Indian Antiquary Vol 03

SR No.: 032495
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 420
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

Page 253

AUGUST, 1874.) TRIBES AND LANGUAGES OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY.
229
ably changed. The most considerable of their was one of the first scholars who directed atten. number are either Bh&ty&s, originally from tion to the fact, which has boen since referred Bhattiner; Lohånds from Lohogadh; to by Captain Leach, Dr. Caldwell, and others. Srå vakss or Jainas; while Muham- A good many exemplifications of this fact may be madans, both Sunnfs and Shiås, and more picked up in travelling through Sindh, and in especially the Mehmans or Mihmans, con- conversing in Bombay with the Brahuis, verts from Hinduism to the faith of the Sunnis, whose ancestors must have entered India by Khoja hs, converts to the faith of the Shishs, Sindh at & remote era. It is now palpable that do much in smaller petty shopkeeping. The no language in this polyglottal country can yet Kula mh bis or Cultivators, both Loves and show claims to pure Indian parentage. After Mr. Kadavâs (Hindas from Gujarat), the non- Wathen and Captain Burton we are indebted to mercantile converts to Muhammadanism, and the Dr. Trümp for a respectable grammar, the value remains of olden tribes are successful and thriving of which is still more enhanced by that of the tillers of the ground, though they often suffer Pashtu grammar which has just appeared. from a scarcity of water. The artizans, potters, "The people of Sindh," says Sir Bartle l'rere, masons, and hewers of stone are famous for their whose able, wise, and benevolent administration work. The boatmen, Kheraves (senmen'), of the province will ever be remembered, "sre and others are excellent sailors, proceeding to principally Muhammadans, in the proportion of many ports of the Persian Gulf and the Arabian about four Muhammadans to one of any other Sea, even to the latitude of Madagascar, where caste. This is a peculiarity in which the populaBh&tys, V&nids, and Bohor & s have long tion is quite dissimilar from that of any other part had their establishments. The Brahmanical body of Bombay. The people are very peaceable and of Kachh is rather strongly represented in propor. well-disposed, though far less civilized than the tion to its population; but all the varieties of their generality of Indian populations." Under the castes (which are not numerically large) are from British Government they are making rapid adGujarat and Rajpating, and in one denomination vancement in every direction, not overlooking from Sindh. These Brahmans are not so scra- education, of which, in its best forms, they have pulous about those to whom they minister as many long stood so much in need. It may be confidently of their own profession. The shepherd classes of said that almost all classes of Muhammadans are Kachh are Ahirs and Reberis, who rear to be found in Sindh. camels, and ordinary shepherds. Comparatively The Sindhi Muharu madan population proper, as good horses are reared both in Kachh and Ka we are told by Captain Burton, consists of the thikwad. There are but few of the Wild Tribes Hinda population converted during the reign of in the country. The Dhê ds are the representa the Bene-Umyyeh Khalifs. The different tives of the depressed tribes.
classes of the Muhammadang naturalized are the The Sindm.
Sayyids, Afghans, Baluchis, Slaves (liThe Sindhi in its Hindu element is of the berated), Memong, Khoja hs or KhawaAryan family, and is not yet very remote from thejshs. Among these classes there are many disSanskrit, though it is more so than the Marathf tinct classes and families. Among the Mahamand Gujarati and some of the other northern madans ther) are no castes: but of the lower languages of India. Large infusions have been occupations some of them are despised by them. made into it, through conquest and immigrations, The Brehmans of the province are rather of of Arabic and Persian words, which are more & notable character. They are Sarasvatas, applied to common objects by the people than is like those of the Panjab, and are divided into done elsewhere iu the country in similar circum- the following classes :stances. The dialeot of Upper differs from that of (1.) The Shrikaras, or, as they are called by Lower Sindh, and that of the valleys from that of some, Shikarparia, who are Vaishnavas of the Balochi and other border hills and moun. the Vallabhacharya sect. Only a single individual tains, so well illustrated by Captain A. F. Barton. of their number is said to abstain from eating The most interesting philological fact connected animal food, and from eating, too, at the hands of with Sindhi is the discovery in it, as spoken by his Bany & (mercantile) constituents. the mountaineer Brahis well known as (2.) The B&rie, or Barovis, who are also horse-dealers in the west and south of India), of Vaishnavas of the same sect. They, too, freely copious and definite Dravidian element, use animal food. cognate with the Kanarese, Telugu, and Tamil, &c. (3.) The Káva najAhis, who are 8&kta 8, Mr. W. H. Wathen, of the Bombay Civil Service, or worshippers of the female mates of the gods.
* The name means 'eunuch' or 'administrator,' bat is applied to the scions of a princely family of Persia