242 INDIAN 



particular attention to the prevailing- cus- 

 toms of the natives., which have been handed 

 down to them by their forefathers, who were 

 more enlightened than the present inhabi- 

 tants., or even, perhaps, than we can have 

 any idea of, from their present state; and al- 

 though 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 diffe- 

 rent 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 



