there is here a striving, avid and worldly civilisation, of course; these huge and eager markets, to this incessant buying and selling, that make that self evident; but I had no conception of the ubiquitous sense of the holy, no notion of how another world can permeate the secular. Filth, stench, disease, "gross superstition" as our people say, extreme poverty, promiscuous universal defecation, do not affect it: nor do they affect my sense of humanity with which I am surrounded. What an agreeable city it is, where a man may walk around naked in the heat if it so please him
In the observed civilization, there exists a strong drive for material wealth, evidenced by bustling markets filled with constant transactions. Despite the challenges of urban life, such as poverty and disease, there is an unexpected omnipresence of spirituality that intertwines with the everyday hustle. The contrast between the physical world and a deeper, holy experience is striking, often overshadowed by the harsh realities around it.
This city presents a unique environment where societal norms and conventions are challenged, allowing individuals the freedom to express themselves, even in ways considered unconventional, like walking naked in public. The author conveys a sense of attachment to the humanity present amidst the chaos, highlighting a surprising harmony between the secular and the sacred in such an unusual place.
