Page:History of India Vol 9.djvu/57

 ANIMAL LIFE IN INDIA 31 amber attracts chaff, and the magnet iron. Perhaps there may be a similar power in water. As these are matters belonging to physics and to the question of floating bodies, they are referred to them; but at pres- ent we must turn to what follows and to the subjects more nearly relating to geography. It is said that the Indians are divided into seven castes. The first in rank, but the smallest in number, are the philosophers. Persons who offer sacrifice, or make oblations to the dead, have the services of these persons on their private account; but the kings employ them in a public capacity at the time of the Great Assembly, as it is called, when, at the beginning of the new year, all the philosophers repair to the king at the gate. At that time any useful designs which they have made relating to a prosperous season for crops and animals, and any observations they have made regarding the government of the state are pub- licly declared. If any one is caught giving false infor- mation three times, he is enjoined by law to maintain silence during the rest of his life; but any one who has made correct observations is exempted from all contributions and tribute. The second caste is that of husbandmen, who con- stitute the majority of natives and are a most mild and gentle people, as they are exempted from military serv- ice and cultivate their land free from alarm. They neither resort to cities to transact private business nor take part in public turmoils. It therefore frequently happens that at the same time, and in the same part