Page:Malabari, Behramji M. - Gujarat and the Gujaratis (1882).djvu/127



HINDUS.

Hindus of Gujarát are divided into several castes, the most considerable, on the whole, being the Vaishnavas, the followers of Vishnu. They are merchants, traders, vakils (lawyers), and gentlemen at large. As merchants and traders they are even now most successful;but the vakils, with few exceptions, are mere petty-foggers; the gentlemen at large are easy-going, well-preserved individuals, who live and die to themselves. The enterprise and honesty which once characterised mercantile dealings are unknown to men of the present day. Transactions involving enormous sums were once carried on in Gujarat verbally; and some of my readers may have heard of the Gujarát Sowcár who received a large advance of money on a hair of his moustache as a pledge! But those days are gone from