MALWI BUNNEAS.
(367)
THE group does not represent natives of Malwah; the men are all from Shekhawattee, Jeypoor, and Marwar; in fact, the Marwarrees have been already illustrated and described at article 201, ante. There is nothing new to say of them in Malwah; they are the same in character, in life, in occupation, in speculation, and it may be added, in extortionate transactions all over Malwah and Central India, as they are in the Deccan or wherever else they are met with. In Malwah they have opium to deal in, and can speculate as they please with Bombay, and make time bargains, their favourite mode of dealing. They make advances to village cultivators for the growth of poppy fields, and take the opium according to agreement, which is but too often extortionate. Every one complains of them, official reports are full of their hard practices with the people; and yet, where there are no local banks or banking operations, the people would perhaps do worse without the Marwarrees, and they have undoubtedly been more instrumental in circulating capital throughout almost the whole of India than any other merchants, and to classes of the people whom it would not have reached but for their speculative agencies. Marwarrees, though they can write and keep accounts, are very indifferently educated, and their own character, apparently a cross between Hindee and Guzerattee, is most difficult to read; and many amusing tales and jokes are current in India of parties of Marwarrees, sitting down together to decipher letters on business, or received from their homes. In religious and caste observances they are very strict, professing for the most part the Vishnuvite worship of Krishna united to the Jam. Many of them attain great eminence as bankers and merchants, and probably the greater part of the bill transactions, as well as the trade and speculations in opium, cotton, and grain, of India, are in their hands, or carried on through their direct agency.
