1 JAT, RAJPUT, AND ALLIED CASTES. 139
2 migrated from Dehli in the time of Ala-ud-din Ghori, and who lioM 17 villages in the Sialkot disti-ict.
3 Those last are certainly Jats, not Rajputs. Tlie Bagri Rajputs are probably Bhatti, or possibly Rahtor.
4 The Godai-a and Piiniya are probably the Jat tribes that are most numerous in the Bagar.
5 The Rangar. — Raugar is a term, somewhat contemptuous, applied in the eastern and south-
6 eastern districts to any llusalman Rajput; and I only notice it here because the Rangar are often,
7 thougli wrongly, held to be a Rajput tribe. I am told, however, that in Fi'rozpur and Gurdaspur
8 there are sm.all Rajput colonies known only by this name ; and if so it is probable that they have
9 migrated from the Dehli territory. If a Hindu Chauhan Rajput became Musalman to-morruw, he
10 would still be called a Chauh.in Rajput by both himself and his neighbom"s of both religions. But
11 his Hindu brethren would also call him Rangar, which he would resent as only slightly less .abusive
12 than chotikat, a term of contempt applied to those who have, on conversion to Islam, cut off the
13 choti or Hindu scalploek. The Rangar or llusalman Rajputs bear the worst possible reputation for
14 turbulence and cattle-stealing, and gave much trouble in the mutiny. Many proverbs concerning
15 them are quoted under the head of Giijar. Here is another — " A Rangar is best in a wineshop, or
16 " in a prison, or on horseback, or in a deep pit." I believe that in Central India the term Rangar
17 is applied to any uncouth fellow.'
18 The Baria (No. 11). — The Baria of Jalandhar are said to be Solar Rajputs, descended from
19 RSja Karau of the Mahabhariit. Tlieir ancestor Mai ( ! ) came from Jal Kahra in Patiala about
20 500 years ago. Those of Sialkot, where they are fouud in small numbers, but considered to be Jats,
21 not Rajputs, say they are of Lunar Rajput descent. The tribe is practically confined to Patiala
22 and Xabha, and the name of the ancestor JIal, if common to the ti-ibe, looks as if they were not
23 Kajputs at all, though it is unusual In the Sikh States for Jats to claim the title of Rajput. 1
24 have no f\u'ther information regarding the tribe. There are Barhaiya Rajputs in the Azimgarh
25 and Ghazi'pur neighboui'hood.
26 The Atiras (No. 12). — This tribe is returned from Patiala only. I cannot find it mentioned in
27 any of the authorities.
28 The Naipal (No. 13). — The Naipal are a clan of the gi'eat Bhatti tribe, who are found on tlic
29 Satluj abo\e Firozpur. They once held the river valley as far down as that town, but were di-ivcn
30 liigher up by the Dogars^ .and iu tlieir tui'u expelled the Gujars. Mr. Brandreth says of them : —
31 " They resemble very much in their habits the Dogars and Gujars, and are probably gi'eatcr
32 " thieves than either. They appear almost independent under the Ahluwalia rulers and to have
33 " paid a small rent in kind only when the Kardar was strong enough to compel them to it, which
34 " was not often the case. Tliey have lost more of their Hindu origin than either the Dogars or
35 " Gujars, and in theii' marriage connections they follow the Muhammadan law, near blood relations
36 " being permitted to enter into the marriage compact." All the Naipal have returned themselves
37 as Bhatti as well, and it is possible that many of them have shown Bhatti only as their tribe, and
38 are therefore not retui'ned under the head Naipal.
39 The Rather (No. 14). — The Rathor arc one of the 36 royal races, and Solar Rajputs. Their
40 old seat was Kanauj, but tlieir more modern dynasties are to be found in Mai'war and Bi'kaner.
41 They are rctm'ned from many districts iu the Panjiib, but are nowhere numerous.
42 447. The Rajputs of the Western Plains. — The next group of Eajput
43 tribes that I shall discuss are those of the great Western Plains. I have
44 akeady said much regarding- the position of the Rajput in this part of
45 rp 24]] the Panjiib, and the diffieulty of drawing any line between him and the Jat
46 of the neighbourhood. Here the great Rajput tribes have spread up the river
47 valleys as conquerors. Traditionally averse from manual laboiu" and looking
48 upon the touch of the plough handle as especially degrading, they have been
49 wont to content themselves with holding the country as dominant tribes,
50 pastiu-ing their great herds iu the broad grazing grounds of the west, fighting
51 a good deal and plundering more, and leaving agriculture to the Arain, the
52 Mahtam, the Kaniboh, and such small folk. The old tradition is not for-
53 gotten ; but the nile of the Sikh, if it afforded ample opportunity for fighting,
54 destroyed much of then- influence, and the order and eqttal justice which have
55 accompanied British rule have compelled all but the most wealthy to turn
56 their attention, still in a half-hearted sort of way, to agriculture.
57 * P- Aljstract No. 80 on the next page* shows the distribution of these tribes.
58 140-43 They are roughly arranged according to locality. First come the royal races
59 ' Mr. Wilson notes that he has heard Rangai' applied to Hindu Rajputs. This is, I think
60 unusual. The word is often spelt and pronounced Ranghar.