Page:History of India Vol 9.djvu/70

 44 ACCOUNT OF INDIA BY STRABO hundred thousand men, did not on any day see a report of thefts exceeding the sum of two hundred drachmai, and this among a people who have no writ- ten laws, who are ignorant even of writing, and regulate everything by memory. They are, however, happy on account of their simple manners and frugal way of life. They never drink wine, except at sacrifices. Their beverage is made from rice instead of barley, and their food consists for the most part of rice pottage. The simplicity of their laws and contracts appears from their not having many lawsuits. They have no suits respecting pledges and deposits, nor do they require witnesses or seals, but make their deposits and trust one another. Their houses and property, moreover, are unguarded. These things denote temperance and sobri- ety; but there are others, of which no one would ap- prove, such as their always eating alone, and their not having one common hour for their meals, but each tak- ing it as he likes. The contrary custom is more agree- able to the habits of social and civil life. As an exercise of the body they prefer friction (or massage) in various ways, but particularly by making use of smooth sticks of ebony, which they pass over the surface of the body. 1 Their burials are simple, and the tumuli of earth low. In contrast to their parsimony in other things they indulge in ornament. They wear ornaments made of gold and precious stones, and flowered robes, and 1 This Indian custom of rubbing or massage is referred to in Sanskrit writ- ings and also is mentioned by other authors.