1 332 PANJAB CASTES.
2 " In Kulu Bateria arc merely KoUs, that is Dagis, who take out slates. They have taken
3 " to this trade, but arc really Kolis. They are fouud only in Plaeh, and hence arc called Kolis,
4 " which name is more common there than that of Dagi. So Barhais are Kolis or Dagis that use the
5 " axe. Bidhis and Barhais are the same in Kulu, but not in Kangra Proper. A Tarkhan of the
6 " plains would sliudder to associate with the Barhai of Kulu, who does not scruple to eat the flesh
7 " of dead animals. Kharadi.s are Kolis of Seoraj that turn wood, and mix with KoUs and Dagis on
8 " equal terms. They are eousideved rather more respectable than the common Kolis or Dagis, as
9 " they will not touch the dead. In Kulu Barhai or Bddhi and Kharadi are names applied to differ-
10 " ent trades, not to different castes. Tlie position of Lobars and Chamars is described in paragraph
11 " 113 of the Settlement Report (quoted below). Bararas are Kolis tliat work in the nargdli or hill
12 " bamboo. They were once prol)ably all of one caste, and have merely got the names of the pro-
13 " fessions they follow ; but Lobars and Cliamars can scarcely be called Dagis.
14 " But Tliavis cannot be classed with Kolis and Dagis. They occupy a much higher position.
15 " They are just below the Kanets, who will sniokc with them, but not eat with them. They work
16 " both in wood and in stone, as the style of building in Kulu requires that they should do so. It ia
17 " only their trade that connects them with Barhals or Kharadis, with whom they will not eat
18 " nor intermarry."
19 651. j\Ir. Lyall thus describes the constitution and functions of the
20 menial class in Kulu.
21 " The Dagis are the inpure or Kamin caste. They are also commonly called Kolis, a name 1 J
22 ' however, which out of Kulu is applied to any Kulu man.' In Seoraj they arc commonly called ! ^
23 Bctus. Those among them wlio have taken to any particular trade are called by the trade name,
24 e. ^., iaraVa, basket- maker ; barhai, carpenter; dhogri, irou-Bmcltcr ; />M»nia, wool-cleaner ; ■
25 ' and these names stick to families long after tliey have abandoned the trade, as has been the case j
26 with certain families now named Smitli and Carpenter, in England. So also Chamars and
27 Lobars, though they have been classed separately, are probably only Dagis who took to those
28 trades ; bat at the present day other Dagis will not eat with the Lobars, and in some parts they
29 will not eat or intermarry with the Cliamars. Most Dagis will cat the flesh of bears, leopards, or
30 ' langur monkeys. All except the Lobars eat the flesh of cattle who have died a natural death.
31 ' They stand in a subordinate position to tlie Kanets, thougli they do not hold their land of them.
32 ' Certain families of Dagis. Chamars, and Lobars are said to be the Koridars, i.e., the ' courtyard
33 ''people' of certain Kanct families. Wlicn a Kanet dies bis heirs call tlic Koridar Dagis through
34 ' their jatdi or headmen ; they bring in fuel for the funeral pile and funeral feast, wood for
35 ' torches, play the pipes and drums in the funeral procession, and do otlicr services, in return for
36 wliich they get food and tlie kiria or funeral perquisites. The dead bodies of cattle are another
37 perquisite of the Dagis, but they share tliem with tlie Chamars ; the latter take the skin, aud all
38 ' divide the flesh. The Dagis carry palanquins wlieu used at uiarriagei. Tlic Lobars and Chamars
39 also do work iu iron auil leatlier for the Kanets, and are paid by certain grain allowances. The
40 dress of the Dagis does not differ materially from that of tlie Kanets, except in being generally
41 ' coarser in material and scantiei- iu shape. Their mode of life is also much the same."
42 In Spiti the Lohiii- would appear to be the only artisan or menial caste, [P. 338]
43 society consisting of the cultivating class, the Lobar, and the Hesi or gijjsy
44 minstrel.
45 652. The Barwala and Batwal (Caste Nos. 49 and 78).— Barwiila and
46 Batwal are two words used almost indiiierunlly to express the same thing, the
47 former being more commonly used in the lower hills and the latter in the
48 mountain ranges of Kangra. In Chamba both names are current as
49 synonyms. But I have separated the figures, because the Batwal of Kangra
50 is a true caste while Barwala is little more than the name of an Occupation.
51 Both words correspond very closely with the Lahbar or Balahar of the plains,
52 and denote the village watchman or messenger. In the higher hills this oifice
53 is almost confined to the Batwals, while in the lower hills it is performed by
54 men of various low castes who are all included under the generic term of
55 Barwala. These men are also the coolies of the hills, and in fact occupy
56 much the same position there as is held by the Chamars in the plains, save
57 that they do not tan or work in leather. In Kangra they are also known as
58 Kiriiwak or Kirauk, a word which properly means a man whose duty it is to
59 assemble coolies and others for biffdr or forced labom-, and they arc also called
60 ' But see section 657. The word is Kola, not Koli.