120 The Ethnology of India. 



very different in dress from the Hindustanee Kaits ; they are", I 

 should say, generally fairer and better looking. I should much like 

 to know more about them. 



The Artisans. 



For ethnological purposes it would be useless to go through the 

 long lists of professional castes, as they cannot, so far I know, be 

 distinguished as representing races, but are merely the modern Hindu 

 social division into professions. It will nearly suffice to say that in 

 Northern India almost every possible profession has its separate caste, 

 and that there is no grouping of them together, either into right hand 

 and left hand, or into such groups as the Punchalas of the south. 

 Nothing of the kind is known ; Carpenters, Blacksmiths, Goldsmiths, 

 Bricklayers, Potters, Barbers, Confectioners, Washermen, Spirit-sel- 

 lers, and very many others, have all their own separate castes, and 

 they eat and marry within those castes. Some are more and some 

 less strict Hindus. All are of a low-Arian type, and I am not prepared 

 to suggest any ethnological differences, except that they are better 

 looking in the Punjab, and less so to the east and south. I doubt, 

 whether substantial differences can be found till we get lower, to tribes 

 exhibiting more decided aboriginal traces. Most professions bear 

 different names in Bengal from those in Hindustan. I do not know 

 much of these classes in Goozerat and the Maratta country. 



The Hindustanee Kahars or Palkee-be?irers are a considerable class, 

 and are strong hard-working men, rather good looking than otherwise. 

 They stand well among Hindus, whose water-carriers they are, and 

 who will therefore generally drink from their hands. They are also 

 fishermen and cultivate a good deal. They have by caste nothing 

 whatever to do with cow-keeping, though they may own cows, like 

 other people. I believe that they are quite distinct both from 

 Bengal Grwallas and from south country Buis or Booes. They are 

 found in parts of the Punjab as well as in all Hindustan, but not in 

 the west of the Punjab. 



The Inferior and Helot Classes. 

 Finally I come to the inferior labouring classes, the Helots and 

 out-castes, among whom, if anywhere, the aboriginal blood should 

 show itself in a marked way. 



