CHAPTER XVIII.

THE OLD ORDER: CASTE AND COMMUNISM.

Remarkable social movement in India--Complexity and corruption of Caste system--The Brahmans--Defence of caste from native point of view--Specimens of caste regulation--Caste tyranny--Story of a widow re-marriage-- Pharisaism of respectability--Caste in its other aspect as a Trade-Guild--Tempering competition--Instances of this--Communism, the second great feature of social life-- Village, Caste and Family communism--The last still flourishing--Anecdotes--Old sanctions being destroyed by commercialism--Sacredness of Family tie 327–344