1835.] Journal of a Tour through the Island of Rambree. 201 



Chittagong and Dacca. They are now so assimilated to the rest of 

 the population in dress, language, and feature, that it is difficult to 

 conceive a distinction ever existed. As if ashamed of their Muham- 

 medan descent, individuals of this class have generally two names, 

 one that they derive from hirth, and the other such as is common to 

 the natives of Arracan, and hy which they are desirous of being 

 known. The Hindus, again, are generally natives of Chittagong and 

 Dacca, who came down into Arracan to pick up what they can, 

 returning to their homes so soon as a certain sum of money shall have 

 been collected. <, 



Under the head of Mughs (Magas) are included many inferior castes, 

 such as the Hydh, Phrd-gyoung, and Dhung. Much uncertainty 

 prevails with respect to the origin of these castes ; it is either involv- 

 ed in obscurity, or totally lost to those with whom I have conversed 

 upon the subject. By some, it is affirmed, that the Hydhs were ori- 

 ginally natives of a country beyond Manipur, but nothing further 

 could be obtained, so as to facilitate a discovery of their descent, or 

 account for their settlement in the province. In former days, the 

 Hydhs tilled the crown lands, were exempted from taxation, and 

 gave one-half of the produce to the sovereign. It is insinuated by the 

 Rakkheins, that not a few of the Hydh caste were employed as eunuchs 

 in the service of the Arracan Rajas. They now occupy themselves 

 in the cultivation of pawn and chilly gardens, but are looked upon as 

 an inferior caste, and consequently never intermarry with the Rak- 

 kheins. 



The caste termed Phrd-gyoung now no longer abound in Arracan, 

 or are so concealed, that it would be difficult to point out one parti- 

 cular person to whom this term can be properly applied. In Ava this 

 class is still very numerous, more especially in the neighbourhood of 

 the most celebrated temples* and Kioums ; it being the duty of the 

 Phrd-gyoungs to perform the several servile offices required, such 

 as sweeping the sanctuary, lighting the fires, and spreading the mats 

 in the monasteries. As a i-eward for these services, they are permitted 

 to remove, for their own consumption, the fruits, grain, &c. that may 

 be offered up to the Phrd. The Phrd-gyoungs are said to have 

 sprung from those who, in a distant period, had been convicted of some 

 offence, and were made slaves for the service of the temples as a pu- 

 nishment for the same. 



The Dungs are believed to be of Hindu extraction ; their appellation 

 so like to that of the Dhums of India would seem to corroborate 



* Such as Shuwe-Zettan and Shuwe-dag-gone. 

 c c 



