________________
230
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[AUGUST, 1874.
particularly of the consort of Siva, known among sivagadh, on the Malabar Coast, to the westthem by her usual names, and especially by that ward of Dhårvåd, Belgárh, and Hakeri, through of Sinhavani (or 'rider of the lion,' used here Kågal and Kurand vad, passing between for the tiger). They drink liquor as well as eat Keligår and Pandegår, through Brahmaflesh.
puri on the Bhimâ and sol&pur, and thence (4.) The Sheta palas, so nomed from their east to the neighbourhood of Bedar. From engaging in cultivation, are partly Vaishnavas, Sadasiva gadh, foliowing the southern boun. using animal food, but abstaining from liquor, and dary of Sund & to the top of the Western Ghats, it partly Saktas, taking liquor as well as flesh. comprehends the whole of Maisur and Koim
They furnish water to Bany & 8, merchants batar, and the line of Eastern Ghâts, including and shopkeepers.
much of the Chol& and Belala kingdoms, and (5.) The Kuvachandas resemble the Mu- even DvAra-Samudra the capital of the hammadans in their habits, although they do not latter, which was never subdued by the Chalukeat from their hands
yas." In certain portions of this extensive terri. All these classes of Sarasvatas are sukla or tory, however, the Karnataka Brahmans are comWhite Yaju r-Ved is. In using animal food mingled with other classes, above the Western they abstain from that of the cow and tame fowls, Ghâţs especially, with Mars th& Desasthas but eat sheep, goats, deer, wild birds of most and Karhadas, and on the shores of the Indian species, and fish, killed for them by others. They Ocean with other classes who will be immediately also eat onions and other vegetables forbidden in mentioned. In the Belgâth and Dhårvad Colthe Smțitis. They are gonerally inattentive to lectorates some of them, who are cultivatore, are sectarian marks. They are partial to the Gurmu. but little to be distinguished in apparel from the khi written character used in the Panjab. They common peasantry. They have generally their are the priests of the mercantile Lohans, or abodes in particular portions of the villages in La vânâs. They also cultivate land, and some- which they reside, chosen for purposes of caste times act as petty shopkeepers.
purity. As among the other Dravidians, but few (6.) Associated with the Sarasvatas in Sindh distinctions are recognized among them. They are the Pokharna Brahmans, so named have the exact differences founded on their respec. from the Puskhara or Pokhara Lake near tive Vedas and sects which the Tamilian Brahmans Aimir Cantain Barton thus writes of them have. Yet some distinctive classes of them may "They eat no flesh, and wear the turban, not the be msationed. Sindh cap; they shave their beards, and dress The Kume Brahmans, says Dr. F. Buchanan, very like the common traders, or Sau kârs. are a kind of Brahmans differing from the others. They live by instructing the Hindus in their They consist of four divisions, which never interDharma or religious duties, by deciding horary marry--the Kanada, AravaTokal, Urichi, questions. To the sanctity of their name and and Bobora Kume. The three first are said origin they add the prestige of a tolerably strict life. to be of Karnâţa descent, the last of Tailinga er. They do not enter into the service of Government." traction.
There are but few professed. Kshatriyas, The Negara Brahmans.-Speaking of those though the Bhotyas are in this category in in the Någara districts, including the BadagaSindh. Amongst professing Vaisyas are nad, VaishyamA, and the Aruvattu Wokkal), Mr. found the Lohân & merchants, who also often Huddlestone Stokes says: "They appear origin. act as Anils or Government servants. The ally to have come from the countries north-east Banys, too, claim the same rank. Of the sú. of Nagara, and to have settled here under dras there are not so many varieties as in other the Anagundi and Vijayanagara kings. parts of the Bombay Presidency; while of the They are mostly Smärtas of the Sringiri Svami, lower tribes there are no settled representatives but not all of them. They speak Kanarese only, in the province. There is no lack of devotees, but their books are in the Nagari and BÅlabod aa who wander about the country as mendicants and character. They are found chiefly in public pilgrims.
offices." "There are many learned mon among The Kanarese.
them, and generally they are respectably educated, We now pass from Sindh to the Karnataka good scountants, and intelligent men."
“The, boundaries of the Kånarese (Dravidian) The Karnataka Brahmans in general have not in tongue," says Sir Walter Elliot in one of his modern times been remarkable for learning, on valuable contributions to our Asiatic Societies, which account, perhape, the Lingayats (forming a " may be designated by a line drawn from 8ad& comparatively lately instituted Saiva sect) have
• Journey through Mysore, &c. vol. II. p. 64.-ED.