136 THE HIGHLANDS OF CENTEAL INDIA. 



races. And, as a rule, variation of physical type will be 

 found to be accompanied in almost equal ratio by divergence 

 from aboriginal manners and religious ideas in the direction 

 of Hinduism. It is probable that the further commixture of 

 blood, excepting through the occasional immorality of the 

 races, has in recent times ceased as regards the masses, though 

 the chiefs are still unremitting in their endeavours to purify 

 their families by alliance with more blue-blooded Eajpiit 

 houses than their .own. Blue blood being a marketable com- 

 modity here as in other countries, the chiefs have to pay 

 highly for such privileges ; and nothing has so much tended 

 to pauperize these families as these constant bribes for the 

 ennoblement of their race, and the equally heavy cost of 

 conciliating the priestly arbitrators of their quality. 



For it is through this chink that the influence of Brahman- 

 ism has mainly succeeded in penetrating to the very core of 

 these indigenous tribes. The test of purity of caste among 

 races of uncertain descent is much more the extent of their 

 observance of the Hindii code of purity and ceremonial than 

 actual proof of lineage. The Brahmans form a sort of Heralds' 

 College, to be inscribed on the rolls of which for a few gene- 

 rations entitles an aspirant to ally himself with families who 

 have already attained a higher status than himself. Strict 

 reverence for the Brahmans, and adherence to ceremonial 

 purity, are necessary to secure this ; and thus it is that all 

 these semi-Hindu chiefs spend the greater part of their time 

 and means in striving to attain the utmost rigour of attention 

 to Hindu religious and social rule. To this end they have 

 abandoned the gods of their fathers for the deities of the 

 Brahmans. They have retained Brahmans as their councillors 

 and to conduct the worship of the gods. They .eat nothing 

 unsanctioned by the Brahminical law; and some even employ 



