________________
June, 1876.
CASTES AND TRIBES IN KACHH.
171
at present. They are in the north and west of Kachh.
Jesars (H)* are mulgrâssiâs regarded as Dhangs, residing about Navinal and Beraja.
Jhâlâs (ra)-There are very few of this tribe in the country.
Kanades (78)-Mulgrâssiâ Dhangs residing in Wagad.
Kandagarâs (IST)-Early Rajpût settlers residing about the village of that name.
Káthis (TST)-There is not a single Kathi to be found in Kachh.
KA y às (ir) - Mulgrâssia Dhangs residing about Vadva.
Kayasths (ETUET)-Chiefly from Kathiâ- wad and Marwad, about 100 families. They are priests, writers, and also sepoys.
Kers (RT)-Descendants of Manai, who killed his brother Unad. At present landholders in Pipar, Polai, &c., in Gardå. (See Hilas.)
Khâra vâs (rar) is the name applied to native sailors who are generally Waghers and Miyanas.
Khodas (tr)-Gujar Rajpûts.
Khojas( -Shiah Muhammadans found in every part of Kachh, but chiefly in Nagalpur, Bhadreswar, and Bharapur. Most of them were originally Hindus of the Bhatia caste. They have a separate religion of their own, consisting of the Das Avataras of the Hindus grafted on the Shiah tenets of the Muhammadans. Their high priest is His Highness Aga Khan of Bombay, to whom they pay extraordinary reverence. They do not go to the masjid, but have a separate place of worship called the Khânâ. There are Nome reformers of late among them who, rejecting the mixed creed, have become Sunnis. They are chiefly cultivators in Kachh, but are enterprising merchants in Bombay and Zanzibar, China, &c.
Kolis (aet)i-These are aborigines in Wagad and Anjár Chovisi, and live by robbery, though now they find it hard to carry on this profession, and have become cultivators.
Kunbis ( €)--An agricultural tribe. They are subdivided into Kadva, Anjanâ, and Lêvã, chiefly residing in Wagad, Prânthal, Mak
• Ind. Ant. vol. III. p. 76; Elliot's Racer, vol. I. p. 144. t Wilson's Infanticide, p. 159. I Elliot's Races, vol. I. p. 155. S J. R. 4. Soc. vol. I. p. 239, 247ff.; Trans. R. A. Soc.
and Kanthi. There are Momnás but no Kadvas in Kachh. They are from Gujarât.
Kshatris ( 1) call themselves Brahma Kshatris, and consider themselves the descendants of those who survived from the persecution of Parasurama. After the persecution they are said to have ruled in Sindh. They were ousted from Sindh by a race of foreigners called Bar. bars. They then went to the goddess Hinglaj, who gave them certain professions. These people are a numerous class in every part of Kachla, and are generally dyers, printers, carpenters, turners, silk-weavers, traders, and Kårbharis. The celebrated Sundarji Sivji, who aided Col. Walker and others in reducing Kathiawad and Kachh to tranquillity, belonged to this caste.
Lohan Ås (TTT) --Originally Rajputs of the Rathod race who were driven from Kanauj into Sindh, whence they migrated into Kachh about the 13th century. At present they wear the sacred thread like the Bhansalis, and call themselves Kshatris. Once they took a leading part in the affairs of Kachh, and were its most able karbhâris and generals. They take up any profesion that suits them. They are porters, menial servants, vegetable-sellers, shopkeepers, cultivators, clerks, and karbhåris. Some of them are as handsome as the Rajputs of the purest blood. They are to be found in every part of Kachh.
MA hajans (FET ) is not the name of a particular tribe, but that given to the higher classes of Hindus as a guild or public body. It. is also applied to Vâņiâs and other mercantile classes exclusively, on account of their acting as leaders of the public.
Makwaņas (7 ) |--Hindas as well as Muhammadans. Also a family name among the Miyanis.
Mandhra s ( T)- Hindus and Muhammadans in Abdáså.
Mangariâs (HTEST)-Muhammadans. Mayadas (HTZET)-A low sort of Rajpûts.
Memans (#) are Sunni Muhammadan converte, chiefly from Lohânâs, originally from Sindh, found in every part of Kachh. They follow all sorts of professions. They are enterprising merchants in Bombay and elsewhere.
-ED.
vol. III. p. 564; Trans. Bom. Lit. Soc. vol. II. p. 232; Elliot's Hist. vol. I. pp. 145, 151, 199.-ED.
| Asiat. Res. vol. IX. p. 900 ; Tod's Rajasthan, vol. I. p. 113.-ED.
