COGNATION OF A HINDU RAJA;" ■ 31^ 



offenii<»SJ-''Were prefented and received by 'the attendants. Daring^ 

 the Tame time gifts of cloths and money were diftributed amongd the 

 hramms and their women, the number of whom alone was immenfes 

 all of thatcafl of the 'adjiacentcountries and -many even from Tanjore 

 Bavino- alTembled. For their accomodation, alfo, very extenlive wood- 

 en buildino'S hd.d been ereded, in which they were feafted with dreffed 

 visuals, confifling of rice, dhal, ghee, curries of various vegetabiesy 

 with papadoms, (fine cakes, made of gram flour, and a fiae fpecies of 

 alkali, which gives them an agreeable fait tade and ferves- the purpofe 

 of yeali J making them rife and become very crifp when fried) plan- 

 tains and other fruits. "This entertainment, which was for the • bramins- 

 a-nd their families only, coniiDued three days, twice each day, ■ 



The geClares made ufe of on -this ocdaiion to exprefs their adoration, 

 were fufficiently remarkable to merit a defcription. The perfon-ftandj' 

 ing erefl lifts his hands to his face and joins them open, the fingers 

 ftretched and reaching a little above the eyes; the fingers are then 

 drawn down to the palm, and the hands drawn back from each other 

 to the diftance of eight or ten ioches, then replaced as before, and ih.Q 

 fanae-modons repeated, which when performed by every individual of 

 . fo great a multitude formed a very iingular icene. • 



The crown was of gold, but the diftance at which I was placed, 

 prevented me from noting any thing but its form, which refembled 

 that of the Tiardf worn by the Roman Pontiffs, before it was disfigured 

 into a triple crown by the arrogance of Eoniface and Benedict. 

 When we confider with what minutenefs the Hindus adhere, even in 

 matters of minor importance to the pradices of their anceflors, we 

 may conclude that the form of this crown was very ancient, and is 

 therefore worthy of remark as being different from that of any dia- 

 dem worn by princes either now or at former periods ,• but that the 



