Page:History of India Vol 9.djvu/288

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AN EARLY DUTCH ACCOUNT OF INDIA

olden times the race of nobles had only two branches, whereof the first was called Souriwansjam (Sanskrit sūrya-vamsa, "of the solar race"), and had their name from the sun, since souri signifieth "sun" in Samscortam (Sanskrit), which is a language wherein all the mysteries of heathendom are writ, and which is esteemed among the Bramines like as the Latin tongue among the learned in Europe.

BRAHMAN PRIESTS AT RAMESWARA, SOUTHERN INDIA.

These are so named because they are the true stock of nobles. The other branch is called Somowansjam (Sanskrit sōma-vamsa, "of the lunar race") and have their name from the moon, since in the language aforesaid somo betokeneth "moon." Besides these two branches, there are many

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