Vol. XI, Nos. 5 & 6.] Ethnographic Investigation. i71 
[NV.S.] 
of particular castes have altogether to be avoided if one would 
not raise a hornet’s nest round one’sears. A change of name, 
it may be true, does not import a change of quality in the 
object named, but if people have a strong sentiment on such 
matters, there can be no harm in respecting it. There is an 
rior social rank. Many castes who did not think of claiming 
these distinctions formerly, are now anxious to class them- 
true and genuine original Brahmans. In the same way, many 
classes have ranged themselves as Kshatriyas, while a few with 
more modesty are satisfied to be Vaisyas. 
Still, there are some principles which are undisputed and 
Which would provide a ready test for setting at rest such con- 
ttoversies. The most important test is that of birth and 
descent, which is all but conclusive in the case of individuals. 
The next element is whether a particular caste has been habitu- 
following the particular Samskaras such as Upanayana, 
j he 
caste essions. Lastly, there is the traditional rank of each 
settled and bie. hl ll k to the other castes Jiving in 
the loc ality. ghly well known to 
to marks which differentiate castes, the rule of 
lovany t 
*eamy is Perhaps the most important test. Yet it would 
