Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 8.djvu/50

KUNBI DASARE. gentle, industrious, faithful, and trustworthy. If asked why he took upon himself an ascetic, wandering life, he will tell how he was converted to the adoration of God by some eloquent Brahmin; or that his wife died, and he had no heart to live in his lonely house, and makes pilgrimages for the rest of her soul; or that a child was born to him after many years, and he vowed pilgrimage for a year, or whatever it might be, that the good Vishnu might preserve it to him, and lie hears it is well, and is happy. Simple stories, having the true ring of humanity in their varying moods and circumstances, lend an interest to these devotional wanderers, who are objects of sympathy and pity to all.

The man is a Kunbi, or, as it is called in Canarese, Vokaliger, a tiller of the soil, like his brethren of Northern India, Berar, and Maharaslitra. He is a Sudra of good caste, numbers of whom sometimes take service as servants, porters, and members of the police; but for the most part preferring agricultural pursuits, in which they are very successful.

To Mr. Gover the public of England is indebted for many poetic illustrations of the humbler classes of Southern India. These are songs, hymns, dirges, labour Songs fbr the most part, and all, without exception, having a devout tenor, free from dogma or the introduction of idol worship in any form. There are professional Dasares, or singers of these melodies, which for the most part are very ancient; and those non-professional, like the figure represented, who are mendicants under vows, and who have learned the songs which they sing or recite from the professionals. We may be allowed to quote one short ditty, which is a favourite everywhere. The translation is very literal.