DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.29302#0023
( 3 )
Gurkhas it passed into their posssesion. In 1815 the British
force advanced for the purpose of expelling the Gurkhas from
their possessions acquired between the Sutlej and the Jumna,
and after breaking up the Gurkha power on the hills it
was determined to occupy Kot Guru permanently. Its com-
manding position between the snowy ranges, its numerous
military posts, among the rest the fort of Hattu, and the
level ground in its neighbourhood suitable for cantonments,
marked it out as a favourable spot for occupation for military
purposes.
2. The population of the Simla District may be said
to be almost entirely agricultural. In
Kot Khdi and Kot Guru there is no class
corresponding to the Baniahs and Khatris of the plains,
who live solely by money-lending and shop-keeping, and
in Bharauli all the mortgages, with the exception of two,
were bond fide transactions between the agriculturists them-
selves.
The Kanets form 67 per cent, of the agricultural popula-
tion of the district. There are many traditions as to their
origin, but they are popularly supposed to be Rajputs who
have lost caste in the usual way by allowing the practice of
paying money for a wife and of the second marriage of
widows (Jccirewa). They are a simple-minded,orderly people,
quiet and peaceful in their pursuits, truthful in character,
and submissive to authority. They are all Hindus.
Next in numerical importance come the Kohlis, also
known as Dagfs or Chanals in the Kangra District. They
are the menials and farm-labourers of the hills. The Kohlis
work in the fields and weave pattu, holding small pieces of
land at rents little in excess of the revenue and paying the
landlord by their work (baith). Writing in 1850, Mr. Edwards
says of the Kohlis of Kot Guru that they were considered
the slaves of the soil and performed all menial offices.
The other castes are insignificant in numbers, and are
merely mentioned in passing by Colonel Wace. The popula-
tion of the district is stated as 16,135, but this enumeration,
while including the people living in the Kalka bazar, excludes
the inhabitants of Simla, Kasauli and the military stations.
The number given by Colonel Wace, however, eorrectly
Gurkhas it passed into their posssesion. In 1815 the British
force advanced for the purpose of expelling the Gurkhas from
their possessions acquired between the Sutlej and the Jumna,
and after breaking up the Gurkha power on the hills it
was determined to occupy Kot Guru permanently. Its com-
manding position between the snowy ranges, its numerous
military posts, among the rest the fort of Hattu, and the
level ground in its neighbourhood suitable for cantonments,
marked it out as a favourable spot for occupation for military
purposes.
2. The population of the Simla District may be said
to be almost entirely agricultural. In
Kot Khdi and Kot Guru there is no class
corresponding to the Baniahs and Khatris of the plains,
who live solely by money-lending and shop-keeping, and
in Bharauli all the mortgages, with the exception of two,
were bond fide transactions between the agriculturists them-
selves.
The Kanets form 67 per cent, of the agricultural popula-
tion of the district. There are many traditions as to their
origin, but they are popularly supposed to be Rajputs who
have lost caste in the usual way by allowing the practice of
paying money for a wife and of the second marriage of
widows (Jccirewa). They are a simple-minded,orderly people,
quiet and peaceful in their pursuits, truthful in character,
and submissive to authority. They are all Hindus.
Next in numerical importance come the Kohlis, also
known as Dagfs or Chanals in the Kangra District. They
are the menials and farm-labourers of the hills. The Kohlis
work in the fields and weave pattu, holding small pieces of
land at rents little in excess of the revenue and paying the
landlord by their work (baith). Writing in 1850, Mr. Edwards
says of the Kohlis of Kot Guru that they were considered
the slaves of the soil and performed all menial offices.
The other castes are insignificant in numbers, and are
merely mentioned in passing by Colonel Wace. The popula-
tion of the district is stated as 16,135, but this enumeration,
while including the people living in the Kalka bazar, excludes
the inhabitants of Simla, Kasauli and the military stations.
The number given by Colonel Wace, however, eorrectly