Caste in India: The Facts and the System c8.s3.17

c8.s3.17

Several of the ideas which he has let fall in passing might disappear without leaving an appreciable gap. The fusion of the various elements of population was, according to him, accomplished very early, and the complete unity of the whole secured from a remote epoch. However strong it may be, this conviction would give rise to many objections and reservations, but it is not an integral part of his views on the occupational origin of the caste. The same may be said of the etymological deductions and legendary material in which he thinks he can discern from its beginning the history of many castes at the precise moment when they broke off in successive swarms from the original tribes. This part of the work is more remarkable for variety of information and brilliance of treatment than for strictness of method.