BRAMINS CSHATRYAS. 241 



relations of the miraculous powers of Bramins exerted in 

 drying up the sea, vomiting fire on their enemies, and 

 trampling on the most powerful deities. Krishna is intro- 

 duced as humbly presenting a party of them with water to 

 wash their feet ; and a story is diligently recited concern- 

 ing one of their number who gave the most opprobrious re- 

 ception to Brama, Vishnu, and Siva, when they came 

 together to wait upon him. The laws not only pronounce 

 the murder of a Bramin to be of deeper atrocity than that 

 of any other individual, but punish as crimes the most tri- 

 vial slights offered to that sacred class. If a Sudra pre- 

 sume to sit down on the carpet of a Bramin, the part thus 

 sacrilegiously deposited is either burnt with a hot iron or 

 entirely cut off. If he spit upon such a hallowed person, 

 he is deprived of his lips. If he listen to reproaches against 

 him, melted lead is poured into his ears. If he pluck him 

 by the beard, the hands committing this outrage are for- 

 feited. But to treat Bramins with honour, and confer gifts 

 upon them, are actions of distinguished merit, atoning for 

 almost every sin. In the great festivals, when the opulent 

 occasionally make a display of their wealth, the leading 

 object is to collect a great number of Bramins and send them 

 away loaded with presents. At entertainments given by 

 kings they amount to many thousands. Mr. Ward men- 

 tions one bestowed during Mr. Hastings's administration by 

 tbe Dewan at Moorshedabad, where there were said to be 

 present no fewer than 000,000 of that order. Large be- 

 quests of land, cows, and other precious effects are made 

 to them by the pious. So far, indeed, do they rank above 

 every other class, that the daughter of the poorest Bramin 

 is taught to consider a king as no equal match for her ; and 

 the peishwa, when he was at the head of the Mahratta con- 

 federacy, and held the most commanding station of any 

 Indian sovereign, was long excluded from eating at table 

 with any Bramin of high caste. 



The Cshatryas, or military class, are second in dignity, 

 and bear even somewhat of a sacred character. During 

 the era of Hindoo independence, not only generals, but 

 even kings were chosen from this body ; though, since the 

 subjection of India by foreign powers, they have suffered a 

 very severe depression. They have even been induced to 

 imitate the costume and manners of Mussulmans, by whom, 



Vol. II.- X 



