Page:History of India Vol 9.djvu/296

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248
AN EARLY DUTCH ACCOUNT OF INDIA

set foot in the open lands in the villages of the Bramines; moreover, all entrance into the temple of their god Wistnou, or Eswara (Isvara, or Vishnu), is forbidden. It is said that they are considered unclean by the Bramines, and, by reason of their uncleanness, they would therefore defile the Bramines and also the temples, which are held to be sacred places.

TWO PARIAHS.

These people gain their livelihood in the land by sowing, by digging and delving, and by the muring of houses, which are made of earth; and they build well-nigh all the houses of the common people, for the carpenter findeth little work there, and ofttimes none. Likewise, they perform all foul tasks that no one else will do; and are fain thereto, for that is their calling. These people be very foul of food, for besides edible stuff, they eat cows, horses, goats, hens, and all manner of beasts that have died, so that it is no marvel that they are right little esteemed and are held to be unclean, especially by the Bramines, who hold so much to outward purity, like as the Pharisees.

Of this caste there are two sorts, the first whereof is called simply Perreaes, and the other Siriperen. The handiwork of the latter is to go about with leather and to prepare it, making bridles thereof and other more

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