Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 227

THE BRAHMINS AS WATER-DRINKERS
187
and avarice of the hypocritical charlatans
the people.
Water may be said to be a Brahmin's jxole bov o rag e. In
order that it may be pure-and may not defile the person
who drinks it, it is indispensable that it should be drawn
and carried by a member of his own caste to drink water
drawn by strange hands would be a great sin, the remis-
sion of which could only be obtained at the cost of elaborate
and expensive ceremonies. In some places Brahmins and
Sudras fetch their water from the same place, but if by
chance the water-pot of the latter should touch that of
the former, the Brahmin immediately breaks his, if it is
made of earthenware, or, if of brass or copper, gives it
a thorough scouring with sand and water. In those parts
of the country which are under the rule of native princes,
Brahmins forbid any one of another caste to approach
their wells
but where Mahomedans are in power, and
more particularly in the large towns under European rule,
it is not unusual to see Brahmins, Sudras, and even Pariahs,
all drawing water from the same source.
But all the same,
I once witnessed on the coast a violent disturbance caused
by the inconceivable effrontery of a Pariah woman who
had dared to draw water from the common well.
Curdled milk diluted with water is a very favourite drink
with Hindus. It is usually Sudras who prepare and sell
this refreshing beverage.
Although, generally speaking,
there is more water than milk in the mixture, Brahmins
have no scruples in partaking of it, and if any one re-
proaches them with thus using water drawn and handled
by Sudras, they reply that the curdled milk, which has
come from the body of a cow, cleanses it from all impuri-
to the cunning
who mislead
;
;
ties.
On
the other hand, they have an invincible repugnance
which is obtained by tapping cocoanut and
other palms and several other trees of the country.
This
juice is sweet and refreshing if drunk before it has begun
to ferment, but if taken in excess it is intoxicating.
A
spirit called arrack is distilled from it, and for this also there
is the same repugnance.
As a rule, a respectable Hindu
will not touch spirits or any intoxicating drink, considering
that they cause one of the greatest internal defilements
to the liquor