The general character of the Ilindoos varies much in different parts of India. Even under the Bengal presi dency, there are two distinct descriptions of Hindoos. Berar Patna, the Bengalese, as they are called, are weak in body, and timid in mind; and that timidity is accompanied, as usual, by servility and fraud. This class seem to diminish, both in their bodily strength and mental qualities, as they approach the coast ; those below Calcutta being reckoned the most abject and imbecile in body and mind, of all the Ilindoos subject to the British government. As soon, however, as Bahar is entered, or rather the district of Bcnares, a different race appears. Throughout all the territories in that quarter, subject to the 'Company, and the Nabob of Oudc, the Ilindoo inhabitants are distin guished, not more by their lofty stature and robust frame of body, than by their courage and mental qualities. The great part of the army on the Bengal Establishment is composed of these men ; and it is remarkable, that there arc lew corporal punishments in it, the slightest reproach being felt as severely as the greatest punishmmnt is among soldiers of European nations. On the coast of Coroman del, the Hindoo is inferior, both in bodily and mental quali ties, to the Bengalee ; the other inhabitants vary much in their character. The Mahrattas are bold, active, and insi dious: among the higher classes, and especially among the Brahmins, there is frequently displayed a very extra ordinary degree of urbanity, proceeding. not from feeling, or even politeness, so much as from hypocrisy. Their command of temper and countenance is indeed astonish ing.
One of the peculiarities of the Ilindoos, recorded by Arrian, &c. is their not eating animal food ; and thiS pe culiarity still exists. Throughout the southern parts of India, however, fowls are a common article of diet with the lower castes ; but in the northern parts, they arc sel dom eaten, except by the Mahomedans and Europeans. Fish is eaten even by some of the Brahmins, as has been already noticed; but in all cases where fowls or fish are eaten, they are mixed with a very large portion of spices. Vegetables are their principal diet, in all eases most plen tifully mixed with vegetable oils. Wheat is used by some of the natives of northern Hindostan, hut in no great quan tities. Rice, barley, and different species of pulse, made into cakes, is the usual food in Hindostan Proper and the Decan ;—raggy, in Southern India. Mrs. Graham thus describes the mode of making rice cake :—After the rice had been pounded by a mill already noticed, the woman, whom Mrs. Graham observed, carefully washed every vessel, though apparently clean before, "and then mixed her rice-flour with milk, water, and salt, when she beat it between the palms of her hands till it was round, and then baked it on a round iron plate, such as is used in Scotland for oat cakes. Besides these cakes, she prepar ed a few heads of maize, by rubbing off the chaff, and laying them in the fire to rosst for the family supper. At the next hut, the woman was grinding missals, or curry stuff, on a flat smooth stone, with another shaped like a rolling-pin. Less than an English half-penny procures enough of turmeric, spice, salt, and ghee, to season the whole of the rice eaten in a day by a labourer, his wife, and five or six children. The vegetables and acids he re quires are found in every • hedge." Journal, p. 20. The Ilindoos cat their food. generally from dishes made of the leaves of the plantain. In Bengal, a single leaf is suffi ciently large for this purpose; but in places where they are not of a proper size, they arc fastened together by people called barhi, who make it a particular business, are to 1,e found in every village, and receive their allowance of wages from the Zemindar and Ryot, in the same manner as the Brahmin, bard, Sr.c. The potter, also, who makes the earthen vessels used for cooking the food, or holding water, receives his allowance of grain or of money. Wa ter is the only drink of respectable Indians ; toddy and other intoxicating liquors are seldom drank except by the very lowest castes. In such a hotelimate, it is absolutely
necessary to cool the water and other liquids before they are drank. The vessels used for this purpose are made in most pal is of India, but principally in Guzerat. Smok ing is very general in the northern parts of India ; but in the Carnatic, and other parts of the south, it is held in great disrepute. Here, taking snuff is much more common than in Bengal. The lower classes indeed smoke segars ; but by this practice, a Brahmin would lose his caste ; and even those of the Sudras, who are comparatively rich, would he dishonoured. It is scarcely necessary to state, that the re ligion of the Hindoos forbids them to taste any food or li quid, which has been prepared by, or belongs to persons of a different religion.
The distinctions of dress in India consist almost entire ly in the fineness of the linen of which it is made. The kinds and form of their garments are the same that they were 2000 years ago, with the exception, perhaps, of the turban, the jumnah, and long drawers, which are suppos ed by some to have been borrowed from the Mahomedans. The ancient dress of the Indians, as described by Arrian, consisted of a muslin cloth thrown loosely about the shoulders, and a muslin shirt which reached to the middle of the leg. lie likewise notices that their beards were dyed various colours. The dress of the women at present, is very simple and graceful ; a boddice, or close jacket, with half sleeves, fastened behind, and generally made of co loured brocade, covers their breasts, without concealing their form. The shalice, a wide and long piece of colour ed silk or muslin, is wrapped round the waist, in such a manner as to leave part of one leg bare ; on the other side, it reaches below the ancle, which it covers with long and graceful folds: in front it is gathered up; and the upper end, which crosses the breast,is sometimes thrown overthe head as a veil. The hair is generally tied in a knot on the back part of the head, and the roots are often stained red. The hands and feet are covered with bracelets and rings ; and a valuable jewel is frequently fastened in the nose. The large black eyes of the Hindoo women are lengthened out at the corners by black streaks: and the palms of their hands, soles of their feet, and their nails, are stained red with the juice of the seeds of the hinsea plant. The dress of the men is either in what is considered as the ancient Hindoo fashion, or in that which resembles the dress of the Alahomedans, and which, as we have already men tioned, is supposed to have been introduced by the Mo guls. The former consists of a piece of cloth fastened round the waist, reaching down to the knee. Round the body another piece is folded, in different modes, according to the fancy or taste of the wearer. A piece of fine mus lin envelopes the head. In the other fashion, wide drawers reaching to the ancles are worn, together with a long robe, which is crossed over the breast, tied round the loins by a scarf. A kind of turban is worn on the head. The In dians who wear this dress are distinguished from the Moors by the circumstance, that their robes are fastened on the left side of the breast, whereas those of the Moors are fasted on the right side. Sandals, or slippers, are worn on the feet, the latter having a long crooked point. The Hindoos generally shave their heads and beards, with the exception of a lock of hair on the back part of their head, and a small pair of whiskers. The different castes are distinguished, with respect to their dress, by strings worn round the shoulders. The string of the Brahmins is com posed of threads ol cotton; the number, mode of spinning and dyeing, and of knotting, are most especially marked out by their religion. The Chehteree caste wear a string com posed of fewer threads; the Brice have one with still fewer threads ; but the Sudras are not permitted to wear any string.