dinner.

Dining with foreigners and people belonging to different castes is, no
doubt, a dangerous breach of Manu's sacred precepts. But this time, for
once, it was easily explained. First, the stout Patel, our host, was
the head of his caste, and so was beyond the dread of excommunication;
secondly, he had already taken all the prescribed and advisable
precautions against being polluted by our presence. He was a
free-thinker in his own way, and a friend of Gulab-Lal-Sing, and so
he rejoiced at the idea of showing us how much skillful sophistry and
strategical circumspection can be used by adroit Brahmans to avoid the
law in some circumstances, while adhering at the same time to its dead
letter. Besides, our good-natured, well-favored host evidently desired
to obtain a diploma from our Society, being well aware that the
collector of his district was enrolled amongst our members.

These, at any rate, were the explanations of our Babu when we expressed
our astonishment; so it was our concern to make the most of our
chance, and to thank Providence for this rare opportunity. And this we
accordingly did.

Hindus take their food only twice a day, at ten o'clock in the morning
and at nine in the evening. Both meals are accompanied by complicated
rites and ceremonies. Even very young children are not allowed to eat
at odd times, eating without the prescribed performance of certain
exorcisms being considered a sin. Thousands of educated Hindus have long
ceased to believe in all these superstitious customs, but, nevertheless,
they are daily practised.

Sham Rao Bahunathji, our host, belonged to the ancient caste of Patarah
Prabhus, and was very proud of his origin. Prabhu means lord, and this
caste descends from the Kshatriyas. The first of them was Ashvapati (700
B.C.), a lineal descendant of Rama and Prithu, who, as is stated in the
local chronology, governed India in the Dvapara and Treta Yugas, which
is a good while ago! The Patarah Prabhus are the only caste within which
Brahmans have to perform certain purely Vedic rites, known under the
name of the "Kshatriya rites." But this does not prevent their being
Patans, instead of Patars, Patan meaning the fallen one. This is
the fault of King Ashvapati. Once, when distributing gifts to holy
anchorites, he inadvertently forgot to give his due to the great Bhrigu.
The offended prophet and seer declared to him that his reign was
drawing near its end, and that all his posterity w