INDIAN CUSTOMS. 221 



the company. When I left India in 1809, broad 

 cloth coats were worn at dinner in the hot months 

 by almost all the European inhabitants, which I 

 conceive was owing to the examples set them by 

 the heads of the settlement. Also throughout 

 the army, they were worn at all times. In this, 

 etiquette and fashion have prevailed over good 

 sense, in not adopting that which contributed 

 both to comfort and health ; and I hope, if pro- 

 perly noticed, as adding considerably to the 

 many other causes in that hot climate, tending to 

 impair European constitutions, that the heads of 

 Government will take it into consideration, and 

 be induced to set an example to the contrary ; 

 and also, that when discipline and duty do not 

 absolutely require it, commanding officers will 

 do the same, and not oblige officers and men to 

 wear warm clothes at those times, when they 

 are panting with heat, and perspiring at every 

 pore, to the great injury of their constitutions, 

 and eventually to the Government by whom they 

 are employed. 



The inhabitants of India have a curious method 

 of discovering theft, or any kind of concealment, 

 by means of chewing rice. A Brahmin is sent 

 for, who writes down all the names of the people 

 in the house, or who are suspected ; the next day 



