CHAPTER IV.

BRAHMANISM.

THE BRAHMANS.

IN the “Book of Sir Marco Polo” occurs a quaint description of the Abraiaman

or Brahmans, which, though inaccurate in some of its details, seems worth
quotation here:—

You must know, he says, that these Abraiaman are the best merchants in the
world [an obvious misconception!] and the most truthful, for they would not tell
a lie for anything on earth. If a foreign merchant who does not know the ways of
the country apply to them, and place his goods in their hands, they will take
charge of them most loyally, selling them to the best advantage, seeking
jealously the profit of the foreigner, and asking no commission except what he
pleases to bestow. They eat no flesh, drink no wine, and live a life of great
chastity; nor would they on any account take what belongs to another, for so
their law commands. And they are all distinguished by wearing a thread of
cotton over one shoulder and tied under the other arm, so that it crosses the
breast and the back.

They have a rich and powerful king, who is eager to purchase precious stones
and large pearls; and he sends these Abraiaman merchants into the kingdom of
Maabar called Soli, which is the best and noblest Province of India, and where
the best pearls are found, to fetch him as many of these as they can get, and he
pays them double the cost price for all. So in this way he has a vast treasure of
such valuables.

These Abraiaman are idolaters; and they give greater heed to signs and omens
than any people that exist. I will mention one of their customs as an example. To
every day of the week they assign a special augury. Suppose some purchase is
on foot; he who proposes to become the buyer takes note, when he rises in the