242 HINDOO MANNERS. 



under the Mogul empire, all commands and dignities were 

 engrossed ; and notwithstanding the limited nature of the 

 promotion which they can obtain in the British service, 

 they enter it in considerable numbers. The only powerful 

 body of this class now remaining are those who, under the 

 name of Rajpoots, occupy the wild tracts of country border- 

 ing on the Western Desert, whom their valour and the 

 strength of their natural fastnesses have secured from 

 complete subjugation even by the Mogul. These, however, 

 form a peculiar tribe, whose habits and character will be 

 noticed hereafter at greater length. 



The Vaisyas rank third, and belong to the industrious 

 part of the community ; but their functions are not very 

 distinctly or consistently explained. By some they are 

 said to be traders, by others shepherds and cultivators. 

 Their proper employment seems to be the carrying on 

 of any business requiring the investment of capital, but 

 of which the manual labour is performed by inferiors. 



The Sudras stand lowest in the scale of castes, and suffer 

 a degree of degradation greater than befalls any other class 

 of persons not actually bondmen. They are not only 

 doomed to severe and unremitting toil, but as far as 

 possible are debarred from improving their circumstances. 

 The attempt of a Sudra to accumulate property is declared 

 to be unlawful, and to give pain to Bramins. Their spir- 

 itual prospects are equally clouded. Scarcely can they 

 hope to reach heaven, or even by the process of transmigra- 

 tion to attain any hio-her condition on earth. They are not 

 permitted to perform a single religious ceremony, and arc 

 exposed to a severe anathema for merely opening a page 

 of the Vedas, the most ancient and revered depository 

 of divine knowledge. Their only hope of emerging from 

 contempt is by profound homage, lavish gifts, and menial 

 services to the sacred caste. By such actions the Sudra 

 may raise himself above his fellows, though he cannot, 

 either in this or a future life, make any approach to the 

 dignity of the superior classes. 



The original and appropriate occupation of this caste is 

 agricultural labour ; yet certain grades or subdivisions are 

 also found, who exercise the various trades and handicrafts 

 necessary in an improved and luxurious society. These, 

 comprehended under the general appellation of the burren 



