S U R A T T E. 1750. i 79 



on every toe a ring of the fame metal. Their 

 half-jacket covers no more than the bread ; to> 

 conceal the lower parts, they tie a piece of fluff 

 (generally red-ftriped) about their middle, turn 

 the two ends through between their legs, and 

 faften them before. On the head they have a 

 cloth of the fame fluff, which goes over the 

 left and under the right arm, and is fattened 

 to the girdle. All the reft is naked. They go 

 fo upright, that even a dancing mailer could 

 not give them a better air. Perhaps this 

 erect carriage is occafioned by their carrying 

 water every day from the river, on their heads. 

 A Gen too woman can carry three pots one: 

 above another, without holding them with her 

 hands, go backwards and forwards with them, 

 turn about, Hand and hold converfation, &c. 

 Whether the ladies of quality and the rich are 

 obliged to fetch their own water, I am not 

 certain; however I have feen fome coming with 

 their po's, for the value of whofe rings many 

 a good farm might have been bought in our 

 country. Their virtue is fufpecled by many, 

 becaufe all the dancing women of the Mogul 

 empire are taken out of this nation. 



I could not fee their pagoda and religious 



ceremonies, but Iobfervedtheir morning prayer 



N 2 in 



