re fervour," rose from a lower rank to the dignity of
Brahmanhood. Originally, indeed, access to the gods by prayer and
sacrifice was open to all classes of the community. As the Brahmans grow
in political importance, they make religion an exclusive and sacred
business. We find them deciding questions of succession to the throne,
and enforcing their decisions. While in the earlier literature there are
several instances of Brahmans receiving instruction from the hands of
Kshatriyas, in the Puranas and Manu death is made to overtake Kshatriyas
who are not submissive to the Brahmans; and in one case Visvamitra, the
son of Gadhi, actually obtains Brahmanhood as a reward for his
submission. It seems certain that many of the ancient myths were
expressly manufactured by the Brahmans to show their superiority in
birth and in the favour of Heaven to the Kshatriyas--a poetical effect
which is sometimes spoiled by their claiming descent from their rivals.
This brings us to a consideration of the theories which have been
started to account for the appearance of Brahmanic caste, as it is
stereotyped in the Laws of Manu. James Mill, who invariably
underestimated the influence on history of "previous states of society,"
suggested that the original division must have been the work of some
inspired individual, a legislator or a social reformer, who perceived
the advantages which would result from a systematic division of labour.
The subordination of castes he accounts for by the superstitious terror
and the designing lust of power which have so frequently been invoked to
explain the natural supremacy of the religious class. Because the
ravages of war were dreaded most after the calamities sent by heaven, he
finds that the military class properly occupy the second place. This
arrangement he apparently contemplates as at no time either necessary or
wholesome, and as finally destroyed by the selfish jealousies of caste,
and by the degradations which the multiplication of trades made
inevitable. Heeren[11] and Klaproth have contended that the division
into castes is founded on an original diversity of race, and that the
higher castes are possessed of superior beauty. The clear complexion and
regular features of the Brahmans are said to distinguish them as
completely from the Sudras as the Spanish Creoles were distinguished
from the Peruvians. "The high forehead, stout build, and light copper
colour of the Brahmins and other castes allied to t