Indian Antiquary Vol 17

Author(s): John Faithfull Fleet, Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 81

MARCH, 1888.]
NOTES ON INDIAN GIPSY TRIBES.
but none of his remarks appear to apply to their doings. For instance, we have a case of the tribe in the northern part of India.
an organised burglary planned by certain chauBawariyas or Bauriyas.-These are one of kidárs of the Bausiyâ caste and worked out by the most notorious predatory tribes in the others, who concealed their knowledge of the North-West provinces. Mr. Ibbetson "derives offenders and received a share of the proceeds their name from the bawar or noose with which (Maina and others, 12th January 1852). A they catch animals. They would thus be gang of fifteen Bauriyâs were convicted at analogous to the Pasis who take their name Mérath of wandering about the country disfrom the nooge (Skr. pasa) which they use in guised as Bairagis and committing theft (Gulclimbing toddy trees (tar). The true habitat zárí and others 26th September 1851). Reof the Bausiyâs is in the western part of the cently a gang went from Muzaffarnagar to North-West Provinces and the eastern dis- Barðdâ and carried off an immense quantity of tricts of the Pañjab, but they wander immense jewellery belonging to one of the Gaikwâr's distances on predatory incursions. An unsuc- ladies; and quite lately a gang robbed a Népâlese cessful attempt to colonise them has been made General, who came down from the hills, of a in the Muzuffarnagar District. In their raids large sum in cash and notes. The Gidhiyas they very commonly assume the garb of faqirs. of the Bijnor District, another gang with a very I was present at the search of a camp in evil reputation, are said to be closely connected Muzaffarnagar, when with them were found with them, but this is probably incorrect, as the complete apparatus of a faqir: small the Gidhiyâs are more likely to be an offshoot brass images, fire tongs, mud-coloured clothes, of the great Kanjar tribe of the Upper Gangesetc., such as are worn by the common jögis. Jamna Dakb. The best way of detecting them when disguised Boriyas or Bhöriyas are a tribe of nomads is by & neoklace of peculiar shaped wooden found in the Central and Lower Gangetic beads which they all wear, as well as gold pins Dakb. They live in gangs in rude grass or which they have fixed in their front teeth. thatched huts. They are very closely connected Should this fail their mouths should be in manners, character, and physique with the examined, for under their tongues a hollow is main Habora tribe, of which they are possibly formed by constant pressure from their younger only an offshoot. They profess to live by begdays, in which they can secure from fifteen ging and the prostitution of their women, who to twenty silver four-and or two-áná pieces. are taught to dance and sing in a rude way. They are so accustomed to this that they often They really subsist by petty thefts, principally evade search for money when admitted into of grain at barvest-time, but they sometimes, jail, and the coins thus concealed do not when hard pressed, commit more violent crime. interfere much with their power of speech. Cariously enough many of their gangs are Captain Dennehy says" that they do not under the leadership of women. Their great worship any deities of the Hindu pantheon, meeting place is on the mounds which mark but in Muzaffarnagar they certainly employ the site of an extensive ruined city at Brahmaņ family-priests at marriages, etc. Nôhkhêra, in Pargana Jalisar of the Êta They are very troublesome in the Fatehpur District. They assemble there in great num. District, where they are said to be all thieves." bers in the rains and hold panchayats, at which A case is there quoted of a gang of Bauriyas all caste business, marriages, etc., are managed. in the service of some Th&kurs committing a What historical connection they have with dacoity in Ajmr. Seven of them were arrested. the place, is & curious question, which In the course of the enquiry sixteen other I have been unable to investigate satisfactorily. cases of robbery, burglary and theft came out, Like all these tribes they have a regular argot, and the stolen property was recovered. The which they are very careful in concealing. Thákurs of Mirwar are said to keep Bauțiyas The women particularly have a very nonin their pay and share in the spoil." The Aryan look. They have the small, black, Nisamat Adálat Reports swarm with records of bright eye and the restless expression which is
Panjab Ethnography, Sec. 575. n Report 1868, p. 112.
19 op. cit. 1868, p. 66.
Police Report, 1869, p. &
op. cit. p. 66.