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] the Kashmiris lived their self-centred life, conceited, clever, and conservative."

The Hindu Kashmiri Pandits numbered 55,276.

Tribes of Jammu. — Agricultural Brahmans are numerous in the Jammu province. Thakkars and Meghs are important elements of the population of the outer hills. The former are no doubt by origin Rajputs, but

Fig. 32. Blind Beggar.

they have cast off many Rajput customs. The Meghs are engaged in weaving and agriculture, and are regarded as more or less impure by the higher castes. Giijars.— Gujars in the Maharaja's territories are almost always graziers. In 1911 they numbered 328,003.

Dard Tribes of Astor and Gilgit.— The people of Astor and Gilgit are Dards speaking Shina and professing Islam. Sir Aurel Stein wrote of them: "The Dard