Page:A Geographical, Statistical, and Historical Description of the District, or Zila, of Dinajpur.djvu/106

94 Many of the resident Faqirs have been concerned in thefts and robberies; and it was a number of adoptive Faqirs, that some years ago collected in great bodies, in this and the neighbouring district, which they plundered with the utmost barbarity, and when pursued were wont to retire to Morang, in the dominions of Nipal, where they found shelter, anda sale for their booty. While spending the produce of their illicit gains, the Faqirs residing in Dinajpúr were suspected of watching for a favourable opportunity of bringing down their accomplices. Many still reside in Morang; but their depredations have of late been on a small scale, nor have they ventured for some years to enter this district in hostile array. By some unaccountable mistake they have been called Sonyasis, who are a sect of Hindú mendicants; and the pilgrims going to bathe in the Brohmaputra have often been suspected as concerned. That among these there are spies of the Faqirs, as well as many idle and disorderly persons, I have no doubt; but I was assured, both by Hindús and Muhammedans, whom I consider as perfectly well informed, that the Morang gang are entirely of the latter religion.

Pilgrimages are very much in fashion among the Moslems, as well as among the Hindús; very few however of this district ever think of going to Mecca, but wisely content themselves with Peruya, which I believe is the most celebrated pilgrimage in Bengal.

The parts of their religion that are most strictly observed, are fasting through the days during the month Ramzán, and the commemoration of the death of the two Imáms Hasan and Haseyn, which is performed with as much show and noise as possible; and for this purpose a kind of musicians named Zari are employed. Another kind (Pirer Gayon) is employed to celebrate the praises of the different saints, for this sort of noise is extremely grateful to the ear of the natives.

The Hindús, especially those of pure descent, being but a small proportion of the people in this district, I might pass them over until I came to places where they are more numerous, but this would render some parts of my account obscure, I shall therefore notice some of the most remarkable particulars concerning them, and give a general view, which I shall endeavour to render more complete, when I pass into other districts.

There is no trace remaining to show, that before the time of Adisur, any Brahmin had obtained a permanent settlement in this district. It contains no Brahmin families of the five southern nations, nor any of Saroswot, or Utkul. A very few from the neighbouring nation Maithilo are to be found, but tradition relates their settlement to have been very recent. About 50 years ago, the proprietor of Rajshahi introduced about 200 families of Gaur Brahmins from the west of India; and three of these, who have relinquished the world, and who have become Sonyasis, according to the rules of, have settled in a convent of Hawora division. These are the only persons of that nation which are to be found in the district. Almost the only families therefore of proper Brahmins to be found in this district are the Kanyokubjos, of whom, according to tradition, two colonies have been brought to Bengal.

Adisur Raja, a physician, who founded a dynasty that governed Bengal for some time before the Muhammedan conquest, is said to have introduced five Brahmins with their families from Kanyokubjo or Kanoj, a city in the west of India. These five men were of five different tribes (Gotros), viz. Bhorodwaj, Kasyop,