Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 8.djvu/174

BLACKSMITHS the iron work of palankeens. In short, they are one of the most useful and indispensable classes of native artizans.

Among all village communities the blacksmith, next to the Patell and Patwari, holds the highest place in the village council, and his Office is hereditary. Like time carpenter, lie has his regular shares of harvest dues at all seasons, which are generally accompanied by free lands, he being at liberty to undertake any work which does not interfere with any village needs, these having the prior claim upon his services. The hereditary blacksmith is supposed to be acquainted with the boundaries of fields and estates, as also with the village boundaries in general, and is considered to be one of the highest local authorities in such cases, and his evidence is always received with respect, and carries a certain weight with it.

Blacksmiths marry only in their own castes and divisions of castes. They are strict Hindoos: in some instances followers of Vishnu, in others of Siva, and frequently become devotees of Kali or Devi. They usually live on vegetables, with unleavened bread and rice, but occasionally partake of animal food, especially at feasts or some domestic ceremonies.

Occasionally Mussulman blacksmiths are met with, who are, however, generally armourers; and there are other tribes of wandering smiths, who belong to the migratory classes, and are in fact gipsies. These persons live in tents made of black blanket stuff, which are pitched outside villages, and their women are not unfrequently public dancers and singers, with an indifferent character. This class of blacksmiths has no connection whatever with the orthodox Hindoo blacksmiths, who bear the highest reputation for steady conduct and inoffensive, moral lives. It is rare for a blacksmith to have more than one wife; when it is otherwise, the elder wife has proved barren. The blacksmith is one of the classes who are invested with the sacred thread; but it is not universal, and the privilege is confined to certain families and divisions of the class. Blacksmiths, like carpenters, resort to Brahmins for the performance of all important domestic ceremonies; but for the regulation of caste discipline, they obey their own gooroos or spiritual leaders, who are never Brahmins, and may be Gosais, Byragees, or even blacksmiths elected to the office, and by them all offences against purity of caste are punishable by fine, penance, or other means.