ope. Look, for instance, at those women on
their way to a well through a garden, which is private and at the same
time open to anyone, because somebody's cows are grazing in it. To whom
does it not happen to meet with women, to see cows, and admire a garden?
Doubtless these are among the commonest of all things. But a single
attentive glance will suffice to show you the difference that exists
between the same objects in Europe and in India. Nowhere more than
in India does a human being feel his weakness and insignificance. The
majesty of the tropical growth is such that our highest trees would look
dwarfed compared with banyans and especially with palms. A European cow,
mistaking, at first sight, her Indian sister for a calf, would deny the
existence of any kinship between them, as neither the mouse-coloured
wool, nor the straight goat-like horns, nor the humped back of the
latter would permit her to make such an error. As to the women, each of
them would make any artist feel enthusiastic about the gracefulness
of her movements and drapery, but still, no pink and white, stout Anna
Ivanovna would condescend to greet her. "Such a shame, God forgive me,
the woman is entirely naked!"

This opinion of the modern Russian woman is nothing but the echo of what
was said in 1470 by a distinguished Russian traveler, "the sinful slave
of God, Athanasius son of Nikita from Tver," as he styles himself. He
describes India as follows: "This is the land of India. Its people are
naked, never cover their heads, and wear their hair braided. Women have
babies every year. Men and women are black. Their prince wears a veil
round his head and wraps another veil round his legs. The noblemen wear
a veil on one shoulder, and the noblewomen on the shoulders and round
the loins, but everyone is barefooted. The women walk about with their
hair spread and their breasts naked. The children, boys and girls, never
cover their shame until they are seven years old...." This description
is quite correct, but Athanasius Nikita's son is right only concerning
the lowest and poorest classes. These really do "walk about" covered
only with a veil, which often is so poor that, in fact, it is nothing
but a rag. But still, even the poorest woman is clad in a piece of
muslin at least ten yards long. One end serves as a sort of short
petticoat, and the other covers the head and shoulders when out in the
street, though the faces are always uncovered. The hair is erecte