214 INDIAN CUSTOMS. 



sent inhabitants, or even, perhaps, than we can 

 have any idea of from their present state ; and 

 although Europeans in general look down on 

 them with contempt, I am persuaded much may 

 be learnt from them, by any one who will give 

 himself the trouble to observe them narrowly. 



When a European first arrives amongst them, 

 he is sensibly struck with their strange appearance, 

 their dress being so very different from what he 

 has been accustomed to see in Europe, where 

 fashion and elegance of appearance are studied in 

 preference to ease and usefulness. In India the 

 same method of dress has continued for centuries, 

 and is, in fact, a part of their religion; and I 

 imagine was first adopted from physical principles, 

 as being the best suited to that hot climate. The 

 rich natives have every thing on them loose, ex- 

 cept their Cumberland (that is a cloth bound round 

 the lower part of their loins), which is of great 

 use in supporting the belly, and thereby prevent- 

 ing ruptures. The poorer classes go almost 

 naked, and besmear their bodies with oil, to pre- 

 vent the direful effects of a burning sun on their 

 naked skins. The females dress very like the men, 

 all loose except their breasts, which are tightly 

 suspended in cloth or silk, to prevent their fall- 

 ing down from their weight and relaxation. 



