12 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



ance of callings from family to family, and through the further di- 

 vision, through the selection of callings of conquerors and the im- 

 position of others upon the conquered, castes are primarily estab- 

 lished. In the process of this establishment, and subsequently, 

 moral and social sanctions gather about these institutions, and castes 

 are firmly established only to be overthrown by great social convul- 

 sions, or, and chiefly, by the march of civilization and the concom- 

 itant establishment of justice and those institutions designed to se- 

 cure justice. 



All light thrown upon the institution of caste in India must be wel- 

 comed by every scientific student of sociology, and this census of 

 Bengal, as set forth by Mr. Blodgett, is a valuable contribution to 

 this subject. 



Dr. Johnson inquired as to the effects of these early marriages 

 upon the offspring ; whether the children were well developed or 

 deformed; the effects upon health of the crowding of many indi- 

 viduals ; whether syphilis prevailed and its general effects. 



Mr. Blodgett replied that the census officials were extremely 

 careful not to push questions that might stir into opposition the 

 prejudices of the people. Great difficulty arose as to the question 

 of early cohabitation from the delicacy of the question and the great 

 variance of English and other European customs ; but as the legal 

 ceremony took place at betrothal, betrothal became the point at 

 which to count marriage. 



Cohabitation was probably at an earlier average than among 

 western nations, but statistics do not, in this census, help us beyond 

 the general knowledge obtained by observant individuals. 



There seems to be a high vitality up to advanced maturity ; but 

 after, say, forty-five years of age, the vitality seems to be in favor 

 of the European. 



No statistics are recorded on syphilis. The vital statistics have 

 considerable value, however, mdicating the predominance of pes- 

 tilential diseases in districts badly drained, overcrowded, or with 

 other adverse sanitary conditions, and special inquiry was made as 

 to leprosy. 



As to guilds and castes, a trace of such tendency may be seen in 

 the perpetuation as a civil corporation in the city of London of 

 rnore than one society originally founded on the occupation of its 

 members, and now retaining privileges then granted, although no 



