Page:Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume 2.djvu/548

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JINKA
494

great Hindu temples, artificial flowers, bullock coaches, etc., are made of the pith of sōla (Æschynomene aspera), which is also used in the construction of sōla topis (sun-hats). The Madras Museum possesses a very-quaint pith model of the Rāja of Tanjore in darbar, with performing wrestlers and Dēva-dāsis, made many years ago.

Jinka.———(Indian gazelle, Gazella bennetti). — An exogamous sept of Padma Sālē. The equivalent Jinkala is a sept of Bōya.

Jīra.———In the Bellary district, a Lingāyat who sells flowers calls himself a Jīra, and his caste Jīra kula.

Jīrige (cumin: Cuminum cyminum). — An exogamous sept of Kuruba, and gōtra of Kurni.

Jivāla (an insect). — An exogamous sept of Kuruba.

Jōgi. — The Jōgis, who are a caste of Telugu mendicants, are summed up by Mr. H. A. Stuart*[1] as being "like the Dāsaris, itinerant jugglers and beggars. They are divided into those who sell beads, and those who keep pigs. They are dexterous snake-charmers, and pretend to a profound knowledge of charms and medicine. They are very filthy in their habits. They have no restrictions regarding food, may eat in the house of any Sūdra, and allow widows to live in concubinage, only exacting a small money penalty, and prohibiting her from washing herself with turmeric water." In addition to begging and pig-breeding, the Jōgis are employed in the cultivation of land, in the destruction of pariah dogs, scavenging, robbery and dacoity. Some of the women, called Killekyāta, are professional tattooers. The Jōgis wander about the country, taking with them (sometimes on donkeys) the

  1. * Manual of the North Arcot district.