1 162 PANJAB CASTES. i
2 j
3 Kajputs who, though they are admittedly Rajputs and give their daughters to ;
4 Rajputs, who are styled by that title, do not reach the standard defined in
5 section 456 which wonld entitle tliem to he called Rajput, hut are on the
6 other hand above the Rawat. The line between Rajput and Thakar is
7 defined, so far as it is capable of definition, in the following section. The line -
8 between Thakar and Rathi may be roughly said to consist in the fact that j
9 Ralhis do and Tliakars do not ordinarily practise widow-marriage ; though the '
10 term Rathi is commonly applied by Rajputs of the ruling houses to all l)elow
11 them. Again the line between Rathi and Kanet is cxeecdingly difficult to |
12 draw : in fact in Chamba Rathi and Kanet are considered identical and are said :
13 to eat and marry together, and it is said that Rathi is in Chamba and Jamniu
14 only another name for the same people who are called Kanet in Kulu and ;
15 Kangra. Thus no Kanets but numerous Rathis are returned fi-om Chamba. ^
16 On tlie other hand, no otlier of the Hill States returns cither Thakars or :
17 Rathis. liaving probably included tlie former witli Rajputs and the latter with
18 Kanets. Even Mr. Lyall says : '' Our Kiingra term Rathi is a rough word to ,
19 apply to any but the lowest class ;" and siieaking of Kulu, he says :" The j
20 " children of a Brahman or Rajput by a Kanet wife are called Brahmans and j
21 " Rajputs, the term Rathi being often added as a qualification by any one wlio I
22 " himself pretends to unmixed l)lood." |
23 459. Mr. Barnes writes thus of the distinction lietween Thakar and
24 Rathi :— ;
25 " The Rathis are essentially an agricultural class, and prevail throughout the Nurpur and ,
26 " Nadaou parganahs. The Eat'his and the Ghiraths constitute the two great cultivating tribes in
27 " tliesc hills ; and it is a remarkable fact that in all level and irrigated tracts, wherever the soil
28 " is fertile and produce exuberant, the Ghiraths abound ; while in the poorer uplands, where the
29 " crops are scanty aud the soil demands severe labour to compensate the huihandmen, the Rathi<
30 " predominate. It is as rare to find a Riithi in the valleys as to meet a Ghirath in the mors,
31 "secluded hills. Each cla^s holds possession of its peculiar domam, and the different habits and i
32 " associations created by the different localities have impressed upon each caste a peculiar !
33 " physiognomy and character. The Rathis generally are a robust aud handsome race ; their |
34 " features are regular and well-defined ; the colour usually fair; and their limbs atliletic, as if i
35 " exercised and invigorated by the stubborn soil upon which their lot i- thrown. On the other ]
36 " hand, the Ghirath is dark and coarse featured ; his body is stunted aud sickly ; goitre is fearfully ;
37 " prevalent among his race ; and the reflection occurs to the mind that, however teeming and i
38 " prolific the soil, however favourable to vegetable life, the air and climate are not equally adapted \
39 " to the development of the human frame.
40 " Tbe Rathis are attentive and careful agriculturists. Their women take little or no part iu [P, 25:2]
41 " the labours of the field. In origin they belong neither to the Kshatriya nor to the Siidra class.
42 " but are apparently an amalgamation of both. Their ranks are being constantly increased by ;
43 " defections from the Ra;iputs, and by illegitimate connections. The offspring of a Rajput father ,
44 " by a .Sudra mother woxild be styled a Rathi, and accepted as such Ijy the brotherhood. The sects ]
45 " of the Rathis are innumerable ; no one could render a true and faithful catalogue of them. ^
46 " They are as numerous as the villages they inh.abit, from which indeed their distinguishing names
47 " are generally derived. A Rathi is cognizant only of the sects which immediately surround him. j
48 " They form a Society quite sufficient for his few wants, and he has little idea of the extent and |
49 " ramifications of his tribe. The higher sects of the Rathis are generally styled Tliakars. They J
50 '■ are affronted at being called Rathis, although they do not affect to bo Rajputs. The best '
51 " families among the Thakars give their daughters iu marriage to the least eligible of the Rajputs,
52 " and thus an affinity is established between these two great tribes. The Rathis generally assume ;
53 " the thread of ca-te. They avoid wine, and are extremely temperate and- frugal in their habits. 1
54 " Tiiey take money for their daughters, or exchange them, — a practice reprobated by the Shastras ]
55 " and not countenanced by the highest castes. On the death of an elder brother the widow lives I
56 " with the next brother, or, if she leaves his household, he is entitled to recover her value from •
57 " the husband she selects. Altogether, the Rathis are the best hill subjects we possess ; — their i
58 " manners are simple, quiet, and unaffected ; they are devoted to agriculture, not unacquainted with
59 " the use of arms ; honest, manly, industrious and loyal." !
60 Here he makes Thakars first class Rathis. Mr. Lyall on the other liand ;
61 seems inclined to class Thakars as second or third class Rajputs. Speaking of :