Th e Elh nolocjy of India . Ill 



such as I have described to be the social form of other castes. They 

 are always mixed among other classes. 



It is somewhat singular that the Kliatrees, so important in Afgha- 

 nistan, and who also push so far into Central Asia, are altogether 

 excluded from Bramin Kashmere ; they are not found there at all. In 

 point of acuteness, I fancy it is an instance of ' two of a trade.' In the 

 hills, however, the ' Kukkas' on the east bank of the Jhelum are said 

 to have been originally Kliatrees, (they are a curiously handsome race) ; 

 and in the interior of the Kangra hills there is an interesting race of 

 fine patriarchal -looking shepherds called ' Gaddees,' most of whom are 

 Kliatrees. There are some Bramins among them, and some of low 

 caste, but the great majority are Kliatrees, and their story is that 

 they are the remnant of the former rulers of the plains of the Punjab, 

 driven to the hills by conquering invaders. They are a very pleasant, 

 frank, simple people, quite apart from their present neighbours, and a 

 great puzzle. Khatree traders are numerous in Dehli, are found in 

 Agra, Lucknow and Patna, and are well known in the Burra Bazar 

 of Calcutta (though there they are principally connected with Punjab 

 firms). But as soon as they pass east from the limits of the Punjab, 

 they get into the mercantile field of the Bunneeahs, who are quite 

 their equals in mere mercantile ability where little physical courage 

 is required, and in the Bunnecah country the Khatree merchants are 

 mere exceptions in large towns. 



In Behar there seems to be a considerable agricultural class called 

 Kshatrees, Chatrees, or Khatrees, who are distinct from and considered 

 to be somewhat lower in rank than Rajpoots. They seem somewhat 

 to affect a Military character, sometimes serve, I believe, as soldiers, 

 and are well known as l Darivans 1 and the like in Calcutta. Bucha- 

 nan seems to have been inclined to suppose that they are really Kha- 

 trees from the west, but I have not yet been able to ascertain whe- 

 ther they are in truth of the same caste as the mercantile Khatrees. 



I do not know the exact limits of the Khatrees to the south. I 

 have not visited Mooltan which is a great mercantile centre of the 

 race, and cannot accurately distinguish between Khatree and Bun- 

 neeah sects called by their sub-tribal names. The term ' Mooltanees' 

 seems to be applied to several trading sects in different parts of Cen- 

 tral India, &c, some apparently wandering Pathan traders, and some, 



