Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 331

BRAHMINS IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE
291
In fact there is no branch of public
the various districts.
administration in which they have not made themselves
Thus it is nearly always Brahmins who
indispensable.
hold the posts of sub-collectors of revenue, writers, copyists,
translators, treasurers, book-keepers, &c.
It is especially
difficult to do without their assistance in all matters con-
nected with accounts, as they have a remarkable talent for
I have seen some men in the course of a few
arithmetic.
minutes work out, to the last fraction, long and com-
plicated calculations, which would have taken the best
accountants in Europe hours to get through l
Furthermore, their perfect knowledge of native opinion
and of the ways in which it may be guided, to say nothing
of the influence which they exercise over public feeling by
the prerogatives of their birth, are quite sufficient reasons
to account for the readiness with which their services are
In fact, the veneration and respect with which
accepted.
their fellow-countrymen regard them shed, in the opinion
of the vulgar, a kind of reflected glory and dignity on the
different Government offices in which they occupy sub-
But woe to the European head of the
ordinate positions.
office, who does not keep the strictest watch over the
conduct of these said subordinates, or places implicit con-
He will soon find himself the victim of
fidence in them
his own negligence, with his position seriously compromised.
I have known many Europeans holding most distinguished
and lucrative appointments end by losing their reputation,
their honour, their position, and their fortune, all because
they left too much in the hands of the Brahmins under
them, for whose misdeeds the Government held them
In vain did these high officials exhaust all
responsible.
imprison-
their resources against the authors of their ruin
ment and punishment were equally ineffectual. Most of
these peccant subordinates would rather die in irons than
restore one farthing of their ill-gotten gains.
One can well imagine that when Brahmins are launched
in the turmoil of public affairs they soon, lose sight of the
religious observances of their caste.
Occupied with the
.
!
;
1
The proportion of Brahmins in Government employ is still large
the Brahmins who, more than any others, have availed them-
;
for
it is
selves of the benefits of English education.
Ed.