They are exceedingly afraid of being defiled by persons of other
castes. They have the utmost dread even of being touched by a pariah.
For them to eat with any of these pariahs, or to go into their houses,
or to drink water which they have drawn, or from vessels which they have
handled, is attended with the loss of their caste. A Brahmin who should
enter their houses, or permit them to enter his, would be cut off from
his caste, and could not be restored without many troublesome ceremonies
and great expense. The pariahs are considered to be so low, that if a
Brahmin were to touch them, even with the end of a long pole, he would
be looked upon as polluted In some districts they are obliged to make a
long circuit, when they perceive Brahmins in the way, that their breath
may not infect them, or their shadow fall upon them as they pass. In
some places their very approach is sufficient to pollute a whole
neighborhood.
The Brahmins carry their ideas of purity very far. Should a Sudra happen
to look upon the vessels in which they cook their food, they would be
considered as defiled. They can never touch any kind of leather or skin,
except the skin of the tiger and antelope.
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