DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.31218#0163
''gipsy' castes
theory of the origin of our Indian vagrant tribes, and is
merely retained because it is in general use.
But if the use of this term is illegitimate, its scope is
also ill-defined. Some writers would in-
2. The scope of clude amongst ‘gipsy’ castes, groups which
tke term 'gipsy’ are compelled by their occupations to wan-
cler about the country. In one of his earlier
works, for instance, Mr. Crooke described as ‘gipsies’ the
Saiqalgar, a knife grinder, and the Baheliya, a hunter.1
On the same principle one could also include the Bisati
and Ramaiya peddlers, the Banjara, Belwar, and Rahwari
carriers, the Kewat and Mallah boatmen, and the Aheriya
hunter. Another source of confusion is due to the use of
the term, still more loosely, for those tribes known to the
poiice as ‘vagrant and criminal’; yet there are many tribes,
rightly branded as criminal, which are not truly vagrant,
just as there are tribes truly vagrant, which are not really
or entirely criminal. In this discussion, only the true
vagrants are described—namely, tribes that have no
settled abode and no home but their tents. Tribes
that have permanent homes which they leave from
time to time in pursuit of their trade or of crime
are ignored.
There are fifteen castes which can be regarded as truly
gipsy—namely, the Badhik, Barwar,
3. Grouping of the Bauriya or Bawariya, Bengali, Beriya,
gipsy caste Bhantu, Habura, Kanjar, Karwal, Ma-
ghaya Dom, Nat, Qalandar, Sansiya and
Sanaurhiya. They fall into certain groups.
(i) The Beriya, Bhantu, Habura, Karwal, and San-
siya possess so many and such striking affinities that they
may be regarded as offshoots of a single nomadic race.
Their customs, traditions, ancl religion resemble each
other. Their favourite deities are Kali, Devi, and Muham-
madan saints such as Zahir Pir and Madar Sahib. The
Beriyas and Haburas both trace their origin to the ruined
town of Nohkhera in Etah district. Bhantus claim Beri-
yas, Haburas claim Beriyas, Bhantus, Karwals, and
1 N.-W. Provinces of India, pp. 212 and 99.
I49
theory of the origin of our Indian vagrant tribes, and is
merely retained because it is in general use.
But if the use of this term is illegitimate, its scope is
also ill-defined. Some writers would in-
2. The scope of clude amongst ‘gipsy’ castes, groups which
tke term 'gipsy’ are compelled by their occupations to wan-
cler about the country. In one of his earlier
works, for instance, Mr. Crooke described as ‘gipsies’ the
Saiqalgar, a knife grinder, and the Baheliya, a hunter.1
On the same principle one could also include the Bisati
and Ramaiya peddlers, the Banjara, Belwar, and Rahwari
carriers, the Kewat and Mallah boatmen, and the Aheriya
hunter. Another source of confusion is due to the use of
the term, still more loosely, for those tribes known to the
poiice as ‘vagrant and criminal’; yet there are many tribes,
rightly branded as criminal, which are not truly vagrant,
just as there are tribes truly vagrant, which are not really
or entirely criminal. In this discussion, only the true
vagrants are described—namely, tribes that have no
settled abode and no home but their tents. Tribes
that have permanent homes which they leave from
time to time in pursuit of their trade or of crime
are ignored.
There are fifteen castes which can be regarded as truly
gipsy—namely, the Badhik, Barwar,
3. Grouping of the Bauriya or Bawariya, Bengali, Beriya,
gipsy caste Bhantu, Habura, Kanjar, Karwal, Ma-
ghaya Dom, Nat, Qalandar, Sansiya and
Sanaurhiya. They fall into certain groups.
(i) The Beriya, Bhantu, Habura, Karwal, and San-
siya possess so many and such striking affinities that they
may be regarded as offshoots of a single nomadic race.
Their customs, traditions, ancl religion resemble each
other. Their favourite deities are Kali, Devi, and Muham-
madan saints such as Zahir Pir and Madar Sahib. The
Beriyas and Haburas both trace their origin to the ruined
town of Nohkhera in Etah district. Bhantus claim Beri-
yas, Haburas claim Beriyas, Bhantus, Karwals, and
1 N.-W. Provinces of India, pp. 212 and 99.
I49