Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 76

36
COHESION OF CASTE COMMUNITIES
Furthermore the
almost as much as his hands.
weaving loom, and the whole apparatus for spinning the
thread before it is woven, as well as the rest of the tools
which he uses for the work, are so simple and so few that
altogether they would hardly comprise a load for one man.
Indeed it is by no means a rare sight to see one of these
weavers changing his abode, and carrying on his back all
his feet
that is necessary for setting to work the moment he arrives
at his new home.
Their printed calicoes, which are not less admired than
their muslins, are manufactured in an equally simple
manner. Three or four bamboos to stretch the cloth,
as many brushes for applying the colours, with a few
pieces of potsherd to contain them, and a hollow stone
these are pretty well all their stock
for pounding them
:
in trade.
I will venture to express one other remark on the political
advantages resulting from caste distinctions. In India
and parents,
parental authority is but little respected
overcome doubtless by that apathetic indifference which
characterizes Hindus generally, are at little pains, as I shall
show later on, to inspire those feelings of filial reverence
which constitute family happiness by enchaining the affec-
tions of the children to the authors of their existence.
Outward affection appears to exist between brothers and
sisters, but in reality it is neither very strong nor very
It quickly vanishes after the death of their
sincere.
parents, and subsequently, we may say, they only come
Thus, as the ties of
together to fight and to quarrel.
blood relationship formed so insecure a bond between
different members of a community, and guaranteed no
such mutual assistance and support as were needed, it
became necessary to bring families together in large caste
communities, the individual members of which had a
common interest in protecting, supporting, and defending
each other. It was thus that the links of the Hindu social
chain were so strongly and ingeniously forged that nothing
was able to break them.
This was the object which the ancient lawgivers of India
attained by establishing the caste system, and they thereby
acquired a title to honour unexampled in the history of
: