EXPLANATORY NOTES.
“Sait.”—This is a Sanscrit word for a banker, and is pronounced “Seth.” The word “Chetty” is derived from this, as applied to “Tamil” traders in Burmah and the Straits Settlements. Those who take up purely financial matters are astute men of business; lending money at exhorbitant rates of interest they get many of the farmers into complete subjection to them. They are wise enough to keep in with the people generally, and often build masonry tanks and dig wells for general use. Sometimes in the very hot weather they will employ a high caste Brahmin to provide drinking water to passing travellers, and will keep them in their pay for a whole hot season.
The natives of the district have their saying about this, as they have about every class, and it runs as a proverb from mouth to mouth:
Paisah ourrâh cheez
Sub noo kurdhâh yar uzeez.
TRANSLATED THUS:
Money is a great and rare article, and quite a marvel,
For it makes everyone claim for you the strongest friendship.
“Banjāra.”—Derived either from the Sanscrit word “Banj,” meaning Trade, or from the Persian word “Brinj,” Rice, and “Ar,” Carrying.
The Banjāras are wandering tribes, leading a sort of gipsy life. They possess many valuable pack animals, and carry their own grain, and that also of farmers, from one part of the country to another. As a rule they are well-to-do.