pressed by Omar Khayyam is the daily creed of India's millions:

"We are no other than a Moving Row
Of Magic Shadow-shapes that come and go. . . .

"But helpless Pieces of the Game He plays
Upon this Checkerboard of Nights and Days."

It is in this fatalistic conception of life that caste is rooted; but
for this belief that all things are predestined, no people would ever
have been so spiritless as to submit to the tyranny of the caste
system. Perhaps it should also be added that the belief in the
transmigration of the soul has also had a not inconsiderable
influence. Though you have fared ill in this life, a million rebirths
may be yours ere you finally win absorption into Brahma, and in these
million future lives the gods may deal more prodigally with you.
Indeed, the things you most desire may be yours in your rebirth. "You
are interested in India; therefore you may have your next life as an
Indian," an eminent Hindu said to me. But Heaven forbid!

At any rate, with this double layer of nourishing earth--the belief,
first, that what you are now is the result of your actions in previous
lives, and, secondly, that there are plenty more rebirths in which any
merit you possess may have its just recompense of reward, the caste
system has flourished like the Psalmist's green bay tree, though its
influence has been more like that of the deadly upas.

If you are a high-caste man you may not only refuse to eat with or
touch a low-caste man, your equal perhaps in {229} intelligence and in
morals, but in some cases you may even demand that the low-caste man
shall not pollute you by coming too near you on the road. On page 540
of the 1901 "Census of India Report" will be found a table showing at
what distances the presence of certain inferior classes become
contaminating to a Brahmin! Moreover, the low-caste man, offensive to
men, is taught that he is equally offensive to the gods. He must not
worship in the temples; must not even approach them. Usually it is
taken for granted that no Pariah will take such a liberty, but in some
places I have seen signs in English posted on the temple gates warning
tourists who have low-caste servants that these servants cannot enter
the sacred buildings.

Not only are these creatures of inferior orders vile in themselves,
but the work which they do has also come to be regarded as degrading.
A high-caste man will not be caught doing any work which is "beneath
him." The cook will