Caste in India: The Facts and the System c6.s5.2

c6.s5.2

The Hindus are at all times great lovers of feasts; common meals occur on all solemn occasions.¹ These restrictions are therefore the more significant. Their authority is so absolute that the Santals—a very low caste in Bengal—have been known to die of hunger in times of famine rather than touch food even prepared by Brahmans.² This reservation, applied to the caste which is regarded as the highest and surrounded by such grovelling respect, shows how ingenious and fertile scruples can be and what variations they often embroider on a primitive theme.