describe them. Around her ankles were large rings which looked like
braided silver. To these were attached very many little bells, which
rung as she walked. I believe all dancing-girls wear these rings. We
felt very sad when we thought that she was dedicated to a life of infamy
and shame."

There is an ornament worn by the followers of the god Siva, on their
arms, or necks, or in their hair. It is called the _lingum_. The nature
of this is so utterly abominable, that I cannot tell you a word about
it.

Married women wear an ornament peculiar to themselves. It is called the
tahly. It is a piece of gold, on which is engraven the image of some one
of their gods. This is fastened around the neck by a short yellow
string, containing one hundred and eight threads of great fineness.
Various ceremonies are performed before it is applied, and the gods, of
whom I will tell you something by and by, with their wives, are called
upon to give their blessing. When these ceremonies are finished, the
tahly is brought on a waiter, ornamented with sweet-smelling flowers,
and is tied by the bridegroom to the neck of the bride. This ornament is
never taken off, unless her husband dies. In such a case she is deprived
of it, to wear it no more for ever--deprived of it, after various
ceremonies, by her nearest female relative, who cuts the thread by which
it is suspended, and removes it. After this a barber is called, who
shaves her head, and she becomes, in the eyes of the people, a
_despised_ widow--no more to wear any ornament about her neck but a
plain one--no more to stain her face with yellow water, nor to wear on
her forehead those marks which are considered by the natives as among
their chief ornaments.