Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057345).pdf/222

 214 KHE race. the reverse; new towns with the new favourite and fashionable Sanskrit terminations of pur and nagar have been founded, or the names have been altered. There are innumerable villages in Oudh in which the old aboriginal name ending in eri bas survived to this day, with & rival Šanskrit, one ending in nagar or pur. The most noted one perhaps is Rámnagar, the seat of one of the great religious fairs, whose original name is Dbameri. True, there are even fewer old towns with Sanskrit terminations thani one would expect from the known strength of the Arian race, but they were pot builders; they came as conquerors, occupying the towns which had been founded by the great builders, the Turanians. Even now comparatively few towns are founded by Arians, and the spread of Sanskrit terminology is due to the adoption of the Sanskrit language by the Turanians. Even now the foundations of villages in the forest are laid by Tharús, Lodhs, Pásis, Ahírs, and others of non-Arian origin, or at least of dubious derivation. Chhattris and Brab- mans become fewer and fewer as we approach the wilderness; if we enter the forest they disappear entirely. They, in fact, now as formerly leave the foundations of villages to Turanians. When large clearings bave been effected they step in and take possession just as a thousand years. ago. they ousted the Bhars and Thathers. Surely the evidence, confirmed as it is by tradition and history, will suffice to prove the interesting fact that the Chhattris are a compound The social forces then which in Hindustan have thus amalgamated races so widely apart are not to be impeached as baving done nothing but divide the human race and suppress human sympathies in some doubt- In one instance at any rate, different races united into one caste, extending the bounds of fraternity at a time when other castes with diverse professions, and often opposing interests, were being formed out of one nation. One race was analgamated with others, another was split up into several new divisions ; ethnical distinctions were in fact being superseded by the new associations which growing civilization produced to supply its multiplying wants and luxuries. Several races united to form the Chhattris, and the profession of arms with its absorbing passions welded them into one race. Sometimes, however, the national feeling was stronger than the professional, particularly this was the case in grazing and agricultural communities, when the occupation was not one requiring skill, or devotion or above all, association. The influence of the Chhattris.--Here as elsewhere in Oudl. this is tlıc most important, although far from the most numerous caste; it possesses inore than half the villages as may be seen to the following list :- Musalman Ahir... • Brabman Kurini Chbeitri Kalvár, Mistri, Lohár Káyatla Vaishyas, Banián Kachhi, Pási, Muráo, Lodh, Kisán, Gighbio Ját, Chamár, Kori... Nánakaliábi Europeaps Bairagi Government 84 ful cases. 100 941 88 851 17 .. 13 29 8 7 . Khattri 7 14 3 13 111 et I. Total 2 1,689