260 



PHYSICAL HISTORY OF MAN. 



the ancient Egyptian priests; for in like manner, the Banians seemed 

 to be the depositaries of knowledge and of the relics of civilization in 

 the midst of barbarians. Herodotus says, that " the Egyptians vene- 

 rate the cow ;" and this is a fundamental principle of the Hindoo reli- 

 gion. Also, in minor particulars, the undress Banian cap entirely 

 resembles the pattern most frequently represented on the Egyptian 

 monuments. 



One of the principal Banians at Zanzibar, spoke English; and he 

 repeatedly complained to me of the " hard life required in being a 

 Banian. There are eighty-four castes of Banians;" but, said he, 

 " God made all men free. The Banians who go to sea, do not asso- 

 ciate with those who remain in India; and the same rule prevails 

 among the Lascars, who are Sudras, and are allowed to eat fish. His 

 own diet consisted of rice, dohl (Cajanus), some ghee or butter, and 

 sometimes milk ; but he did not eat oranges." It appeared, that he was 

 versed in palmistry; and he once asked me, if I understood phrenology. 

 He bestowed abusive expressions on the Arabs, for not permitting the 

 building of a temple ; adding, that there were " more than four hun- 

 dred Banians in Zanzibar, being a threefold increase within ten years ; 

 and that he supposed it will go hard with them, when the present 

 Imaum dies." He called a Calcutta dobi (or washerman), not a 

 Banian, but a Hindoo : the individual alluded to, was serving in a 

 European household, and according to his own account, was per- 

 mitted to eat mutton, but neither beef nor fowls. 



A second Banian, who had recently arrived from Mombas, " had 

 resided in Eastern Africa for twenty years." I did not learn that any 

 Banians were established to the southward of Keelwa ; but I saw indi- 

 viduals on board the dows arriving from that town. Moreover, if re- 

 liance may be placed on the Arab accounts, the Banians are not en- 

 tirely free from the suspicion of slave dealing. 



Banians are very numerous at Muscat, where they possess a more 

 pervading influence, than at the places I had previously visited. They 

 belong to the same class with those of Zanzibar ; but they are not ex- 

 clusively merchants ; and I observed among them, a blacksmith and 

 other artisans. One of their singular-looking dows, having serrated 

 streamers with a pair of flags at the stern, had just arrived from Cutch. 

 An Arab merchant informed me, that having displeased the Banians 

 by sending cattle on board an American ship of war, he was obliged 

 at last to declare, that " he would find out whether Muscat belongred 

 to the Banians or to the Arabs ; for having a right to expend his 



