CHAPTER XI. Of the Checks to Population in Indostan and Tibet. IN the ordinances of Menu, the Indian legislator, which Sir Wm. Jones has translated and called the Institutes of Hindu Law, marriage is very greatly encouraged, and a male heir is considered as an object of the first importance. "By a son a man obtains victory over all peo'ple; by a son's son he enjoys immortality; and "afterwards by the son of that grandson he reach"es the solar abode." "Since the son delivers his father from the "hell, named Put, he was therefore called puttra, "by Brahma himself." Among the different nuptial rites, Menu has ascribed particular qualities to each. 1 Sir Wm. Jones' Works, vol. iii. c. ix. p. 354. Speaking of the Indian laws, the Abbé Raynal says, "La popu"lation est un devoir primitif, un ordre de la nature si "sacré, que la loi permet de tromper, de mentir, de se "parjurer pour favoriser un marriage." Hist. des Indes, tom. i. l. i. p. 81. 8vo. 10 vols. Paris 1795. Of the checks to population, &c. "A son of a Bráhmì, or wife by the first ceremony, redeems from sin, if he perform virtuous acts, ten ancestors, ten descendants, and himself, "the twenty-first person." 66 "A son born of a wife by the Daiva nuptials "redeems seven and seven, in higher and low"er degrees; of a wife by the Arsha, three and "three; of a wife by the Prájápatya, six and "six."1 A housekeeper is considered as of the most eminent order. "The divine sages, the manes, "the gods, the spirits, and guests, pray for be"nefits to masters of families." An elder brother not married before the younger, is mentioned among the persons who are particularly to be shunned. 3 Such ordinances would naturally cause marriage to be considered as a religious duty; yet it seems to be rather a succession of male heirs, than a very numerous progeny, that is the object so much desired. "The father having begotten a son discharges "his debt to his own progenitors." Sir Wm. Jones' Works, vol. iii. c. iii. p. 124. • Id. p. 130. • Id. p. 141. Of the checks to population "That son alone by whose birth he discharges "the debt, and through whom he attains immor66 tality was begotten from a sense of duty; all the "rest are considered by the wise as begotten from "love of pleasure."1 A widow is on some occasions allowed to have one son by the brother, or some appointed kinsman of the deceased husband, but on no account a second. "The first object of the appointment "being obtained according to law, both the brother "and the sister must live together like a father and daughter by affinity.' 992 In almost every part of the ordinances of Menu, sensuality of all kinds is strongly reprobated, and chastity inculcated as a religious duty. "A man by the attachment of his organs to "sensual pleasures incurs certain guilt; but having wholly subdued them he thence attains "heavenly bliss." 66 "Whatever man may obtain all those gratifications, or whatever man may resign them com pletely, the resignation of all pleasures is far bet"ter than the attainment of them." 3 Sir William Jones' Works, vol. iii. c. ix. p. 340. 2 Id. p. 343. 3 Id. c. ii. p. 96. in Indostan and Tibet. It is reasonable to suppose that such passages might in some degree, tend to counteract those encouragements to increase which have been before mentioned, and might prompt some rcligious persons to desist from further indulgences when they had obtained one son, or to remain more contented than they otherwise would have been in an unmarried state. Strict and absolute chastity seems indeed to supercede the obligation of having descendants. Many thousands of Brahmens having avoid"ed sensuality from their early youth, and having "left no issue in their families, have ascended "nevertheless to heaven." "And like those abstemious men, a virtuous "wife ascends to heaven though she have no child, "if after the decease of her lord she devote her"self to pious austerity.”' The permission to a brother or other kinsman to raise up an heir for the deceased husband, which has been noticed, extends only to women of the servile class. Those of the higher classes are 2 1 Sir Wm. Jones' Works, vol. iii. c. v. p. 221. Of the checks to population not even to pronounce the name of another man, but to "Continue till death forgiving all injuries, "performing harsh duties, avoiding every sensual pleasure, and cheerfully practising the incom"parable rules of virtue." Beside these strict precepts relating to the government of the passions, other circumstances would perhaps concur to prevent the full effect of the ordinances which encourage marriage. The division of the people into classes, and the continuance of the same profession in the same family would be the means of pointing out to each individual, in a clear and distinct manner, his future prospects respecting a livelihood; and from the gains of his father he would be easily enabled to judge whether he could support a family by the same employment. And though when a man cannot gain a subsistence in the employments appropriate to his class, it is allowable for him, under certain restrictions, to seek it in another; yet some kind of disgrace seems to attach to this expedient, and it is not probable that many persons would marry with the certain prospect of being obliged 1 Sir William Jones' Works, vol. iii. c. v. p. 221. |