1894.] E. Vansittart— Tribes , Clans , and Castes of Nepal. 239 
river leaves the valley of Nepal. To this day this pass is called “ Kot 
bar,” “ sword-cut.” 
It is known as a fact that 300 years before Christ Buddhism flourish¬ 
ed in Nepal, and it is still nominally the faith of the majority of 
Newars (some Newars have been Hindus from time immemorial) ; yet it 
is steadily being supplanted by Hinduism, and before another century 
it will have entirely disappeared. 
The Khas are Hindus. The Magars and Gurungs are so also nomi¬ 
nally, but their Hinduism is not very strict. 
The Gurungs in their own country are really Buddhists, though 
they would not admit it in India. To this day their priests in their 
own homes are Lamas and Giabrings, but when serving in our regiments 
they submit to the Brahmans and employ them for all priestly functions. 
The fashionable religion is Hinduism, and it may therefore be said 
that Gurkhas are Hindus, and with them, therefore, Brahmans are the 
highest caste, from whose hands no impurity can come. The Brahmans 
wear the thread (janeo ). 
Connection of higher with lower castes. —In the case of Brah¬ 
man with Khas, or Khas with lower grades, there can be no marriage. 
Neither can a Magar marry a Gurung, or vice versa , nor can a Solahjat 
Gurung marry into the Charjat, or vice versa. 
The offspring of an Opadhia Brahman with a Brahman’s widow is 
called “ Jaici.” That of a Jaici and certain Brahmans with a Khas, is 
called Khattri. The Khattrl wears the thread, but is below the Kha 3 . 
The offspring of a Khas with a Magarin or Gurungin is a titular 
Khas, but his very father will not eat with him, nor any pure Khas. 
The progeny of an Opadhia Brahman with a Thakur woman, or a 
Thakur with a Brahman woman of Opadhia class, gives a Hatnal. 
That of a Thakur with a Magarin gives an Uchai Thakur. 
Religious rites. —On the occasion of the birth of a child a rejoicing 
takes place for 11 days, and no one except near relatives can eat or drink 
with the father for 10 days. On the eleventh day the Brahman comes, 
performs certain ceremonies, after which the father is supposed to be 
clean, and all friends are feasted and alms are given. The same ceremony 
exactly takes place for a daughter as for a son, but the birth of the latter 
is hailed with joy, as he has to perform the “ Kiriya,” or funeral rites, 
of the parents. The girl is looked upon more or less as an expense. 
In our regiments II days’ leave is always granted to a man when a 
child is born to him. 
The Brahman (Opadhia) selects a name for the child on the eleventh 
day. Boys up to the age of six months, and girls up to five months, 
are allowed to suck their mother’s breast only. 
J. i. 31 
