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( Jains ) are little known to Europeans, who take it for granted that they are few and dispersed. To prove the extent of their religious and political power it will suffice to remark that the Pontiff of the KhaJataragachha, one of the many branches of the faith, bas 11,000 clerical disciples scattered over India; that a single cominunity, the Ossior Oswal, numbers 100,000 families; and that more than half the mercantile wealth of India passes through the hands of the Jain laity. Rajasthan and Saurashtra are the cradles of the Jain faith, and three out of their sacred mounts, namely, Abu, Shatrunjay, and Girnar, are in these countries. The officers of the State and revenue are chiefly of the Jain laity, as are the majority of the bankers from Lahore to the ocean. The chief magistrate and assessors of justice in Udeypur and most of the towns of Rajasthan, are of this sect; and As their voluntary duties are confind to the civil cases, they are as competent in these as they are the reverse in criminal cases fro'n their tenets forbid iing the shedding of blood. ... Mewar has, froin the most reinote period, afforded a refuge to the followers of the Jain faith, which was the religion of Valabhi, the first capital of Rana's ancestors, and many monuments attest the support this family has granted to its professors in all the vicissitudes of their fortunes. One of the best preserved monumental remains in India is a column most elaborately sculptured, full 70 feet in height, dedicated to Parshvanath-in Chitor.
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