200 



Statistical Report on (lie Northern and 



[No. 38, 



ziers, stonecutters and goldsmiths, — their great protector and God 

 is Vishnu Brahma — they all wear the sacred thread, and are ge- 

 nerally a respectable class of men, they eat together and inter- 

 marry, their marriages are conducted with the greatest privacy and 

 decorum, no procession, shouting, or music, there is a tradition 

 among them, that the goldsmiths performed the functions of Put* 

 warrees of villages before Brahmins assumed or usurped that of- 

 fice, but this is in all probability a tale of the Brahmin priesthood, 

 who affect to despise their secular brethren, as men who have for 

 mere worldly purposes abandoned their high calling. Many of the 

 Paunch bhaee are Linga) r ets, others worshippers of Siva, others of 

 Yishnu, the last as usual burn their dead, they eat flesh and drink 

 toddy, but it is said that in the olden time, they were more tem- 

 perate than they are now. 



The Tumrees are originally a low caste, mere tom-tom beaters, 

 but, from becoming poojaries, they affect some degree of conse- 

 quence which is acceded to by the lowest castes. 



The lowest castes consist of 



Coomars, potters. 



Dirzees, tailors, of whom there are two castes. 

 Itinerant blacksmiths, who go about from village to village like- 

 tinkers. 



Tellies, oil pressers, of whom there are three castes, one who 

 use two buffaloes, or bullocks to their mills, another who employ 

 one bullock, and an itinerant order who belong to neither. 



Nuqqash, painters and lackerers. 



Rungrez, or dyers. 



Thandrawars, tusser weavers and breeders of the insect. 

 Rutkaries, silk weavers. 

 Jullaees, cotton weavers. 



JBhooes, and coolies, palanquin bearers and fishermen. 

 Dhobees, washermen. 

 Hujjams, barbers and linkmen. 

 Madurwars, bamboo workers. 



Dhers, several of the lowest castes included under that name. 

 Kullals, toddy drawers and venders of spirits. 

 The Lingayets are looked on by the intelligent Brahmins as 

 having forfeited all title to caste. Jungums are their priests. Bel- 



