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CASTES OF THE TAMIL NATION.
MARCH, 1881.]
thus follow my example, these shall do well;18 those who shall abandon that path they shall do evil. In reality evil is easy (K. evil is in human nature; Dh. Kh.: let us strive then against evil!).
It is thus that in the past there were no Inspectors of Religion. But I have in the fourteenth year of my consecration created Inspectors of Religion. They are concerned with the adherents of all sects, with respect to the establishment of religion, the progress of religion, the use and the honour of the faithful of the (true) religion; they are concerned with the Yavanas, the Kambojas, the Gandhâras, the inhabitants of Surâshtra, and the Petenikas (the two last names are omitted at Kh.), and with the other frontier populations, with warriors, with Brahmans, and with rich and poor, with the aged, in order to procure their welfare and
In the ancient manuscripts left behind by the Tamils, it is recorded that that nation is divided into four castes, viz., Brâhmans, Kshattriyas, Vaisyas, and Sûdras; and to show their quality and rank, it is said in the aforesaid MSS. that the Brahmans proceeded from the head of Brahmâ, which they understood to be the element earth; the Kshattriyas from his breast, the Vaisyas out of his thighs, and the Sadras out of his feet; by these emblematical expressions, they represent the distinctions of their castes. The Brahmans are priests, and
A SUMMARY VIEW OF THE CASTES OF THE TAMIL NATION.
By the late Rev. Philip DeMelho, on the Ceylon Establishment of the Hon'ble the Dutch East
India Company. COMMUNICATED BY MR.
15 The construction in the Kapurdigiri version differs alightly-"My sons... and the descendants which I shall have till the end of the world [those of them] who shall follow my example.
This paper, which was found among the MSS. left by De Melho at his lamented death in 1790, is a translation from the Dutch, in which it was originally written. De Melho, who was by birth a Tamil gentleman, is remarkable as the first native of Ceylon who was ordained a Christian Minister. A brief memoir of him is pub lished in The Tamil Plutarch, by Simon Casin Chitty, C.C.S., author of the Ceylon Gazetteer; and the following extract from Beeton's Dictionary of Universal Information, Geography, History, Biography, and Chronology, shows what manner of man he was:-Melho, (Philip De), an eminent Divine, Biblical translator, and poet, was the first native of Ceylon who was admitted into the Christian Ministry. His learning and labours earned him the title of Rabbi De Melho,' and 'the great labourer.' After education in the only seminary in his native town, and an examination in Hebrew, Greek, and Theology, he was licensed to preach before he attained the age of 21. He was ordained in the island, as an exception to the Dutch rule,
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happiness, to remove all obstacles before the faithful of the [true] religion; they are concerned to comfort him who is in chains, to remove obstacles for him, to deliver him because he is burdened with a family, because he has been the victim of craft, because he is old; at Pâtalipata (Dh. Kh. K.: here) and in other towns, they concern themselves with the private life of all my brothers and sisters and of my other relations; over all the land (K. Kh.: in all my empire) the Inspectors of Religion are concerned with the faithful of the (true) religion, with those who are diligent in religion, who are established in (the excellent adds K.) religion, who are given to alms. It is for this end that this edict has been engraved. (Dh. Kh. and K. May it long endure, and may people thus follow my example!)
MAT. P. J. ONDAATJE."
may be considered similar to the Levites among the Jews, as they exercise themselves only in their Law or Religion, and explain it to the people. These are sub-divided into three classes, viz.-1st. The race of Fire, adoring fire as their idol. 2nd. The race of Kasibar, a prophet among them; they worship Śiva; and 3rd. The race of Paratoewaser, who was also a prophet among them; they worship the idol Vishnu.
The Kshattriyas are kings, who in former times enjoyed thrones. They are also divided
which rendered an university education a sine qua non for the ministry. He officiated in Dutch, Portuguese, and Tamul, and was eloquent in the pulpit. His principal works are Tamul versions of the New Testament from the Greek, the Dutch liturgy and some of the Psalms of David, &c. in metre; a work against Popery, entitled The Triumph of Truth, a Catechism in Portuguese, and a version of the Pentateuch from the Hebrew, published in 1790, also additions to the Tamul Classical Lexicon, and other philological works. At his death, he left translations of the books of Joshua, Judges and Ruth in MS. He also wrote many poems of great merit. Born at Colombo, 1723. Died at Jaffna, North Ceylon, 1790."
By whom the footnotes have been added.
3 The ancient Romans had also four divisions; the Flamen, corresponding with the Brahman; the Knight corresponding with the Kshatrya; the Patrician corresponding with the Vaisya; and the Plebeian corresponding with the Sudra. The castes are also described by their virna or colour,Brahmans, white; Kshattriyas, red; Vaisyas, yellow; and Sudras black. Caste is a word of Portuguese origin, meaning breed or descent. Baradwaja.
