Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 67

PETTY CAUSES OF DISPUTE
27
a dispute of this nature between the Pariahs and Chuckhrs,
There seemed reason to fear such
or leather-workers.
disastrous consequences throughout the whole district in
question, that many of the more peaceful inhabitants began
to desert their villages and to carry away their goods and
chattels to a place of safety, just as is done when the country
is threatened by the near approach of a Mahratta army.
However, matters did not reach this extremity. The
principal inhabitants of the district opportunely offered to
arbitrate in the matter, and they succeeded by diplomacy
and conciliation in smoothing away the difficulties and in
appeasing the two factions, who were only awaiting the
signal to attack each other.
One would not easily guess the cause of this formidable
commotion. It simply arose from the fact that a Chuckler
had dared to appear at a public ceremony with red flowers
stuck in his turban, a privilege which the Pariahs alleged
to belong exclusively to the Right-hand faction 1
!
CHAPTER
II
—
Advantages resulting from Caste Divisions. Similar Divisions amongst
many Ancient Nations.
Many persons studyso imperfectly the spirit and character
of the different nations that inhabit the earth, and the in-
fluence of climate on their manners, customs, predilections,
usages, that they are astonished to find how widely
differ from each other.
Trammelled by the
prejudices of their own surroundings, such persons think
nothing well regulated that is not included in the polity
and government of their own country. They would like
to see all nations of the earth placed on precisely the same
footing as themselves.
Everything which differs from their
own customs they consider either uncivilized or ridiculous.
and
such nations
1
These faction fights have gradually disappeared under the civilizing
influences of education and good government
and if they ever occur
at all, are confined to the lowest castes and never spread beyond the
limits of a village.
The distinctions between the two factions, however,
;
still exist.
Ed.