218 Origin and Classification of the (Mar, 
in the new order of things introduced by their fathers. To this pro- 
geny also, then, the Brahmans, in still greater defiance of their creed, 
communicated the rank of the second order of Hindiiism ; and from 
these two roots, mainly, sprung the now numerous, predominant, and 
extensively ramified, tribe of the Ahas—originally the name of a 
small clan of creedless barbarians, now the proud title of the Ksha- 
triya, or military order of the kingdom of Népdl. The offspring of 
original Khds females and of Brahmans, with the honorsand rank of the 
second order of Hindiiism, got the patronymic titles of the first order ; 
and hence the key to the anomalous nomenclature of so many stirpes 
of the military tribes of Népdl is to be sought in the nomenclature of 
the sacred order. It may be added, as remarkably illustrative of the 
lofty spirit of the Parbattiahs, that, in spite of the yearly increasing 
sway of Hindiism in Népal, and of the various attempts of the Brah- 
mans in high office, to procure the abolition of a custom so radically 
opposed to the creed both parties now profess, the Khds still insist 
that the fruit of commerce (marriage is out of the question) between 
their females and males of the sacred order shall be ranked as Ksha- 
triyas, wear the thread, and assume the patronymic title. 
The original Kids, thus favored by it, became soon and entirely de- 
voted to the Brahmanical system*. The progress of Isldém below daily 
poured fresh refugees among them. 
They availed themselves of the superior knowledge of the strangers 
to subdue the neighbouring tribes of aborigines, were successful beyond 
their hopes, and, in such a career continued for ages, gradually merged 
the greater part of their own habits, ideas, and language (but not phy- 
siognomy) in those of the Hindus. 
The Avhds language became a corrupt dialect of Hindt, retaining not 
many palpable traces (except to curious eyes) of primitive barbarism, 
The Hkthariahs are the descendants more or less pure of Rajpits 
and. other Kshatriyas of the plains, who sought refuge in these moun- 
tains from the Moslem, or, merely military service as adventurers. 
With fewer aims of policy and readier means in their bright swords of 
requiting the protection afforded them than had the Brahmans, they 
* That is, they agreed to put away their old gods, and to take the new; to have 
Brahmans for Gérés ; and not to kill the cow: for the rest, they made and still 
make sufficiently lightly of the ceremonial law in whatever respects food and sexu- 
al gratification. “Their active habits and vigorous character could not brook the 
restraints of the ritual law; and they had the example of licentious Brahmans to 
warrant their neglect of it. The few prejudices of the Khds are useful rather 
than otherwise, inasmuch as they favour sobriety and cleanliness. 
