[Internal organisation.] 2. They have a large number of exogamous groups (gotra), the names of which are known only to a few of their more learned Bhâts. In Mirzapur they name seven—Sonwân; Payagwâr or Prayâgwâl; Lakhmi; Chauhatt; Gangwâni; Sethrâê; and Ajudhyabâsi. There are also the Purbiya or Purabiya, “those of the East;” Pachhiwâha, “those of the West,” and Nariyarha. To these Mr. Sherring adds, from Benares, Uttarâha, “Northern;” Tanchara; Dâlamau from the town of Dalmau, in the Râê Bareli District; Mâhuli from the Pargana of Mâhul, in Azamgarh; Ajudhyabâsi, from Ajudhya, and Chhiânawê, from a Pargana of the name in Mirzapur. In Mirzapur they regard the town of Kantit, near Bindhâchal, as their head-quarters. The levirate is recognised, but is not compulsory on the widow. [Religion.] 3. Some of them are initiated in the Sri Vaishnava sect and some are Nânakpanthis. To the east of the Province their clan deities are the Pânchonpîr and Mahâbîr, and, as a rule, the difference of worship is a bar to intermarriage. Their family priests are Sarwariya Brâhmans. The use of meat and spirits is prohibited; but a few are not abstainers, and these do not intermarry with the more orthodox families. [Occupation.] 4. They are principally dealers in provisions (khichari-farosh) and they have acquired some discredit as compared with their kinsfolk the Agarwâlas by not isolating their women and allowing them to attend the shop. They also specially deal in various sweet-smelling woods which are used in religious ceremonies, such as agara or aloe-wood and sandal-wood (chandana), besides various medicines and simples. The richer members of the caste are bankers, dealers in grain, etc., or pawnbrokers. All Banyas, but not Brâhmans, or Kshatriyas, will eat pakki from their hands; only low castes, like Kahârs or Nâis, will eat kachchi cooked by them, and they will themselves eat kachchi only if cooked by one of their own caste or by their Brâhman Guru. DISTRIBUTION OF THE AGRAHARI BANYAS ACCORDING TO CENSUS, 1891. ============+========== District. | Numbers. ============+========== Dehra Dûn | 4 Meerut | 26 Farrukhâbâd | 1 Cawnpur | 856 Fatehpur | 5,708 Bânda | 3,605 Allahâbâd | 5,871 Benares | 2,984 Mirzapur | 6,354 Jaunpur | 9,600 Ghâzipur | 744 Ballia | 11 Gorakhpur | 6,106 Basti | 17,256 Azamgarh | 3,564 Lucknow | 898 Unâo | 42 Râê Bareli | 7,439 Faizâbâd | 9,713 Gonda | 796 Bahrâich | 88 Sultânpur | 14,944 Partâbgarh | 4,597 Bârabanki | 21 +~~~~~~~~~~ Total | 1,01,228 ============+==========