The Costume of Hindostan

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This Work was undertaken from the strongest conviction that a delineation from nature, elucidatory of the Features, Manners, and Customs of the Natives of Hindostan, would not only be acceptable to the Public at large, but that it could not fail to be particularly interesting to those Gentlemen who have resided in India, by recalling to their memory scenes with which they were formerly familiar.

In the present race of Hindoos the observer of nature will see, perhaps with little variation, the same features, customs, character, and religious mysteries, which history has recorded of their ancestors, at a time when the inhabitants of few other parts of the globe were in a state of civilization, and which will be found to bear a striking resemblance to the records of Holy Writ; while it is unquestionable, that their primitive manners have been preserved amongst them by an immutable attachment to their ancient religion.

In short, there is no description of patrons, no class of readers, who may not derive either information or amusement from contemplating these faithful representations of the inhabitants of India, whose ceremonies, customs, and character, though frequently involved in obscurity and blended with absurdity, nevertheless afford such an ample field for reflection, as will ever render them subjects of surprise and interest.

The investigation also into the natural dispositions of the natives of Hindostan, which now forms a primary object with that laudable institution, established under the auspices of the Marquis of Wellesley, at Bengal* (and which has already produced the effect of abolishing the extremes of prepossession as well as of prejudice, that have prevailed for ages relative to those people), will, it is presumed, increase in no ordinary degree the value of the present publication, which will henceforth be a necessary accompaniment to whatever may appear relative to Indian characteristics.

It may he proper to apprise the reader, that the Original Drawings for this Work having been made in Bengal, the different figures which they represent are distinguished by the appellations peculiar to that province; though the descriptions themselves will be found appropriate to every other part of India.