with a border and fringe. Persons of high rank sometimes wear above the jama a short loose vest, or jacket of fine worked muslin, or silk brocaded with small gold or silver flowers, and Cashmire shawls in the cool season. It is, however, doubtful whether the jama and turban may not be of foreign import, as they are not commonly met with in places remote from great towns.

Almost all the Hindus wear ear-rings and bracelets, more or less valuable, according to their means of procuring them. On days of ceremony, princes and persons of high rank, besides bracelets and earrings have jewels on their turbans, and strings of pearls round their necks, hanging down upon the breast; on their feet slippers embroidered with gold, and those of princes, at great ceremonies, even with precious stones.* The slippers are con

* "Corpora usque pedes carbasot velant; soleis pedes, capita linteis vinciunt, lapilli ex auribus pendent; brachia quoque et lacertos auro colunt, quibus inter popu

+ Carpasa is the Sanscrit name for the cotton plant.

stantly put off on going into an apartment, and left at the entrance, or given to an attendant; and they must, doubtless, be shocked at the usual practice of Europeans, in walking with their shoes over the clean linen cloth or carpets, on which they themselves sit, and occasionally lie down.

The distinction of dress in common use among the women, as among the men, consists chiefly in the fineness of the garment. The women in general wear a close jacket, which only extends downwards to cover the breasts, but shews their form. It has tight sleeves, that reach about half-way from the shoulder to the elbow; and a narrow border round the edges, dyed or em

lares, aut nobilitas aut opes eminent." Qu. Cur. lib. viii. c. 9. tom. ii. p. 131. (Ed. Bipont.) "Cum subito patefactâ portâ, rex Indus cum duobus adultis filiis occurrit, multum inter omnes barbaros eminens corporis specie. Vestis erat auro purpurâque distincta, quae etiam crura velabat: aureis soleis inseruerat gemmas: lacerti quoque et brachia margaritis ornata erant, Pendebant ex auribus insignes candore et magnitudine lapilli." Qu. Cur. lib. ix. c. i. tom. ii. pp. 158, 159, (Ed. Bipont.)

broidered in different colours. A piece of white cotton cloth, wrapped several times round the loins, and falling down over the legs almost to the ankle on one side, but not quite so low on the other, serves as a petticoat. A wide piece of muslin is thrown over the left shoulder, which, passing under the right arm, is crossed round the middle; and, being fastened by tucking part of it under the piece of cloth that is wrapped round the loins, hangs down to the feet. They sometimes lift one end of this piece of muslin, and spread it over the head, to serve as a veil. The hair is commonly rolled up into a knot, or bunch, towards the crown of the head, and fastened with a gold or silver bodkin: some have curls that hang before and behind the ears. namental parts of dress depend on the means of the wearer for procuring them, but no new modes are introduced. They have bracelets on their arms, rings in their ears, on their fingers, their ankles, and toes, and frequently a small ring on one side of the nostril.

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Such are the dresses we have observed among the Hindus, whatever part of their country we have visited. Mr. Forster, in his " Journey from Bengal to England,” says, that in Cashmire, the women likewise wear the short jacket above-mentioned, but, instead of the cloth wrapped round the loins, they have a red petticoat with a border of different dyes, and instead of the hair being tied in a knot on the top of the head, have it, as is to be seen with the dancing women, plaited and hanging down behind, and a muslin veil that covers the head and extends rather lower than the middle of the body.

The Hindus are averse from many of those accomplishments in women which are admired by Europeans. They say, they would be injurious to that simplicity of manners, and decorum of behaviour, which are requisite to render them estimable in their families; that, by too much engaging the mind, they would divert their attention from their children and husbands, and give them a disrelish for those cares

for which they think providence has designed them. But the dancing-women, who, like the courtezans of ancient Greece, are the votaries of pleasure, are taught every qualification which may tend to captivate and amuse the other sex. They compose a separate class, live under the protection of government, and according to their own particular rules.

In the code of Hindu laws and customs, it is said; "If the property of a dancingwoman should by any circumstance become subject to seizure, the magistrate shall except her clothes, jewels, and dwelling. In the same manner, to a soldier shall be left his arms; and to a man exercising any profession, the implements of that profession; but the rest of his property may be confiscated."

The dancing-women appear in a variety of dresses. Beside those already mentioned, they sometimes wear trowsers, like the Persians; a Jama of worked muslin, or gold or silver tissue; the hair plaited and hanging down behind, with spiral curls on