The tribes and castes of the North-Western Provinces and Oudh, Volume 2 (of 4)Crooke, William
History
The tribes and castes of the North-Western Provinces and Oudh, Volume 2 (of 4)
Crooke, William
Caste -- India -- History; Hindus -- India; Tribes -- India -- History
Sherring adds:—In Benares the Rangua (rang,
“colour”) who are dyers; the Katua or “cutters,” (kâtna) of leather;
and the Tantua, who manufacture strips or strings of leather known as
tânt. According to the same authority some of these sub-castes are
differentiated by function. Thus, many of the Jaiswâra are servants;
the Dhusiya or Jhusiya, who trace their origin to Sayyidpur, in
Ghâzipur, are shoe-makers and harness makers; the Kori, weavers,
grooms, and field labourers; the Kuril, workers in leather; and the
Jatua or Jatiya, labourers. The Jaiswâras will not carry burdens on
their shoulders, but on their heads, and are liable to excommunication
if they violate this rule. They supply most of our syces, and are
liable to be expelled if they tie up a dog with a halter, which they
worship. Any one who offends in this way is fined five rupees and a
dinner to the brethren. The Mangatiyas or Mangtas live on alms, which
they take only from the Jaiswârs. In Mirzapur they describe these
functions somewhat differently. There the Jaiswâras make shoes and work
as day labourers; the Jhusiyas are labourers and keep pigs, which is
also the occupation of the Dusâdhu; the Koris make shoes and weave
cloth; the Dolidhauwas carry palanquins, the Azamgarhiyas are menial
servants of Europeans, and tend swine. The Banaudhiyas tend swine and
are day labourers. There is again another local division of the Eastern
Chamârs into Uttarâhas or “Northerners,” and Dakkinâha or
“Southerners,” who live respectively north and south of the River
Sarju, and do not intermarry. The Chandaur or Chandauriya, of the
Central Duâb, claim to be descended from Chânûra, the famous wrestler
of Kansa, who was killed by Krishna.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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