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SOLDIERS AND TRADERS
government of a kingdom or a province, they have neither the time nor even the wish to give themselves up to the exercise of their interminable religious rites. As, however, they are in positions of authority and can dispense or withhold favours at their pleasure, no one dares to call attention to their negligence. It is sufficient if they conform in the more important matters. Their dignity releases them, without entailing disagreeable consequences, from the necessity of attending to minor details. Firmly convinced as they are of the truth of their favourite dictum that to fill one ' s belly one must play many parts, Brahmins are clever at turning their hands to many ways of earning a livelihood. Some take up medicine, and it is said with considerable success. Others become soldiers. In the
Mahratta armies there are many Brahmins; but I cannot believe that a military force composed of men of this caste could ever be very formidable. Bravery and courage are foreign to their nature, and their education would not tend to foster these soldier-like qualities. Nevertheless, there have been several Brahmin generals whose military careers have not been without glory. Many Brahmins who are in trade, especially in the province of Gujerat, are considered excellent men of business. Those, however, who choose this walk in life are rather looked down upon by the rest of their caste, not so much on account of their profession as merchants or shopkeepers, but because of the very small amount of attention which they pay to their caste customs and observances. Trade in itself is not considered at all degrading to a Brahmin, and men of this caste who are engaged in it are to be met with everywhere
; only there are many things which Brahmins are not allowed
to sell, and which consequently they cannot include in their operations, such, for instance, as red cloths, the seeds and oil of sesamum, husked rice, liquids of every kind, salt, perfumes, fruits, vegetables, poisons, honey, butter, milk, sugar, & c.
One almost invariably finds that subordinate collectors of revenue, custom-house officers, writers, book-keepers, village schoolmasters, and astronomers are Brahmins.
They are very useful as messengers, because they are never detained anywhere; and it is for this reason that many of the large merchants, living in provinces governed by