Indian Antiquary Vol 03

Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 91

MARCI, 1874.]
ERA OF BUDDHA AND ASOKA INSCRIPTIONS
or twelve principal hereditary village officers, Parits, who are less particular; und Hinwho are as much reipublicos columnæ in Ma- dustani immigrants. harashtra as the duodecim homines jurati are They usually do nothing but wash; but on said to be in England; and though I have the Girna river in Khandesh, in the Nâsirabad had complaints from every other class of village and Erandol Talukas, there are several villages officers about the non-payment of their dues in inhabited by cultivating Parîts, including the kind and service, I never heard of the Koli Pâtils. The Ga valîs, or cowherds, are not a Bhistî going without his. They are often fisher- separate caste in the Dekhan; the occupation is men, and ferrymen, as well as bhistis, and they followed by men of several castes, especially by sometimes show a good deal of enterprise in Marathas, generally of the surname of Gaikasetting up ferries, and much courage and skill in våd, and of such is the royal family of Baroda. managing them. They are fine, well-built men, 32. The Lonârist are dealers in salt. and are good swimmers and divers. They have 1 33. The Gura vast are a caste who enjoy also a sort of hereditary taste for the cultiva- the monopoly of the trade of menial servants tion of melons and cucumbers in dried-up river- (pujáris) in temples of Siva in any of his forms. beds. Fishing Kolîs are called Koli Bhuis. They have a right to the food offered to the
30. The Kahar Bhuis are fishermen, god, which is called naivedya. They are culcultivators of melons, and bearers of palanquins. tivators and Patils in at least one village of the They are inferior to the Kolis in appearance, Khed Taluka of Puna. character, and social status. They are not 34. The Buruds are makers of baskets, village otticers, but the rivers are divided cages, mate, &c. among their tribes and families by custom and 35. The Rangári s are dyers. In Khancourtesy, and, although their rights are unpro- desh this name is applied to tanners. tected by any law, they very seldom poach 36. The tanners of the Dekhan are called upon each other's ranges, or infringe the rules | Dhôrs. adopted by the caste from time to time as to 37. The leather-cutters and shoemakers are size and species of nets, or the like. Hinda- called Chambh & rs. Both are held very low stäni Kahars I have found as mercenary swords- castes, and where they were permitted under men in the retinues of native chiefs resident native rule to live within the town wall it was in Puna, especially in that of the Raja of a matter of grace and sufferance. Jowâr. They chiefly use the casting-net, but 38. The Gond haļis are singers and musihave & way of tying many nets together so as to form a sort of seine, or draw-net, and they 39. The Ghadasis are also musicians, and have small light traminels called phanse (i. e. their social status is a matter of dispute. They nooses), on account of their action, and basket- assert themselves to be pakka Sadras, and have traps; but they very seldom use poison.
an opinion of a Shâstrî to that effect; but all 31. The Parits, or washermen, whom we the other castes say that they are descended from call by the Hindustani name of Dhobis, have the adultery of Hindû women with Musalmans. three divisions : Une h-Parits, who will only 40. The Lakeris make bangles and other wash the clothes of men of good caste; Nich things of lac, and they varnish wood.
PROF. H. KERN'S DISSERTATION ON THE ERA OF BUDDHA AND THE
ASOKA INSCRIPTIONS. ||
BY J. MUIR, D.C.L., LL.D., PH.D., EDINBURGH. The writer begins by remarking that the dhists as that of the Nirvana or death of Budyear 543 B.c., adopted by the Southern Bud. dha, has, ever since Turnour argued in favour • Ind. Ant. vol. II. p. 164
$ "They make water-backets for cattle, wells, and hand. + " They are lime-burners in the Dekhan: rank low; carriage : they also dye leather."-Trans. Med. 8 Phys. they prepare and sell chunam and charcoal; others pre- Socy. ut supra, p. 207. pare salt (mith lonArt), and in Southern India are known as Over de Taartelling der Zuidelijke Buddhisten en de "Upar" caste.-Trans. Med. & Phys.Socy, ut supra, p. 226. Gedenlestukken van Açoks den Buddhist, door H. Kern.
1 They are blowers of the horn in processions, &c., and Uitgegeven door de Koninklijke Academie van Wetenreceive food from visitors."--Trans. Med. & Phys. Socy. schappen te Amsterdam. C. G. Van der Post, Amsterdam, ut supra, p. 212.
1878, pp. 120, 4to.