Meer Hassan Ali, B.: Observations on the Mussulmauns of India: descriptive of their manners, customs, habits, and religious opinions ; made during a twelve years residence in their immediate Society (Band 1) (London, 1832)

THE IIOOKIIA. 333

dener's dhaullie is introduced. A dhaullie, I
must first tell you, is a flat basket, on which
is arranged, in neat order, whatever fruit, ve-
getables, or herbs are at the time in season,
with a nosegay of flowers placed in the centre.
They will often ask with wonder—" How do
these things grow ?"—" How do they look in the
ground?"—and many such child-like remarks
have I listened to with pity, whilst I have re-
lieved my heart by explaining the operations of
Nature in the vegetable kingdom, a subject on
which they are perfectly ignorant, and, from the
habits of seclusion in which they live, can never
properly be made to understand or enjoy.

I have said water is the only beverage in
general use amongst the Mussulmaun Natives.
They have sherbet, however, as a luxury on
occasions of festivals, marriages, &C. This sher-
bet ' is simply sugar and water, with a flavour
of rose-water, or kurah added to it.

The hookha is almost in general use with fe-
males. It is a common practice with the lady of
the house to present the hookha she is smoking
to her favoured guest. This mark of attention