DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.27740#0139
KANJARS (KABUTRIS)
Kind of crime.—(]) Dacoity. (2) Robbery. (3) House-
breaking. (4) Railway theft. (5) Cattle theft. (6) Thefts.
Composition of gang.—Generally travel in bodies of five
to ten men with women and children accompanied by buffaloes,
cows, bullocks, goats, and dogs. Live in tents or grass huts on the
outskirts of villages.
Ostensible occupation.—The women sing and dance and
perform acrobatic feats while the men beat time by playing on
zfAo/zzA.
Residence.—Central India, States of Gwalior, Bhopal, Raj-
garh, etc., Jhansi, Hamirpur, and Jalaun districts of the United
Provinces.
Language.—Their language is a mixture of Marwari and Malwi
with a peculiar nasal accent. They cannot speak Hindustani
fluently.
Castes assumed.—They are described as Kabutri Nats,
Karwar Nats, Khangar Bhats, TamasghirBhats, Bijouri, Bhanmati,
Kolhati, and Chauhan. Sometime they pose as Malwa Kunbis.
General appearance.—The men of this tribe are a wild
looking lot. They have a Marwari cast of countenance with good
physique and fair complexion. Their costume consists of
short zzzz^zzrAAzz or Azzrfa and a z/Ao?z. They usually wear long hair
and grow a beard, but lately they have taken to shaving both head
and chin. They also wear necklaces of two or more strands of red
coral beads with square pendants of silver. Both men and women
wear shoes with uppers all round.
The women are good-looking but very dirty. Their dress
consists of an orAzzz, a Azzrfa, with a border round the bottom, an
<27zgrz'<2, and They are tattooed on the nose, chin, temples,
outer corners of the eyes, wrist, arms, and calves. They use " Afzk^z "
and snuff freely. They are prohibited by caste rules from wear-
ing gold of any kind as ornaments. They are very quarrelsome
and often indulge in grossly abusive language.
Kanjars are Hindus by religion and are of Rajput stock. They
belong to or are allied to the well-known tribe of Sansis. They claim
to have come from Udaipur. They inter-marry with Berias and are
registered in the United Provinces as Kabutris. They are fond
of liquor, and meat. They do not mix freely with villagers.
They assume castes, but do not put on disguises.
They come from Central India States and make raids into the
northern districts of these provinces. They generally travel in gangs
of eight to ten men with their families and cattle. They usually
avoid police stations and big villages. They prefer to spend their
time in distant villages on the border. They give false statements
General.
Kind of crime.—(]) Dacoity. (2) Robbery. (3) House-
breaking. (4) Railway theft. (5) Cattle theft. (6) Thefts.
Composition of gang.—Generally travel in bodies of five
to ten men with women and children accompanied by buffaloes,
cows, bullocks, goats, and dogs. Live in tents or grass huts on the
outskirts of villages.
Ostensible occupation.—The women sing and dance and
perform acrobatic feats while the men beat time by playing on
zfAo/zzA.
Residence.—Central India, States of Gwalior, Bhopal, Raj-
garh, etc., Jhansi, Hamirpur, and Jalaun districts of the United
Provinces.
Language.—Their language is a mixture of Marwari and Malwi
with a peculiar nasal accent. They cannot speak Hindustani
fluently.
Castes assumed.—They are described as Kabutri Nats,
Karwar Nats, Khangar Bhats, TamasghirBhats, Bijouri, Bhanmati,
Kolhati, and Chauhan. Sometime they pose as Malwa Kunbis.
General appearance.—The men of this tribe are a wild
looking lot. They have a Marwari cast of countenance with good
physique and fair complexion. Their costume consists of
short zzzz^zzrAAzz or Azzrfa and a z/Ao?z. They usually wear long hair
and grow a beard, but lately they have taken to shaving both head
and chin. They also wear necklaces of two or more strands of red
coral beads with square pendants of silver. Both men and women
wear shoes with uppers all round.
The women are good-looking but very dirty. Their dress
consists of an orAzzz, a Azzrfa, with a border round the bottom, an
<27zgrz'<2, and They are tattooed on the nose, chin, temples,
outer corners of the eyes, wrist, arms, and calves. They use " Afzk^z "
and snuff freely. They are prohibited by caste rules from wear-
ing gold of any kind as ornaments. They are very quarrelsome
and often indulge in grossly abusive language.
Kanjars are Hindus by religion and are of Rajput stock. They
belong to or are allied to the well-known tribe of Sansis. They claim
to have come from Udaipur. They inter-marry with Berias and are
registered in the United Provinces as Kabutris. They are fond
of liquor, and meat. They do not mix freely with villagers.
They assume castes, but do not put on disguises.
They come from Central India States and make raids into the
northern districts of these provinces. They generally travel in gangs
of eight to ten men with their families and cattle. They usually
avoid police stations and big villages. They prefer to spend their
time in distant villages on the border. They give false statements
General.