Page:A Geographical, Statistical, and Historical Description of the District, or Zila, of Dinajpur.djvu/126

114 Many agents and persons belonging to a people called Oshoyal, frequent this district as traders, but have not taken up a permanent residence. They seem to form two tribes. At the head of one is the, the chief banker in India, and these are commonly said to be Jain. At the head of the other tribe, who are usually called Kengiya, and who are extensive traders in grain, is a person named Bhoj Raja. One of his agents said, that he worshipped ; but I met with no priest nor intelligent person, who could give me any satisfactory information.

A good many Sikhs frequent the district as merchants; but I have no information to offer concerning them, as I found no priest, nor well-informed person, to give me an account of their customs. They have however a meeting (Songgot or Dhormo-sala) at Dinajpur, where they assemble to worship morning and evening, and where travellers of the sect are received. At Maldeh was formerly another meeting; but it is now abandoned, and only one old woman remains in the place.