The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-11-21
SACRED BARDS OF INDIA.
THE CURIOUS CHARUNS AND BHAfS
AND THEIR ODD CUSTOMS.

Peculiar Characteristics OF q Quees
Tribe-Thsir Persons Considered sa-
rred-The Bsnjaris or Carriers--How
They TraveI-Tandas or Caravans.
The Charuns and Bhats still fill a large
place in the society Of Western India,
though with the wider dissemination Of
education their services as bards and
genealogists are less in demand than they
were Ia the old days. They are neverthe-
less considered from their calling to bear
a sacred character, says a writer In The
Bombay Gazette, and any injury done to
one OF them will bring down an snathema
on the head of the evil-doer which no
amount of penance will wash away. The
awe they inspire Is as great with the
Rajpoot chief as with the illiterate Bheel.
In addition to their role as bards they
are also the principal carriers of the
country, and as such enjoy certain priv
ileges in the manner of immunity from
the various descriptions of taxation to
which the rest of fthescommunity have TO
submit, and they are ever ready to take
advantage of this in many ways which
are not always agreeable to the chiefs un-
der whose rule they live. When the
Charun cannot obtain what he wants, or
considers he has been unjustly dealt
with, he will resort to what is known a.
Tragga, or sacrifice, by cutting
or wounding himself, or perhaps
taking the life of some member
of his family, in order that the
blood OF the victim may rest upon the
head OF his oppressor; and SO great Is the
dread inspired by even the mere threat OF
carrying out this act, that a ready ac-
quiescencs is generally given to all de-
mands.
As before mentioned, the tribe has be-
come the general carriers OF the country,
and are known under the generic name
of Banjaris. They are to be found travel
ing all over the length and breadth OF
India with their droves Of pack bullocks,
by means OF which, notwithstanding the
increased mileage of railways of late
years, a great part OF the enormous trade
OF that vast continent is still trans
ported to its destination. 1t might have
been thought that the advent of railways
would have materially reduced the profits
Of the Banjaris, and although 1t has, un-
doubtedly, cortailed the sphere OF their
operations, it has obliged them to open
up fresh lines of traffic, and to become,
so to speak, feeders to the various lines
OF railway.
Salt, grain and seeds form the princi-
pal articles OF transport by means of the
Banjaris' tandas or caravans. The loads
are carried in strong, thick bags, thrown
across the backs OF the bullocks without
any rope or strap to fasten them, but
merely balanced on them, and after the
days march is over, the bags are piled in
stacks around which the Naik, his family,
and companions keep guard during the
night. Not that there is the slig htest
fear, however; the sacred calling OF the
tribe and the dread of their anathema
being quite sufficient to insure them
immunity from all plunderers; added to
which the commodity they are transport
ing is not of such a nature as could easily
be carried OFF, or is likely to yield inn
mediate returns. Articles OF greater
value are no doubt frequently under the
charge of the leaders, but these are
generally safely slowed away about their
own persons, or the persons OF their fol-
lowers.
There is no more picturesque sight to
be seen than one OF these large caravans
vending its way along the high road.
The men and women are invariably on
foot, distributed among the drove OF bull
locks; reloading a beast which may have
thrown his pack, or balancing and adjust
ing another, as the case may be. The
men, with their large, loosely folded tur-
bans, white flowing robes, many of them
with necklaces, generally OF the precious
metal about their persons, form pleas
ing contrast to the women in Their
brightly colored garments, with large
conical caps on their heads, adorned with
n IL. Loll
from which is pendant light, richly
colored scarf hanging gracefully over the
shoulders.
This head-dress would be apt to re-
mind the traveller fresh from the West of
the marked similarity in the fashion in
which the fair sex of both countries man
age to adorn themselves In certain parts
OF their attire, but while those of Europe
are perpetually changing the variety and
shape of their head-gear, diminutive,
saucer shaped sort of construction one
day, and then q modified sort of bearskin
almost as tall as that worn by Grenadier
Guardsman the next, the Banjari woman
adheres to the same old style which her
ancestors had used for generations past.
Tall and upright in figure, 1.-the
and active, pleasing features and not
an overdark skin, her petticoat Of one
color, her bodice OF another, but
somewhat brighter, her je black
hair bound up and entwined with
gold and silver coins, her arms encased
from wrist to elbow in bracelets OF white
and colored ivory, bangles Of silver on
her nkles, and the high conical cap pro-
fusely ornamented on her head, the Ban
jsri matron presents a picture which,
once seen, is not easily to be forgotten.
AS bard Of the chief OF the Charun oc-
cupies an exalted position, and is one Of
the retainers always about his person,
and frequently the medium OF commune
cation on difficult and delicate missions,
such as an alliance in marriage, when he
is the bearer OF the cocoanut, which 10 the