Book Title: Indian Antiquary Vol 09
Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications

View full book text
Previous | Next

Page 299
________________ OCTOBER, 1880.] BOMBAY BEGGARS AND CRIERS. 247 Rashidu'd-din Kaidu Khan Baisangkhur Jerki Lin Gun Jaujin Tumenoh Khan Surgħodul-chino Kendu-chino uluk-chino 1 Jaksu 2 Barin Shir : Khajui + Samkhajiun 5 Batkulgi 6 Kabul Khan 7 Udur Bayan 8 Budantsar O Jiadai Ambaghai Khan Batu Khaiju Doghlan Ukin Barkhakh. Bartar Baghadur. Khutuktu Mangur. Khadan Baghadur. Khutula Khan. Tudan Uchige Altan Topchi Ssanang Setzen Khachi Kuluk Khachi Külük Bai sanghur Dokshin Shingkhor Dokshin Tonbenai Setzen Tumbaghai Setzen Khabul Khakan Khabul Khakan Barun Baghatur Bardan Baghatur BOMBAY BEGGARS AND CRIERS. BY K. RAGHUNATHJI. As elsewhere, India gave birth to men of labour, the beggars say, why work hard and get wealth and position, and numbers of these half a loaf, why not follow beggary as a propeople fed, clothed, and even bore hardships onfession? In Banaras, if a boy is told by his account of their beggars. The result was that he parents to go to school, his reply will sometimes who gave most died leaving behind him the be that, if again told to do so, he will join some greatest number of beggars. The practice of of the many alms-houses (annakshatras). And alms-giving has existed from a very early age, at when Khanderão Gâikvad died, an immense least from the time of Manu. Nearly a tenth of the number of faqirs sat lamenting his death : they population have been beggars, and instead of said that the Mahârâja had induced them to beg, being ashamed of this, beggary is deemed a con- and now he was dead, and there was nothing left dition worthy to be sought after and followed. for them whereby to obtain their maintenance. There are even some among this class of people The Bombay beggars may be divided into two who will not go to the trouble of seeking charity, classes, the religious and the non-religious; they because they know they will be provided with may also be subdivided into the Hinda religious the necessaries of life by people who look upon and non-religious, the Musalman religious and them as having sacrificed theinselves for some non-religious, and others. The Hindu religious social end, for beggars are Vaishnavas, Saivas, and the abomin"Brother, we have become a Gosåvi, and aban- able saktas, adorers of the goddesses. These doned everything. classes may be distinguished by the kind of Patel build us here a chapel, bring plenty of rosaries they sometimes carry, and by the marke bhang and tobacco, on their foreheads, temples, arms, chest, and Provide daily food for me, and send a sister abdomen, which they either stamp with a wooden to serve me." form for the purpose, or burn the skin with Thus these worthless and degraded members heated metal plates; and the Saktas by the apof society are encouraged in idleness by the readyplication of red stuff to their foreheads between supply of their wants. What is the use of the eye-brows. Mr. Gopalrao Hari's Bhikshuks, p. 17. • Mr. Gopalrao Hari's Bhikshuks, p. 17.

Loading...

Page Navigation
1 ... 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398