SIR ANDREW WINGATE, K.C.I.E., ON INDIA. 



57 



century is interesting on account of the appearance of the 

 Rajput clans, and their settlement in Rajputana, a people that 

 have exercised immense influence, and to a considerable degree 

 have been able to resist being Brahmanized. Tod describes the 

 Rajputs as Scythians from Central Asia, whence came also the 

 sturdy cultivators, Jats, Gujars. Ahirs and others, now embedded 

 in the caste system. 



We need not linger to investigate the ever-changing kingdoms 

 which struggled with each other south of the Narbada. The 

 strife was varied by occasional invasions from Hindustan and 

 by perennial wars of the Deccan kings with the Dravidian 

 kings further south. Buddhism declined, and the Brahmans 

 steadily penetrated Southern India, and there secured their 

 most unquestioned supremacy at the cost of the most cruel 

 degradation of many millions of the depressed classes. The 

 Lingayet sect, strong in the Kanarese country, broke away in 

 the twelfth century. The Lingayets worship Siva, but reject 

 the Vedas, Brahmans, Transmigration, child- marriage and 

 perpetual widowhood. They have been compelled to revert to 

 caste. 



In the dust raised by falling dynasties and the conquests from 

 which new ones emerged, we must not lose sight of occasionally 

 prolonged intervals of settled and good government, such as 

 produced the great irrigation anicuts across the Kaveri and other 

 rivers during the Chola dynasty, which dated from a.d. 907 and 

 lasted about four centuries. The huge temples of Tanjore 

 date from the eleventh century. Imposing temples had been 

 built long before that. The . most wonderful is at Ellora, 

 sculptured out of the solid rock, from which it stands clear, 

 as though it had been erected stone by stone (about a.d. 760). 



Imagination may be left to weave out of a few shadowy 

 indications a decorative tapestry to hang behind the period 

 when some sort of history begins. We have seen that in India 

 historical data commence in the sixth century b.c, with 

 the appearance of Buddhism as the antagonist against cruel 

 idolatry and human strife. We have seen that twice, some 

 300 years B.C. and again some 300 years a.d., under Hindu kings, 

 more or less swayed by Buddhistic teaching, Hindustan seemed 

 to be within sight of becoming a beneficent government over a 

 united people, and that gradually Brahmanic idolatry reasserted 

 its popular power, itself torn between the opposing tendencies 

 of philosophic and licentious thought. During the sixteen 



