March, 1849. NATIVE HOUSES AND DRESSES. 387 



sides, and, with a Clerodendron* whose strong, sweet 

 odour was borne far through the air, formed a low under- 

 shrub beneath every tree, generally intermixed with three 

 ferns (a Polgpodium, Pteris, and Goniopteris) . 



The cottages are remarkable, and have a very neat 

 appearance, presenting nothing but a low white-washed 

 platform of clay, and an enormous high, narrow, black, 

 neatly thatched roof, so arched along the ridge, that its 

 eaves nearly touch the ground at each gable; and looking at 

 a distance like a gigantic round-backed elephant. The 

 walls are of neatly- platted bamboo : each window (of which 

 there are two) is crossed by slips of bamboo, and wants 

 only glass to make it look European ; they have besides 

 shutters of wattle, that open upwards, projecting during 

 the day like the port-hatches of a ship, and let down 

 at night. Within, the rooms are airy and clean : one 

 end contains the machans (bedsteads), the others some 

 raised clay benches, the fire, frequently an enormous 

 Hookah, round wattled stools, and various implements. 

 The inhabitants appeared more than ordinarily well-dressed ; 

 the men in loose flowing robes of fine cotton or muslin, the 

 women in the usual garb of a simple thick cotton cloth, 

 drawn tight immediately above the breast, and thence falling 

 perpendicularly to the knee ; the colour of this is a bright 

 blue in stripes, bordered above and below with red. 



I anticipated some novelty from a visit to a Durbar 

 (court) so distant from European influence as that of the 

 Rajah of Jeelpigoree. All Eastern courts, subject to the 

 Company, are, however, now shorn of much of their glory ; 



* Clerodendron leaves, bruised, are used to kill vermin, fly-blows, &c., in cattle; 

 and tbe twigs form toothpicks. The flowers are presented to Mahadeo, as a 

 god of peace ; milk, honey, flowers, fruit, amrit (ambrosia), &c, being offered to 

 the pacific gods, as Vishnu, Krishna, &c. ; while Mudar (Asclepias), Bhang {Canna- 

 bis sativa), Datura, flesh, blood, aud spirituous liquors, are offered to Siva, Dooi'ga, 

 Kali, and other demoniacal deities. 



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