Page:Advice to the Indian Aristocracy.djvu/139

101 Birth; ill by Discovering precious stones, metals, and hidden treasures; iv. by Gift; v. by Reversionary Inheritance; vi. by Self-acquisition.

Now I will classify them in the order of precedence and give some reasons for the order I give.

1. The fortune that comes by birth is the best of all; because the man who receives fortune by birth, though he may receive kind treatment and comfort only like the other children of his parents, is yet respected by all his people as their future ruler from the moment of his birth.

2. Fortune obtained by adoption follows that which comes by birth; because generally adoptions take place when a boy is young. From that moment every care is taken of the boy just as if he were a son born in his adopted family.

3. Fortune obtained by reversionary inheritance comes as the third in rank. This