________________
OCTOBER, 1907.]
A REPORT ON THE PANJAB HILL TRIBES.
Social Restrictions.
811
LXVIII. Abstention from Foods.
228. The Hindus abstain from taking the meat of a cow, an ox, a buffalo (male and female), a dog, a cat, an ass, a horse, a mule, a camel, a crow, a jackal, a heron, a peacock, a mouse, a serpent, a lizard, a tortoise, and a sheep. They do not use garlic, onion, turnip, raddish, carrot, and mushroom among the vegetables. But these customs are observed by some of the people and not by all.
229. All persons do not abstain from the use of things already mentioned, but only high caste men and Brahmans, such as Râjpûts, Baniâs, Sûds, and Bohrâs, do so. Others, such as Kanaits, smiths, minstrels, Bârîs, barbers, and goldsmiths, do not care for the above restrictions. All the tribes, except shoemakers, Kilis, shepherds, and Nigalus, abstain from the abovementioned meats, but not necessarily from the vegetables.
230. It is a religious restriction not to take these things.
231. People abstain from these only on account of religious restrictions. Otherwise there is no reason for giving them nр.
LXIX.
Tribal Descent.
232. No tribe is considered to have been descended from any plant or animal. However the pipal tree, the banian tree, and the túlast plant are thought to have divine powers.
283. No reasonable explanation can be given of the tribal fables.
LXX. - Customs on Eating, etc.
234. The customs of the people as regards eating, touching, speaking, seeing, and pronouncing names are given below:
Brahmans, Rajpats, Bohras, Banias, Sads, and Kshatriyas. There are some sections who do not take unfried food prepared by any person not belonging to their own section. There is no restriction regarding touching, seeing, speaking, and pronouncing names. They do not drink even water touched by a low Brahman, such as the Krishan.
Kanaits and other sects neither eat food prepared by a person not belonging to their own sect, nor do they drink water touched by such a man. There is no restriction as regards touch.
235. The restriction of touch is according to caste. For instance, men of high castes do not touch those of low castes. The restrictions of eating and drinking are according to the sabdivisions even of the same sect.
236. High-caste people look down upon low-casto men. They hate the men who eat flesh of cows or buffaloes. However, this custom prevails among the low castes only.
LXXI. Restrictions as to Women.
287. Infants and women cannot enter into temples unless they are purified by means of baths, etc. A woman whose husband is alive is not allowed to worship the god Siva, nor can she worship Bir Bhairon or Hanuman nor Kalt. Widows worship Siva.
