182 



THE LIVING RACES OF MANKIND 



had taken place. The subjecb is too compli- 

 cated for discussion in these pages, but it may 

 be pointed out that caste, as now known in 

 India, is the product of several factors viz. 

 race, occupation, and religion. The four 

 original castes are the priests (Brahmans); 

 the warriors (Kshatriyas}-., citizens, traders, 

 and agriculturists ( Vaishyas) ; and the menials 

 (Sudras). These, however, have been under- 

 going a continual subdivision, until now there 

 are 2,500 main divisions. Some castes are of 

 political origin. Of this the most striking 

 example is to be met with in the hill tracts- 

 of the Punjab, where the rajah is the fountain 

 of honour, and by his word creates, enlarges, or 

 restricts the castes of the people in his realm. 



As a rule the process is confined to the 

 two upper classes of Brahman and Rajput. 

 Lower castes may gradually acquire a higher 

 caste. In the Deccan a landholder who be- 

 comes rich may rise to a higher caste, but 

 as a rule the process is the other way, and 

 in the direction of degradation. The barriers- 

 of caste are supposed to be immutable, but 

 it is plain that the people contrive to leap 

 over them and to creep under them. 



Mention must also be made of the- 

 Pariahs, or outcasts. The term originally 

 meant " hillmen," a fact which throws no small 

 light on the institution. And BO the Pariahs 

 were the independent highlanders who were excluded from all social privileges. One is 

 reminded by this of the absurd contempt with which the famous Dr. Johnson spoke of the 

 Scotch highlanders; in his narrow view they were simply pariahs I These hill people may 

 be regarded as being of the aboriginal elements of a prehistoric period. Caste, again, has 

 been somewhat affected by the spreading of Mohammedanism. But the sacerdotal caste 

 (Brahmans) have survived this and other changes, often retaining the noble cast of countenance 

 which is characteristic of the race. 



The following table shows at a glance the chief castes and tribes: 



Photo by M. Pierre Petit] 



DEVIL-DANCERS, CEYLON. 



[Paris. 



I. Agricultural. 



Military and dominant, e.g. Rajputs. 

 Other cultivators. 

 Field labourers. 

 II. Pastoral. 



Cattle-grazers, shepherds, etc. 



III. Forest Tribes (very numerous). 



Santhals, Kols, Gonds, Bhils, Todas, Kotas, 

 Inilas, Khasis, Kukis, Lushais, Chins, and 

 others. 



IV. Fishers. 



Kahars, Mallahs, etc. 

 V. Artisans. 



Carpenters, masons, potters, etc. 

 VI. Personal Service, Food, etc. 



Barbers, servants, butchers, washerwomen. 



VII. Leather-workers and Lower Village Menials. 

 VIII. Traders. 

 IX. Professionals. 



Priests, devotees, etc. 

 Temple servants, writers. 

 X. Arts, etc. 



Astrologers, singers, dancers, actors. 

 XI. Carriers. 

 XII. Vagrants. 



Knife-grinders, mat- and cane-workers, 

 hunters and fowlers, jugglers and 

 acrobats. 



XIII. Indefinite Indian Castes. 



XIV. Native Christ inns. 



Then follow Burmese, Western Asiatics, Eurasians, 

 Europeans, and-Africans. 



