458 



understand lliem, yet you shall be choused, they looking you in the 

 face; for, as a piece of superstition, they must put their hands under 

 a cloth, or mantle, when by their fingers they instruct one another, 

 and by that sleight often contradict their tongues. These banians 

 are the absolute map of sordidness; enduring servilely foul words, 

 affronts and injuries, for the hope of future gain; expert in all the 

 arts of thriving and insinuation; so that lying, dissembling, cheat- 

 ing, are their master-piece; their whole desire is to have money pass 

 through their fingers, to which a great part is sure to stick; for they 

 well understand the constant turning of cash amounts, both to the 

 credit and profit of him that is so occupied; which these banians 

 are sensible of, otherwise they would not be so industrious to en- 

 slave themselves." 



My journies in the purgunnas made a pleasing variety in my oc- 

 cupations; and the little difficulties occasioned by heat, rain, or the 

 appearance of a tiger, rendered them interesting. Travelling in a pa- 

 lanquin during the rainy season, I generally met with accommodation 

 at the towns and villages in my own districts. In the warm months a 

 friendly tamarind or banian-tree sheltered me by day ; at night a small 

 tent contained my bed, and a summiniana protected me from the 

 evening dews; these with a camp table and chair were all the con- 

 veniences I wanted when travelling alone. The summiniana, used 

 both by Europeans and natives in most parts of India, is an awn- 

 ing, or pavilion, open on all sides, supported by poles, and stretched 

 out by cords, in any level spot in the country; often in a court or 

 garden near the house; where we assembled after sun-set to enjoy 

 the society of our friends, smoak a hooka, and partake of a slight 

 supper. The ground was generally covered by a thick cotton 



