468 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. [N.S., XIX, 
descendants of Brahmans who had originally come from 
Kanauj. Next in rank are the descendants of the former 
Hindu Newar Kings and their agnates who rank as Ksatriyas. 
The former warrior caste of Sresthas is also held to fall within 
this group, though it occupies a much lower position. There 
are fourteen divisions in this caste (according to Hodgson) of 
ich a good number seem to be true sub-castes based on 
traditional difference of origin. Sufficient details are not, 
however, available for any turther definite statement about 
m. 
The third group, the Vaisyas, comprise two castes, the 
Josbi or astrologer and the Achar or priests of local deities, 
presumably older cults adapted by Hinduism. They minister 
to Hinduised Newars, expound the Sastras, and perform other 
religious duties, acting in fact as some kind of Brahmans. 
the three above groups are entitled to wear the thread, 
excett some of the Srestha sub-castes. Some of these latter 
units, who serve as cooks and domestic servants, as well as 
other household menials, have been classified by one authority 
as Sidras. 
Another caste, the Gwa, or Nanda Gwa, the cowherds, are 
definitely Brahmanic Hindus and seem to have existed in 
Nepal for some centuries now, at least. 
In addition to these, there are several castes of Newars 
who formerly belonged to the third order of Bauddhamargis 
described later, but are now more Hinduised than the other 
members of that group and separated from them to some 
extent. 
These castes are, the Bhat, the Kou, the Tati and the 
Katha. The Kou are merely blacksmiths, the Nou barbers, 
birth. The Tati are not ordinary weavers but produce grave- 
clothes, called ponga, a kind of cotton cloth, to put on the 
dead of the Newars (brought by relatives) and also used in 
many religious ceremonies. The Bhat are also connected with 
funerals ; they accept the death gifts made on the eleventh 
day after the funeral of Newars of any caste (excluding out- 
castes). In the case of the Ksatriyas it is mentioned that a 
piece of the brain of the deceased is kept covered with sweet- 
meats, the rest of the body being burnt, and this is eaten by 
the Bhat on the eleventh day as he accepts the death gifts. 
_ Finally, the outcastes of Nepal are at the present moment, 
all Sivamargis ; all the rest are Bauddhas. 
The outcastes, however, shall not be discussed in the 
essay, as the account given in the Appendices is sufficiently 
detailed. 
The Bauddhamargis of Nepal are divided into three 
grades, of which the highest is that of the Bandyas or as 
commonly termed, Banras. They are said to be the descend- 
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