THE ARABIAN RACE. 



263 



selves aloof from other castes, and are respected by the Sudras ; but 

 he thought, that they have rather a sort of substitute for the Kshatrya 

 caste." He expressed the same opinion respecting the Wyse, or 

 mercantile caste; and said, that "a great mixture of Sudras exists 

 among the persons who now exercise the profession." He further 

 declared, somewhat unexpectedly, that " the Sudras themselves are 

 nearly extinct." 



Mr. Allen, of the American Mission, had found "great variation 

 in habits, among the population of different parts of India ; much 

 confusion in the accounts of writers, having arisen from attributing 

 to the whole people tiiat which is true in a district only. Bramins 

 may compose, perhaps one-tenth of the population of India. In 

 some districts, they are rare; and are confined to a few large temples, 

 and have very little influence throughout the mass of the popula- 

 tion. Many, too, of the Bramins, are quite ignorant, and have not 

 even learned to read. The Mahrattas, are the onlv Hindoos over 

 whom the Bramins have obtained political ascendency. Animal 

 sacrifices are still practised in India; and Bramins are permitted 

 to partake of such meats. Bramin widows shave the head, and 

 are not allowed to marry again ; but second marriages, are by no 

 means rare with other Hindoo women. In Bombay, there are no 

 less than five or six castes of Bramins, who will neither intermarry 

 nor eat together." 



" The original distinctions of caste, have not been altogether ef- 

 faced among the natives converted by the Portuguese ; and in some 

 places towards the Eastern coast, the observance is quite strict." 



" Hereditary village-authorities, form a peculiarity in the institu- 

 tions of India ; and the practice has grown into the associations, feel- 

 ings, and ideas of the people. When complaints of opj)ression have 

 been substantiated, government has merely transferred the office to 

 another member of the same family; and this system, has continued 

 throughout all the revolutions of the country." 



" In former times, the nations of India were principally four ; corre- 

 sponding with the four languages, the Mahratta, Telugu, Canara, and 

 Tamul. The Mahrattas have retained the Sanscrit alphabet, but they 

 possess very little literature of their own; and the Tamul language, 

 is the only one of the four that is rich in literary treasures." 



On the 16th of December, I started on an excursion into the Inte- 



