Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-11-11
A QUEER TRIBE.
THE SACRED BARDS OF KATHIA-
WAR In WESTERN INDIA.
They Inspire Great Awe, and Are the
Principal Carriers of the COun-
try-Rcsorting TO Tragga,
or Self-Sacriflce.

y Western India, though with
the wider dissemination Of edu-
cation their services as bards and genea-
logists are less in demand than they were
in the old days. They are nevertheless
considered from their calling to bear a
sacred character, says writer in the
Bombay Gazette, aud any injury done to
one of them will bring down an ana
thema on the head OF the evil-doer which
no amount of penance will wash away.
The awe they inspire il 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 privileges in
the manner of immunity from the vari-
Gus descriptions of taxation to which the
rest of the community have to submit,
and they are ever ready to take advan-
tage of this in many ways which are not
always agreeable to the chiefs under
whose rule they live. When the Carun
cannot obtain what he wants, or con-
siders he has been unjustly dealt with,
he will resort to wha! is known as
Tragga, or self-sacrihce, 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 acquiescencc is generally
given to all demands. the death Of a
Charun by his own hands would be con-
sidered by the outside world a sort Of
accommodation of the chief, against
which the latter would find it almost
hopeless to contend.
Holding such formidable weapon,
therefore, as this method OF suicidal re-
venge gives him over the heads Of all
alike, high or low, the Charun becomes
over-bearing and avaricious, and will
put forth pretensions which are unjustlf-
able, and evade payment OF taxes and
dues from which he and his ancestors
have from time immemorial been liable.
Consequently they a'e class difficult to
manage, aud it is only by being stern
and uubending in the first instance, in
;isting on immediate compliance with
what has been customary, a promise of
thorough investigation OF all grievances
mud melting out strict and impartial
Justice, that the chief can hope to sec
peace and order reign in his State.
As before mentioned, the tribe has be.
come the general carriers of the country,
and are known under the generic namc
Of Banjaris. They are to be found
travelling all over the length and breadth
Of India with their droves Of pack bull
locks, by means Of which, notwithstanl-
ing Che 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 pro-
fits of the Banjaris, and although it has,
undoubtedly, curtailed the sphere of
their operations, 1t 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 principal
articles of transport By means OF the
Banjari's 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 pilei
in stacks around which the Naik, his
family, and companions keep guard du-
ring the night. Not that there is the
slightest fear, however; the sacred call.
ing of the tribe and the dread OF their
anathema being quite sufficient to insure
them immunity from all plunderers ad.
ded to which the commodity they are
transporting is not OF such nature as
could easily be carried off, or is likely
to yield immediate 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 followers. 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 bulloclSs; reloading
n beast which may have thrown his
pack, or balancing aud adjusting an-
other, as the case may be. The men,
with their large, loosely-folded turbans,
white flowing robes, many Of them with
necklaces generally OF the precious metal
about their persons, form pleasing
contrast 10 the women in their highly
colored garments, with largo conIcal
caps on their heads, adorned with gold
aud silver chains aud small bells, from
which Is pendant light riohly-colored
scarf hanging gracefully over the shout
ders.
AS a bard Of the chief the Charun oc.
cupies an exalted position, and is one Of
the retainers always about his person,