1890.] P. N. Bose — Chhattisgar : notes on Us tribes, sects and castes. 297 
Tell. 
A larpe agricultural and trading caste numbering at the last census 
203,503 in Raipur, and 61,324 in Bilaspur. 
The Telia are divided into five clans, viz ., — 
I. Garbiiria— those who have came from Garba, Mandla. 
II. Kanojia — those who have come from Kauoj. 
III. Jharia — those who live in the jungles. 
IV. Ekbanhias. 
V. Halids — Distillers. 
The Garbarias are divided into 32 gets : Boir, Bagh, Sanichara, 
Hirwani &c. 
Gots of the Kanojia Telia : Sonsat, Sirsat, Souger, Jomkatar, &c. 
Gots of Jharids : Atbhdid, &c. 
Ahir. 
Also called Rant and Gaira. Number at the last Census in Raipur 
141,983; in Bilaspur, 85,546. Shepherds, servants, cultivators. 
Worship Dulha Deo, Budha Doo, &c. The Ahirs have a great 
festival about Dewali time, when they go about dancing and singing, 
richly bedecked with strings of cowri shells. 
They are divided into three clans based I believe, on habitat : 
I. Jharia — those who live in the jungles. 
II. Kusurid. 
III. Kanojia — those who are said to have come from Kanoj. 
Gots of the Kusurids ; Amaddr, Baghwa, Markam, &c. 
Kaldr. 
The Kalars are a rather numerous class, and met with throughout 
Chhattisgar as distillers, traders and cultivators. They appear to 
derive their name from ‘ kal ’ which is Gondi for liquor, distilling being 
their main occupation. At the last census they numbered 20,307, in 
the Raipur district. 
Worship. — The chief deities are Dulhd Deo, Ratma, the latter being 
represented by a flat piece of gold or silver. One informant told me that 
Bhagavdn is the only pdklcd god they worship, the others being what he 
quaintly expressed as hdtchd. In the southern portion of Chhattisgar, 
Bdhddur Kalaria and her son Sasan Chdbari are worshipped in the Holi 
time. They wore evidently very successful distillers, and lived at Sorar 
and Gurur, where the remains of their distilleries are still said to be 
preserved. 
Subdivision. — The Chhattisgari Kalars are subdivided into two 
classes : 
I. Darsena. 
