ANCIENT INDIA. 



5 



Of the early Aryan invaders it is said that they were much 

 given to indulgence in wine, women, animal food, and high 

 play ; in all of which respects their habits were not so very 

 dissimilar after all from some of the more modern occupants 

 of India. Horse-flesh was by them largely consumed, it 

 having been looked upon as having stimulant qualities. 

 Eama and Sita, while wandering together in the jungle, are 

 said to have lived chiefly upon venison dried in the sun, as 

 is the custom at the present day with the American Indians. 

 Animals were sacrificed to the gods, their flesh then eaten ; 

 instead of these animals, after a time oblations of rice and 

 milk were offered as sacred food, and as Brahminism became 

 established vegetable food was substituted for animal. Indul- 

 gence in wine continued to be a prevalent vice ; in other 

 words the worship of Varuni (goddess of wine) was very 

 general ; sellers of intoxicating drinks, however, were looked 

 upon as inferior, being classed among sellers of flesh, iron and 

 poison. But although indulgence in strong drinks was thus 

 general, the vice of drunkenness, like licentiousness, was 

 deemed to be disgraceful. In aftertimes the Buddhist laws 

 against drunkenness were held to extend also to the use of 

 opium and other intoxicating drugs. 



In Vedic times the warrior classes were polyandrous and 

 polygamous according to circumstances, including no doubt 

 convenience ; the peaceful classes, however, observed mono- 

 gamy. But in other instances, as in that of the Sakyas, 

 marriages took place between brothers and sisters, as indeed 

 is done at the present time in Upper or Native Burmah, 

 This union was, and is, however, regarded with the utmost 

 detestation by the Brahminical law. Suttee had not then 

 come into use ; a widow was directed to devote herself to 

 works of charity, and under Manu's law to marry the brother 

 of her deceased husband, " or any other man." According 

 to Manu, marriages were prohibited within the sixth degree 



