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the Mahratta empire! who had spent the emoluments. of his office, 

 in building an elegant tank or reservoir for the ornament and con- 

 venience of the city, and bringing its supply of water from a great 

 distance, with a spirit of generosity and expense so far above the 

 ability of the rich native brahmins, as to subject him to iheir envy, 

 and to the cruel sufferings of an ignominious death. 



Instances of cruelty are not confined to the brahmins of Te- 

 linga, they appear among the Jaina, Smartal brahmins, and other 

 sects among that elevated caste. I shall not again enter into those 

 artificial distinctions in the Hindoo tribes: the subdivisions of caste 

 are innumerable; in the Ayeen Akbery, the tribe of Bania, or, as 

 generally styled by the English, the Banian-caste, is divided into 

 eighty-four sects, each having their distinguishing characteristic. 

 There also exists some essential difference between the Concan 

 and Deccan brahmins, and those of Malabar, the Bengal provinces, 

 and other parts of Hindostan. From the latest and best autho- 

 rities we find that many of the Bengal brahmins eat fish, and seve- 

 ral sorts of animal food ; they are not only allowed them, but at 

 some particular ceremonies they are enjoined so to do. They cer- 

 tainly are different in Guzerat, and those who held political situa- 

 tions under Ragobah appeared to confine their diet to grain, fruit, 

 and vegetables, variously modified. They sometimes sent pilaus 

 and curries to the British commander from their own dinner; 

 which, like the supplies from Ragobah's table, were entirely com- 

 posed of rice and vegetables, flavoured with spices, and light of 

 digestion: but they never contained any animal substance, except 

 milk and clarified butter. 



The Mahrattas, though all Hindoos, are by no means rigid 



VOL. II. t 



