Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 414

FAMILY COUNCILS
374
income with alms. It is well known, however, that such
a mode of living has nothing disgraceful about it, since
begging is one of the six privileges of the Brahmins. Finally,
the brother-in-law is bound to bear all the expenses of the
funerals of the three widows should they happen to die
before him.
If the deceased husband be the youngest of the brothers,
the elder brother would then become the sole inheritor,
and on him would devolve all the rights and obligations
connected with the heritage. In the absence of brothers,
the
nearest relative
on the father's
side
becomes
sole
heir.
In cases where doubts arise as to the transmission of
the property, the relatives are called in to decide the
matter according to the prevailing custom of the country,
But very often the
or as justice may dictate to them.
partiality prevailing in these family councils turns the
scale in favour of the one who is able to purchase the sup-
port of the others. The collusions, intrigues, and acts of
injustice practised on such occasions are without number,
to throw discredit on an institution which owes
to truly patriarchal principles.
It may be observed from what has been already said
that the right of inheritance and the duty of presiding at
the obsequies are inseparable one from the other. When,
therefore, a wealthy man dies without direct descendants,
a crowd of remote relatives appear to dispute with each
other the honour of conducting the funeral rites. The
contest is occasionally so tumultuous and prolonged that
the body of the deceased is in a state of complete putre-
faction before a definite settlement of these many preten-
On the other hand, on the death of
sions is arrived at.
a needy man burdened with debts, the survivors take every
possible care to disprove near relationship.
There is another rule regarding succession among the
Hindus, which will, doubtless, appear to us highly incom-
patible with the true principles of justice.
A father dies, leaving several male children, who, from
carelessness or some other cause, do not trouble themselves
about the legal partition of the paternal inheritance. One
of them, by his industry and diligence, acquires wealth,
and tend
its origin