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154
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[MAY, 1873.
CASTES OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY. Dr. H. V. Carter to his "Report on the Prevalence and Characters of Leprosy in the Bombay Presidency" has added an appendix giving short notices of all the castes mentioned in the returns. "The details it supplies," he remarks, "are of the simplest, and without pretence : such of the information as is not commonly available has been obligingly furhished by the Magistrates of Kanara, Khandesh, Thana, Dharwar, &c. and many probable discrepancies are referrible to the varying customs of the same castes in different provinces."
"The subject of caste," he adds, "is full of instruction to the antiquary and the ethnologist : it is & mine as yet little worked, but which holds information sufficient, by analysis of details, to explain many curious anomalies in the opinions And condition of the existing native races, if not to throw light on their origin and descent."
The list is arranged alphabetically, but we extract the accounts of some of the castes without reference to such arrangement:
"Koli.- A caste of low rank, embracing numerous tribes who are still most numerous in the mountain ranges running parallel to the sea-coast, and par excellence a hill-people; dwellers in the jungle or forest; most numerous of all such in the Bombay Presidency; they exist in large numbers in Gujarat and the Konkan and in the adjoining central districts of the Dekhan, but not beyond these limite: their proper locale would seem to be the Western Ghats and prolongation northwards (18 to 24 N. Lat.); they also occupy the sea. board; it would appear us if their continuity had been disturbed by intrusions of the Bhills,' coming from inland forest hills along the banks of the Tapti and other rivers opening into the Gulf of Cambay; hence in Khandesh Bhills' occupy the ghêts and hilly ranges, the Kolis' being found in the plains, as a reflux from the south. The Kolis of Gujarat are thus almost separated from those of the Vindhya Ghâts; their history and present condition differ somewhat also; for a few formed alliances with marauding Rajputs, and their descendants claim the title of ThAkure; and in this fertile province some of the Kolis have become admirable and prosperous farmers. Coast- wise the race has maintained its place as fishermen, boatmen, and sailors: they make salt. In Lat. 20° Kolis again predominate on both sides of the ghêts: they are chiefs in the Dhangs; Patels, &o. in the Mäwals; the name Thakur is retained, but is not now associated with any preference apart from means: here, too, in the Dekhan a large section of 'Kolis' have become incorporated with the population on the plains ; they occupy a humbler position than the Talabdi • Kolis' in Gujarat, but have a recognised place in the village establishment, being watchmen, water-carriers, boatmen, fishermen, messengers, do; those have made the first long stride towards
complete civilization. On the hills their brethren are still a rude people, living by selling jungle produce, cultivating a little land, and keeping & few cattle. All are very ignorant, but not unintelligent. Kolis are subdivided into numerous families (or kuls) all of which are perfectly distinct; the families form orders or classes, which under climatic and historic influences have acquired their present distinctive characters; eventually, doubtless, the whole race will become assimilated, without being decimated in process, for the people are apt.
"Ambigdr.-A Koli caste of boatmen, watermen. and fishermen, in S. India; they belong to the recognised and more civilised division of Kolis.
"Patanwaria.-A Koli' tribe of Gujarat, originally nated from Patan-Anhilwada, the Hindu capital of Gujarat; their rank in the Koli caste is not the highest, as they eat the flesh of buffaloes ; they are cultivators and labourers and sometimes village watchmen.
" Bhul Kahdr.--A widely-spread caste of rather inferior rank, whose occupation is to carry palkis, dolis, water-skinis, &c.; to act as porters : they also catch and eat fish: they bear some resemblance to Kolis,' and have latterly been suspected to be also aborigines; they eat flesh and drink spirits: they are an ignorant but industrious class. Buchanan describes them as of Telinga descent: and adds that distillation of rum is one of their proper occupations.
"Kharwi.--A caste in Sonthern Konkan and Kanara, who are fishermen and palki-bearers, also crews and mates of native craft : they speak Marathi and Kanarese, and in that respeot are noted to differ from Bhtis' or 'KAh&rae;' numerous : of rather inferior rank, and partakers of all kinds of food, &c. The name is indicative of their connexion with the sea.
" Dharald.-In Gujatat; an inclusive term for people who habitually wear arms and pay for the privilege : in most villages they are Kolis and Pagis: in a few only Rajputs and SipAhis also : some are in independent circumstances : and all are probably the descendants of former successful soldiers.
"Machi.-In Surat, of the Koli caste: fisher. men, chiefly; & rude, ignorant, and intemperate race, said to be short-lived.
"Wagri.--An offset, probably, of the Koli tribe, who retain primitive habits, and are mostly hunters and snarers of game and wild animals, whose voice and calls they can closely imitate : some make, earthen toys, &c. They are widely distributed; some are lepers in Gujarat, where they are probably more numerous than in the Dekhan and Southern India. In appearance they are, often at least, of a true aboriginal type: their language appears to be the vernacular of the province they inhabit."
