fine clothes, I put flowers in my hair-knot, a chandrahar on my waist, and ear-rings in my ears. Sandal, saffron, myrrh, pan, betel-nut and gold doll,—I have them all. I have them all, mind you; but admitting all this, what happiness have I?"
Sha. Tell me, what pleasure has the flower in blooming?
Mri. Those who see it experience pleasure; but what pleasure has the flower?
Shamasoondri's face became grave; her eyes shook a little like a blue lotus struck by the
as many ornaments as possible. When they pay visits, they often borrow ornaments from their female friends. The lower castes, who cannot afford gold or silver, wear brass, bell-metal, zinc, &c. The Ooria women wear large brass ornaments which cover their arms from the wrist to the elbow. In this and other matters of taste and perception, the Ooria lags far behind the Bengali. But Bengali women are by no means of opinion that beauty when unadorned is adorned the most! Their ambition is to possess a complete set of ornaments. For instance, there are no fewer than six different sorts of bracelets for the wrist, as churi, bala, &c. Then there are six different armlets worn above the elbow, e.g., tabiz, bazu, ananta, &c. The prettiest ornament is the gold chik or necklace. The ears are pierced in three places, at the top, at the bottom, and in the middle. Then there are various sorts of waistlets and anklets, and rings on the fingers and toes. Love of ornaments may be called an important factor for evil or for good in Bengali social life.
