Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, or the Central and Western Rajput States of India v1.c20.s5.71

v1.c20.s5.71

⁴ The giving the hand amongst all nations has been considered as a pledge for the performance or ratification of some act of importance, and the custom amongst the Scythic or Tatar nations, of transmitting its impress as a substitute, is here practically described. I have seen the identical Farman in the Rana’s archives. The hand being immersed in a compost of sandalwood, is applied to the paper, and the palm and five fingers (*panja*) are yet distinct. In a masterly delineation of Oriental manners (*Carne’s Letters from the East*) is given an anecdote of Muhammad, who, unable to sign his name to a convention, dipped his hand in ink, and made an impression therewith. It is evident the Prophet of Islam only followed an ancient solemnity, of the same import as that practised by Jahangir.