Page:A Statistical Account of Bengal Vol 1 GoogleBooksID 9WEOAAAAQAAJ.pdf/85

more that of boatmen than fishermen; number in the 24 Parganás in 1872, 2304. (15) Mánjhí, boatmen. This is merely a title to designate their occupation, and is not a caste, although shown as such in the Census Return; 29 in number. (16) Pátní, boatmen and ferry-keepers. This is simply a branch of the Jáliás, and is not a separate caste; number in the 24 Parganás in 1872, 1374. (17) Báití, matmakers and dancers; said to be the offspring of a Sunrí father and Nápit mother; 900 in number in 1872. (18) Bágdí. This caste is divided into four classes — Tentuliyá and Kushmete, who are cultivators; Duliyás, who are palanquin-bearers; and Mechs, who are fishermen. They are said to be the offspring of a Kalu father and a Vaisya mother; 99,826 in number in the 24 Parganás in 1872. (19) Rawání Káhárs, palanquin-bearers; an upcountry caste; 10,491 in number in 1872. (20) Láherí or Nurí, makers of lac ornaments; 282 in number. (21) Báheliás, day-labourers; 25 in number. (22) Báurí, an aboriginal tribe of day-labourers; 44 in number. (23) Bhuiyá, aboriginal people employed in cultivation and as day-labourers; 817 in number. (24) Bind, aboriginal labourers; 44 in number. (25) Chain, aboriginal labourers; 8 in number. (26) Chámár and Muchí, shoemakers and dealers in leather; said to be the offspring of a Chhutár father and a Vaisya mother; 70,403 in number. (27) Dom, basketmakers; said to be the offspring of a Tior father and a Báití mother; 6478 in number. (28) Turí, musicians; 92 in number. (29) Dosadh, labourers and cultivators; 5461 in number. (30) Karangá, cultivators; 1284 in number. (31) Rájbansís, fishermen and cultivators. It is said that the Rájbansís of the 24 Parganás are a branch of Tiors, who are divided into two classes—the Rájbansís Tiors, and the ordinary Tiors. A legend relates that King Ballal Sen rewarded the fisherman who brought back his son to him with the title of Rájbansí, literally ‘of the royal kindred.’ Even to this day a higher caste Hindu will take water from a Rájbansí, but not from an ordinary Tior. If this story represents the fact, the Rájbansís must be very different from the people of the same name in Eastern and North-Eastern Bengal. See my Statistical Account of Kuch Behar, where the aboriginal Kochs, or ancient ruling class of the country, as they embrace Hinduism, are termed Rájbansís. (32) Mál, snake-charmers; 955 in number. (33) Málo, labourers; 150 in number. (34) Khandikar, horn-cutters; said to be the offspring of a Nat father and a Dhobá mother; not given as a separate caste in the Census Return.