SURATTE. 1750. 189 



thoufand rupees with a Banian ; yet he cannot 

 eat with him, nor go home with him. All 

 the velfels which a Bramin has in his kitchen 

 are facred, and mull not be touched by any 

 one that does not belong to that caft. An old 

 complaifant Perfee woman, who gave us fome 

 milk as we travelled by, would not let her 

 bottle come within a quarter of a yard of our 

 glafs. 



They have ftefh in plenty, but fuch proba- 

 bly as is not very wholefome, especially to 

 thofe who come on ihore from long fca 

 voyages ; for, if they indulge their appetites, 

 they are fubjeft to vomitings and diarrhoeas, 

 and are in danger of lofing their lives. It is 

 probable that Brama y or whoever at firfl gave 

 laws to the Gentoos, had difcovered that thefe 

 meats were very unwholefome to the Malaba- 

 rians.. .Mahomet found his account in the fre- 

 quent ablutions,- which in fome cafes are in* 

 difpenfably neceiTary, in order to prevent the 

 chopping and parching of the fkin, and per- 

 haps worfe accidents. If you go in the morn- 

 ing into the fuburbsr and lanes, you very foon 

 fee how .bufy thefe people are in waihing the 

 children with the left hand. 



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Besides 



