The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1921-02-08
A Criminal Caste

IA SAU4sAIN& SNSAS
India is the land of caste, and,
as every one knows, caste, petrif1es
every profession and CUSTOM" says
Captain A. P. Corcoran in Boys
Life for February. 1T makes the
son do as his father did, no matter
how desirable or Objectionable the
consequence. If the father is a
criminal, the son becomes one too.
Now in India there are many
tribes who avowedly live by theft.
The chief of these in the north is
known as the 'Bowries,' suggestive
name to natives Of New York. In
the south the 'Erukalas' are the prin-
cipal family. They are widely scat
tered, branches being found as far
north as Rajputana and south as far
as Cape Comorin. Both these tribes
are low caste, but among them the
rule holds good of making the boy
follow in the footsteps of his father
once upon a time the men OF
these tribes were honest traders.
Their business was transportation. ?
they owned great droves of peck
animals on which they carried pro-
uuCS Ii jill SOaSI " b1AS 4hINAASA ~~AN
pack again. The coming of rail-
roads ruined their business. Bred to !
a rowing life, they had no desire to |
live on the country-by their wits. |
Soon they found themselves outlaws |
and thieves. The country through
which they roved suffered according |
Iy.
Sometimes they had permanent |
10 n
they would sally forth on their raids. |
they went long distances usually, |
travelling by railroad at times, the
better to cover their tracks. Some |
times they lived like gypsies. wan
dering all the while, carrying with
them their houses, which consisted |
of a few bamboo frames covered by
date or palmyra mats. Then they |
would stop in locality just long
20 exhaust its possibilities, or until
they came in conflict violently with
the law.
::Only the rainy season during
which it is impossible to move around
interrupted the depredations OF
these tribes, their headquarters at
such times were some hilly or jung
~ spots usually situated near a
small insignificant village. Their
activities then were confined to TAX
ing an accounting of the years gains.
There were strict rules for the dis
tribution of the spoils.
First of all the total was equally
divided and then approtioned &C
cordingly to the Importance or en-
ergy of the various members. For
example, the leader of a gang who
actually took part in the looting got
a double portion. A leader who
merely planned a raid, got a single
share. Wives of men who had been
caught, received a like amount.
Widows and half-grown boys some
what less.
You might imagine that it would
be easy for government as powerful
as the British in India to break up
such gangs of thieves. But the lat
ter were clever. Never at any time
did they allow loot to lie about IN
heir tents. Concealing the evidence
was their chief method of evadlng
the law. They always buried 1t.
then again they were careful not to
travel in too large numbers. They
would break up into bands Of ten or
Cwenty-so many efficient men with
their wives. But they always had
d central meeting place, which they
used as a headquarters. Whenever
isolated men were caught by the law
and imprisoned, the leader practical
" dropped all other business until
ne effected their release. And he
would stop at no trickery to effect
it.
80 clever were they and so dan
gerous did they become to the peace
luI inhabitants of the country that
finally the British Government had
40 other alternative but to round
them all up and send them to a set
clement in Kavali which IS situated
in the Nellore district.
"The problem here was how to as
sociate their traditional love OF row
ing and the great outdoors with
lealthful, honorable persuits.
What could be more ideal than
the great boy scout movement.
LAS they were all obliged to 90
20 school, they found ready-made
leader in the headmaster. l. was a
revelation to these little 'Crims"- as
lhey were called, to find govern
ment servant who could make a
walk in the country interesting; toI
find tracking which they had known
once for a very different purpose
made part of an educational course.
THE movement began with two
or three-it would have spoiled 1t to
make it compulsory. But in few
weeks twenty-one were taking the
scout oath. More joined.
"They began to study birds and
forestry. An outing was proposed
to Udayagivi, a historic spot in
India. To rouse their patriotism
and make them feel that they shar-
er in national events, victory pag-
cant was next organized in school,
which was a tremendous success.
when you consider that it is but
a few years since they first heard of
this movement, you must admit that
every scout has reason to throw out
his chest. What isn't this great or
ganization helping to do for -hue1I
manity?"