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338
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
on the Kulâ bâ District. They say that, at some time not accurately fixed, certain fugitives of their race were shipwrecked at Nawagam, a few miles north of Alibag (v. ante, p. 322). The graves of those who perished are still in existence there, according to my informant, in the shape of two long mounds. There were no Jews in the Dekhan under the Marâthâ government; and it is a curious instance of the sort of official emigration that goes on under our government that the whole Jewish colony in the town of Punâ traces its origin to a single inspector of police. After him came a few of his own family, and then others; and now they number (in the second generation) about two hundred souls. Of these some are Government writers, some pensioners of the native army, and a good many carpenters. They call themselves Beni-Israel, in a general way, because, they say, they don't know to what tribe they belong. These Indian Jews seem to have no great aptitude for trade, although many were formerly in business in the Kulâbâ District, especially as dyers. But in the service of Government they are honourably distinguished for intelligence and honesty, and in the native army a greater number of them rise to commissions than of any other race, proportionably to the number of recruits. The Jewish carpenters, too, rank high in their trade.
The Kâlá-Israel, or Black Jews, are said to be the descendants of native concubines kept by Jews, and not, as is sometimes supposed, of proselytes. Considering how unlikely the Muhammadan and Hindu governments were to permit any efforts of the Jews to propagate their faith, I think their account of this matter is probably correct. The Beni-Israel do not marry or eat with the Kâlâ-Israel, but permit community of worship. The latter seem to prefer military service to any other profession. It will be observed that the old warrior-spirit is still strong in the race; and they carry their pugnacity into domestic life, and into the settlement of the religious disputes which frequently arise among them, and generally end in an attempt to
"Settle matters orthodox
[DECEMBER, 1874.
able among other races. Naturally it is usually the latter party who support their views by sermons found in paving-stones. There are two or three families of Mesopotamian Jews, connected in one way or another with the Sassoon family. These latter conform much more to our European idea of the race, being keen men of business, and little given to entering the military or administrative service of Government. Except for the small internal differences already mentioned, there is probably no race in India whose members so seldom come in the way of penal justice: I never saw or heard of a Jewish thief or beggar, or known bad character of any sort.
K.-Native Christians.
sionaries-miscellaneous in class and insignifi Setting aside the converts of Protestant mis
cant in number-the native Christians of these parts are all of the Catholic faith, all descended from the ancient Portuguese converts and mixed marriages, and all immigrants from the Konkan, like the Jews and Pârsis.
There are two divisions of them; the most numerous are the Goanese Catholics, by which I mean not merely those who are natives of Goa, bu. also those British subjects who acknowledge the authority of the Archbishop of that place. These claim what I may be permitted to call the Portu-Gallican liberties, and, so far as I can make out, are very much at one with the more modern and audacious "Altkatholiken" of Ģermany.
At bitter feud with them are the Ultramon
tane party, who acknowledge the authority of the Bishop of Bombay, and whose spiritual affairs are chiefly conducted by the Fathers of the Company of Jesus. These, although less
numerous, are the wealthier and more educated portion of the native Christians, and are united with that portion of the community which calls itself Indo-Briton and with the European Catholics, whence it comes about that we hear a good deal more of them in large towns and camps. In the Konkans, where there are ancient By apostolic blows and knocks." endowments and other temporalities worth They have no Rabbis, but elect their readers waging war about, the disputes of these two from among the congregation, which appears to parties sometimes come into court. But above be divided into two parties, the writers being ghât, where the churches are chiefly supported "Progresistas," and the carpenters and military by the members, the native Christians, a peacemen strong Conservatives-a division observable and inoffensive race, seldom come under
