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226
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
language than those of the Marathi, Its northern boundary is the Gulf of Kachh, and a line drawn from the eastern extremity of that gulf through Dis & and running to the south of the Abu Mountains to the western face of the Aravali Range on the east; its eastern boundary is the range of hills running from the shrine of Am bâbhavani (east of Abu) through Châmpâner to Hâmp on the Narmadâ. This river forms its southern boundary also from Hâmp to the jungles of Rajpipla, from whence it strikes to the south; its eastern line being that of the Sahyadri Ghats till opposite Da man, where its extension to the south terminates, its southern boundary in this direction being the Daman Ganga River. From Daman to the Gulf of Kachh, including the peninsula of Gujarât, the ocean is its boundary. It is spoken, too, to a considerable extent in Kachh and among the Baniâs and other merchants, originally from Gujarât, who are so widely scattered throughout India and the shores of the adjoining countries. It is used by the Baniâs ja many small settlements exterior to India.
There is no province of India in which the Brahman Castes are more numerous and varied than in Gujarât. By their own fraternities they are reckoned at eighty-four; but their lists when examined, compared, and combined give us no fewer than 166 of the priestly castes, recognizing for themselves various local distinctions. Of these, eleven belong to the Audichyas or 'Northerners; eleven to the N & garas consociated in connexion with the principal towns of the Hindu Râjas who reigned at Anhila vâdâ Pattan (still remarkable for their adiainistrative ability in the Native States); the Sachoras; the Udambaras; the Narsiparas; the Valadras or Vadâdres; the Pangoras; the Nandodras; the Girnâras; the Junagadhya-Girnâras; the Chorvâsâ Grnâras; the Ajakiyas; the Somparas (of Somnatha); the Harsoras; the Sajodhras; the Gangaputras, servitors of the holy rivers; the Modha Maitras; the Gomitras; the Sri-Gaudas; the Gurjara-Gaudas; the Karedas (sprurg originally probably from the Marathi Karhade); the Vayandas; the Mewaḍas (of Mewâs) of four kinds; the Dravidas, of the south of India; the Desavalas (of two kinds); the R&yakavalas (of two kinds); the Rodha valas; the Khedavalas (of four kinds); the Sindhuv&1&s or Sindhava-Sarasvatas, from Sindh; the Padmivalas; the Gomativâlas; the Itâvalas; the Medaṭavalas (of Medâta in Jodhpur); the Gayavalas; the Agastyav&
[AUGUST, 1874.
las; the Pretavalas; the Y&jnik valas; the Ghodavalas; the Pudavalas; the Unevalas; the Rajavalas; the Kanojiyas; the Sarvariyas (of the Sarya River); the Kandoliyas; the Kharkheliyas; the Parvaliyas; the Sorathiyas (of Sauråshtra); the Tanga modiyas; the Sânodhyas; the Motâlas; the Jârolas; the Râyapulas; the K&pilas; the Akshayamangalas; the Gugalis; the Nâpalas; the Anâ vâlas or Bhâtelas, cultivators; the Srimâlis (of ten kinds); the Mod has (of nine kinds); the V&1mikas; the Nâradikas; the Kalingas; the Talingas from the south-east of India; the Bhargavas of Bharoch; the Malavis or Malavikas of Malwa; the landuvanas; the Bharathanas; the Pushkaranas (of the Pushkara Lake); the Sarasvatas; the Khadayatas; the Mârus (of Marwâr); the D&himas (of Rajputâna); the Chovis has; the J&m bus (of Jâmbusir); the Dadhichas; the Lal&tas; the Vatulas; the Borsidhas; the Golavalas; the Pray&gavâlas (from Prayaga); the Nayakavalas; the Utkalas (of Orissa); the Mathuras (of Mathura); the Maithas; the Kulabhas; the Beduvas; the Ravavalas; the Dashaharas; the Karnatakas; the Talajiyas; the Pârâshariyas: the Abhiras; the Kundus; the Hiranyajiya s; the M&st & nas; the St hitishas; the Predatavalas; the R&mpuras; the Jelas; the Tilotyas; the Durmalas; the Kodavas; the Hunushunas; the Sêvadas; the Titragas; the Basulâdas; the Magmaryas; the R&yathalas; the Chapilas; the Bâradas; the Bhukaniyas; the Garodas, who officiate among the depressed Dhedas; the Taps d&nas.
The Rajgurus (formerly family priests) and the Bhattas and Charanas (bards and encomiasts) have a position in the community scarcely of less notice than that of the Brâh
mans.
The different provinces of peninsular Gujarat (or Kathiawad) receive their respective denominations from the different classes of their rulers, both in ancient and modern times :
Okh&manda1, the district of O khâ, forming the north-west corner of the peninsula, now under the Gâikawaḍ.
Halad, principally the property of the J & dej&s, and named from J&m Hal& of Kachh, the third from R&ydhan, the first ruler mentioned by name in connexion with that province.
Machu-K&ptâ, on the banks of the Machu ('fish') river, principally, like the preceding, the property of Jadejas.
