SURATTE. 1750. 201 



curtains. The bamboo flicks bend upwards 

 near the thill, and make a feat for the driver, 

 on which he rides as on a faddle. This is the 

 carriage of the common people. The Arme- 

 nians and Europeans rode in coaches, but they 

 were of fuch a conflru&ion as I fuppofe might 

 have been in fafhion in the year 1500. 



The greater nobility are carried in a pale- 

 kee, which looks very like a hammock fattened 

 to a crooked pole. When the ladies are car- 

 ried, they are fhut up in a box twilled of bam- 

 boo, which is afterwards covered at the top 

 with double cloths. On each fide goes a 

 flout black eunuch, with a drawn fabre in his 

 hand. 



Though dogs are held in abomination by 

 the Mahometans, yet the ftreets are full of 

 them. The Perfees have a certain veneration 

 for them ; and I was told, that in a famine 

 which happened fome years ago, alms were 

 given to the dogs. 



The houfes are not fo infefled with lizards 

 here as in other parts of Eaji India ; but even 

 the flone walls in the uppermofl flories are not 

 free from a fort of little brown ants. The Gentoos 



take 



