98 
THE ORIENTAL ANNUAL. 
leur declarer assez nettement qu’on ne trouve au- 
cune verite obligeante a leur dire ? ” serving at the 
same time to render more obvious that supercilious 
and insolent carnage of the Brahmins which only 
dares to display itself in the very centre of their 
strength, surrounded with thousands of their fellows 
to keep them in countenance. It is seldom seen 
in Calcutta or at stations where themselves are few 
and the English supported; it is only when the 
solitary European without state or attendants is sur- 
rounded by whole troops of them that they have spirit 
to display their impatient rancour, even in their looks ; 
and this they have lately learned to suppress, having 
been taught by a few lessons how great odds the 
nervous arm and stout courage of the European 
will encounter, rather than brook even a contemptuous 
look. Still, if not openly insulting, their demeanour 
forms a marked contrast to that of the submissive 
Soodra, with whom patience, endurance, and humility 
are cardinal virtues. Lest I should give an erroneous 
impression to those who are not versed in the distinc- 
tions of the different castes, I should mention, that 
all the Brahmins are not necessarily priests, although 
the priests must be Brahmins. Of the various classes 
of jogis and fakhirs whose names figure away, to the 
sad perplexity of the general reader, in most Indian 
literature, I have thought it expedient to particularize 
as little as possible, for the sake of perspicuity. 
Should the reader be inclined to accuse me of dwell- 
