EATING AND DRINKING 183
puts his feet when walking. He would be defiled and obliged to bathe if by accident his feet should touch a bone,
a piece of broken glass or earthenware, a rag, a leaf from which any one had eaten, a bit of skin or leather, hair, or
any other unclean thing. The place where he sits must also be chosen with great care. Some penitents always carry with them the pure ' skin of a tiger or antelope on ' which to sit; others use a common mat, while the rich have carpets; but any one may sit on the ground without fear of defilement, if the place has been recently rubbed
over with cow-dung.
The way in which they take their food is also a matter of some moment. However many guests there may be, it would be considered very rude to speak to any one. They eat in silence, and conversation only begins at the end of
the meal, after they have washed their hands and mouths K
Nothing must be touched with the left hand, for reasons to be given later on, unless it be the copper vessel which contains water. Hindus drink only once, that is when they have finished eating, and they do so by pouring the liquid into their mouths from a distance. To drink as we do, by putting the glass or cup to the lips, would in their eyes be the height of indecency. While eating great care must be taken that not a fragment falls into the leaf serving as a neighbour ' s plate. One single grain of rice, one crumb even, would effectually prevent the latter from continuing his meal; or at any rate he would have to take a fresh leaf and another portion of food.
No doubt the same cause which makes Hindus of the
higher castes so extremely particular about their manner
of eating and drinking, accounts for their strong aversion to wind instruments of music. This cause is their insurmountable horror of saliva. They would look on a man who spat upon the floor as quite destitute of good manners.
Spittoons are to be found in every house; but should none be provided and any one require to spit he would have to go outside 2. However, from a sanitary point of view
1
This is not now the case; conversation does go on during meals. Occasionally, however, an individual makes a resolve always to abstain from talking while at meals. Ed.
2
Spittoons are not often found in Brahmin houses. Ed.