O.V MOUNT CAUCASUS. 539 



of VisvaMitra and other holy men as a precedent 

 in such circumstances. It was answered, that such 

 cases were inadmissible as precedents in the present 



No such prohibition however, is mentioned in the 

 Purdnas, or in any of their sacred books of great an- 

 tiquity. On the contrary, we see in the Purdnai; 

 many holy men constantly crossing the Indus, and 

 jroins even as far as the sacred ifles in the west. There 

 are Brdlmiens to this day, and Hindus of all denomi- 

 nations crossing the Indus to visit the holy places in 

 the west : but these persons have renounced the 

 world, and retain but ^^.w practices of their classes. 

 Though highly respected, yet no body presumes to 

 eat, or communicate with them; but they go in crowds 

 to receive their blessing. We have mentioned before, 

 that Brdhmens, and other Hindus, living in the coun- 

 tries, on either side of the Hindus claim an exemp- 

 tion from all ecclesiastical censure, on that account; 

 and though in general they are not much respected 

 at Benares; yet their claim is admitted as good, and 

 valid. 



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