ures of clients to their balances. They
open fresh account-books, which they first worship and adorn with an
image of Ganesh, and perhaps an invocation to the god on the front
page. A silver rupee is also worshipped as an emblem of Lakshmi,
but in some cases an English sovereign, as a more precious coin,
has been substituted, and this is placed on the seat of the goddess
and reverence paid to it. The Banias and Hindus generally think it
requisite to gamble at Diwali in order to bring good luck during
the coming year; all classes indulge in a little speculation at
this season.

16. Holi festival.

In the month of Phagun (February), about the time of the Holi, the
Marwaris make an image of mud naked, calling it Nathu Ram, who was
supposed to be a great Marwari. They mock at this and throw mud at
it, and beat it with shoes, and have various jests and sports. The
men and women are divided into two parties, and throw dirty water
and red powder over each other, and the women make whips of cloth
and beat the men. After two or three days, they break up the image
and throw it away. The Banias, both Jain and Hindu, like to begin the
day by going and looking at the god in his temple. This is considered
an auspicious omen in the same manner as it is commonly held to be a
good omen to see some particular person or class of person the first
thing in the morning. Others begin the day by worshipping the sacred
_tulsi_ or basil.

17. Social customs: rules about food.

The Banias are very strict about food. The majority of them abstain
from all kinds of flesh food and alcoholic liquor. The Kasarwanis are
reported to eat the flesh of clean animals, and perhaps others of the
lower subcastes may also do so, but the Banias are probably stricter
than any other caste in their adherence to a vegetable diet. Many
of them eschew also onions and garlic as impure food. Banias take
the lead in the objection to foreign sugar on account of the stories
told of the impure ingredients which it contains, and many of them,
until recently, at any rate, still adhered to Indian sugar. Drugs are
not forbidden, but they are not usually addicted to them. Tobacco
is forbidden to the Jains, but both they and the Hindus smoke, and
their women sometimes chew tobacco. The Bania while he is poor is
very abstemious, and it is said that on a day when he has made no
money he goes supperless to bed. But when he has accumulated wealth,
he develops a fondn