228 
SCENES IN INDIA. 
race seems fairly to warrant the conclusion that they 
ranked Mahadajee Scindia as one of their own. 
Mahadajee, though not a man given to excesses,, 
was so fond of the areeka or beetel-nut, that he kept 
a person constantly near him to supply him with that 
luxury. This man’s sole employment was to put the 
nut into the mouth of the venerable chieftain when- 
ever he required a fresh supply, as, with all his ener- 
gies, both mental and physical, when they were called 
for, he could not entirely divest himself of the natural 
temperament of a Hindoo. He also kept a Bramin 
who attended him daily to put the marks of his caste 
upon his nose and forehead. Those marks are made 
with a pigment of yellow ochre and oil, which is washed 
off and renewed every morning. The followers of 
Siva and Vishnoo have the linear marks differently 
placed, the one horizontal, the other vertical. The 
usual note of caste is one circular or cylindrical spot 
between two lines. 
I shall conclude this sketch with, upon the whole, 
a very just summary of his character from Grant 
Duff’s “ History of the Mahrattas.” et He was a 
man,” says Mr. Duff, “ of great political sagacity and 
considerable genius; of deep artifice, of restless am- 
bition, and of implacable revenge. With a high opi- 
nion of his own personal address, he generally failed 
where he attempted to exercise it, and in ebullitions of 
anger, to which he was prone, he frequently exposed 
what he most wished to conceal. His countenance 
was expressive of good sense and good humour ; but 
his complexion was dark, his person inclining to cor- 
pulency, and he limped from the effects of his wound 
