196 THE PROTEIN ELEMENT IN NUTRITION 



Milk, curds, buttermilk, whey, and other preparations form 

 a very important element of their dietary. In the agricultural 

 districts milk and milky foods are cheap and easily procured ; 

 the effect is that the Jats, Sikhs, and agricultural Dogras consume 

 large quantities, raising very materially the protein and nutritive 

 value of their dietaries. 



Meat is a luxury with the bulk of the people ; they prefer 

 goat to sheep. In most parts there is a good supply of fish, 

 which generally forms a large constituent of their diet. 



The strictest sects do not, but many Dogras do, eat fowls 

 and eggs. Being keen sportsmen, they supplement the animal 

 protein of their dietary with the flesh of different kinds of game. 



As the great majority of Dogras are Siva and Devi worshippers, 

 they are allowed to eat meat, a privilege denied to the worshippers 

 of Vishnu. 



In social and religious customs and practices the Dogras are 

 very much like other Hindu communities, except that they are 

 more superstitious and priest-ridden than the men of the plains. 

 Infant marriages are customary, the only exception being in the 

 case of the highest caste girls, for whom it is difficult to find 

 suitable husbands. 



We shall now give a few extracts bearing on the effects of diet 

 as exemplified in the different Dogra sects. 



Tho Dogra Brahmin. In appearance the cultivating Rajput 

 Brahmin can hardly be distinguished from Rajputs, except 

 that their physique is generally superior, the result probably of 

 the better nourishment they get. They make good soldiers 

 despite their prejudices and indolence. The average standard of 

 physique among them is good, and they are superior physically 

 to the Rajput Dogra, as the Brahmin contrives to get more of 

 the loaves and fishes of life than his co-religionist. They are 

 notoriously given to intrigue, and are not really military by 

 instinct, so that there is no great demand for them as soldiers. 



Dogra Rajputs 1 . Mian Rajputs. This class maintains a most 

 inveterate prejudice against touching the plough and against 

 agricultural pursuits. 



The adoption of agriculture makes a great difference in the 

 physique of the Dogra Rajput. With more and better food 

 he becomes more robust, and his muscles become more fully 

 developed. The Mians, who still keep up their prejudices, are 

 often thin and weakly looking, though a few months of good 



