the dead body, with these cords the dead body and the living body are now tied fast together. A large quantity of faggots is then laid upon the bodies, and two levers are brought over the pile to press down the widow, and prevent her from escaping when the flames begin to scorch her. Her eldest son, averting his face, with a lighted torch in his hand, then sets fire to the pile. The drums are immediately sounded, which, with the shouts of the mob, effectually drown the shrieks of the widow, surrounded by the flames." Funerals. As soon as a person dies, all the relations repair to the house of the deceased, and the women express their grief by cries, lamentations, dishevelled hair, beating their breasts, and rolling upon the ground. The body is washed; the sign of the caste is marked on the forehead, and betel is put into the mouth. It is carried to the place of funeral by pariars, and the obsequies are always performed in the night. The followers of Siva bury their dead, whereas those of Vishnu burn them, and throw the ashes into the water. Ninety-six formal obsequies are performed in the course of the year, besides daily oblation to the manes. The mourning consists in shaving the hair, coyering the head with the linen which they usually wear on the shoulders, and abstaining from the use of betel. Food. A peculiarity of the Hindoos is their generally abstaining from animal food. Rice, barley, and other kinds of grain, milk, and vegetables, form their principal diet; the vegetables being most plentifully mixed with vegetable oil. Fowls, however, are used in the southern parts by the lower castes; and many of the Brahmins also indulge in animal food, especially in fish; but in all cases where fowls or fish are eaten, they are mixed with a very large portion of spices. The Hindoos eat their food generally from dishes made of the leaves of the plaintain. Water is the only drink of respectable Hindoos, intoxicating liquors being seldom drunk except by the lowest castes. The expense of living is very trifling. The wages of a Hindoo labourer seldom reach five shillings a month; and with this, or often with much less, he supports himself and family. Dress. The Hindoos generally shave the whole head, except a small tuft on the crown, and also their beards, except a small pair of whiskers. The distinctions of their dress consist chiefly in the fineness of the cloth of which it is made. Their principal garment is a single piece of cloth, uncut, about three yards long and one wide, wrapped round the body, and hanging down in a negligent, but not ungraceful manner. On the head they wear a turban, and on the feet sandals or slippers, the latter having long crooked points. The different castes are distinguished, with regard to dress, by strings worn round the shoulders. The dress of the women also consists chiefly of one piece of cloth, usually 9 or 10 yards in length, and upwards of one in breadth, wrapped round the body, and falling in front as low as the feet. Such women as appear in public have shawls over their head and shoulders, short close jackets, and tight drawers. Sewing and knitting are scarcely known to the Hindoo females, the dress of the inhabitants consisting chiefly of one piece of cloth uncut; but they are all skilled in spinning cotton. The dress is very convenient for frequent bathing, a practice common to both sexes. No women are more attentive to cleanliness than the Hindoos; and their appearance and manners are very graceful. The rich have their long black hair adorned with jewels and wreaths of flowers; their ears are bored in many places, and loaded with pearls; gold chains, strings of pearls, and precious stones, fall from the neck over the bosom; the arms are covered with bracelets; round the ancles are gold and silver chains; and abundance of rings on the fingers and toes. This dress often appears overloaded with finery; that with fewer ornaments is more pleasing. The large black eyes of the Hindoo women are lengthened out at the corners by black streaks; and the palms of their hands, the soles of their feet, and their nails, are stained red. When young they have fine features, and slender and delicate forms; but the bloom of beauty soon decays. They enter so early into married life, they are often grandmothers at 25. Travelling. that Such Hindoos as can afford it, travel either in a hackery or a palanquin. The first resembles a turret, fixed on a small car with two wheels, with curtains round it; and is drawn by oxen. The palanquin is a couch covered with a canopy, suspended on poles, formed of bamboos. Two bearers take hold of the poles, at each end, and will carry the palanquin at the rate of nearly six miles an hour. Caravansaries are common on most of the roads in India: they consist of three apartments; in one the palanquins are deposited; the others are intended for the travellers to sleep in; in these, mats are spread; boiled rice and water are given free of expense, and other articles of Hindoo diet may generally be obtained from the Brahmins who reside in the neighbourhood. Fakirs or Faquirs. The Fakirs are a class of religious beggars, or fanatics, who are not allowed to marry, and never labour, but travel over Hindoostan, and subsist by the alms which they receive from the superstition of the people. They go entirely without clothes, carrying on their shoulders a thick club, the end of which is wound round with rags of all colours. They strew their hair, which hangs half way down their backs, with ashes, with which they sometimes besmear their whole body. These gymnosophists are in the habit of inflicting upon themselves the most rigorous penances and painful tortures; as continuing for life in one unvaried posture; remaining silent for many years; swinging by hooks thrust through the back; lying upon iron pikes; crawling for years upon their hands and knees round an extensive empire; suspending themselves, with their heads downwards, over flames; and other tortures, too horrible and disgusting to be described. "I have seen," says Mr. Forbes, " a man who had made a vow to hold up his arms in a perpendicular manner above his head, and never to suspend them; at length he |