218 INDIAN CUSTOMS. 



bringing the extremities more on a level with the 

 heart. Europeans in India cannot sit long with 

 ease, without using a morah (a kind of stool to 

 put the legs on) ; if they have not got that, they 

 put their legs on the table, and it is not uncom- 

 mon to see a whole party after dinner with their 

 legs on the table. A restless uneasiness, occa- 

 sioned by languid circulation in the feet and 

 legs, causes this, which I attribute to the heat of 

 the climate causing great exhaustion and relax- 

 ation ; for, Europeans, after having resided long 

 in India, do not feel the same inclination on their 

 return to their native country. 



Tattooing and Shampooing, (that is using 

 percussion and pressure,) have also the effect of 

 assisting the languid circulation, and the relief 

 experienced from it after fatigue, can only be 

 judged of by those who have experienced it. 

 Smoking is another custom, in general through- 

 out India, and I firmly believe, is of salutary 

 effect, particularly if not indulged in to excess, 

 or poisoned by the introduction of intoxicating 

 ingredients. Smoking pure tobacco acts as a 

 gentle stimulus to the intestines, and causes re- 

 gular evacuations ; without the use of which, re- 

 course to medicines would be often found neces- 



