New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-25
A QUEER TRIBE.
THE SACRED R,RDS OF KATHIAWAR.

The Charms and Bhats still Gil a large place N
the society Of Western India. though with the wtdes
dissemination OF -ducation their services as bards am
psychologists are less IN demand than they were N
the old days They nevertheless considered from
their calling TO bear sacred character says wrN1j
In :" The Bombay Gazette and any injury done 70 ono
| of them Will bring down an nnathema On the neacl
! OF the cvidOcr which no amount OF penance wne
wash away The theX inspire Is as great with me
Rajpo0t chief with the illiterate Bheel IN adol-
ton TO their role as bagds they also the principal
carriers OF the country. and such enjoy certain
| privileges in the manner OF immunity rom the.
various descriptions Of taxation 10 when the reso
Of the community have 10 submit and they are ever
ready to take advantage OF this In many ways WHO"
are not always agreeable 10 the chiefs under whose
rule they live When the Carun cannot obtain whaS
he wants. or considers he has been unj,rsuy deaie
with he will resort to whMt IS known as tragga, OF
self-,acrifce, by cutting wounding himself OF
PERHAPS taking the life OF some member Of his iamiy'
In order that the blood Of the victim may resi- upon
the head OF his oppressor: and 50 great Is the dreao
insured by even the mere threat of carrying OUT
this act that ready acquiescence Is generally gwen 70
nil demands The death of Charun by his own
hands would be- considered by the outside worla
a son Of accommodation Of the chief against winch
the latter would find II almost hopeless W couUi"s
I When Kathiawar was wild Kathawar, he might per-
hap5 without fear loss Of dignity, have cOiipassN~
ME death OF any other subject whom It might Do
politIc for him TO have removed from his path, COM
pensaing his relatives possibly II an outcy mad peea
| raised by n certain amount Of blood money.
PM not so with Charun whose character ana CALI
ing are too sacred TO admit OF such pur1ncauohs anu
therefore II happens that cases of Tragga have anyways
been rare US the chief rather than give an oppor-
tuny for the act to be committed, would, aier some
show of resistance. acceed to the claims aavahceo'
trusting AT some more Opportune time to recover wh's
he might consider 10 have been unfairly eA'oIvoa'
Holding such formidable weapon, therefore, as this
mstbot ~ suicidal revenge gives him over the heads
Of all alike high or low, the Charun becomes over
bearing and avarcious, and VIII put lofh Pre'ene'
which are unjustfable and evade payment OF taxes
and dues from which he and his ancestors have from
| ,ma immemorial been liable Consequently they ara
class difficult TO manage and it is only by being stern
and unbendng In the first instance, insisting on '"f
| mediate compliance with what has been Customary
a promise of thorough investigation OF all grievances
,s me,inr ont strict and impartial justice. that the
chic. can hope TO peace aud order reign III ms
| state Ne doubt some nerve may be necessary "
o,r,v ont such policy In order 10 meet the Hsoehu
| demonds which from time 10 time mny be maze es-
peclally when accompanied by the threat VI hsVhs
resource TO this system OF revenge; put huinai ii'
* the same all the world-the stronger iniu VIII
I'm the end gain the victory, ana when the 'haru'S
meets with such as frequently has been thecase. no
IN, ..r, the inevitable and yielding to destiny,
v,u rcst contented with even modicun of his pre-
vious claims 10
Az before mentioned the tribe has become the gen.
oral carriers OF the country and are known uhder the
generic name Of Banjaris. They are to be- found travel
ling all over the length and breadth Of India with
their droves of pack bulloc by means OF WHICH, ho'
uhstandng the increased mileage Of railways OF late
voars great part Of the trade If that vast
continent IS still sported to its destination IL
might have thought that the advent Of railways
would have materially reduced the profits OF the Fan
iars and although 1t has, undoubtedly, cur'aieo uie
sphere of their operations, II has obliged them to open
mn fresh lines Of traffic and to become 50 to speak,
feeders 10 the various lines Of railway SALT grain ana
seeds form the principal articles OF transport by means
NJ the Baniari's tandas caravans The loads are
carried in strong thick bags. thrown across the pacAS
Of the bullocks without rope or strap 70 la',sn
them but merely balanced on them ana li'or ,ns
day march is over the bags are piled In tcs arIana
which the Nak. his family ana hn niirhts
boar however the sacred calling OF the tribe ana te
dread Of their anathema being quite sufficient TO insure
h commodity they are transporting Is not Of such
nature as could easily be carried or or Is nEey 10
no doubt frequently under the charge Of the lead bGs
these generally safely stowei away nDou' Tb"rs
is no more picturesque sight to be seen thaa one Si
these large caravans vending is way along e Sli
i lpSnted smong the drove Of blocks; reoading
brast which may have thrown hi. pack or balancing
Win their large. loosely folded tubans, white flow
Ing robes. many OF them With necklaces gee,,b y,
, n ps,r".i 70 the women in their brightly c5ored
garments with .s &c, cSps sr cS SsRs o ' s@ bes
from which l. Srndant light richly coored scarf hang
Ing gracefully over the shoulders. A., ,.ove,sr
This head dress wonld BE- apt e. rsm mi;dry IN the
fs,on In which the fair OF both eou9rle nGinso
10 adorn themselves In certain parts OF tnelr av,
but while those Of Europe are perperualy caamSrs
the variety and shape OF their head ge nn ssr and
tive snllcer shaped sort OF construction oh' ~as Nv.
hsn modited sort of Lear,kin almost as tan as that
IN %
ancestor; had used tSr ss n"vs pleasing features
srd n,d an overdark skin, her pettcoat OF one Color
her bodice Of another but b od ans a &
yar coins her arms encased from wrist TO elbow In
bracelets OF white and coored IVORY bangles OF liver
ornamepfed on her head, the Banjan maron presents
picture which, once seen, Is not easily TO be for
gotten As lard 81 'ns and ""' one Of the reaineps
nnlw,ay, about his person. and frequently the medium
Of communication on dncni. ana 1ebeac hi,aons.
~ the cocoanut which Il the emblem sent on such oc,
caSI@ IS lie used to Invariably accompany The chief
IN all his expeditions against his enemies, In order that
he might transcribe In glowing verse the deeds OF,
proves done BY his chief and the elan; the senea.
Syem memory ail the stirring events connected with
the history OF the house which have been orally handed
cow, s 70 .ncI"nt Norsrmnn he bard takes delight 10
narrating in open durbar, when called upon by his
lord, some inspiring themes connsc,cd win the for
hiring and sympathetic audience, that he will launch
out in the nowery Language Of his country, and with
magical effect stir hearts Of his listeners With the
thrilling accounts Of how their ancestors foaght in de-
fence OF their homes and their race and fea covered
dcathlcss Names and how by emtating their example,
and treadng IN their footsteps, they win make re-
Lps in these DAYS become utterly unreal but all the
same BE- surprised at the respect with which
the bard is regarded when he thus recalls the most
stirring memories OF the race.