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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(AUGUST, 1877.
only to the month of Rajab in the 2nd year of Bahadur's reign, and is consequently dismissed without an extract. 'Ibrat-Nama of Muhammad K&sim is a history of the period from the death of Aurangzeb to that of Kutbu-l Mulk Saiyid 'Abdu-llah, of which the editor gives the contents and two pages of extracts.
This volume contains much interesting matter for the century of which it treats, and the editor informs us that "ample and very diversified matter remains for the concluding volume." That volume too, we are happy to learn, will contain a complete
Index to the whole work,--feature which will greatly enhance the value of it: we wish it could also contain a complete chronological table, or that the chronology could be incorporated in some way in the Index, for we often come upon statements of events (e.g. p. 561) taking place on a certain day of a month, but without the year mentioned; and though the year is generally not far to seek, yet there are cases in which the reader does not feel certain that he may not be wrong in his conclusion, and others in which it is very difficult to arrive at the year at all.
THE INDIKA OF MEGASTHENÉS.
(Continued from p. 135.) TRANSLATED BY J. W. MOCRINDLE, M.A., GOVT. COLLEGE, PÅȚNÅ.
BOOK III. Fragm. XXXII.
but the private fortunes of individuals they do Arr. Ind. XI. 1.-XII.-9. Cf. Epit. 40-53, and Plin. not care to predict, either because divination Hist. Nat. VI. xxii. 2, 3.
does not concern itself with trifling matters, or Of the Seven Castes among the Indians.
because to take any trouble about such is deemXI. But further: in India the whole people ed unbecoming. But if any one fails thrice to is divided into about seven castes. Among predict truly, he incurs, it is said, no further these are the sophists, who are not so numer- penalty than being obliged to be silent for the ous as the others, but hold the supreme place future, and there is no power on earth able to of dignity and honour, -for they are under no compel that man to speak who has once been necessity of doing any bodily labour at all, or of condemned to silence. These sophists go baked, contributing from the produce of their labour living during winter in the open air to enjoy anything to the common stock, nor indeed is any the sunshine, and during summer, when the duty absolutely binding on them except to per- heat is too powerful, in meadows and low form the sacrifices offered to the gods on behalf grounds under large trees, the shadow whereof, of the state. If any one, again, has a private Nearchos saya, extends to five plethra in circuit, sacrifice to offer, one of these sophists shows him adding that even ten thousand men could be the proper mode, as if he could not otherwise covered by the shadow of a single tree. They make an acceptable offering to the gods. To live upon the fruits which each season produces, this class the knowledge of divination among and on the bark of trees,--the bark being no the Indians is exclusively restricted, and none less sweet and nutritious than the fruit of the but a sophist is allowed to practise that art. They date-palm predict about such matters as the seasons of the After these, the second caste consists of the year, and any calamity which may befall the state; 'tillers of the soil, who form the most
FRAGM. XXXIII. Strab. XV. 1. 39-41, 46-49,-Pp. 703-4, 707.
Of the Seven Castes among the Indians. (39) According to him (Megasthenes) the popu- lation of India is divided into seven parts. The philosophers are first in rank, but form the smallest class in point of number. 'Their services are employed privately by persons who wish to offer sacrifices or perform other sacred rites, and also publicly by the kings at what is called the Great Synod, wherein at the beginning of the new year all the philosophers are gathered together
before the king at the gates, when any philosopher who may have committed any useful sug. gestion to writing, or observed any means for improving the crops and the cattle, or for promoting the public interests, declares it publicly. If any one is detected giving false information thrice, the law condemns him to be silent for the rest of his life, but he who gives sound advice is exempted from paying any taxes or contributions.
(40) The second caste consists of the husbandmen, who form the bulk of the population, and are in disposition most mild and gentle. They are
