CHAPTER LXXI.                           163

(in Muslim countries) escape and return to their country Hindu
and religion, the Hindus order that they should fast by war, how
way of expiation, then they bury them in the dung, returning to
stale, and milk of cows for a certain number of days, try.
till they get into a state of fermentation.    Then they
drag them out of the dirt and give them similar dirt
to eat, and more of the like.

I have asked the Brahmans if this is true, but they
deny it, and maintain that there is no expiation possible
for such an individual, and that he is never allowed
to return into those conditions of life in which he was
before he was carried off as a prisoner. And how
should that be possible ? If a Brahman eats in the
house of a Sudra for sundry days, he is expelled from
his caste and can never regain it.