nutmegs with his rice, which of itself has an excellent and aromatic taste. During their meals the Indians sit down on a mat spread out on the floor, and, according to the oriental custom, place their legs across each other under them. They drink nothing but water; and when they wish to quench their thirst, they pour it from their _Kindi_, or drinking vessel, directly into their throat, without letting it touch their lips. When the men have ended their meal, it is then the women’s turn; and as soon as these have finished, they repair altogether to a river or pond, where they wash themselves, and mutter over various forms of prayer[94]. This ablution is called _Sandhivanana_, that is, the evening’s devotion; and is directed either to _Shiva_ or _Vishnu_, _Bhagavadi_ or _Bhavani_, to the goddess of nature and her children, the stars and the elements. They are convinced that the whole world, with every thing in it, had a beginning; that it will endure for a certain period, and at last have an end: and this belief conducts them to exalted ideas respecting their present and future destination. Never are they heard to pronounce an indecent word, except on the festival of _Shiva_, or _Bhagavadi_, in honour of which deities they always sing obscene songs. As for love letters, they are totally unknown to them. No young man dare venture to visit the object of his affection at her home; for the parents, on whose will the marrying of the girl depends, would consider this as an infringement on their right. This observation, however, is applicable only to the nobility and families of distinction; for people of the lower casts have manners and customs peculiar to themselves. Thus, for example, when they address themselves to a prince, brahman, magistrate or superior, they salute him by folding the hands together, raising them above their head, letting them then fall down, turning the fingers of both hands three times outwards, and raising up their folded hands again. They then place the left hand on their breast, the right on the mouth, and in that posture wait for permission to speak. This ceremony is called _Tolunu_. When a scholar wishes to address his preceptor, he must first prostrate himself at full length before him. This method of shewing respect is called _Shashtanga_. A scholar never dares to sit down in the presence of his _Guru_ or teacher[95].