Page:Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume 2.djvu/546

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JHODIA
492

intend to apply to the Cochin Darbar for a grant under the Educational Code."*[1]

I was present at the Convocation of the Madras University in 1903, when the Chancellor conferred the degree of Bachelor of Arts on the first Jew who had passed the examination.

According to the Cochin Census, 1901, there were 180 White, and 957 Black Jews.

Jhodia.———A sub-division of Poroja.

Jhoria.— A sub-division of Gaudo.

Jīlaga (pith). — An exogamous sept of Dēvānga.

Jilakara (cumin seeds: Cuminum cyminum). An exogamous sept of Balija and Togata.

Jīnigar. — "There are," Mr. H. A. Stuart writes,†[2] "a few members of this caste, chiefly in the Chendragiri taluk, whose ordinary occupation it now is to paint pictures. They were, however, once, it is said, artificers, and the account given of them is as follows. They were originally Rāzus from the Northern Circars, who, coming to the Chendragiri Rāja for employment, were set to watch members of the Kammāla caste who served the Rāja, in order to prevent idleness or fraud. After some time, the Kammālans finished an idol's car, and, being inflated with pride, demanded to be allowed to sit in it before the swami was himself placed there. For their arrogance they were expelled, and the Rāzus, having by observation learnt something of their craft, discharged their duties to the community. Under the Nabobs they abandoned this walk of life, and took to saddlery, whence came their name from jīni a saddle, and now they are merely muchis."

  1. * Madras Mail, 1907.
  2. † Manual of the North Arcot district.