Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 7.djvu/73

 KOORMEES. (356)

OORMEES, or Kumbis, are Sudra Hindoos of good rank in the social scale all over India; a most industrious and hard-working people wherever they are found, with no imputation of normal crime attached to them, respected by all classes, and of most respectable bearing and conduct in all relations of life. By hereditary occupation they are farmers and tillers of the soil, and rarely betake themselves to other occupations in life, and never become artisans. Many of them are, for their degree in life, rich, farming large areas of land, and possessing large means in cattle, grain, and other property; others are necessarily in worse circumstances, and the lowest descent is to a day labourer in the establishment of one of their own class. Koormees marry Koormees only, but there are many gotes, or divisions of the caste, to which each gote is confined with but few exceptions. They are subject to the Brahmins in matters of faith and ceremony, but they have gooroos, or priests of their own, sometimes of their own caste, or men who have taken ascetic vows, such as Bairagees, Gosains, and the like, and not a few have entered separate and independent sects, as Kabir Punthis, and other corresponding dissenters. Those who have joined the Kabir Punthi sect abstain from meat and spirituous liquors, but others take them in moderation, any excess in drink being punishable by caste rules, and courts which inflict fines for all irregularities.

With all practical operations of farming, the Koormee, or Kumbi, is perfectly familiar; he knows the quality of soils, when to plough, and when to employ only the surface hoe; he also knows the value of manure, when to use it and when to refrain from using it; he knows the best rotation of crops, and practically observes them; in short, he is a master of his business, of which every detail is familiar to him, and is practically good; for nowhere in the world will be found better dressed land, or finer crops of all kinds than those raised by the Koormees.

In their domestic relations the Koormees are equally admirable; they make good husbands, and their women are chaste and faithful. Polygamy is uncommon,