In unison with this feeling,
a person is no sooner dead, than he is hastened away to be buried or
burned; for, until this is done, those in the house can neither eat nor
drink, nor go on with their occupations.
A Brahmin who is particular in his delicacy, must be careful what he
treads upon. He is obliged to wash his body or bathe, if he happens to
tread on a bone, or a broken pot, a bit of rag, or a leaf from which one
has been eating. He must also be careful where he sits down. Some
devotees always carry their seats with them, that is, a tiger or
antelope's skin, which are always held pure. Some are contented with a
mat. They may sit down on the ground without defilement, provided it has
been newly rubbed over with cow-dung. This last specific is used daily
to purify their houses from the defilement occasioned by comers, and
goers. When thus applied, diluted with water, it has unquestionably one
good effect. It completely destroys the fleas and other insects, with
which they are very much annoyed.
There is one thing more which I wish to mention. It is, that all the
high castes consider the use of intoxicating drinks to be defiling. I
hope that you, my dear children, will always have the same opinion, and
never touch them any sooner than you would touch arsenic or other
poisons.
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