344 ON S0ME EXTRAORDINARY FACTS, CUSTOMS, 



accurate investigation of them, with a due discrimi- 

 nation of habits and usages, as local or general, 

 would afford a subject for a curious, useful, and en- 

 tertaining dissertation. 



It is not my intention to undertake it. I neither 

 profess to have ability, nor have I leisure for the task; 

 and the preceding remarks are oifered to the Society 

 for the purpose only of introducing the recital of 

 some extraordinary facts, customs, and practices of 

 this country, which have occurred to my observation 

 in the course of public duty. If the narrative has 

 too much of the language of office, it may be deem- 

 ed a sufficient compensation that it is extracted from 

 official documents, and judicial records, and hence 

 has a claim to authenticity. 



The inviolability of a Brahmen is a fixed principle 

 of the Hindus i and to deprive him of life, either by 

 direct violence, or by causing his death in any mode^ 

 is a crime which admits of no expiation. To this 

 principle may be traced the practice called Dherna^ 

 which was formerly familiar at Benares* and may be 

 translated Caption or Arrest. It is used by the 

 Brdbmens in that city, to gain a point which cannot 

 be accomplished by any other means ; and the pro- 

 cess is as follows: 



The Brahmen who adopts this expedient for the 

 purpose mentioned, proceeds to the door or house of 

 the person against whom it is directed, or wherever 

 he may most conveniently intercept him : he there 

 sets down in Dhcma> with poison, or a poignard, or 

 some other instrument of suicide in his hand, and 



threatening 



