Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924024153987).pdf/587

 — GON

509

" They generally keep a brass vessel with a string tied to it, and a stone pot tied in a cloth. They generally go about with naked backs, and carry some grain or dry meal tied in a bag, and a stick in their hand. Thus they stroll about in a most simple, dejected, and solemn manner, exciting commiseration but they really look about for their prey, and are most skilful and vigilant in the art of thieving. On being aslied who they are, they generally call themselves Brahmans or Chhattris, and on being apprehended they call themselves Kurmis, Koris, Tamolis, &c., and say that they were bound on a pilgrimage to a certain sacred place. They never divulge They often go thousands of miles, and though flogged their real names. and imprisoned they seldom or never return withoxit booty."

Their religious ceremonies are described also



" They know no other art or profession than that of thieving. They pass their days in utter barbarism, and are quite foreign to the duties of a human being towards God and man. Their art of thieving is their only god of worship. Although they profess the Hindu religion, and their ceremonies and manners resemble those of the different low-caste Hindus, such as Ahirs, Kurmis, Kachhis, &c., yet they have their own tutelary god, called Panch Puria, who is not recognised by any other class of the Hindus. Each Barwar family keeps a small altar in honour of this tutelary god in his house, in the shape of a tomb, at which, in the month of Bhadon (August) of every year, on the third or fifth day of the first half month, he sacrifices a domestic fowl and bakes thin loaves of bread called ' lugra/ and then gives both the bread and meat of the sacrificed fowl, together with cooked dal of gram, to a Musalman beggar, who goes about from

house to house beating on a kettle-drum. " Their other god of worship is Balapir, or Sayyad SaMr Masaud Ghazi, The tomb is enclosed with a whose tomb lies at Bahraich in Oudh. masonry wall all round. The man was a bigoted Muhammadanof Ghazni, and had made an invasion on India, raised a crescentade, and was killed at Bahraich in an engagement with Raja Sohel Deo of Bahraich. Like the low-caste Muhammadans, such as Kunjras (vegetable-dealers), cotton-

dressers, weavers, glass bangle-makers, cooks, bhatiaras, pedlars, &c., the Barwars also make every year a pilgrimage to the tomb to offer a banner,

and do not commit theft within the enclosure of the tomb, nor at the fair held on the occasion. Their third deity is Debi Bhaw^ni, but they do not Besides these gods and goddesses, the Barwars place much faith in her. worship every other god of the Hindus, but, with the exception of Bahraich and Pooree Jagannath, the Barwars spare no temple or holy place from their depredations."

In this purely agricultural Trades and manufactures.

no manufactures, except those and brass pots for local use, and

district there are

of coarse cotton cloth no important trades.

Professional carriers are little

known, and the cultivators usually bring their grain to market in their own carts. The census return, with two towns of between ten thousand and fifteen thousand inhabitants, three between five and ten, three between four and five, seven of three thousand and odd, and twenty-three above two thousand, is likely to create a false impression. The five that head the