KARARA BRAHMINS. 
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yearnings towards their helpless offspring; but the 
law of an imperious necessity was then considered so 
binding among this haughty race., that no parent ever 
thought of opposing it by exhibiting that symptom of 
opposition which the least expression of parental sen- 
sibility would appear to indicate. 
Asa proof that even Brahmins are not invariably, 
as is supposed, averse to the destruction of human life, 
I may mention that there exists a sect called Karara 
Brahmins, who are said to be under the influence of a 
demon, to propitiate whom they administer poison to 
their guests and friends, by which the protection of 
their evil patron is secured. A story is current in 
Guzerat that the wife of one of these Brahmins, 
having besought a boon from the demon whom she 
served, which was granted, as a token of her gratitude 
vowed to offer him the acceptable sacrifice of a hu- 
man victim, and, as this was not otherwise to be 
safely procured, resolved to select for the sacrifice one 
about to be endeared to her by ties of the nearest 
alliance. She therefore fixed upon the destined 
husband of her only daughter, to whom, however, 
she was obliged to reveal the horrible secret. On 
the day before their marriage, the bridegroom was, 
according to the custom of this sect, invited to a 
nuptial banquet at the house of the old Brahmin, 
his bride’s father. He came with the bloom of joy 
upon his countenance, and the freshness of love in 
his heart, and while the revelry was going on, the 
mother mixed poison with that portion of the food 
which was intended for him. This was set apart 
with a similar portion, but not poisoned, for the bride, 
