Travels in India (Tavernier) 117.2

117.2

The first caste is that of the Brahmins, who are the successors of the ancient Brachmanes or philosophers of India, who specially studied astrology. There are still to be found their ancient books, in the reading of which the Brahmins generally occupy themselves, and they are so skilled in their observations that they do not make a mistake of a minute in foretelling the eclipses of the sun and moon. And in order that they may preserve this science among them, they have a kind of university in a town called Benares, where they principally study astrology, and where they also have doctors who teach the law, which is followed with very great strictness. This caste is the most noble of all, because it is from among the Brahmins that the priests and ministers of the law are selected. But as they are very numerous and cannot all study in their university, the majority are ignorant and consequently very superstitious, those among them who pass as the most intellectual being the most arrant sorcerers.