DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4649#0329
310 THE MUSNUD.
circumstances, or convenience. It is about two
yards square, and generally bordered or fringed,
on which is placed the all-important musnud.
This article may be understood by those who
have seen a lace-maker's pillow in England,
excepting only that the musnud is about twenty
times the size of that useful little article in the
hands of our industrious villagers. The musnud
is covered with gold cloth, silk, velvet, or cali-
co, with square pillows to correspond, for the
elbows, the knees, &c. This is the seat of
honour, to be invited to share which, with the
lady-owner, is a mark of favour to an equal
or inferior : when a superior pays a visit of
honour, the prided seat is usually surrendered
to her, and the lady of the house takes her
place most humbly on the very edge of her
own carpet.
Looking-glasses or ornamental furniture are
very rarely to be seen in the zeenahnahs,
even of the very richest females. Chairs and
sofas are produced when English visitors are
expected ; but the ladies of Hindoostaun prefer
the usual mode of sitting and lounging on the
circumstances, or convenience. It is about two
yards square, and generally bordered or fringed,
on which is placed the all-important musnud.
This article may be understood by those who
have seen a lace-maker's pillow in England,
excepting only that the musnud is about twenty
times the size of that useful little article in the
hands of our industrious villagers. The musnud
is covered with gold cloth, silk, velvet, or cali-
co, with square pillows to correspond, for the
elbows, the knees, &c. This is the seat of
honour, to be invited to share which, with the
lady-owner, is a mark of favour to an equal
or inferior : when a superior pays a visit of
honour, the prided seat is usually surrendered
to her, and the lady of the house takes her
place most humbly on the very edge of her
own carpet.
Looking-glasses or ornamental furniture are
very rarely to be seen in the zeenahnahs,
even of the very richest females. Chairs and
sofas are produced when English visitors are
expected ; but the ladies of Hindoostaun prefer
the usual mode of sitting and lounging on the