OR CUTTACK. 109 



ers of malguzari land, in Orissa. Their moral and intellectual worth 



indeed, seems to rise exactly in proportion to their emancipation from those 

 shackles of prejudice and superstitious observances, which narrow the 

 minds, and debase the natures of the higher and orthodox class. I have 

 not been able to trace satisfactorily the origin and history of these Mastan 

 Brahmins, who I am informed resemble exactly the cultivating Brahmins of 

 Tii-hoot and Behar, but the point is one well worthy of investigation. 



The Oorias as a nation are justly described by Abul Fazl to be very 

 effeminate, that is they are extremely deficient in manly spirit, their figures MannerJ, c &J' 

 are slight and delicate, and the costume of the males has little to distim- plains. ° 

 guish it from that of the females, except the different manner of wearing 

 the cloth fastened about the loins. They are moreover equally ignorant 

 and stupid. Orissa might be termed the Boaotia of India, with reference to 

 the intellectual dullness of its inhabitants, as compared with the people, 

 of any other province. A striking proof of the estimation in which their 

 capacity has been ever held, is the fact, that in all ages and under all go- 

 vernments since the downfal of the Orissan monarchy, the principal official 

 employments throughout the province have been engrossed by foreign- 

 ers — by Bengalees, north, and Telingas, south of the Chilka Lake — owing I 

 really believe in a great measure to the difficulty of selecting from its in- 

 digenous population, persons properly qualified for trusts of difficulty and 

 importance. The mass of the people are little prone to the commission of 

 crimes of a daring and heinous character, as might be inferred from the fe* 

 minine spirit above ascribed to them.; but they are well versed in all the 

 arts of low cunning, dissimulation, and subterfuge, and the love of intrigue 

 forms a prominent feature in their character, however clumsy many of their 

 attempts to mislead or circumvent. Their manners are sufficiently dissolute, 

 a failing not to be wondered at considering the obscene character, and im^ 

 pure symbols, of the demoralizing religion which they profess. In justice 

 however to the bulk of the agricultural population it must be said that the 

 ryols of Cuttack are extremely industrious, though they work with little 

 spirit or intelligence, and altogether the Oorias of the plains, whatever 



