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102

HISTORY OF CASTE.

cupation as their peculiar one, or as an aggregate of people who have by some means become associated with a certain occupation. With this definition such occupational castes are common in many communities. In many societies there is a tendency of division of occupations on racial lines—so much so that a peculiar occupation becomes associated with a peculiar tribe.^[1] Thus in India an aggregate may be formed first and it may take to a peculiar trade afterward.

In India peoples of higher civilization were migrating eastward and coming into contact with those who were less civilized, and some sort of division of occupation in racial lines was taking place. All the occu-

↑ In America we find numerous cases of this kind. The fact that the Chinese are a caste of laundrymen is something every American knows. There are also occupational castes of Negro porters and of Japanese butlers. In many cities we find Italians and Greeks in the occupation of shoe blacking. In two or three cities I noticed that buying and selling second-hand clothes and shoes was a trade which was monopolized by or relegated to Russian Jews. Buying watches and jewelry or loaning money on them is also a trade of this tribe. In fashionable circles it has become customary to employ French nurses, and in some cities domestic service is the occupation of Irish girls. It is also considered a fashion to have a Negro waiter, so much so that the Negroes have begun to feel that to wait on tables is their peculiar occupation and privilege. Strangely enough in the eastern part of America the native of India has become associated with palmistry, astrology, fortune telling and jugglery, so much so that it pays a man to pass for a Hindu when he is not. I have heard of Spaniards in this profession advertising themselves as Hindu astrologers and palmists. There are various causes which bring about such a condition. Ability to do no other work but some peculiar work, and willingness to work for less, on the part of certain tribes, contribute to this phenomena. It may somewhat be a result of fashion. Preponderance of fellow countrymen, in a particular trade becomes of great help to the new-comer. All these circumstances have their effect in dividing occupations on racial lines.

[1] In America we find numerous cases of this kind. The fact that the Chinese are a caste of laundrymen is something every American knows. There are also occupational castes of Negro porters and of Japanese butlers. In many cities we find Italians and Greeks in the occupation of shoe blacking. In two or three cities I noticed that buying and selling second-hand clothes and shoes was a trade which was monopolized by or relegated to Russian Jews. Buying watches and jewelry or loaning money on them is also a trade of this tribe. In fashionable circles it has become customary to employ French nurses, and in some cities domestic service is the occupation of Irish girls. It is also considered a fashion to have a Negro waiter, so much so that the Negroes have begun to feel that to wait on tables is their peculiar occupation and privilege. Strangely enough in the eastern part of America the native of India has become associated with palmistry, astrology, fortune telling and jugglery, so much so that it pays a man to pass for a Hindu when he is not. I have heard of Spaniards in this profession advertising themselves as Hindu astrologers and palmists. There are various causes which bring about such a condition. Ability to do no other work but some peculiar work, and willingness to work for less, on the part of certain tribes, contribute to this phenomena. It may somewhat be a result of fashion. Preponderance of fellow countrymen, in a particular trade becomes of great help to the new-comer. All these circumstances have their effect in dividing occupations on racial lines.

[1]