Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 327

INTOXICATION AND INDECENCY
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then gives the others permission to devour the rest. Men
and women thereupon begin to eat greedily, the same
piece of meat passing from mouth to mouth, each person
taking a bite, until it is finished. Then they start afresh
on another joint, which they gnaw in the same manner,
When all
tearing the meat out of each other's mouths.
the meat has been consumed, intoxicating liquors are
passed round, every one drinking without repugnance out
Opium and other drugs disappear in
of the same cup.
a similar fashion. They persuade themselves that under
these circumstances they do not contract impurity by
When
eating and drinking in so revolting a manner.
they are all completely intoxicated, men and women no
longer keep apart, but pass the rest of the night together,
giving themselves up without restraint to the grossest
immorality without any risk of disagreeable consequences.
A husband who sees his wife in another man's arms cannot
for at those
recall her, nor has he the right to complain
times every woman becomes common property. Perfect
equality exists among all castes, and the Brahmin is not
The celebration of these
of higher caste than the Pariah.
mysterious rites may differ sometimes in outward forms,
but in spirit they are always equally abominable. Under
certain circumstances the principal objects which form the
sacrifice to sakti are a large vessel full of native rum and
a full-grown girl. The latter, stark naked, remains stand-
The goddess Sakti is
ing in a most indecent attitude.
evoked, and is supposed to respond to the invitation to
come and take up her abode in the vessel full of rum, and
also in the girl's body.
A sacrifice of flowers, incense, sandalwood, coloured rice,
and a lighted lamp is