study the nyayu (or logic), but only five or six the meemangsu,
(explanatory of the ritual of the veds), the sunkhyu (a system of
philosophical materialism), the vedantu (illustrative of the
spiritual portions of the veds), the patunjulu (a system of
philosophical asceticism), the vaisheshika (a system of
philosophical anti-materialism), or the veda (the most ancient
and sacred writings of Hindoos). Ten persons in this number of
Brahmans may become learned in the astronomical shastras,
while ten more understand these very imperfectly. Fifty of this
thousand may read the shree bhaguvutu, and some of the
pooranas.’ At the present day probably the alankar shastras and
the tantras are more studied than is here represented. The
astronomical works also receive more attention. The colleges are
invariably closed and all study suspended on the eighth day of
the waxing and waning of the moon; on the day in which it may
happen to thunder; whenever a person or an animal passes
between the teacher and the pupil while reading; when a
honorable person arrives, or a guest; at the festival of Saraswati
during three days; in some parts during the whole of the rainy
season, or at least during two months which include the Doorga,
the Kali, and other festivals, and at many other times. When a
student is about to commence the study of law or of logic, his
fellow students, with the concurrence and approbation of the
teacher, bestow on him an honorary title descriptive of the
nature of his pursuit, and always differing from any title enjoyed
by any of his learned ancestors. In some parts of the country,
the title is bestowed by an assembly of Pundits convened for the
purpose; and in others the assembly is held in the presence of a
raja or zemindar who may be desirous of encouraging learning
and who at the same time bestows a dress of honour on the
student and places a mark on his forehead. When the student
finally leaves college and enters on the business of life, he is
commonly addressed by that title.
The means employed by the Mahomedan population of
Bengal to preserve the appropriate learning of their faith and
race are less systematic and organised than those adopted by
the Hindoos; and to whatever extent they may exist, less enquiry
has been made and less information is possessed respecting
them. It is believed, however, that in the Lower as well as the
Western Provinces, there are many private Mahomedan schools
begun and conducted by individuals of studious habits who have
made the cultivation of letters the chief occupation of their lives,
and by whom the profession of learning is followed, not merely
as a means of livelihood, but as a meritorious work productive of
moral and religious benefit to themselves and their fellow