60 The Ethnology of India. 
much more complete sense than most modern Sikhs, abandoning all 
pretence of Hindoo religion and adopting to the full the Sikh 
reformer’s tenets. Indeed they were converted during Mahommedan 
rule, and when ‘ Sikh’ was really a religious rather than a political 
name. The fact probably is, that they found the country too hot for 
Bramins, but did not care to become Mahommedans, so adopted the 
alternative of becoming Sikhs, and so free from the trammels of caste. 
These men are very useful soldiers and servants, especially under 
Sikh rule. A good many of them have been introduced into Kashmir 
as a sort of military colonists, partly by a Hindu governor under the 
Affghans, and partly by the Sikh rulers; but they remain quite apart 
from the Kashmir Bramins. One of the best native officers in the 
Punjab force, who is himself of this class, told me that the Bambas 
are without doubt Bramins under a corrupted name. He says that 
to this day the Sikh Bramins and Bambas exchange cakes on the 
occasion of certain ceremonies (birthg, funerals, &c. I think), and that 
there is no doubt that they are of the same stock. I believe that it 
certainly is so. It seems to be a common practice in India to give to 
tribes who have departed from the faith or mixed the blood of their 
ancestors, names derived from their original tribal names. Thus half- 
civilised Bheels are called ‘ Bheelalahs ;}) Mahommedan Rajpoots are 
called “ Rangars ;” a tribe of bastard Bramins to be afterwards noticed 
(in Benares and Bahar) ‘ Bamuns’ or ‘ Babhans.’ 
The Bramins of the frontier hills are, I think, even handsomer 
than the Kashmeerees. To my view, the people in general of those 
hills are the handsomest of the human race. 
Descending from the Himalayas, there are some Bramins near 
the foot of the hills. Except a few priests, Ido not think that 
they are found beyond the Indus, but they are, I understand, pretty 
numerous in part of the Rawal Pindee district. South of the Salt Range, 
in the plains, they are well nigh overwhelmed by the strong flew of 
Rajpoots and Jats (advancing, as I believe, at a later period and from 
another direction). The Bramins either never occupied the plains 
of the Punjab to the south-west, or they have been driven from that 
country. Even nearer the hills they are not exceedingly numerous. But 
still in that fertile and pleasant strip under the hills we have, among 
other races, villages of agricultural Bramins in the districts of Sealkot, 
