[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Travellers (1500–1858)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel) › [Storia do Mogor](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci) › [Storia do Mogor (Irvine)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine) › 253 # Storia do Mogor 253: CHAPTER VI · OPINIONS HELD BY THE HINDUS IN RESPECT TO MAN Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 253 - **Language:** English ### [253](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.253) I said at the beginning that the Hindus divided all mankind into four kinds or classes. Some men they make out to be born from Brahma's face, and these people are called Brahmans, who are divided into several branches. The second kind of men they make out to have been born from the shoulders of the said Brahma, and these they call Rajahs, also divided into several branches. The third kind are said to be born from the thighs of the said Brahma, and these are the merchants or shopkeepers, of whom also there are many varieties. Finally, there is the fourth or last kind, born, as they say, from the feet of Brahma; these are the Chutres (Sudra), who, just like the others, have many subdivisions, and it is difficult even to count them. To these four kinds or classes they add one more, which is not counted along with the above, but is held by them to be separated from the general body of men. These people are called in their language Chandalon (chandalam), or blacks. These are divided into four kinds, named Achivanatar (? Vettiyar), Palis (Palli), Parias (Paria), and Alparqueros (shoemakers). All these people that they call blacks are, and pass among the natives of the country as, so low and infamous that it is \[in\] an irremediable contamination and disgrace, not only to eat with them, but even to behold them drink or eat. Thus other castes never do one or the other, happen what may. Nor can any one of the other castes live in the house of any of these blacks, or take from their hand anything to eat or drink. They would much rather be left to die unheeded than touch, or allow themselves to be touched by, one of those blacks, or take from their hands anything to eat or drink. For if that happens, in addition to the penalty of death attached thereto, if the fact comes to the knowledge of the magistrate, all the family and descendants are marked with infamy, and become on a level with the blacks themselves, and have no hope of ever being able to re-enter their caste. These blacks, then, live outside the inhabited places and towns occupied by all the other castes, including the learned, whom they call chares (acharya), and the monks, whom they call Saniares (Sannyasi); and all these better classes may not even speak to the outcasts. Should by accident one of these low fellows touch any pots or vessels used by any of the other castes for cooking or holding water, the owners can no longer touch them or use them. But they must throw them away, or make them over to people of the caste which had touched them, be the vessel empty or full of food. What is to be wondered at is that they are not allowed either to enter the temples, where their false gods are worshipped, or to draw water from the wells used by the other castes. If while on a voyage one of the other classes should fall ill where there was no one else than some of these blacks, they would sooner die than take water or any other thing from their hands. To give some conception of the infamy attached by the Hindus to these blacks, I will say that there are no words to express the vileness of the esteem in which they are held. Of these five castes, or different kinds of people, some say that the first only — that is, the Brahmans — have a soul ; others, in direct contradiction to the above, assert that all men have one and the same soul, or that all their souls are of one and the same substance. - [Previous: 252.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.252.5) - [Next: 254.1.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.254.1.1) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.253](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.253) · Pramāṇa