Page:A Statistical Account of Bengal Vol 1 GoogleBooksID 9WEOAAAAQAAJ.pdf/77

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62
STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF 24 PARGANAS.

by caste occupation, but they have now abandoned their hereditary employment, and engage in trade and agriculture. Támlís are divided into four classes—namely, the Chaudda-gáin, or of the fourteen villages; the Biyállis-gáin, or of the forty-two villages; Gayepurá, or Uriyá; and Kush Daye, or Eastern Bengal. The most respected families among them are the Dán, Datta, Kar, De, Rakshit, Sen, Sinhi, and Láhá. They are said to be of the same origin as the foregoing. Number in the 24 Parganás in 1872, 6043; generally in middling circumstances.

(6) Sadgop, cultivators.—This class was originally included in the great Gop, or pastoral and cultivating caste, which is said to have been divided by Ballál Sen into the following four sections:—Ahiri, up-country milkmen; Gaur, or Orissa milkmen; Pallab or Goálá, Bengal milkmen; and Sadgop, or cultivators. At the time of the division, the Sadgops alone received a good rank, the other three being classed with classes who receive somewhat less social esteem. The proper profession of the Sadgop is husbandry; but many of them, having acquired wealth and influence, now consider it degrading to touch a plough, and deny that they ever did so. Kulinism is recognised among the Sadgops; but, as among the Káyasths, the marriage of a Sadgop Kulin to a non-Kulin Sadgop does not involve loss of rank. The first-born of every household is invariably married to a member of a Sadgop Kulin family. The Kulin Sadgop families are Sur, Neogí, and Biswás. Pál, Házrá, Ghosh, Sarkár, etc., are non-Kulins. Said to be the offspring of a Vaisya father and a Súdra mother. Number in the 24 Parganás in 1872, 38,058; generally rather poor, but, as above stated, many individuals have become wealthy, and are men of influence.

(7) Bárui or Gochhálí, cultivators and growers of pán leaves.—They are said to be the offspring of a Bráhman man and a Súdra woman. Number in the 24 Parganás in 1872, 6931; generally in middling circumstances.

(8) Málí, gardeners and dealers in flower wreaths, makers of garlands for decorating idols, etc.—They are said to be the issue of a Kshattriya father and a Bráhman mother. Number in the 24 Parganás in 1872, 2586; generally poor.

(9) Gandhbanik, traders in spices and drugs.—The Gandhbaniks belong to the great Banik or merchant caste. The legend of their origin is, that they were born from the body of Siva at the time of his marriage with Párbatí, the daughter of the Himálayan