JOURNEY TO SIRIXAGUR. 313 



selves of die occasion, to transact business, and 

 carry on an extensive annual commerce. In this 

 concourse of nationL^ it is a matter of no small 

 amusement to a curious observer, to trace the dress, 

 features, manners, vX'C. which characterize the people 

 of the different countries o^ Cabal , Cashunr, Lahore^ 

 Butaau, Sirimigur, Cummoic, and the plains of Ilm- 

 ilustan. From some of these veiy distant countries, 

 whole families, men, women, and children, under- 

 take the journey, some travelling on foot, some ou 

 horseback, and many, particularly women and chil- 

 dren, in long heavy carts, railed, and covered with 

 sloping matted roofs, to defend them against the 

 sun and wet weather : and during the continuance of 

 the fair, these serve also as habitations. 



Among the natives of countries so distant from all 

 intercourse with people of our colour, it is natural to 

 suppose that the faces, dress, and equipage of the 

 gentlemen who were then at Hjirdiau^, were looked 

 upon by many as objects of great curiosity : indeed 

 it exceeded all my ideas before on the subject, and 

 as often as we passed through the crowd in our pa- 

 lanquins, we were followed by numbers, of both 

 "women and men, eager to keep pace, and admiring, 

 with evident astonishment, every thing which met 

 their eyes. Elderly v.omen. in particular, salaamed with 

 the greatest reverence; many shewed an eagerness to 

 touch some part of our dress ; which being permitted, 

 they generally retired with a salaam, and apparently 

 much satisfied. 



At our tents, parties succeeded parties throughout 

 the day, where they would take their stand for hours 

 together, silently surveying every thing they saw. 



Sometimes more inquisitive visitors approached 

 even to the doors of the tent, and finding they were 

 not repelled, though venturing within, they gene- 

 rally retired, with additional gratification ; and fre- 



quetn ly 



