Storia do Mogor 257.10

257.10

Thus they often make complaint to those who might rescue them from this sad condition, a malady all the heavier for having no possible relief unless the Brahmans chose to relax their rules. But they are a people who cannot be reasoned with in that direction. Other women, when the husband dies, since it would be disgraceful in their caste to marry again, and they cannot remain [126] as they are, go from door to door selling rice. They think nothing of this dishonour, which would be counted among Europeans as the depth of misfortune. Yet it may be said that those who adopt this plan are generally the wisest, for the work occupies them and frees them from the evils which follow in the train of laziness and idleness. For it may be said that Idleness is the mother of all the vices. The conduct of the Brahmans being such as I have described, I may assert that their pride is equal to their silliness, and may be justly styled that of Lucifer, for without subterfuge they claim to be gods, and as such they require all the other castes to honour and adore them. But their pretension is not justified, for in everybody else there are some evil traits, while all the rest is good ; whereas in the Brahman caste, where there ought doubtless to be something good, one meets with nothing that is not entirely evil.