Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 3.djvu/245

 UNMARRIED GIRL.—THAKOOR BRAHMIN. (168)

HE subject of this illustration belongs to a tribe of Brahmins of the Upper Provinces, who are known by the name of Thakoors: a title of respect. She is a good specimen of the women of her tribe, in appearance as well as in costume, which is of modern character. The ancient Hindoo costume for females was, and still continues to be, a garment called Sari, which consists of one piece of cloth, from twelve to sixteen cubits in length, and about a yard wide. It is first passed twice round the body to form a petticoat, which is fastened at the waist either by a knot, or by a gold or silver zone; the remainder is wound over the upper part of the body, and passed above the head, falling upon the right arm as low as the waist. This simple dress is extremely elegant m character; and if the material be fine soft muslin, as it generally is, nothing can be more graceful than the fall of the drapery. To a great extent, however, in Northern India, the Mahomedan costume has superseded the Sari; and in the photograph we see the volmnmous silk petticoat, over which is a rich shawl, embroidered, or perhaps woven, with a gold thread pattern, which completely envelopes the person. A magnificent costume certainly, but without the beauty and peculiar simple charm of the Sari. The girl represented is unmarried, as may be seen by the absence of the small bead necklace, which is worn tight round the throat in all cases, both by Hindoos, and also in the present times by Mahomedans, and which is tied on during the marriage ceremony. In the left nostril is the nuth, or nose ring, which in this instance is not very large. In general it consists of a piece of light gold wire, one end being curved, and the other having an eye; so that the ends can be hooked together, and a pearl or two, large or small, or a cluster of small rubies or emeralds, serve as ornament. In some instances, however, nuths of very large size and weight are worn by particular tribes and castes, each adhering to its own peculiar pattern; some of these are very uncouth, and by their weight drag down the nostril and side of the nose, causing serious disfigurement. It is strange perhaps that women submit to the inconvenience they occasion; but in these, and