yet Dr Buchanan heard a general complaint from the kazis that
few understood a single word of that language and that the
greater part had merely learned the passages by rote so as to
enable them to perform the ceremonies.
PURNEAH: (pp.119-122)
Throughout the district Dr Buchanan reckoned 119
schools of this description, possessing various degrees of
respectability. The subjects taught are grammar, logic, and law,
astronomy and the modern ritual, the teachers of the two latter,
although classed as learned men, being less respected than the
former. Some even of the most respected class were reputed to
possess but superficial acquirements. The students are said to
be inattentive and to take long vacations. About as many
students go to other districts from Purneah as are attracted to it
from other quarters. No Pundit had above eight scholars
altogether which is less than two for each teacher. The Pundits
in the district, including the professional teachers, amounted to
247, but the claims of many to the title were deemed
questionable. A great many other persons to the number of
1,800 or 1,900 assume the title of Pundit but are distinguished
from the former by the name of dasakarmas. They officiate as
priests to the Sudras, and towards the West they act in the same
capacity for very low castes; but in those parts few can read or
write any language. They understand, however, the poetical
legends when read, have acquired some knowledge of the
marvels they contain, have committed to memory the necessary
forms of prayer, and can perform the usual ceremonies. In the
eastern parts of the district, where the manners of Bengal pre-
vail, there is a class of Brahmans who officiate for the lower
castes of Sudras, and their knowledge is nearly on a level with
that of the dasakarmas. The dasakarmas, who act as priests for
the higher order of Sudras, can read and are able to pray from a
book. A good many of them have studied for a year or two under
a learned teacher, and have some slight knowledge of grammar
and law. Some of them can understand a part of the ceremonies
which they read, and some also can note nativities. A very few of
the medical tribe in the south east corner of the district have
studied the sacred tongue.
It is remarked that science is almost entirely confined to
two of the corners of the district, the old territory called Gour,
and the small portion situated to the west of the Kosi. In the
former case, the effect is attributed to the care of a native public
officer who had several estates in that vicinity, and still