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June, 1876.]
CASTES AND TRIBES IN KACHH.
173
Rela diy as (cole)-Rajpûts about Rajpâts in the north of the province. They culNirona.
tivate lands and serve as sepoys. Så chorås (ETRT-Brahman cultivators Solankis (lent)-Except the Waghela in the Waghela towns, originally from Marwad. grâssias in Wagad, there are no Rajputs of this
Samas (AA)-Descendants of Jam Cama, race in Kachh; but there are many among the the son of Jam Narpat, who built Nagar Khavasas bearing this name. Samai in Sindh and ruled there His pos- Śravaks or Jains (PTT) are Wânias terity came into Kachh and settled in Pachham, mostly of the Oswal and Srîmali castes. The it is said, about a thousand years ago, where former are cultivators, and are chiefly in Abdása they are still to be found as Muhammadan and Kanthi. They were originally Rajpûts, but grâssias.
were converted to the religion of the Jains by Samejás ( T)-A branch of the Samas, their missionaries. herdsmen in Banni.
Srimalis(fine)-Chiefly from Kathiawad Sanghêrs (rare) wereone of the tribes that and Marwad, mostly cultivators in Wagad. accompanied the Samás from Sindh. They were Sumarâs (EHT) -Muhammadans from subdivided into four castes when they entered Sindh, where they once ruled. Now they serve as Kachh. Other tribes of Rajpûts, such as Châ- sipâhis, and also cultivate land in Påvar and vada, Chihuvân, &c., joined them, and there are Garda. at present seventy-two nukhs or family names. Trayiâs (re)--Hindus and Muhamma. Some are Muhammadans and some Hindus, but I dans. all worship the Jakhs (), which are supposed Ustiyâs (raftar)- A branch of the Jå dejas, to be Romans or some foreign race that saved and hold lands as Hindu Grâssiâs. Also a clan them from the oppressions of Puvarâ the bro- among the Miyânâs. ther of Lakhả Phulâni, by killing him. The Wagh elas (ar )--Originally from Sar. Hindus are to be found in Kanthi, and the dhar, near Rajkot. Once they were very powerful Muhammadans in Abdása, Modása, and Mak. in the east of Kachh, but they were subjugated They are originally from Arabia.
by Mod, the first Samî who came to Kachh, and Saraswats (
F ETE)-Brahmaņs chiefly by his successors. They still hold some towns from Sindh, but some have come from Hindustan of importance in Wagad and Prânthal, such as and Gujarat. They once held important posts Ghedi, Bela, Jatawadà, Lodrani, Bhimasar, under the state, and appear to have played a pro- Palkswâ, &c., and are tributary to the Bhuj minent part in the early history of Kachh. They | Durbår. are a very numerous class in every part of the Waghers (rar)-The term has nothing to province, but are fast degenerating. They are do with Wagad. They are both Hindus and Mu. the family priests of the Kshatris, Lohanas, hammadans, and serve as sailors. They are also &c., with whom they eat, and follow any other fishermen. . employment. They have no objection to go to Wânias TTT) - There are nine subArabia, Mozambique, &c. They are priests, divisions upong these, Srimali, Oswal, Modh, shopkeepers, merchants, sipahis, and gunners. Mesri, Kandoi, Soni, Bhojak, Sorathid, Vaida.
Sedats Sta)-Muhammadans in Bhujand Of these, the Oswâls, Bhojaks, and Srimalis the village of Serât.
are Jains, and the rest are Vaishnavas. They Sindhal (f )-A branch of Sodha Raj- are also subdivided into Visas and Dasâs. Most pûts in Khadir and Kanthi. They are regarded of the Oswals are cultivators, and are found in as Dhangs because they were once the rulers in those parts of Kachh where the best soil is avail. Pachham. The name is patronymic.
able. Srimalis are from Thal and Marwad, and Sirachas (fr)-Degenerated Rajpûts. are generally engaged in trade. They are chiefly Sodha S IETET) || - Hindu and Muhammadan found in the eastern part of Kachh, and Wagad.
I Burnes's Narrative, &c. p. 147; Jour. R. As. S. vol. I. pp. 204, 233, 242ff.; Elliot's Hist. vol. I. pp. 145, 191, 215, 266, 272.-ED.
Trans. R. A. Soc. vol. III. p. 583; Jour. R. As. S. vol. I. pp. 203, 212. ED.
1 Tod's Rajasthan, vol. I. p. 93; Elliot's Hist. vol. I.
p. 217; Postans's Cutch, p. 136AF.; Tr. Bom. Lit. Soc. vol. II. pp. 238 ff-ED.
Elliot's Hist. vol. I. pp. 216, 266ff., 343; Jour. R. As. Soc, vol. I. p. 24, 43, 933-Eo.
Elliot's Races, vol. I. p. 49; Tr. Bum. Lit. Soc. vol. II. p. 294-ED.
