Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057345).pdf/215

 KHE 207 Tradition, geographical distribution, and internal divisions are the means of determining whether each ját is a separate ethnic unit or neroly a trade- union, an offshoot from the one parent stem. Tradition need not be dwelt upon; it has considerable value, as will appear in each instance. Geographical distribution is all important, and the Pási is perhaps the best instance, The Pásis.—This ráce is confined to the province of Oudh, the division of Benares and Allahabad, and the district of Shahjahanpur, Their own- traditions are to the effect that Sandíla, Dhaurabra, Mitauli, Rankots in the district of Kheri, Hardoi, and Unao were all seats of their kings and power. Further, they do yet follow all such occupations as are absolutely necessary for the existence of a pastoral and agricultural race in a low state of civilization, and they have no divisions among themselves. The same remark may be made of the Bhars. They are a distinct nation whose capitals were in eastern Oudh, Allahabad, and Mirzapur'; they are found there now ar nowhere else, * On the other hand, the trades- union castes are found in almost equal proportion over all Northern India; the barber, the carpenter, the blacksmith, and the distiller are found every- where, and in almost the same proportion everywhere. The Ahdrs.-Now to take a doubtful case that of the Ahírs: they are pretty evenly distributed over Oudh and the North-West Provinces ; but are almost entirely wanting in the Punjab, being about one in one hundred and fifty. Their traditions point to separate nationalities; they say that they ruled in Gujrát and in Bairát Khera in Oudh, but were turned out of the Chhattri brotherhood because they married their brothers' widows. The Ahírs, a shepherd race, are mentioned in the Mahabharata and by Ptolemy, as also their country Abhir. Krishna was an Ahir and one of the three divisions of the race; Nandbá tis, Yadubans, and Gwal- bans was no doubt called from Iris fathert Nand : these races do not intermarry. The so called Ahírs of Oudh, when questioned, always call themselves Gwála or Gwalbans, and it seems probable that they are the trade-union shepherds of the Arian kingdoms, and the other two classes áre the remains of the genuine Ahír nation. But this is only speculation. What is clear is that there is an Ahir race, most probably Scythian as evidenced by their name of Yadubans, by their pastoral habits, and their marriage customs. Sometimes they claim to be Chhattris, others allege they are Vaisyas or Sudras; in reality the fourfold division was becoming obsolete, if it ever existed before they mingled with the great Hindu family, and their place like that of the Káyaths, Játs, Gújars, Bhars, Khattris, and others was never determined. They are not found at all in Berar, and this, while it determines their separate national existence to have been further north, throws doubt upon the story that Asírgarh was their capital. If speculation were to take a bolder flight, it would simply identify the Ahirs with the Yadubařs race which ruled in Dwarka and the Concan, denote'a aeparation of the old or Bhar Gajars? Meinoir in Bijnour Caste North-Western Provioces Census Report. Journal R. A, S., Vol. V., page 180. +
 * A curious fact is that therever the Bhst is found the Gújar is wanting. Does this