

The Khatre. 



GA NOETIC HINDOOSTAN. 



The Brahmins are the well known chief of the religious or- 

 ders of the Hindoos, created by the deity Brimha from his 

 mouth, as his was the bufinefs to inltru6l mankind in rehgious 

 duties, and the Brahmins alfo were permitted to read the vedas^ 

 or facred books. Their perfons were facred, and to kill a Brah- 

 min was one of the five fins inexpiable in this or the next world. 

 Every prieft mult be a Brahmin, but every Brahmin is not a 

 prieft. They mingle in feveral fecular employs. They are 

 prime minifters, embaffadors, and of other worldly bufinefles. 

 Notwithftanding they profefs an abhorrence to the fhedding of 

 blood, and never eat of any thing that has had life in it, yet 

 they engage in the military line in different ftations *. Hurry 

 Punt was a Brahmin of the firlt rank, and Purferam Bhow was 

 alfo a Brahmin, and yet both of thefe were ailive leaders in the 

 Mahratta armies, which confederated with us in the late war 

 againft Tippoo\. 



The common drefs of the Brahmins are fliort robes, which 

 do not reach below the knees ; over their flioulders is a loofe 

 mantle, and on their breaft hangs, from the left fhoulder, the 

 Zennar, or facred firing, made of a certain kind of cotton. 

 They wear beards long and venerable. Their heads, like thofe of 

 other Hindoos, are fhaven, and only one long lock left behind |. 



Let me here mention the three other greater cajls, made by 

 Brimha. I refer to volume i. p. 56, for an account of the 

 warrior, or Khatre, who was formed from his arms, and hii 

 duty was to defend the people, to govern and to command. 



• Dirom's Campaigns, p. 7. 



t Moore's Narrative, p. 166, to which is annexed a very ridiculous tale. 



X Sketches of the Hindoos, ii. p. 41. 



8 



The 



