, that "those women ought to be in a state of dependence; for reason cannot procure in old age, that empire, which even youth and beauty could not give."

What superior advantages do my fair countrywomen derive from a liberal education, and a milder climate? The virtues and graces assemble in their train, and form a delightful union of chastity, beauty, elegance, and intelligence! What influence such women have over our sex, every man of feeling and sensibility must acknowledge.

No women can be more attentive to cleanliness than the Hindoos: they take every method to render their persons delicate, soft, and attractive: their dress is peculiarly becoming; consisting of a long piece of silk, or cotton, tied round the waist, and hanging in a graceful manner to the feet, it is afterwards brought over the body in negligent folds; under this they cover the bosom with a short waistcoat of satin, but wear no linen. Their long black hair is adorned with jewels, and wreaths of flowers: their ears are bored in many places, and loaded with pearls: a variety of gold chains, strings of pearl, and precious stones, fall from the neck over the bosom; and the arms are covered with bracelets from the wrist to the elbow; they have also gold and silver chains round the ancles, and abundance of rings on their fingers and toes; among those on the fingers is frequently a small mirror. I think the richer the dress, the less becoming it appears; and a Hindoo woman of distinction always seems to be overloaded with finery; while the village nymphs, with fewer ornaments, but in the same elegant drapery, are more captivating: although there are very few women, even of the lowest families, who have not some jewels at their marriage.

In these external decorations consist the pride and pleasure of these uninstructed females; for very few, even in the best families, know how to read or write, or are capable of intellectual enjoyment. We learn from Homer, that the women in ancient Greece always kept in a retired part of the house, employed in embroidery or other feminine occupations; and at this day, the Indian females are never seen by those who visit the master of the family; they know but little of

EDUCATION IN HINDOSTAN.

55

the world, and are not permitted to eat with their husbands or brothers, nor to associate with other men.

After the girls are betrothed, the ends of the fingers and nails are dyed red, with a preparation from the mendey, or hinna shrub, already mentioned as a principal ornament of the Asiatic gardens. They make a black circle round the eyes with the powder of antimony, which adds much to their brilliancy, and heightens the beauty of the eastern ladies.

The houses of the rich Hindoos and Mahometans, are generally built within an inclosure, surrounded by galleries, or verandas, not only for privacy, but to exclude the sun from the apartments. This court is frequently adorned with shrubs and flowers; and a fountain playing before the principal room, where the master receives his guests; which is open in front to the garden, and furnished with carpets and cushions.

Education in general among the Hindoos, is attended with very little trouble: few boys in the subordinate tribes are taught anything more than to read and write, with the rudiments of the trade or profession they are intended for; but many of the Brahmin youth are instructed in astronomy, astrology, and physic; and acquire some knowledge of the civil and religious laws. Nothing can be more simple than a Hindoo school; which is usually under a thatched shed open on three sides, with a sanded floor, on which the boys learn to write, and go through the first rules of arithmetic, in which science some of them make a great progress.

The ceremonies of the Hindoos open an ample field for observation, on which I can now make only a few cursory remarks. The children are married at the discretion of their parents; the girls at three or four, and the boys

56

HINDOO MARRIAGES.

at six or eight years of age: the nuptials are attended with much expense; occasioned by an ostentatious parade, nocturnal processions, feasting for several days, and presents to the numerous guests. The bride afterwards sees her husband as a play fellow, she is taught to place her affection on this object, and never thinks of any other; until, when about eleven years old, she is conducted with some ceremony to his house, and commences the duties of a wife, and the mistress of a family. But should the boy die during that interval, the girl must remain a widow for life, have her head shaved, be divested of every ornament, and perform many menial offices. One delicate attention which most of the Hindoo women voluntarily pay to their husband, is, that when he is absent from home for any length of time, they seldom wear their jewels, or decorate themselves with ornaments; since the object they most wish to please is no longer in their presence. No widow is permitted to marry a second time; but a man may have a succession of wives: polygamy is allowed by the Hindoo law, though not generally practised, except when the first wife proves barren. Every Hindoo must marry into his own caste; but among the lower classes at Bombay, I have known this ordinance evaded. And in several parts of India, especially in Mysore and Malabar, the ryots, or cultivators of the land, take as many wives as they can maintain, as the women there are extremely useful in different branches of husbandry, and are not expensive to their husbands.

Most of the Hindoos burn their dead. The funeral piles of the rich are mingled with sandal-wood, and fed by aromatic oils; while the poor are consumed with humble faggots. Some put the bodies of their