The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India, Volume 2

by R. V. Russell

Table of Contents

• [Contents of Volume II: Articles on Castes and Tribes of the Central Provinces in Alphabetical Order]
• [Illustrations in Volume II]
• [Pronunciation]
• [Articles on Castes and Tribes: Agaria—Fakīr]
  • [Agaria]
    • [1. Origin and subdivisions.]
    • [2. Marriage.]
    • [3. Birth and death ceremonies.]
    • [4. Religion and social customs.]
    • [5. Occupation.]
  • [Agharia]
    • [1. Origin.]
    • [2. Subdivisions.]
    • [3. Marriage customs.]
    • [4. Religious and social customs.]
    • [5. Occupation.]
  • [Aghori]
    • [1. General accounts of the caste.]
    • [2. Instances of cannibalism.]
  • [Ahīr]
    • [1. General notice.]
    • [2. Former dominance of the Abhīras.]
    • [3. Ahīr dialects.]
    • [4. The Yādavas and Krishna.]
    • [5. The modern Ahīrs an occupational caste.]
    • [6. Subcastes.]
    • [7. The Dauwa or wet-nurse Ahīrs. Fosterage.]
    • [8. Exogamy.]
    • [9. Marriage customs.]
    • [10. Birth customs.]
    • [11. Funeral rites. Bringing back the soul.]
    • [12. Religion. Krishna and other deified cowherds.]
    • [13. Caste deities.]
    • [14. Other deities.]
    • [15. The Diwāli festival.]
    • [16. Omens.]
    • [17. Social customs.]
    • [18. Ornaments.]
    • [19. Occupation.]
    • [20. Preparations of milk.]
  • [Andh]
  • [Arakh]
  • [Atāri]
    • [1. General notice.]
    • [2. Marriage customs.]
    • [3. Religion.]
    • [4. Social customs.]
  • [Audhelia]
    • [1. Origin.]
    • [2. Marriage.]
    • [3. Religion, birth and death.]
  • [Badhak]
    • [1. Introductory notice.]
    • [2. The Badhak dacoits.]
    • [3. Instances of dacoities.]
    • [4. Further instances of dacoities.]
    • [5. Disguise of religious mendicants.]
    • [6. Countenance and support of landowners.]
    • [7. Pride in their profession.]
    • [8. Caste rules and admission of outsiders.]
    • [9. Religion: offerings to ancestors.]
    • [10. The wounded haunted by spirits.]
    • [11. Pious funeral observances.]
    • [12. Taking the omens.]
    • [13. Suppression of dacoity.]
    • [14. The Badhaks or Baoris at the present time.]
    • [15. Lizard-hunting.]
    • [16. Social observances.]
    • [17. Criminal practices.]
  • [Bahna]
    • [1. Nomenclature and internal structure.]
    • [2. Marriage.]
    • [3. Religious and other customs.]
    • [4. Occupation.]
    • [5. Proverbs about Bahnas.]
  • [Baiga]
    • [1. The tribe and its offshoots.]
    • [2. Tribal legends.]
    • [3. Tribal subdivisions.]
    • [4. Marriage.]
    • [5. Birth and funeral rites.]
    • [6. Religion.]
    • [7. Appearance and mode of life.]
    • [8. Dress and food.]
    • [9. Occupation.]
    • [10. Language.]
  • [Bairāgi]
    • [1. Definition of name and statistics.]
    • [2. The four Sampradāyas or main orders.]
    • [3. The Rāmānujis.]
    • [4. The Rāmānandis]
    • [5. The Nīmānandis.]
    • [6. The Mādhavachāryas.]
    • [7. The Vallabhachāryas.]
    • [8. Minor sects.]
    • [9. The seven Akhāras.]
    • [10. The Dwāras.]
    • [11. Initiation, appearance and customs.]
    • [12. Recruitment of the order and its character.]
    • [13. Social position and customs.]
    • [14. Bairāgi monasteries.]
    • [15. Married Bairāgis.]
  • [Balāhi]
    • [1. General notice.]
    • [2. Marriage.]
    • [3. Other customs.]
  • [Balija]
    • [1. Origin and traditions.]
    • [2. Marriage.]
    • [3. Occupation and social status.]
  • [Bania]
    • [1. General notice.]
    • [2. The Banias a true caste: use of the name.]
    • [3. Their distinctive occupation.]
    • [4. Their distinctive status.]
    • [5. The endogamous divisions of the Banias.]
    • [6. The Banias derived from the Rājpūts.]
    • [7. Banias employed as ministers in Rājpūt courts.]
    • [8. Subcastes.]
    • [9. Hindu and Jain subcastes: divisions among subcastes.]
    • [10. Exogamy and rules regulating marriage.]
    • [11. Marriage customs.]
    • [12. Polygamy and widow-marriage.]
    • [13. Disposal of the dead and mourning.]
    • [14. Religion: the god Ganpati or Ganesh.]
    • [15. Diwāli festival.]
    • [16. Holi festival.]
    • [17. Social customs: rules about food.]
    • [18. Character of the Bania.]
    • [19. Dislike of the cultivators towards him.]
    • [20. His virtues.]
    • [21. The moneylender changed for the worse.]
    • [22. The enforcement of contracts.]
    • [23. Cash coinage and the rate of interest.]
    • [24. Proprietary and transferable rights in land.]
    • [25. The Bania as a landlord.]
    • [26. Commercial honesty.]
  • [Bania, Agarwāla]
  • [Bania, Agrahari]
  • [Bania, Ajudhiabāsi]
  • [Bania, Asāthi]
  • [Bania, Charnāgri]
  • [Bania, Dhūsar]
  • [Bania, Dosar]
  • [Bania, Gahoi]
  • [Bania, Golapūrab]
  • [Bania, Kasarwāni]
  • [Bania, Kasaundhan]
  • [Bania, Khandelwāl]
  • [Bania, Lād]
  • [Bania, Lingāyat]
  • [Bania, Maheshri]
  • [Bania, Nema]
  • [Bania, Oswāl]
  • [Bania, Parwār]
    • [1. Origin.]
    • [2. Subdivisions.]
    • [3. Exogamy.]
    • [4. Marriage customs.]
    • [5. Religion: Hindu observances.]
    • [6. Disposal of the dead.]
    • [7. Social rules and customs.]
  • [Bania, Srimāli]
  • [Bania, Umre]
  • [Banjāra]
    • [1. Historical notice of the caste.]
    • [2. Banjāras derived from the Chārans or Bhāts.]
    • [3. Chāran Ranjārans employed with the Mughal armies.]
    • [4. Internal structure.]
    • [5. Minor subcastes.]
    • [6. Marriage: betrothal.]
    • [7. Marriage.]
    • [8. Widow remarriage.]
    • [9. Birth and death.]
    • [10. Religion: Banjāri Devi.]
    • [11. Mīthu Bhūkia.]
    • [12. Siva Bhāia.]
    • [13. Worship of cattle.]
    • [14. Connection with the Sikhs.]
    • [15. Witchcraft.]
    • [16. Human sacrifice.]
    • [17. Admission of outsiders: kidnapped children and slaves.]
    • [18. Dress.]
    • [19. Social customs.]
    • [20. The Nāik or headman. Banjāra dogs.]
    • [21. Criminal tendencies of the caste.]
    • [22. Their virtues.]
  • [Barai]
    • [1. Origin and traditions.]
    • [2. Caste subdivisions.]
    • [3. Marriage]
    • [4. Religion and social status.]
    • [5. Occupation.]
  • [Barhai]
    • [1. Strength and local distribution.]
    • [2. Internal structure.]
    • [3. Marriage customs.]
    • [4. Religion.]
    • [5. Social position.]
    • [6. Occupation.]
  • [Bāri]
  • [Basdewa]
  • [Basor]
    • [1. Numbers and distribution.]
    • [2. Caste traditions.]
    • [3. Subdivisions.]
    • [4. Marriage.]
    • [5. Religion and social status.]
    • [6. Occupation.]
  • [Bedar]
    • [1. General notice.]
    • [2. Subdivisions and marriage customs.]
    • [3. Funeral rites.]
  • [Beldār]
    • [1. General notice.]
    • [2. Beldārs of the northern Districts.]
    • [3. Odias of Chhattīsgarh.]
    • [4. Other Chhattīsgarhi Beldārs.]
    • [5. Munurwār and Telenga.]
    • [6. Vaddar.]
    • [7. Pāthrot.]
    • [8. Takāri.]
  • [Beria, Bedia.]
    • [1. Historical notice.]
    • [2. Criminal tendencies in the Central Provinces.]
    • [3. Social customs.]
  • [Bhaina]
    • [1. The tribe derived from the Baigas.]
    • [2. Closely connected with the Kawars.]
    • [3. Internal structure: Totemism.]
    • [4. Marriage.]
    • [5. Religious superstitions.]
    • [6. Admission of outsiders and caste offences.]
    • [7. Social customs.]
  • [Bhāmta or Bhāmtya]
    • [1. Occupation.]
    • [2. Subdivisions and marriage customs.]
    • [3. Religion and social customs.]
  • [Bharbhūnja]
    • [1. General notice]
    • [2. Social customs.]
    • [3. Occupation.]
  • [Bharia]
    • [1. Origin and tribal legend.]
    • [2. Tribal subdivisions.]
    • [3. Marriage.]
    • [4. Childbirth.]
    • [5. Funeral ceremonies.]
    • [6. Religion and magic.]
    • [7. Social life and customs.]
    • [8. Occupation.]
  • [Bhāt]
    • [1. Origin of the Bhāts.]
    • [2. Bhāts and Chārans.]
    • [3. Lower-class Bhāts.]
    • [4. Social status of the caste.]
    • [5. Social customs.]
    • [6. The Bhāt’s business.]
    • [7. Their extortionate practices.]
    • [8. The Jasondhis.]
    • [9. The Chārans as carriers.]
    • [10. Suicide and the fear of ghosts.]
    • [11. Instances of haunting and laying ghosts.]
    • [12. The Chārans as sureties.]
    • [13. Suicide as a means of revenge.]
    • [14. Dharna.]
    • [15. Casting out spirits.]
    • [16. Sulking. Going bankrupt.]
    • [17. Bhāt songs.]
  • [Bhatra]
    • [1. General notice and structure of the caste.]
    • [2. Admission of outsiders.]
    • [3. Arrangement of marriages.]
    • [4. The Counter of Posts.]
    • [5. Marriage customs.]
    • [6. Propitiation of ghosts.]
    • [7. Religion. Ceremonies at hunting.]
    • [8. Superstitious remedies.]
    • [9. Occupation.]
    • [10. Names.]
  • [Bhīl]
    • [1. General notice. The Bhīls a Kolarian tribe.]
    • [2. Rājpūts deriving their title to the land from the Bhīls.]
    • [3. Historical notice.]
    • [4. General Outram and the Khāndesh Bhīl Corps.]
    • [5. Subdivisions.]
    • [6. Exogamy and marriage customs.]
    • [7. Widow—marriage, divorce and polygamy.]
    • [8. Religion.]
    • [9. Witchcraft and amulets.]
    • [10. Funeral rites.]
    • [11. Social customs.]
    • [12. Appearance and characteristics.]
    • [13. Occupation.]
    • [14. Language.]
  • [Bhilāla]
    • [1. General notice.]
    • [2. Marriage.]
    • [3. Social customs.]
    • [4. Occupation and character.]
    • [5. Character.]
  • [Bhishti]
  • [Bhoyar]
    • [1. Origin and traditions.]
    • [2. Subcastes and sections.]
    • [3. Marriage.]
    • [4. Occupation.]
    • [5. Social status.]
  • [Bhuiya]
    • [1. The tribe and its name.]
    • [2. Distribution of the tribe.]
    • [3. Example of the position of the aborigines in Hindu society.]
    • [4. The Bhuiyas a Kolarian tribe.]
    • [5. The Baigas and the Bhuiyas. Chhattīsgarh the home of the Baigas.]
    • [6. The Baigas a branch of the Bhuiyas.]
    • [7. Tribal sub-divisions.]
    • [8. Exogamus septs.]
    • [9. Marriage customs.]
    • [10. Widow-marriage and divorce.]
    • [11. Religion.]
    • [12. Religious dancing.]
    • [13. Funeral rites and inheritance.]
    • [14. Physical appearance and occupation.]
    • [15. Social customs.]
  • [Bhulia]
  • [Bhunjia]
    • [1. Origin and traditions.]
    • [2. Subdivisions.]
    • [3. Marriage.]
    • [4. Religion.]
    • [5. Social rules.]
  • [Binjhwār]
    • [1. Origin and tradition.]
    • [2. Tribal subdivisions.]
    • [3. Marriage.]
    • [4. The marriage ceremony.]
    • [5. Sexual morality.]
    • [6. Disposal of the dead.]
    • [7. Religion.]
    • [8. Festivals.]
    • [9. Social customs.]
  • [Bishnoi]
    • [1. Origin of the sect.]
    • [2. Precepts of Jhāmbāji.]
    • [3. Customs of the Bishnois in the Punjab.]
    • [4. Initiation and baptism.]
    • [5. Nature of the sect.]
    • [6. Bishnois in the Central Provinces.]
    • [7. Marriage.]
    • [8. Disposal of the dead.]
    • [9. Development into a caste.]
  • [Bohra]
    • [1. Origin of the sect.]
    • [2. Their religious tenets.]
    • [3. The Mullahs.]
    • [4. Bohra graveyards.]
    • [5. Religious customs.]
    • [6. Occupation.]
    • [7. Houses and dress.]
  • [Brāhman]
    • [1. Origin and development of the caste.]
    • [2. Their monopoly of literature.]
    • [3. Absence of central authority.]
    • [4. Mixed elements in the caste.]
    • [5. Caste subdivisions.]
    • [6. Miscellaneous groups.]
    • [7. Sectarian divisions.]
    • [8. Exogamy.]
    • [9. Restrictions on marriage.]
    • [10. Hypergamy.]
    • [11. Marriage customs.]
    • [12. Polygamy, divorce and treatment of widows.]
    • [13. Sati or burning of widows.]
    • [14. Funeral rites and mourning.]
    • [15. Religion.]
    • [16. Daily ritual.]
    • [17. The sacred thread.]
    • [18. Social position.]
    • [19. Titles.]
    • [20. Caste panchāyat and offences.]
    • [21. Rules about food.]
    • [22. Dress.]
    • [23. Tattooing.]
    • [24. Occupation.]
    • [25. Character of Brāhmans.]
  • [Brāhman, Ahivāsi]
  • [Brāhman, Jijhotia]
  • [Brāhman, Kanaujia, Kanyakubja]
  • [Brāhman, Khedāwāl]
  • [Brāhman, Mahārāshtra]
  • [Brāhman, Maithil]
  • [Brāhman, Mālwi]
  • [Brāhman, Nāgar]
  • [Brāhman, Nāramdeo]
  • [Brāhman, Sanādhya]
  • [Brāhman, Sarwaria]
  • [Brāhman, Utkal]
  • [Chadār]
  • [Chamār]
    • [1. General notice of the caste.]
    • [2. Endogamous divisions.]
    • [3. Subcastes continued.]
    • [4. Exogamous divisions.]
    • [5. Marriage.]
    • [6. Widow-marriage and divorce.]
    • [7. Funeral customs.]
    • [8. Childbirth.]
    • [9. Religion.]
    • [10. Occupation.]
    • [11. The tanning process.]
    • [12. Shoes.]
    • [13. Other articles made of leather.]
    • [14. Customs connected with shoes.]
    • [15. The Chamār as general village drudge.]
    • [16. Social status.]
    • [17. Character.]
  • [Chasa]
    • [1. Origin and traditions.]
    • [2. Exogamous divisions.]
    • [3. Status and customs of the caste.]
  • [Chauhān]
  • [Chhīpa]
    • [1. Constitution of the caste.]
    • [2. Its origin and position.]
    • [3. Caste subdivisions.]
    • [4. Marriage and other customs.]
    • [5. Occupation.]
  • [Chitāri]
    • [1. Origin and traditions.]
    • [2. Social customs.]
    • [3. Birth and childhood.]
    • [4. The evil eye.]
    • [5. Cradle-songs.]
    • [6. Occupation.]
  • [Chitrakathi]
  • [Cutchi]
    • [1. General notice.]
    • [2. Origin of the caste.]
    • [3. Social customs.]
  • [Dahāit]
    • [1. Origin of the caste.]
    • [2. Internal structure: totemism.]
    • [3. Marriage and other customs.]
    • [4. Social position.]
    • [5. Former occupations: door-keeper and mace-bearer.]
    • [6. The umbrella.]
    • [7. Significance of the umbrella.]
  • [Daharia]
    • [1. Origin and traditions.]
    • [2. Sept and subsept.]
    • [3. Social customs.]
  • [Dāngi]
    • [1. Origin and traditions.]
    • [2. Caste subdivisions.]
    • [3. Marriage.]
    • [4. Religious and social customs.]
    • [5. Occupation and character.]
  • [Dāngri]
  • [Darzi]
    • [1. General notice.]
    • [2. Subdivisions.]
    • [3. Sewn clothes not formerly worn.]
    • [4. Occupation.]
    • [5. Religion.]
  • [Dewār]
    • [1. General notice.]
    • [2. Subdivisions.]
    • [3. Marriage customs.]
    • [4. Religion and social practices.]
    • [5. Occupation.]
  • [Dhākar]
    • [1. Origin and subdivisions.]
    • [2. Marriage.]
    • [3. Funeral rites.]
    • [4. Occupation and social status.]
  • [Dhangar]
    • [1. Traditions and structure of the caste.]
    • [2. Marriage.]
    • [3. Religion.]
    • [4. Birth, death and social status.]
    • [5. Occupation.]
  • [Dhānuk]
    • [1. Original and classical records.]
    • [2. Marriage.]
    • [3. Social rank and customs.]
  • [Dhanwār]
    • [1. Origin and traditions.]
    • [2. Exogamous septs.]
    • [3. Marriage.]
    • [4. Festivities of the women of the bridegroom’s party.]
    • [5. Conclusion of the marriage.]
    • [6. Widow-marriage and divorce.]
    • [7. Childbirth.]
    • [8. Disposal of the dead.]
    • [9. Religion.]
    • [10. Magic and witchcraft.]
    • [11. Social rules.]
    • [12. Dress and tattooing.]
    • [13. Names of children.]
    • [14. Occupation.]
  • [Dhīmar]
    • [1. General notice.]
    • [2. Subcastes.]
    • [3. Exogamous groups.]
    • [4. Marriage.]
    • [5. Childbirth]
    • [6. Disposal of the dead.]
    • [7. Religion.]
    • [8. Occupation: fisherman.]
    • [9. Water-carrier.]
    • [10. Palanquin-bearer and personal servant.]
    • [11. Other occupations.]
    • [12. Social status.]
    • [13. Legend of the caste.]
  • [Dhoba]
    • [1. General notice.]
    • [2. Exogamous divisions.]
    • [3. Marriage customs.]
    • [4. Funeral rites.]
    • [5. Caste panchāyat and social penalties.]
    • [6. Occupation and social customs.]
  • [Dhobi]
    • [1. Character and structure of the caste.]
    • [2. Marriage customs.]
    • [3. Other social customs.]
    • [4. Religion.]
    • [5. Occupation: washing clothes.]
    • [6. Social position.]
    • [7. Proverbs about the Dhobi.]
    • [8. Wearing and lending the clothes of customers.]
  • [Dhuri]
    • [1. Origin and Subdivisions.]
    • [2. Marriage.]
    • [3. Religious beliefs.]
    • [4. Occupation and social status.]
  • [Dumāl]
    • [1. Origin and traditions.]
    • [2. Subdivisions.]
    • [3. Marriage.]
    • [4. Religious and social customs.]
  • [Fakīr]
    • [1. General notice.]
    • [2. Principal orders.]
    • [3. Rules and customs.]