1917.] Folklore in Cask Proverbs. 3 



different other tracts. There are numerous sub-castes among 

 the Banias, but the general characteristics coincide. In 

 Sind, the grain merchant either makes millions out of pennies 

 or reduces his millions to pennies. The Baniya is dead 

 weight in a loaded boat. He will advance large sums, but 

 give no bodily pain. He cheats by using false weights. The 

 script he uses is unintelligible. If he becomes well known he 

 makes large profit, he is litigious, he is subjected to all kinds 

 of petty troubles by court officials, he is not reliable, the 

 Brahman takes advantage of his superstition in making him 

 believe in the potentiality of curses. In Gujerat he eats his 

 own commodities, as a creditor he is a Shylock, as a druggist 

 he buys weeds at a nominal price, and sells them very dear. 

 The sub-caste Modh is quarrelsome. Even the best of them is 

 a fool. The Baniya can be plundered with impunity, he is so 

 timid ; but he is prudent : his scales and weights are proverbi- 

 ally false. But he is a born trader, a Baniya is nobody's 

 friend. The Modh Baniyas and the Porwad Baniyas always 

 quarrel, so do the Shrimali Lads and Marwaris. The Lads 

 were driven out of Gujerat by king Sidharaj along with the 

 palm tree (spirit). Grocers will always take more and give less. 

 A Baniya will do his best to make profit wherever he goes. 

 He is selfish and deserves to be killed. Accounts with a Baniya 

 grow like rubbish heap. He is a miser. If he speaks with his 

 customer, he quietly makes a line add to the account. The 

 Jain Baniya drinks foul water, will not kill ant9 and flies, but 

 will not hesitate to commit a murder. The Baniya is an im- 

 mortal being. He is unreliable, one who is wiser (more cun- 

 ning) than a Baniya is mad. A Baniya is such a utilitarian that 

 even his wife is selected on the ground of her skill in cooking. 

 A Baniya will talk with a smile in his face, but he will cut your 

 throat. Baniya as a druggist is in league with a physician. 

 He is never definite. He is very cunning. He is the son of a 

 wise mother. Nothing will put out a Baniya. Cool headed, 

 he will go on making profit out of every transaction. In the 

 Maratha country, also, it is believed that a Baniya will never 

 give correct weight. He nets the wise while the Thug only 

 hoodwinks the unwary. If four Baniyas will conspire, they 

 will rob the whole world. (9) A Barot in Gujerat works in the 

 field, but the Patil (Revenue Head of the village) claims his 

 field and his plantation. (10) In Gujerat the Bengali is always 

 " hard up." He is always hungry and cries for rice. Even if 

 twelve Bengalis join hands they have not the courage to cut 

 even the ear of a goat. (10) The Berads of the Maratha coun- 

 try get many children. (11) Bhangis in Gujerat think much of 

 themselves if they got a few rupees, although they are but 

 nightsoil collectors. (13) Bhats will never keep a secret. There 

 is no use talking to a Bhat. He is a babbler. If hungry, he 

 will set the village on fire with his cries. The Bhat is prover- 



