52 THE ORIGIN OF PARIAHS
occupied by the master of the house . It is said that still further north the difference between this and other Sudra castes gradually diminishes , until at last it disappears altogether .
The origin of this degraded class can be traced to a very early period , as it is mentioned in the most ancient Puranas .
The Pariahs were most probably composed , in the first instance , of all the disreputable individuals of different classes of society , who , on account of various offences , had
forfeited their right to associate with respectable men .
They formed a class apart , and having nothing to fear and
less to lose , they gave themselves up , without restraint , to their natural tendencies towards vice and excess , in which they continue to live at the present day .
In very early days , however , the separation between Pariahs and the other castes does not appear to have been so marked as at present . Though relegated to the lowest grade in the social scale , they were not then placed absolutely outside and beyond it , the line of demarcation between them and the Sudras being almost imperceptible .
Indeed , they are even to this day considered to be the direct descendants of the better class of agricultural labourers . The Tamil Vellalers and the Okkala-makkalukanarey do not disdain to call them their children . But one thing is quite certain , that if these classes share a common origin with the Pariahs and acknowledge the same , their actions by no means corroborate their words , and their treatment of the Pariahs leaves much to be desired .
Europeans are obliged to have Pariahs for their servants , because no native of any other caste would condescend to do such menial work as is exacted by their masters . For instance , it would be very difficult to find amongst the Sudras any one who would demean himself by blacking or greasing boots and shoes , emptying and cleansing chamber utensils , brushing and arranging hair , & c . ; and certainly no one could be found who for any consideration whatever would consent to cook food for them , as this would necessitate touching beef , which is constantly to be seen on the tables of Europeans , who thereby show an open disregard of the feelings and prejudices of the people amongst whom