DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.31218#0174
THE CASTE SYSTEM OF NORTHERN INDIA
At the census of 1911, it was noticed that many persons
who obviously belonged to one or other of
15. Changes among the vagrant tribes returned themselves by
the gipsy tnbes unusual names. These were all occupa-
tional—Kunchbandhiya, Rachbandhiya,
vSingiwala, Gidhiya, Kanmail, and Kanghigar were
the most common; all are subcastes of Kanjar, Bawa-
riya, or Nat. As we have seen above, the Gidhiya
and Kanmail have both. settled down permanently
and given up vagrancy. There is a certain amount
of evidence that the Kanghigars (who are comb-
makers) have also settled down, as there is a colony
of tliem at Kalinjar in Banda; whilst the evidence
of Mr. Kirkpatrick shows that many Kunchbandhiya
Kanjars must be permanent residents of the neighbour-
hood of Delhi. In Rohilkhand too, certain Gual Nats
have given up vagrancy and taken to trade, and adopted
the style and designation of Badi Banjaras. These new
developments may point to a tendency to give up vagrant
habits and take to honest livelihoods. The evidence at
present is insufficient to warrant a definite pronounce-
ment, but so far as it goes it appears to point in this
direction.
During the last decade, the Bhantus under the leader-
ship of one Sultana, developed into a
16. The Bhantu. fraternity of dangerous dacoits, and
Government was compelled to create a
‘special dacoit^f force’ to deal with them. After pro-
longed guerilla warfare, this force under Mr. F. Young,
C.I.E., of the Indian Police, succeeded in destroying or
arresting the Bhantu gangs. Most of those who were
not hanged have now been removed, with their own
consent, as settlers to the Andaman Islands.
Principal authorities.—Hollins, Criminal Tribes of thc U.P. (1914).
Crooke, Tribes and Castes of the N.-W.P. and
Oudh (1896).
Census Report, U.P., 1911.
160
At the census of 1911, it was noticed that many persons
who obviously belonged to one or other of
15. Changes among the vagrant tribes returned themselves by
the gipsy tnbes unusual names. These were all occupa-
tional—Kunchbandhiya, Rachbandhiya,
vSingiwala, Gidhiya, Kanmail, and Kanghigar were
the most common; all are subcastes of Kanjar, Bawa-
riya, or Nat. As we have seen above, the Gidhiya
and Kanmail have both. settled down permanently
and given up vagrancy. There is a certain amount
of evidence that the Kanghigars (who are comb-
makers) have also settled down, as there is a colony
of tliem at Kalinjar in Banda; whilst the evidence
of Mr. Kirkpatrick shows that many Kunchbandhiya
Kanjars must be permanent residents of the neighbour-
hood of Delhi. In Rohilkhand too, certain Gual Nats
have given up vagrancy and taken to trade, and adopted
the style and designation of Badi Banjaras. These new
developments may point to a tendency to give up vagrant
habits and take to honest livelihoods. The evidence at
present is insufficient to warrant a definite pronounce-
ment, but so far as it goes it appears to point in this
direction.
During the last decade, the Bhantus under the leader-
ship of one Sultana, developed into a
16. The Bhantu. fraternity of dangerous dacoits, and
Government was compelled to create a
‘special dacoit^f force’ to deal with them. After pro-
longed guerilla warfare, this force under Mr. F. Young,
C.I.E., of the Indian Police, succeeded in destroying or
arresting the Bhantu gangs. Most of those who were
not hanged have now been removed, with their own
consent, as settlers to the Andaman Islands.
Principal authorities.—Hollins, Criminal Tribes of thc U.P. (1914).
Crooke, Tribes and Castes of the N.-W.P. and
Oudh (1896).
Census Report, U.P., 1911.
160