The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-07-18

marriage. Hence whole sections Of the
country where the twin enormities were
not known, have adopted these terrible
practices within the-last few years. They
/ nave been rewarded BY the Brahmans,
VINO have moved the whole caste. up q
peg OF TWO IN the scale OF social prece-
uence.
There is a reform movement among the
more highly educated followers Of the
hindu religion which deplores the exist
ence Of caste aud ali its attendant evils.
But, Queeriy enough, that reform move
ment has now become a caste by itself.
More than a hundred great castles IN In
Ola have been formed III just that way
BY revolt against the system. The re-
formers We're Stunned by their fellows
were forced to marry within their own
circle, and in time became new caste
Buddhism was reform movement in the
Hindu religion, but il refused to accept
the caste system, and hence was ban
ished entirely from the land which gave
1t birth.
The present race of Hindu Teformers.
although they are. already accounted
separate caste. are loud in their denuncla-
tons Of the evils Of the system They de
clare that it has produced disunion and
discord; that it has made honest manual
labor contemplate and therefore has re-
tarded industrial progress; that II has
brought on physical degeneracy by con-
timing marriage to a narrow circle; that
It has suppressed individuality; and that
by affOrding opportunity of culture to
only a few selected people II has caused
the mental degeneration of the masses.
The rules of the caste system are as
numerous as the sands of the sea. But
there IS always a vein Of practical world
ly wisdom in their constitution which in
dicaies that they are made of the Brah-
man, by the Brahman, for the Brahman
The noble ''twice-born" is polluted if
mason or carpenter OF leather worker ap
prOdches within tWenty-fOur feet Of his
honorable person. maker Of intoxi-
"a NNHa# 10 Fr.r-A
while Il man who has committed the
browning enormity of eating beef will
pollute at a distance Of sixty-fOur feet.
Yet if any OF these unclean beings have
money 10 pay TO the 'twice-bOrn," the
rule of pollution is abrogated until after
the settlement.
The twice born" may not take water
from the hands of any but certain of the
selected castles. and food must come from
one of their own high rank But this
rule does not include cOnfeCtiUners. per-
tune vendors, BARRIERS and betel-nut sell
efS. Then, as GROWING work of the
practical cOda-maker. soda water, ice.
patent medicines and soda crackers. are
declared TO be incapable of transmitting
pollution. Therefore the hungry and
thirsty 'twice-born' may permit anybody
TO serve him. But in all India there Is
no barber or idundryman who would de-
grade himself by serving an Outcast
The preparation of food is a sacred care-
monial for. the 'twice-bOrn' and for all
DAA Allt lDMtSE fdSAeS. IL the End0OW or I
person Of lower caste falls upon it, it /
must be thrown away and not eaten. If [
tho shadow Of person who eats beef /
falls upon It. not only the food but the J
vessels containing it must be destroyed /
Tt is curious that these strict rules con-
corning cooked food are still insisted up
on. in sDite Of the great latitude permit /
ted the Rrahman in the use of cold drinks /
and Teady-made foods as Indicated by /
the list of substances which will not .
transmit pollution.
All of the castles have traditional
trade calling. UDOn which the origin of /
the clan is based The Brahmans are all /
priests I'm theory. but many of them are
cooks in the kitchens Of the desDised |
Christian. In one section Of India only
s per cent of the Brahmans engage in
the priestly calling. There is a leather
working caste Of which only per cent /
work in leather. Among some Of the
peculiar occupational castles is that of
the ''hail-averters. A village which em-
plOyS one Of this caste will be protected /
from destructive hailstOrmg Naturally
the members of this caste stick to their
calling. More than fifty years ago the
prisoners in the jails of northern India
were put 10 work weaving carpets. The
food was good. the hours easy and there
was no danger Of famine. So the sons
Of the jail weavers committed Offenses
with the express purpose of getting into
Jail And now there is a well defined
jail caste which gives the authorities
At the present time the caste system is
the most formidable obstacle in the path
Of the patriots. both Anglo-Indian and
native Indian. who are striving for genu- !
inc reform in the Indian government. It /
is tyranny more cruel than any dsspot
could invent. and by Cleaving to it the /
Iirdu~ cut themselves off from all hope
Of liberty.
Tomorrow-The Emnirp of India
XV-Christianftv and Its Snread.