The Ethnology of India. 93: 
and they have occasionally, though rarely, risen to higher posts, espe- 
cially one somewhat notorious family in Oude. In fact, in the 
Gangetic valley the Koormees, though much appreciated as cultivators, 
are somewhat looked down upon by the higher castes as mere humble 
tillers of the soil. If we proceed south from the Lower Doab, towards 
the Jubbulpore and Saugor territories, Koormees become more numer- 
ous, and there are hereabouts a good many ‘ Lodhas,’ a tribe appa- 
rently cognate to Koormees, and who are also pretty well known in the 
North West Provinces. They seem in this part of the Central Provin- 
ces to have at one time occupied a very considerable position. 
Thence westwards, on both sides of the Nerbudda, and still farther 
west to the north of the Nerbudda in parts of Malwa, that is in fact 
throughout the southern borders of Hindustan, Hindee-speaking 
Koormees are very numerous. In most of this country they are the 
chief cultivating class. In Malwa they meet the Jats and share with 
them the character of the most respectable and industrious cultivators. 
In Rajpootana there is a cultivating class called ‘ Pittuls’ who are 
supposed to be Koormees under another name. 
Farther west in Guzerat the Koonbees form the main body of the 
best cultivating population. They seem to be in the main the owners 
of the land, and though quiet and unpretending, are said to be still 
sturdy and independent and altogether a fine agricultural people. 
Throughout the whole of the Maratta country, the Koonbees are. 
the main agricultural and landholding tribe. Here also they generally 
are quiet simple agriculturalists, but the Maratta Koonbees do not seem 
to be so energetic and good in this way as their northern congeners. 
They have lived long under much oppression and subject to great, 
disadvantages. In the Nagpore country, Berar and Candeish, however, 
they are now a sufficiently industrious and easily managed population. 
To the south, where they meet the Canarese in the Deccan, every one 
is agreed that the latter are decidedly superior in industry and agri- 
cultural energy. 
I have seen an allusion to Telinga Koonbees in the north-eastern — 
portion of the Nizam’s territory, in the country down the Godavery 
below the limits of the Maratta tongue, but whether these are really 
Telingas of this caste, or whether the word is only used to express 
Telinga cultivators, I am not sure. 
