WHAT CASTE MEANS IN INDIA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2458, 31 January 1893, Page 3

WHAT CASTE MEANS IN INDIA.

A story just published ip, the Ipdia newspapers gives soiqe idea (J vfipit Caste niems in thaj; country. It appears that somp time ago, in the neighbourhood of Fyzabad, a man Ahir, of cowherd caste, was carrying a calf home on his shoulder, when by some accident it slipped down and broke its neglp Tfie Brahmaps declared him to bo an outcast and sentenced to the severest form of Hindoo excommunication for six months. They further told him that ho could not have committed a greater s i n than causing the death ( -,[ ;L COV v, Ry, .taking into considerably he *yas an i.qan, they would 'deal very with him. During the period of excoinnmmioatiou he was ordered to lead a life of mendicancy, and, with a rope round his neck and a piece of cat’s tail on his shoulders, he was peniorm pilgrimages to c\il\c?on< Hindoo Shrines. members of his family were fori bidden to shpply him with either shelter or 'food ’under penalty of undergoing

similar excommunication. The Ahir recently returned to his village, but until after the purification ceremonies he must live in a temporary grass-thatched house which has been erected for him. A man of one of the lowest and m°st degraded caste has been selected to purify him. A barber after shaving the delinquent and paring the nails of 11s hands and toes, will make over the hair and nails to the low-caste attendant who will burn them and also set fire to the hut. Then the Ahir is to be covered with with cow dung, after which he wi take a plunge into the river Sr ju an come out purified. Even then he will no be admitted into caste fellowship linn he has feasted Brahmans and 100 of his brethren. Cincinnati Commercial Gazette.