Lost His Caste.

Otago Witness, Issue 2241, 11 February 1897, Page 52

Lost His Caste.

One of the greatest calamities which can befall a Hindoo is whan he accidentally kills a cow. Such a misfortune Tecently befell a man of the Ahir, or cowherd, caste at Fyzabad. He was carrying a young calf on his shoulders, which, having fallen down, broke its neck and died. The Brahmans sentenced him to the severest form of Hindoo excommunication for six months. They further told the Ahir that he could not have committed a greater sin. During the period of excommunication the Ahir was ordered to lead a life of mendicancy, and with a rope round his neck and a portion of the calf's tail on his shoulders he was to perform pilgrimage to different Hindoo shrines. The members of his family were forbidden to supply him with either sheltet or ifpad. The Abie has returned to bis Tillage! bub

until the purification caremoaies are over he must live in. a temporary, grass-thatched house. It now remains ior a man of the Badmanus caste, which is one of the lowest and most degraded, to purify him. A barber after shaving the delinquent and paring the nails of his hands will make over the hair and nails to the Badmanus, who will burn them and also set fire to the hut. After this, the Ahir will take a plunge into the River Sarju and come out purified. But his troubles will not then be ended. Not till he has feasted 50 Brahmans and 100 of his brethren "will he be readmitted into caste fellowship."