From this passage it will appear that another asser tion made by Dr Robertson, and by almost all other writers on Indian casts, is without foundation. He says in the Appendix to his Disquisition, " though the line of separation be so drawn, as to render the ascent from an inferior to a higher cast absolutely impossible, and it would be regarded as a most enormous impiety, if one in a lower order should presume to perform any function belonging to those of a superior cast ; yet in certain cases the pundits declare it to be lawful for persons of a high class to exercise some of the occupations allotted to a class below their own, without losing their cast by doing so." This is so far from being the case, that no forfeiture is incurred by intruding into a superior pro fession, and the Soodra is permitted to prosecute any manufacture, under the designation of servant to the superior casts, by which he frequently rises to wealth and eminence ; whilst the lazy Bramin, who rests satisfied with his divine indefeasible right to pre-eminence, sinks into poverty and merited contempt.
institution of casts, and the restriction to par ticular professions, have always been regarded as the chief obstacles to the improvement of India. From what we have stated, however, it does not appear that they are so formidable as is generally apprehended.
The natives themselves find it impracticable to observe these ; the inconvenience of which is so great, and their absurdity so glaring, that the only wonder is, that they have maintained their ground so long. Our European settlers, however, and those in particular who have at present t,:e greatest power in India, have uni formly acted as if it were essential to the safety of their government to uphold the present system of degradation and superstition. The three superior casts, the Bra mins, Ketri, ar d Byse, scarcely amount, when taken together, to a fifth part of the population ; and yet for the sake of these, the great mass of the people must be doom, 1 to p,rpetual ignorance and servitude. This ceminly is monstrous; but it is the natural system of despotism w jell founds obedience, as well as devotion, in ignorance. We cannot hope to see these evils reme di...o, till Britain, or whatever other foreign power ob tains me dominion of India, finds it expedient to cherish oth:_r views respecting it than those of gain : but in the present state of things, it is found more convenient to emp cy the established engine of superstition, than to conummicate liberty and happiness to so many millions of the human race. (g)