BETWEEN INDIAN AND JEWISH IDEAS AND CUSTOMS. 89 
sucli feuds were more common and were pursued more bitterly, 
until sometimes it was hardly safe in a village for men to 
plough the fields, and they always did so with weapons in their 
hands, and there were convenient towers in which they could 
take refuge when the alarm was raised. 
Domestic slavery was another recognized institution amongst 
the Jews, and even a Hebrew bondman could remain as a 
permanent servant if he should say, “ I will not go away from 
thee, because he loveth thee and thine house, because he is well 
with thee,” and he submitted to have an awl thrust through 
his ear. The book of Leviticus, moreover, indicates how much 
more stringent the laws concerning foreign bondmen were than 
those which applied to such as were Jews. Domestic slavery 
in India partakes rather of the character of the latter class. 
Sir John Malcolm, in his History of Malwa, or Central India, 
sums up the case for that country and indeed for Kajputana 
also. 
He says : — “ Slavery in Malwa and adjacent provinces is 
chiefly limited to females, but there is perhaps no part of India 
where there are so many slaves of this sex. Few Eajputs, 
Brahmans, and even few merchants are without such slaves. 
Male slaves are rarer and never seen but with men of some 
rank or property, with whom they are usually the confidential 
servants. Many of these slaves date their condition from 
a famine or scarcity. In the famine of 1813-14 Amir Khan of 
Tonk formed a battalion of children and youths of this class 
chiefly from Marwar in Rajputana. They were sold by their 
parents on account of the oppression of the Mahrattas, as they 
often are in famine not only to save their children but 
themselves. 
“ Rajputs may, under stress, sell their children by slaves. An 
enquiry is usually made as to their tribe, and the Gfwarriahs, 
who import them, or the Brinjaras, usually say they are 
Rajputs or Brahmans. They are not usually treated with 
cruelty. It is not the master’s interest to be so, because escape 
is easy.” The practice of infanticide of female children 
amongst Rajputs in North India led to such a scanty supply of 
women that many men were glad to purchase children from 
the dealers to serve as wives for their sons, and would ask no 
questions about their origin. Such alliances avoided the heavy 
expenses attending marriages which were the true cause of the 
evil for which purchase was a substitute. Happily reforms are 
taking place in this matter. In every Rajput family there are 
chelas (an euphemism for male slaves as the word means. 
G 2 
