The blacks of this country have the body nearly naked; they wear only bandages round the middle, called lankoutah, which descend from the navel to above the knee. In one hand they hold an Indian poignard, which has the brilliance of a drop of water, and in the other a buckler of ox-hide, which might be taken for a piece of mist. This costume is common to the king and to the beggar. As to the Mussulmauns, they dress themselves in magnificent apparel after the manner of the Arabs, and manifest luxury in every particular. After I had had an opportunity of seeing a considerable number of Mussulmauns and Infidels, I had a comfortable lodging assigned to me, and after the lapse of three days was conducted to an audience with the king. I saw a man with his body naked, like the rest of the Hindus. The sovereign of this city bears the title of Sameri. When he dies it is his sister's son who succeeds him, and his inheritance does not belong to his son, or his brother, or any other of his relations. No one reaches the throne by means of the strong hand.
The Infidels are divided into a great number of classes, such as the Bramins, the Djoghis,[1] and others. Although they are all agreed upon the fundamental principles of polytheism and idolatry, each sect has its peculiar customs. Amongst them there is a class of men, with whom it is the practice for one woman to have a great number of husbands, each of whom undertakes a special duty and fulfils it. The hours of the day and of the night are divided between them; each of them for a certain period takes up his abode in the house, and while he remains there no other is allowed to enter. The Sameri belongs to this sect.
When I obtained my audience of this prince, the hall was
- ↑ "Hindu ascetics; a caste of Hindus, who are commonly weavers. The people of this cast do not burn, but bury their dead, and the women are sometimes buried alive with their husband's corpse." — Forbes's "Hindustani Dictionary."
