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OF THE HINDUS.
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himself to his control. This sect, indeed, is remarkably liberal in this respect, and the most frequently recurring texts of Kabir are those which enforce an attentive examination of the doctrine, that he offers to his disciples. The chief of each community has absolute authority over his dependents: the only punishments he can award, however, are moral, not physical-irregular conduct is visited by reproof and admonition: if the offender does not reform, the Guru refuses to receive his salutation; if still incurable, the only further infliction is expulsion from the fraternity.
The doctrine of outward conformity, and the absence of visible objects of worship have prevented this sect from spreading very generally throughout India : it is, however, very widely diffused, and, as I have observed, has given rise to many others, that have borrowed its phraseology, and caught a considerable portion of its spirit: the sect itself is split into a variety of subdivisions, and there are no fewer than twelve branches of it traced up to the founder, between which a difference of opinion as well as descent prevails: the founders of these twelve branches, and the position of their descendants, are the following:
1. ŚRUTGOPÁL DÁs, the author of the Sukh Nidhán: his successors preside over the Chaura at Benares, the Samádh at Magar, an establishment at Jagannath, and one at Dwaraká.
2. Bhago Dás, the author of the Bijak: his successors reside at Dhanauti.
3. Nárayan Dás, and
