The World of Courtesans c4.62

c4.62

Seeing that the game had gone too far, the revellers left the water. They applied unguent to their bodies and at the behest of Krishna proceeded to the drinking booths. Then they ate excellent food and drank to their heart's content Meat cooked in acid fruit and pomegranate, *sikh kabab* roasted on spits, roasted buffalo, overflowing with hot ghee and seasoned with spices, lemon and salt was the excellent fare they enjoyed. Fat wild animals cooked according to the recipes of the *Paurogava shastra* delighted their palates. Strips of meat fried in ghee and seasoned with sea salt formed a side dish. Radishes seasoned with pomegranate and lime, basil leaves, asafoetida, ginger and fragrant grass served to season with the drinks. Birds roasted on spit with *ghi* and oil and seasoned with salt and tamarind were served with the drinks. Then there were dishes seasoned with saffron and cumin seed and salt. The sweets were cooked in *ghee* and moistened with buffalo milk. At the sight of all this food, the drinking stopped and the revellers fell voraciously on the vegetables, on the soups, *conjee*, *dahi*, hot milk and fruits.