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 BENGAL.

296

of the aborigines in the Census of 1881

is due to differences in classiany diminution of their actual numbers. Many of them have during the nine years merged more closely into Hinduism. In Bengal Proper the non-Hindu aboriginal population is 252,146,

and not

fication,

whom

to

The semi-Hinduized aborigines number Chandals (1,564,000) are the great Pariah caste, to which was doubtless consigned the bulk of the aboriginal tribes who embraced Hinduism in Bengal they are most numerous in the Eastern Districts. The Kochs are much the same as the Palis of Dinajpur and Maldah and the Rajbansi's of Rangpur, and these castes together number of

219,202 are Santals.

1,608,178.



considerably over a million



they are

The

evidently an Indo-Chinese race.

(252,418) Bengal.

chiefly

cultivators,

and are

(720,302) and Baoris palanquin -bearers of Western Bagdi's

are the fishermen and Chamars and Muchis (409,662) prepare hides and work

in

leather.

Among recognised Hindus,

the Brahmans, the Kshattriyas or Rajputs,

and the Kayasths are the three superior

Even

castes.

in

these

three well-defined castes differences of rank and classification exist.

But the general Census return

for

1881 gives the following numbers for

each, within the Lieutenant-Governorship of Bengal

—

acknowledged Brahmans, 2,754,100; Rajputs or Kshattriyas, 1,409,354; Kayasths, The Babhans or cultivating Brahmans, chiefly in Behar, 1,450,843.

number

1,031,501.

As



regards the local distribution of castes in the

four Provinces of the Lieutenant-Governorship, the following facts

may

be noted. In Bengal Proper there are 1,076,854 Brahmans, 1,056,093 Kayasths, 1 1 0,5 39 Rajputs, and 87,536 Baidiyas. TheBaniyas(3i7,779)arethe most populous of the trading castes; Goalas (613,132) are the great pastoral caste.

The chief cultivating Hindu

and the Sadgops (547,032).

castes are the Kaibarttas (2,006,340)

Among

the boating and fishing castes

are the Jaliyas (374,655), Teors (228,675), the artisan classes, the oilmen are the m.ost

Pods (324,568). Of important, numbering

and Kalus) 515,042; Sunn's, or wine-sellers, Kumars, or potters, 252,296; and Kamars, or blacksmiths, 285,620; the total of all the weaHng castes is close upon a million; 438,545 Vaishnavs are enumerated among the Hindus who no longer recognise caste. In Behar, the Santals (559,625) are the most numerous of the aboriginal tribes ; the semi-Hinduized aborigines amount to about half a million. The Dosadhs (1,052,564) are the ordinary labouring class. Chamars, or Muchis, number 882,113; Musdhars, 527,831; Bhuiyas, 182,954; Basis, 147,041. Among Hindu castes. Brahmans number Rdjputs, 1,166,593 Babhans, 985,098 ; and Ka)asths, 1,076,643 altogether (Telis or Tills,

number 382,506;



358,068.

The



Ahirs, or Goalas, form eveiywhere the largest portion