338 CONTRAST OF HINDOO AND 



of calico thrown about his half uncovered person 

 serves him for a garment, while a thin waxed calico 

 cap or small turban protects his head. Frequently 

 a small piece of cotton cloth, rolled and fastened 

 about the waist, is his only covering in the hot 

 season. In the cold season a coarse piece of wool- 

 len cloth, as it comes from the loom, and of the 

 manufacture of the country, serves to protect him 

 from the inclemency of the weather by day ; and 

 spread on the bare earth, or on a rough frame- 

 work raised a foot or more from the ground, is 

 made to supply the place of a bed and blanket at 

 night. Seated on the ground he requires no other 

 instrument than his fingers with which to eat his 

 food. This consists of rice savoured with a little 

 clarified butter, a few condiments, and some vege- 

 tables, no animal food — no flesh. Furniture he 

 has none, and his household utensils consist of a 

 brass or iron vessel in which he boils his rice, and 

 an earthen platter to eat from. To these may be 

 added a brass or earthen vessel to contain the im- 

 pure water he is occasionally doomed to drink. 

 The dried leaf of a palm serves him for a fan to 

 cool himself with, and to beat off the musquitoes : 

 but a somewhat elaborate and luxurious instru- 

 ment containing tobacco administers to the com- 

 fort and indulgence of smoking.* 



* Minutes of Evidence on the Renewal of the East India 

 Company's Charter, 1813 ; see Major General Kyd, Sir Thomas 

 Munro. Thomas Graham, Esq. and others. 



