were the illegitimate offspring of a Bráham father and a Vaisya woman. Ballál Sen, king of Bengal, belonged to this caste, which was divided into two sections during his reign. Ballál Sen had formed an illegitimate connection with a low-caste woman, and many Baidyas in disgust seceded from the original caste. The descendants of the seceders are called Rárhi Baidyas, and are considered inferior in rank to the descendants of the orthodox section. The Baidyas are divided into the following six septs:—Mahákul, Madhyamkul, Chhotkul, Maulik, San-Maulik, and Kashta Maulik. This caste, according to the Census of 1872, numbers 4556 in the 24 Parganás.
Khandaits and Ghatwals rank next. The Khandáits are Uriyás, the higher classes being employed as police constables, doorkeepers, messengers, etc., and the lower as cultivators. They claim to be considered Kshattriyas, and in the case of the pure Khandáits, the demand is conceded by their fellow-countrymen, but not by the Bengalis. The Ghátwáls belong to the hilly tracts of Western Bengal, and originally held small military fiefs. In olden times it was their duty to keep the hill passes open and free from robbers. The Census Report classifies these two castes together, the number of them in the 24 Parganás being returned at 1340.
Bhat.—As already stated, this caste claims to be lapsed Bráhmans; but there is much doubt as to whether they ever were Bráhams, although they wear the sacred thread. They are given as a separate caste in the Census Report, in which their number in the District is returned at 176. They make their living as bards, heralds, and genealogists.
Kayasths.—The ancestors of the modern Káyasth, or writer caste, are said to have come as servants to the five Bráhmans brought from Kanauj by King Adisur. They deny that they are Súdras, and assert that they originated from the body or káyá of Brahmá, the Creator, from which they take their name. From Brahmá came Pradip Muni, who had three sons, Chitragupta, Chitrángad, and Sení, the latter of whom is claimed to be the original ancestor of the Káyasths on this earth. Many of the Káyasths strongly insist on their title to the rank of Kshattriya; but it has always been the custom for the lower classes to lay claim to a rank higher than that which properly belongs to them. Thus the Dravidian Kochs, who have given their name to the state of Kuch Behar, believe themselves to be the descendants of the
