i^art III. Travels into thel'NT>l'ES, 63 
CHAR XXXVIII. 
Of the Vrmnce of Becar , and of the Cafles or 
Triks of the Indies. 
THe Province of Sfc<îr , which comprehends the Countries oîDouab , The Province 
Jefmt and Udejje^ is alfo watered by the Rivers that difcharge them- of Becar , 
felves into the Ganges. It h*es not only to the Eaft of Dehly , but is alfo the ^f^' '^^f"^^^ 
moft Eaftern Province t»f MogoUflan , by the Countrey of Udeffe^ which fliuts ^-^^^ 
it in with its Mountains : And that great Province being rich, by reafon of 
the fertility thereof, yields to the Great Mogul y tzxly above fourteen Milli- Becar °samèa/ 
ons. It contains feveral good Towns -, but the beft are Sambal, Menapour^ Menapour,Ra- 
Rageapour, Jehanac^ and above all Becaner^ which at prefent is the Capital , gea^om, Jeha- 
ftandinç to the Weft of the Ganges. Becmer. 
In this Province of Becar, and in the two former,there are of all the Caftes 
and Tribes of the Indians , which are reckoned in all to be fourfcore and ^^'^^^ °^ 
four in number. Though all of them profefs the fame Religion, yet the 
Ceremonies of every one of thefe Caftes, nay, and of the private Perfons of ' 
each Cafte , are fo different , that th^ make an infinite number of 
Seds. The People of every one of thefe Tribes follow a Trade -, and none 
of their OfF-fpring can quit it , without being reckoned infamous in his 
Tribe. For Example , The Bramem (who make the lirft Tribe ) profefs ^'■^»'«»^. 
Dodrine , and fo do their Children , without ever forfaking that Frofef- 
fion. The fecond,isthe Tribe of the Catry or Rafpoutes, who make profef- catry, or Raf 
fion of Arms : Their Children profefs the fame , or ought to do it , be- 
caufe they all pretend to be deicended of Princes of the Gentiles ^ Not but 
fome of them are Merchants , nay, and Weavers in the Provinces of Mi^l- 
tan^ Labors, and Sinde -, but they are defpifed in the Tribe, and pafs for bafe 
Fellows, void of honour.The third, is the Tribe of the Soudr or Courmy, and Seudr, or Cour- 
thefe are the Labourers of the Ground ^ fome of them carry Arms , and 
fince that is an honourable Trade ,atid of afuperiour Cafte,it do's not refle6t 
upon them -, but becaufe they love not to ferve on Horfe-back, they ferve 
commonly for the Garifons of Places -, and this Cafte or Tribe is the greateft 
of all. The fourth, is the Tribe of the Ouens or Banians -, and they are all Banians. 
Merchants, Bankers, or Brokers , and the experteft People in the World 
for making Money of any thing. 
Anciently there were no more Tribes but thefe four \ but in fucceffîon of 
time, all thofe who applied themfelves to the fame Profefîion, compofed 
a Tribe or Cafte , and that's the reafon they are fo numerous. The Colts ^<>^i^- 
or Cotton-dreflTers have made a diftin6t Cafle : The Tcherons of Travellers Tcherom. 
Guards, have theirs : The Falan^uin-h£a.rtrs have alfo made one , and 
they are called CoviUis : Bow-makers and Fletchers have alfo made ano- 
ther ^ as alfo the Hammer-men, fuch as Goldfmiths, Armorers , Smiths 
and Mafons. They who work in Wood, as Carpenters, Joyners and Bill- 
men , are all of one Cafte : Publick Wenches, Tumblers, Vaultcrs, Dan- 
cers and Baladins, are of another. And it is the fame with Taylors, and 
other Sheers-men , with Coach-makers and Sadlers : The Bengiara^ who Bengiara. 
are Carriers, Painters, and (in a word) all other Trades-men, 
The leaft efteemed of all the eighty four Tribes, are the Tiriaves and the 
I>er, or Halalcour ^ becaufe of their naftinefs^ and they who touch them, 
think themfelves unclean. The Periaves are employed in taking off , and Pei-ieives. 
carrying away the Skins of Beafts, and fôme of them are Curriers. The 
Halalcour are the Gold-findcrs of the Towns -, they make clean the publick ndakour. 
and private Houfes of Office , and arep^ed for it Monthly ^ they feed on 
