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The Hindus, in general, are great observers of decorum; their manners are unaffected; and they are cautious not to say or do any thing which they imagine may offend, or serve to recall ideas that may be painful.

The mental faculties of the human species seem to arrive sooner at maturity in India than in colder climates; and it is not uncommon to see children behave and speak with a degree of gravity and propriety that seems incompatible with their age.

It is said that the Hindus were prohibited under the severest penalty, that of losing their cast, from quitting their country without permission;* and the rules and restrictions with respect to their diet, render it almost impossible, without some dispensation in that respect being previously obtained. Whether merchants and bankers have a general dispensation, or travel by

* Indi enim prope gentium soli nunquam emigravêre finibus suis.--Plin. lib. vi. c. 20. tom. i. p. 374. (Ed. Bipont.)

particular leave of the principal Brahmins at the places where they reside, we know not; but they and their agents now, as formerly, are sometimes to be met with in different foreign countries. Every where, however, they abstain from eating such food as is forbidden by their laws, particularly any thing that may not have been prepared by persons of their casts; and they fail not to observe, as far as may be possible, their ablutions, and other religious duties.

Abul Fazil, after speaking of the religious tenets of the Hindus, says, "Summarily, the Hindus are religious, affable, courteous to strangers, cheerful, enamoured of knowledge, fond of inflicting austerities upon themselves, lovers of justice, given to retirement, able in business, admirers of truth, grateful, and of unbounded fidelity. Their character shines brightest in adversity. Their soldiers know not what it is to fly from the field of battle.* They have great respect for their rulers, and make no

* Meaning of course the Cshatriya, or military cast.

account of their lives, when they can devote them to the service of God. If any person in distress flies to them for protection, although he be a stranger, they take him by the hand, and will defend him at the expense of their property, reputation, and life."*

Though this account seems rather a list of good qualities than a faithful portrait of character, and though some of those qualities may perhaps be exaggerated, it must nevertheless be allowed, that such praise from a Mohammedan, and from one who possessed so much knowledge of the Hindūs as Abul Fazil, speaks strongly in favor of their manners and character in general.

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As all the different professions amongst the Hindūs form so many classes or tribes, may be said that every one learns from his father the trade he belongs to, nor can he quit it for any other.

The people in general are naturally

* Ayeen Akbery, edit. 1800; vol. ii. pp. 322 and

cheerful, and fond of conversation, play, and sports. They will spend almost the whole night in seeing dancing, and hearing music; yet none dance, or play on musical instruments, but those whose profession it is; the dancing women devote themselves to the pleasure and amusement of the public.

The food of the Hindus of all tribes is prepared in earthen vessels, or potter's ware: instead of plates and dishes, they use broad leaves, generally of the palm or plantain tree, neatly sewn together with a blade of grass, and which are thrown away, and renewed at every meal. Like the inhabitants of most eastern countries, they use neither forks nor spoons, but only the fingers of the right hand, and are scrupulously nice in washing their hands both before and after meals. The left hand is reserved for such offices as are judged to be uncleanly.

With them modes and fashions are unknown; and their dresses, like their customs, are the same to-day as they probably

were at the beginning of the Kaly-Yug; unquestionably the same as found by the first Greeks who visited them.

The general dress of the common people and labourers, consists of a piece of cotton cloth wrapped round the body, over the loins, one end of which being passed between the legs, is tucked in behind; in places where the turban is not used, the head is bound with a piece of white linen. The rich and higher classes, besides the cloth round the body, have a piece of muslin over it, one end of which extends to the ankles; another piece thrown over the left shoulder, passes under the right arm, and a piece, in the shape and size of a handkerchief, is adjusted neatly to the head.

Many persons, and especially the inhabitants of cities, instead of the cloth thrown over the shoulder, wear a jama, or muslin robe, neatly shaped to the upper part of the body, but falling very full from thence, so low as almost entirely to cover the feet. A muslin sash is wrapped round the waist, the ends of which are generally ornamented

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