72 General Meeting for August, 1902. [Aug., 



Chamars, and the first and most numerous division of them, tbe 

 Satnamis. 



(1) These taboo many articles of food, e.g^., Masur-ki-dal because 

 of its resemblance to blood. Among them are a select few, the Jaliariyas, 

 who will never sleep on a bed. Their stricter observances are now 

 rapidly being disused. 



(2) The Chungiya Chamars are chiefly distinguished from the 

 Satnamis by their indulgence in smoking and idolatry. They rear no 

 poultry, goats, or pigs, will eat flesh of cattle tha^ have died a natural 

 death, and use intoxicants. 



(3) The Kanaujiya Chamars have a better right to the name than the 

 preceding classes, as they work in leather. They are dirty and drunken. 



(4) The Ahirwar Chamars, few in number, resemble the 

 preceding. 



The paper concludes with some notes on beliefs and practices 

 common to various castes. Marriage by capture may still be traced. 

 There is a peculiar relation between maternal uncle and nephew 

 (Mama and Bhaca), who for instance by being in the same house render 

 it liable to damage by lightning. The killing of a cat outcastes the 

 offender. It is reckoned lucky to give contemptuous names to children, 

 unlucky to let them be seen freely when quite young. 



Belief in Witchcraft, and the evil eye is very prevalent. 



During cholera epidemics the people are reluctant to use the name 

 of the disease, and carry iron about them as a prophylactic. 



The winnowing pan is supposed to add weight to a conveyance in 

 which it is placed, so in case of moving a household, this article is held 

 in the hand of some one who goes on foot. 



2. On Tidal Periodicity in the Earthquakes of Assavi. — By K. 1>, 

 Oldham, F.G.S. 



3. On the Authorship of Vidvanmoda-Tarangini. — By Mahamaho- 



PADHYAYA HaRAPRASAD ShASTRI. 



4. An unknown Commentary on the Maqdmdt of Hariri. — By Dr. 

 E. D. Ross. 



(Abstract.) 



1. A new commentary on the Maqamat of Hariri. 



The most famous commentaries on Hariri's difficult work are those 

 of Mutarizzi and Sherisi ; there are many others known to scholars, 

 but lately I came across one in the Khuda Bakhsh Library at Bankipore, 

 which is quite unknown and to which a peculiar interest attaches. It 

 is an autograph copy, and although the portion containing Maqamit 2 



