3)6 



tracts in Hindostan, is attended with deleterious effects; frequenlFj 

 causing incurable sickness, and the premature death of strangers. 



Our tents, on this journey, were more than once pitched near 

 the spot set apart for the Chandalahs; who, as already mentioned, 

 are seldom permitted to reside within the city walls, nor to have 

 their habitations near the other inhabitants in the open towns. 

 The sight of these poor outcasts, with the reflections naturally 

 occurring, from their abject condition, proved an alloy to the 

 notes of the bulbul and the perfume of the champach. It is im- 

 possible to behold them without pity, and, while subject to brah- 

 minical influence, without hope of amendment. Under my own 

 administration I endeavoured to meliorate their condition; but so 

 rooted were the prejudices of the higher castes, that all attempts 

 were fruitless. The liberal-minded Aul Fazel, discriminating all 

 the other Hindoo castes by some appropriate characteristic, with 

 a frigid brevity, unlike his usual benevolence, says " the chan- 

 dalahs are vile wretches, who eat carrion." And when mention- 

 ing polluted things among the Hindoos, he adds. " water that has 

 been defiled by the shadow of a chandalah, is to bo. purified by 

 son-shine, moon-shine, or wind, and that wooden vessels, if touched 

 by a chandalah, cannot be purified by any means. 



It is curious to observe (although in some measure accounted 

 for in other parts of these volumes) that in fines and punishments 

 for murder, among other castes of Hindoos, no mention is made 

 of killing the poor pariar or outcast chandalah. Amongst the 

 Malabars I have particularly noticed, that if the pooleahs, (similar 

 to the pariars and chandalahs,) appear on the high-road while a 



