Mughal King Babur on Hindustan. Excerpts taken from Baburnama (London, 1922)
‘Hindustan is a country of few charms. Its people have ugly looks; of social intercourse, paying and receiving visits there is none; of genius and capacity none; of manners none; in handicraft and work there is no form or symmetry, method or quality; there are no good horses, no good dogs, no grapes, muskmelons or first-rate fruits, no ice or cold water, no good bread or cooked food in the bazaars, no hot-baths, no colleges, no candles, torches or candlesticks.
‘Peasants and people of low standing go about naked. They tie on a thing called (lunguta) a decency-clout which hangs two spans below the navel. From the tie of this pendent decency-clout, another clout is passed between the thighs and made fast behind. Women also tie on a cloth (lung), one-half of which goes round the waist; the other is thrown over the head.