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generally truthful, and must always be hard-working. large number of them (there are no statistics, but I should say a considerable majority) are bond slaves, and their labour supplies sustenance both to themselves and the higher castes. Their women, and children too young for the plough, engage themselves in the manufacture of coarse country cloth, an industry which they share with the Musalman Juldhas, who number 3,805 souls. The 26,288 Kurmis furnish the best cultivators, and a few of the wealthiest village lessees in the pargana. They are almost all of the Khurasia sub-division, and take their name from the extinct raj of Khurasa. The only other numerous caste are the Ahirs, with a total of 18,699. There are only 6,456 Ghhattris, the most numerous clan being the Bisens, who are scattered all over the pargana, and all claim a connection with the Raja of Majholi in Gorakhpur, though many communities of them are unable to trace their descent to any common ancestor with the Gonda rajas.

The census report enumerates besides, Parihdr, Bais, Katharia, Hara Bhale Sultan, and Panwar Thakurs but these, with the exception of Bais, must all be very few in numbers and unimportant in position. Like the Brahmans, no member of the fighting class will put his hand to the plough, and they depend for their grain on slave labour. There are 2,143 members of the semi-monastic order of Goshdins, some of whom, like the Bharthi

of Itara, and the Ban Mahant of Srinagar, are among the wealand most important of the second rank of landed proprietors. Their enforced celibacy admits of the accumulation of riches, and prevents the dispersion of their possessions among numerous and indigent bodies of The most peculiar tribe in the pargana are the Barwdrs co-proprietors. they are said to have migrated from Basti about two of a Kurmi stock hundred years ago. Their distinguishing profession is theft, which they carry on with great success, though the rules of their religion sternly restrict Any one stealtheir operations to the period between sunrise and sunset. Two or three start on a tour caste. out of turned once at is night ing by together under a leader known as the Sahwa, and having satisfied their appetite for plunder, return to their village, where the proceeds are divided

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with strict justice among all the members of the thief's sub-division; even the bhnd and the halt coming in for a share. Part is set aside to buy goats and spirits, which are offered to Debi, and a fixed percentage is taken by the zamindar of the village. To this last fact they owe it that they have little to fear from the law. When one is called upon to give security for good behaviour, a most respectable Brahman or Eajput will always step forward and execute the required bond. As the thefts are almost always committed at a distance (parties will .wander from Jagannath to Bombay), there is but little chance that the bail will be forfeited. Ghats are the favourite scene of their depredations, and they are wonderfully quick at exchanging for the full bundle of a bather a perfectly worthless At crowded fairs a line of accomplices is collection of rags of their own. formed, and before the alarm can well be given, the stolen article has passed through a dozen hands beyond the reach of recovery. They not unfrequently adopt the disguise of a Brahman's thread and beads. Chaudhris preside over small gangs and are generally in treaty with the police not to rob within the home jurisdiction. Their pkindering expeditions are followed