290 
as four leaves, which they chew all at 
once, adding camphor, and froin time to 
time discharging red saliva. Betel in- 
flames the-countenance, and intoxicates 
like wine; it satisfies those who are hun- 
gry, and gives fresh appetite to those al- 
ready satisfied; it makes the mouth look 
red, is good for the teeth; insigorates and 
disposes to amorous enjoyments. The 
king keeps in his palace a great number 
of women; according to some reports, 
seven hundred. The children which they 
produce, remain m the paiace only till 
the age of ten years. Each woman has 
apartments to herself, and every other 
accommodation. It is an established 
custom throughout the empire, that the 
parents should present to the sovereign 
their daughters, if beautiful, and if the 
damsels consent. None but the king can 
have access to them, from the moment 
they enter his palace; and their being 
thus admitted into the number of his 
wives, is considered as. a very great ho- 
nour. 
Chap. V —The idolatrous inhabitants 
of Hindoostan display their power and 
Maguificence in a grand annual cere- 
mony, vr. iestival, called Mahunady.* 
The covernors and chief officers of the 
empire, even those who reside at a dis- 
tance of three or four months Journey 
from the capital, are ordered to attend 
at court on this occasion. A thousand 
elephants are selected, of the greatest 
size and streneth; these are decorated 
with the richest trappmgs, and carry on 
their backs towers open at top, containing 
musicians and dancers or tumblers. The 
trunks of those elephants, their ears, and 
the different parts of their bodies, are 
‘painted with vermilicn, or ether colours, 
forming the most strange and fantastick 
figures. When the generais, the gover- 
hors, the ether principal officers, and the 
most learned Bramins were assembled, 
the festival commenced, and continued 
three days during the month of redjeb,t 
in the midst of a plain where they had 
erected scaffolds of three, four, and five 
stories high, adorned with painted sculp- 
tures from top to-vottom ; these repre- 
sented men and beasts, birds, insects, 
and flies, executed -with considerable 
neatness. The scaffolds were so contrived, 
as to turn round and present a different 
* Rather Maha nandi, © Great Joy,” Nandi, 
in Sanscrit, signifies joy, and the gocdess who 
presides over it. This festival is probably the 
Drougah poujab, described by Mr. Holwell. 
cespundi Sex 1443 r 
¢ Corcesponding to September i443, f 
Abdulvizak’s Travels from Persia to India. 
_ Wili.* Seneca, Epistle 85. 
*easyand Dion 3 also Busbequius and ot 
[May 1, 
front from time to time; even the deco= 
rations of the windows were changed, 
and various kinds of trees appeared in 
then. Occupying the whole length of 
the place was a great building of nine 
stories, supported by forty pillars, and or- 
namented and furnished lke the other 
structures. In the fifth stage or story 
of chis edifice, was the kiny’s throne ; the 
ambassadoi’s place was In the seventh; 
those friends whem he had brought with 
him were requested to withdraw, as it 
was desired that he should be alone: 
the space between the scaffolds and the 
building with forty pillars, was filled with 
musicians, vocal and instrumental, and 
actors; amongst the singers were many 
beautiful girls, blooming as spring, and 
gaily attired; their very appearance in- 
flamed the hearts of all. Some of them 
were concealed behind a curtain; this 
being drawn at both sides, they began to 
dance, and exhibited such attitudes as 
delighted and enchanted the spectators. 
The elephants were then made to perform 
several astonishing tricks: one of the 
largest mounted on abeam which seemed 
scarcely thick enough to admit one of. - 
his feet ; yet on this he placed tnem all 
four, and then beat time with his trunk 
to the music. Sometimes a beam was 
placed across an immense stake, ten 
cubits from the ground, and one end of 
this beam was lowered; the elephant 
mounted on it, when immediately the 
other extremity was pulled down by 
weights, counterpoising the elephant, 
who was thus balanced, in presence of the 
king. » Sometimes lifted high in the air, 
and at other times teuching the ground, 
the creature still kept time by the move~— 
ments of his body, and of his trunk.* 
The festival continued during three fol- 
lowing days, the performers were magni- 
ficently rewarded by the monarch, who 
bestowed on those most distinguished for 
their activity or skill, gold and rich . 
dresses. At length, on the third day, 
when every one was about to retire, Ab- 
dulrizak was conducted before the throne, 
which he perceived to be of massy gold, 
and of prodigious size, and adorned with 
jewels of inestimable value. The work- 
manship wasstill moreadimirable. There 
is not any part of the world ia which the 
artists use gold with so much ingenuity. 
Ul 
* Those who may be inclined to doubt the 
veracity of our traveller on this subject, 
should consult Pliny’s Natural History, lib. 
Suetoniag, Wo pis 
ers. 
Before 
