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JUNE, 1876.]
CASTES AND TRIBES IN KACHH.
169
the sacred thread, and to follow the rules of his sect with much strictness. They have of late greatly risen in the social scale, and consider themselves almost equal to Vâņiâs and Brahmaņs. They are among the most enterprising merchants, trading with Bombay, Arabia, &c., and some of them have gone as far as the coast of Africa.
Bhattis (et)--Originally Rajpats, but have become Hindu Kha vâs or Mohammadan; they are found chiefly in Bhuj and Mandavi.
Bhojades (1) are mulgrâssiâs, an early branch of the Jadejâs.
Bhumda s (3T)-A branch of the San. gårs residing near Gedi and elsewhere in Wegad.
Bôhâs (ATT)-Malgrâssiâs in Abdása, chiefly to be found in the village called Boha.
Bohorås (TIFICT) are found in the large towns of Mandavi, Bhuj, Anjar, and Mundra. From Gajarât, they were originally Hindus, chiefly Brâhmâņs, but about 700 years ago were made converts by some Arab. They are Sbiahs, and their High Priesi or MullA lives in Surat, who has great authority over them.
Butts (CI)-Originally Hindu, but at pre- sent Muhammadan malgrâssiàs; chiefly to be found in Abdisa and Gardå.
Charaņs (TTT) -There are three divisions of these :--1, Kâchhela (Kachhis); 2, Maru vâ (from Mârwad); and 3, Tû mbels (from Sindh). The last two are the family bards of the Jå dejâ s, and enjoy several villages as girás given by Jam Raval and the Darbars of Kachh. The Måra va and Kachhelâ reside in Mâk, and the Ta mbel in Kân thi. The Kachhelås are money-lenders, and trade by caravans of bullocks. The Cháras in general are on the decline. The difference between a Bhât and a Charan lies chiefly in the latter being a simple reciter of a Rajpût's praiae in short rude poetical pieces, while the former is a regular genealogist, and sometimes the historian of the family
Chavadas(TT5T)*--Once a very powerful ruling race in Kachh, - probably came from the neighbouring Panchâsar of Jayashekhari. One of their kings named Wagam Chavada, who ruled in Pâtgadh in Gardê, was killed by
Mod, the first Sammâ from Sindh. We find traces of their rule here and there in small townships till the end of the 14th century. There is a temple of Mâbadeva at Bhuvad which bears an inscription containing the genealogy of one Vagra or Vanraja, and the date Samvat 1346. At present the Chavadas have degenerated into Kha visas, or Muhammadan sipâhis, and one house of pure Rajpût descent can scarcely be found in Kachh.
Chuchiyas (UFMT-Mohammadans of the Miyân â tribe.
Chugars (ET)-Degenerated Rajpûts, a branch of the Jadejas, and reside in Dhang or the district about Lakhpat and Korâ.
Chuvâns (m), Dudiâs (rut), and Dá bhís (ar ft) are Khavâsas.
Dals (6)-Hindus and Muhammadans of Rajpût descent.
Dârâds TT3-Originally Hindus, but now Muhammadan converts.
Dedâs (11)-An earlier branch of the JAdejâs, from Ded &, the second in descent from J&m LÂkha Jadeja. They are in large numbers in Wagad, in Chord, Machhukanth, and, Halår. The chief town of their head is Kanth kot. They are also styled Virbhadra. They are proud of tbe martial and enterprising spirit of their ancestors. Dedâs residing near Shikârpur are called Kå rås.
Dhangs (vn)-This is not a particular tribe, but the name given to earlier settlers descended from Rao Rayadhan, the son of Lakh Jadeja, and who have either become poor peasants on account of their lands having been sold, or divided among the fraternity, or encroached upon by their powerful brethren of more recent descent from Rao Khangårji, the founder of Bhuj. The following are among the principal Dhang tribes :-Abda, Amar, Bårâch, Bhojde, Butta, Gå ha, Gajan, Hothi, Jâ dâ, Jesar, Kanadde, K & ya, Koret, Mokalsi, Pasa ya, Reladia, Varamsi, &c.
Dheds (t)t-The lowest caste among the Hindus, and found in every town and village. From their nukhs, or family names, most of them appear to have been originally of Rajpût de
• Ind. Ant. vol. IV. p. 145; Tod's Rajasthan, vol. I. p.101 ; Elliot's Hist. of India, by Dowson, vol. I. p. 268.ED.
Ind. Ant. vol. III. pp. 130, 236, 229; Elliot's Races, vol.' p. 80.-ED.
Maloolm's Cent. Ind. sol. II. p. 132; J. R.As. Soc. vol. 1. pp. 239, 247 ; vol. II. p. 281 ; Tod's Rajasthan, vol. I. p. 702, 7v. B. Lit. Soc. vol. II. p. 232; Elliot's Races, vol. I. pp. 17, 271, 804,381, 327; Johnston's Selections from the Mahabharat, p. 207; Ind. Ant. vol. III. p. 326.-ED.
