t of boots and gloves. They
rarely eat their food from plates; and when they do so, it is only at
home. They use the leaf of the plantain or other trees as a substitute.
To offer them any thing to eat on a metal or earthen plate which others
have used, would be considered a great affront. For the same reason,
they will neither use a spoon nor a fork when they eat; and they are
astonished that any one, after having applied them to their mouths, and
infected them with saliva, should repeat the act a second time. They
have a great abhorrence of the toothpick, if used a second time. When
they eat any thing dry, they throw it into their mouths, so that the
fingers may not approach the lips.

They do not drink as we do, by applying the cup to the lips. This would
be considered a gross impropriety. They pour the water into their
months. The reason why they do these things is, because they consider
the saliva to be the most filthy secretion that comes from the body. It
is on this account that no one is ever permitted to spit within doors.

The use of animal food they consider to be defiling. Not only will they
not eat animal food, but they will eat nothing that has the principle of
life in it. On this account, they cannot eat eggs of any kind. I was
once breaking an egg in my medicine-room at Panditeripo, while a Brahmin
was present. He told me that, under such circumstances, he could not
remain with me any longer. In his view, I was committing a great sin. To
kill an ox or a cow, is considered by them as a crime which can never be
atoned for, and to eat their flesh is a defilement which can never be
washed away. To kill a cow is, by _Hindoo_ law, punishable with death.

The touch of most animals, particularly that of the dog, defiles a
Brahmin. Should a dog touch them, they would be obliged instantly to
plunge into water, and wash their clothes, in order to get rid of such a
stain. Notwithstanding this, the dog is one of the gods worshipped by
the Hindoos.

The Hindoos consider themselves to be unclean if they have assisted at a
funeral. When the ceremony is over, they immediately plunge into water
for the sake of purification. Even the news of the death of a relative,
a hundred miles off, has the same effect. The person who hears such news
is considered unclean until he has bathed. In unison with this feeling,
a person is no sooner dead, than he is hastened away to be buried or
burned; for, until this is done, those in the