Page:McCosh, John - Advice to Officers in India (1856).djvu/220

 open in front, exposing the knee at every ordinary step, and at every extraordinary step, a good deal more extraordinary.

There is a variety of dress in use among the Nagas, one of the hill tribes of Assam, which, from its exceeding primitive nature is worth notice compared with which even the fig leaf is full dress. The Nagas go literally naked in their native wilds, but are with all not without peculiar ideas of decency. This is marked by having a fold of the preputium drawn through a small ivory ring, and worn in that predicament. They would think it highly indecorous and disrespectful to appearin female society without this appendage.

These rings are sold in the bazars of Muuipore, all of which are kept by women; and such is the force of habit and the elasticity of modesty that these ladies think no more of fitting a handsome Naga with this inexpressible, than they would in fitting his great toe with a ring.

13. DIET.—The diet of the natives is of the simplest kind, that of the Hindoos being rice, with a seasoning of ghee (clarified butter) and some dry spice and green vegetables made into a currie,besides milk in its various forms of curd. That of the Mussulmans is more generous, a large allowance of wheaten flour made into unleavened cakes with fish, or flesh or ghee.

Many of the articles of diet are very