Hindu Law and Custom (Recht und Sitte) c7.776

c7.776

The menials formed a part of the Indian family as in the case of the family of Roman law and they were without doubt, very numerous as at the present day. Nār. 5, 2—43 distinguishes between labourers (*karmakara*) and slaves (*dāsa*);² the Kauṭumbika who occupies the confidential post of a manager or the major domo belongs to the former category; the slaves are of 15 kinds according as they are bought, born in the house etc. Details about the slavery which as a rule is of a very mild form will be dealt with in the State Antiquities.³ Besides the relations the Ācārya, Ṛtvij and other spiritual advisors and chief priests are frequent guests in the house who hardly restricted themselves only to one such visit in a year according to the Smṛti-rule ⁴.