1 MINOR LAND-OWNING AND AGRICULTURAL CASTES. 165
2 Thus we find many of them returned or classed as Shekh, Mughal, or what
3 not ; and the figures of the Abstract alone are exceedingly misleading. I have
4 in each case cndeavoiu'ed to separate the numbers thus returned, and to include
5 them under their proper caste headings ; and it is the figures thus given in the
6 text, and not those of the tables, that should be referred to. Eveu these are
7 not complete, for till we have the full detail of clans we cannot complete the
8 classification.
9 The ethnic grouping of the tribes disciissed in this section is a subject
10 which I had hoped to examine, but which lack of time compels me to pass by
11 unnoticed. I will only note how the tendency on the frontier and throughout
12 the Salt-range Tract is to claim Arab or ]\Iughal, and in the rest of the
13 Province to claim Rajput origin. The two groups of tribes which occupy the
14 mountain country of the Salt-range and the great plateaus of the Western
15 Plains are the most interesting sections of the Pan jab land-owning classes,
16 need the most careful examination, and would rewaxd it with the richest
17 return.
18 462. The Karral (Caste No. 101). — The Karrals are returned for Hazara
19 only ; and I have no information concerning them save what Major Wace gives
20 in his Settlement Report of that district. He writes : " The Karral country
21 " consists of the Nara ihiqak in the Abbotlabtid tahsil. The Karrals were
22 " formerly the subjects of the Gakkhars, fiom whom they emancipated them-
23 " selves some two centuries ago. Originally Hindus, their conversion to Islam
24 " is of comparatively modern date. Thirty years ago their acquaintance with
25 '' the Mahomcdau faith was still slight ; and though they now know more of
26 " it, and are more careful to observe it, relics of their former Hindu faith are
27 " still observable in their social habits. They are attached to their homes and
28 " their fields, which they cultivate simply and industriously. For the i-est,
29 " their character is crafty and cowardly." Major Wace further notes that the
30 " Karrals are identical in origin and character with the Dhunds.''' This
31 would make the Karrals one of the Rajput tribes of the hills lying along the
32 left bank of the Jahlam ; and I have been informed by a native officer that
33 they claim Rajput origin. They are said too to have recently set up a claim
34 to Kayani Alughal origin, in common with the Gakkhars ; or, as a variety,
35 that their ancestor came from Kayan, but was a descendant of Alexander the
36 Great ! But the strangest story of all is that a queen of the great Raja
37 Rasiilu of Panjab folklore had by a paramour of the scavenger class four
38 sons, Seo, Teo, Gheo, and Kara, from whom are respectively descended the
39 Sials, Tiwanas, Ghebas, and Karrals. They intermarry with Gakkhars,
40 Saiyads, and Dhunds.
41 2551 *^^' The Gakkhar (Caste No. 68) . — The Gakkhars are the ancient rulers
42 of the northern portion of the cis-Indus Salt-range Tract, just as are the
43 Awans and Janjiias of the southern portion of the same tract ; and it appears
44 probable that they at one time overran Kashmir, even if they did not found a
45 dynasty there. Their own story is that they are descended fi'om Kaigohar
46 of the Kayani family then reigning in Ispahan ; that they conquered Kashmir
47 and Tibet and ruled those countries for many generations, but were eventually
48 driven back to Kabul, whence they entered the Panjab in company with
49 Mahmud Ghaznavi early in the 11th centvuy. This last is certainly untrue,
50 for Ferishtah relates that in lOOS Mahmud was attacked by a Gakkhar army
51 in the neighbourhood of Peshawar. Sir Lepel Griffin thinks that they were