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AY, 1911.)
MISCELLANEA AND CORRESPONDENCE
149
are the remnants of the maritime Medes, who migrated to the Persian Gulf and Makran after they were driven out of their father-land, and have considerably got mixed with the Arabs, Africans, Indians, and Baloches. Their blood connection with the Koris of the River Kori in Sindh has been the cause of the formation of a sept of that name. The Koris of Sind are possibly the oceanic race who helped them as pilots to the Bombay coast where they have a colony quite distinct from the Dravidian Hill Kolis, and known as Son-Kolis, exhibiting a conspicuous strain of Aryan blood. It is noteworthy that these Son-Kolis or mixed Kolis and Meds' are found only along the Thans und Kolaba coast, and that they have no racial representatives in the interior-the Hill-Kolis being qnite a dark and Dravidian race. Ancient trade in Western girls may also account for the fairer skin, occasional blonde hair and Aryan features of these old pirates of Bombay. From the Persian Gulf to Bombay, we have thus a trace of people whose ancient history may have direct connection with the old sea-borac trade-route from Persia to India culminating in the establishment of a colony of Parsis or Guebres' a Persian tribe at Billimora, Navsari, Surat, and Bombay.
They are divided into three septs: Meds, Koris and Gadras. The Meds are fishermen, the Koris are sailors like Bombay Kolis, and the Gadras are bastards born of African slaver. They have no totems, or endogamous divisions, being Musalmans. They do not inter-marry coasins and brothers, and seem to have no objection to marry any Musalman if he accepts their profession. They have settled themselves along the Makran coast, and are no longer nomads. They do not migrate. They admit outsiders into their community and marry Baloches. The marriage is adult. They observe Mahomedan customs in marriage and inheritance, Polygamy is allowed, polyandry is not known. Widow marriage and divorce are practised. The dead are buried, In dress, they resemble ordinary Musulmans of Baluchistan.
MISCELLANEA. THE ARIYOR PLATES OF VIRUPAKSHA: this that the plates had been lost sight of in SAKA-SAMVAT 1312.
1909, and perhaps are still missing. If so, it is My attention has been drawn to a remark desirable that an attempt should be made to made by Mr. T. A. Gopinatha Rao in editing the trace them, and without farther delay. But record on these plates. He said (ante, Vol. 88, inquiries must be made elsewhere. The plates 1909, p. 12): "The plates were made over to were not sent to me: and I have no knowledge Mr. Natesa Sastri, who did not remember what of them apart from Mr. Gopinatha Rao's he did with them, but thought he might have publication of the record on them. sent them to Dr. Fleet." It would seem from
J. F. FLEET.
CORRESPONDENCE. The following letter has been sent to me by Dr. Grierson containing a valuable criticism on my paper-—" Foreign Elements in the Hindu Population" which has appeared in the January namber. As he has so very kindly allowed me to make any use of it I like I cannot do better than publish it here almost in its entirety, and I doubt not that it will be found to be extremely important and interesting, as it comes from no less a veteran linguist, scholar and antiquarian, than Dr. Grierson. D. R. B.]
"DEAR ME. BHANDARKAR, I have read both "P. 17 ff. above. With regard to Sakadvipa your articles with the greatest interest, and am Brahmans it may interest you to know that I specially indebted to you for the excellent way met several of them in Gaya when I was Collector in which you have put together your proofs in there. Have you seen the Pärasfpra kála of the second paper. It has supplied want which Krishnad&sa, a Sakadvipa Brahmap? (note the I have long felt.
termination dasa). It was written for the
