A Geographical Description of All the Countries in the Known World, Part 1 · Subpart 64
The Inhabitants of Indostan Described.
The Inhabitants before they were conquered by Tamerlane, were all Gentiles, but now they are mixed with Mahometans: they are of stature, like us, very streight, seldome or never is there a crooked person amongst them: They are of an Olive colour, have black hair, but not curled; they love not any that are white, saying that they are like Lepers, their chins are bare, but have long hair on their upper lips, shave their heads; only reserve a lock on the Crown for Mahomet to pull them to heaven by. The habits of men and women differ little, mostly made of white Cotton cloth, made close to the middle, then hanging loose down below the knee: under them they have long breeches reaching to the ancle, and close to their bodies: their feet are bare in their shooes, which they commonly wear like Slippers, which they put off when they come into their houses, whose floores are covered with excellent Carpets, upon which they sit when they talk or eat, like Taylors on their shop boards: on the mens heads are shashes, which is a long thin wreath of cloath, white or coloured. The Mahometan women cover their heads with vails, their hair hangs down behind twisted with silk: oft bedecked with jewels, about their necks and wrists: their ears have pendants: their nostrils pierced to put in rings at their pleasure: Their ease in child bearing is admirable: for it is a common thing there, for women great with child, one day to ride carrying their Infants in their bodies, and the next day to ride carrying them in their arms.
The great Mogol, every year at the entring of the Sun into Aries, makes a feast to his Nobles which lasts nine days, at which time they present him with gifts, and he again repays them with Princely rewards: I was astonished (saith mine Author, who was an eye witnesse of it) when I beheld at that time the incredible riches of gold, pearls, Pretious stones, jewels, and many other glittering vanities which were amongst them.
The walls in the Kings house are painted, or beautified with pure white Lime: the floores are covered with rich, and costly Carpets: there lodge none with him in his house but his Eunuches, and women, and some little boys, that hee keeps for detestable uses: hee always eats in private amongst his women, upon great variety of excellent dishes, which being prepared, and proved by the Taster, are served up in vessels of Gold covered, and sealed up, and so by the Eunuches brought to him.
In this Empire there are no Inns to entertain strangers, onelyonly in great Towns are fair houses built for their receit, which they call Sarrays, not inhabited, where Travellers have room freely, but they must bring with them beds, food, and other necessaries which they usually carry upon Camells, or in Carts drawn with Oxen, wherein they have tents to pitch when they meet with no Sarray's.
The inferior sort of people ride upon Oxen, Horses, Mules, Camels, or Dromedaries, and the women like unto the men, or else in slight Coaches drawn with Oxen, many whereof are white and large, and they are guided with cords, which go through the parting of their Nostrils, and so betwixt their horns, into the Coach-mans hands: they are nimble, and will go twenty miles a day. The better sort ride upon Elephants, or are carried on mens shoulders in Sedans, which they call Palankeenes.
In all their great Cities they have Markets twice a day, early in the morning, and in the evening; wherein they sell almost every thing by weight. They are generally so superstitious, that they will rather dye than eat, or drink any thing that their Law forbids.