6 Dr, J. Wise— The Hindus of Eastern Bengal. [No. 1, 



Although caste is no longer revered as an old institution sanctified 

 by religion and immemorial usage, and is disappeai'ing before the as- 

 saults of modern civilisation, a tendency to the formation of new castes 

 still exists. Semi-Hinduised races are being enrolled among Hindus 

 and old established castes are being split up by adopting new occupations. 

 But if this new occupation be not dishonouring, the Purohit continues 

 his ministration. For instance, the great Chandal tribe has given off 

 eight branches, yet the Chandal Brahmans officiate for all. On the 

 other hand, the agriculture Kaibarttas, having taken to a base employ- 

 ment, are obliged to support a Purohit of their own. 



Between the Siidras and the Nicha, or vile castes, many tribes, 

 organised by degraded Brahmans, or united by the exigencies of modern 

 civilisation, are fouud occupying an uncertain position, exposed to the 

 sneers of the exclusive and conservative Sudras. 

 These intermediate castes are — 



Baoti. Kandho. Lohait Kori. 



Baqqal. Kapali. Nar. 



Bhat. Kami. Parasara Das. 



Berua. Karral. Patial. 



Halwah Das. Kawali. Sutar. 



In the Tantras, 1 the epithet Antya-ja, or inferior, is applied to the 

 following seven tribes: — washerman, currier, mimic (Nata), fisherman, 

 "Meda," or attendant on women, cane-splitter ( Varnda), and mountaineer 

 (Bhilla). The term Antyavasayin, or dwellers outside the town, was 

 given to the Dom, Pan, Hari, and other sweeper castes. 



We, however, possess a very correct list 3 of the outcaste tribes in 

 Bengal in the l'oll of pilgrims excluded from the temple of Jagannath. 

 If prohibited castes are distinguished from professions there are only 

 eleven castes so utterly disreputable that they dare not enter the sanc- 

 tuaiy. These are the — 



Sunri. Kahar. Tiyar. 



Nama-Siidra. Raj-Vansi. Bhuinmali. 



Dhoba. Cliamar. Hari. 



Jogi. Dom. 



Much information regarding caste, as understood in Bengal, is obtain- 

 ed by comparing the relative position of Hindustanis who reside, or 

 temporarily sojourn there, with that of castes native to the province. 



Permanent residence is always attended by social expulsion, but a 

 stay of a few years is with some castes a disqualification, with others it 



1 Colebrooke's Essays, ii, 164. 



2 Harington's Analysis, iii, 213 ; Hunter's Orissa, i, 136. 



