Book III Travels in I N d i a. i 6 1 



CHAP. III. 



Of the Religion of the Gentiles, or Idolatrous Indians. 



THe Idolaters among the Indians are fo numerous., that they are reckon'd 

 to be five or fix for one Mahometan. It feems a wonderful thing, that 

 fuch a prodigious multitude of men fhould be cow'd by a handful 9 and, 

 bow fo eafily under the yoak of the Mahometan Princes. But that wonder well 

 may ceafe, when we confider that thofe Idolaters are not in union among 

 themfelves ; for Superftition has introdue'd fuch a diverfity of Opinions 

 and Cuftoms, that they can never agree one with another. An Idolater will 

 not eat Bread nor drink Water in the Houfe of any one that is not of his Cdfte ; 

 though it be more noble, and much more fuperior to his own. Yet they all eat 

 and drink in the Bramins Houfes, which are open to all the world. A Cafte a- 

 mong the Idolaters, is very near the lame thing which was anciently call'd a 

 Tribe among the Jews. And though it be vulgarly believ'd, that there are fe- 

 venty-two Castes, yet I have been inform'd by fome of their moft ingenuous 

 Priefts, that they may be all redue'd into four principal ones, from whence all 

 the reft drew their Original. 



The firft Cafte is that of the Brammins, who are the Succeffors of the an- 

 cient Brachmans, or Indian Philofophers, that ftudy'd Aftrology. You may alfo • 

 meet with fome of their ancient Books, in reading whereof the Brammins fpend 

 all their time; and are fo vers'd in their obfervations, that they never fail a 

 minute in the Eclipfes of the Sun and Moon. And to preferve this knowledg 

 among themfelves, they have a kind of Univerfity, in a City which is call'd 

 Benares, where they make all their Exercifes in Aftrology, and where they 

 have Dodlors that expound their Law, which they very ftridly obferve. But in 

 regard they are fo great a number, and cannot all come to ftudy at that Uni- 

 verfity, they are all very ignorant, and confequently very fuperftitious ; thofe 

 that go for the moft refin d Wits, being the greateft Sorcerers. 



The fecond Cafle is that of the Rafpoutes or Ketris, that is to fay, Warriors 

 and warlike people. Thefe are the only Idolatrous Indians that have any cou- 

 rage to fignalize themfelves in War. All the Raja's that I have fo oft'n men- 

 tion'd, are of this Cafte. Thefe are fo many petty Kings, whom their difumon 

 has rendered Tributary to the Great Mogul. But in regard that the greateft part 

 cf them are in his fervice, they are highly recompene'd by the large Salaries 

 they receive for the fmall Tribute which they pay. Thefe RajJ.t s and the Rafpoutes 

 their Subjeds, are the chiefeft fupport of the Dominions of the Great Mogul j 

 for indeed the Rajas feffeing and fejfomftmg were thofe that lifted up Aureng- 

 ™b to the Throne. But you muft take notice, that all of this fecond Cafte 

 are not Warriors j for they are the Rafpoutes only that go to War, and are all 

 Horfemen. But for the Kerns, they are degenerated from their Anceftors, and 

 of Soldiers are become Merchants. 



The third Cafte is that of the Bannians , who are altogether addicled to 

 Trade ; of whom fome are Sheraffs or Bankers, others broakers, employ d be- 

 tween Merchant and Merchant for buying and felling. Thofe of this Cajhzxp 

 fo fubtil and nimble in Trade, that as I have faid before, the fern may be their 

 Prentices. They accuftom their Children betimes to fly ldlenefs. And inftead lot 

 fufferine them to lofe their time in playing in the ftreets,as we generally do, they 

 teach them Arithmetick 5 which they are fo perfed at, that without making 

 u(e either of Pen and Ink, or Counters, but only of their memories, they wi 1 1 

 in a moment caft up the moft difficult account that can be imagind. ihey 

 always live with their Fathers, who inftruft them in Trade, and do nothing but 

 what they fhew them. If any man in the heat of paflion chafe at em, they 

 hear him' patiently without making any reply, and parting coldly from him, 

 will not fee him again in three or four days, when they think his paffion may 

 be over. Thev never eat any thing that has life j nay they would rather dye, ; 

 ' * Y than 



