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 on occupational castes would probably represent a period still later. It may also become necessary to write two monographs on the same period in order to show two different developments.

I am presenting herein one part of the history of caste. It may seem strange to the reader that I should choose such an odd period as the third century A. D. to present at the very start. The consideration which influenced me is not the intrinsic importance of the period but the very great significance of the document selected for criticism. The laws of Manu are well known to the Western World. They enjoy a great prestige in India and are regarded as authoritative on the matter of caste. These laws again are constantly referred to by sociologist and anthropologist, and as I shall show further on, constantly misunderstood by them. Again, I believe that the method of taking the reader along in the investigation is preferable to dogmatic narration, when the things to be presented are not completely established. To follow this method properly one should select for presentation at the outset that evidence the inferences from which one intends to use in further investigation.

Professor Hopkins has gone over the same material, namely, the Laws of Manu, about twenty-five years ago. He has published also another monograph on the condition of Kshatriyas according to Mahabharata. The work of Hopkins was no doubt excellent for the period when he wrote, but unfortunately the ideas of the Western World on the matter of caste were very defective, again, his attitude toward the question was considerably different from what I have. These facts made it necessary for me to go over the material again. There is no need