88 
ON THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS 
The charge of having suppressed the fifth Veda is very 
extraordinary indeed, especially if one considers that the 
original number of the Vedas is indicated by the name Tray'i, 
or Trinity, representing the Rg, Yajur and Sama Yedas, 
and that the fourth or Atharvaveda is generally ascribed 
to a later period. The existence and destruction of a fifth 
Veda, assuming such a work to have ever existed, must 
therefore be assigned to a comparatively late or modern 
time. 
and religious rites of the plaintiffs who they state to be Sankaras, or out- 
castes of the Sudra tribe. The defendants in consequence deny that the 
plaintiffs could ever become Brahmins, though they were bom again ever so 
many times. Moreover that if the plaintiffs think proper to perform the 
marriage and other ceremonies using forms of prayers taken from the Veda 
they will not only be liable to suffer a great punishment in their nest birth, 
but to be pimished criminally by the executors of the law appointed by 
Government, who they state would never suffer the plaintiffs to perform any 
ceremonies contrary to the law of their sect, to ascertain which the defendants 
request that the opinion of the law oflScer of the Court may be taken on the 
subject. 5. The above is the sum of the difference between the parties. . . 
9. The evidence in this case is very long and contradictory, but the 
Court has no doubt from a consideration thereof but that the defendants did 
actually, seriously and violently molest the plaintiffs in the celebration of a 
marriage which the plaintiffs were celebrating thoTigh they (the defendants) 
did not actually prevent it, as the marriag^e took place notwithstanding 
their interference, though not without the plaintiffs meeting with much 
obstruction from the defendants. 10. It is a notorious fact which the plain- 
tiff's witnesses have deposed to, that the plantiffs and persons of the Kamma- 
lar caste (like Kannadi}-ar, Satanis and Jainas) do frequently celebrate their 
religious festivals without calling in the Brahmins of any other sect to aid 
them in the performance of anj' part thereof. The plaintiffs have decl;u-ed 
that they admit those marriages only to be perfectly regular, which are 
celebrated by Grurus of their own appointment. They do not admit the 
superioritj' of any other tribe to themselves. These opinions they state 
to be according to the Hindu Sastra, but it is a point and a right, 
which it is well known the Siva and Vishnu Brahmins do not admit, and 
therefore it has not been considered necessary to consult on this subject the 
pandits of the Courts, no more than if it were a question of law regarding a 
religious difference between anj- other sect and the Brahnuns, on which they 
never would agree. If the plaintiffs, who deny the superiority of the defend- 
ants as Bralmiins do in their tribe choose to follow or relinquish any ancient 
custom or to establish any new ceremony which is not contrary to honesty, 
decorum, and the peace of the country, neither the defendants nor any other 
persons have any right to interfere, nor would the officers of Goveniment 
