1 336 PANJAB CASTES.
2 Diigi or Koli, probably the former. The word Dagi is sometimes said to be
3 derived from dcigJi, a. stain or blemisli ; but it is hardly likely that in the
4 hillsj of all parts of the Panjilb, a word of Persian origin should be in
5 common use as the name of a easts, and Mr. Anderson's derivation quoted in
6 section 65(1 is far more probable. At the same time the word is undoubtedly
7 used as a term of ojiprobrium. Chanal is perhaps the modern form of
8 Chandala, the outcast of the hills, so often mentioned in the Kajatarangini
9 and elsewhere.
10 658. The Koli and Dagi are fotind in great numbers throughout the
11 hills proper, and in no other jmrt of the Province. Unfortunately the Kolis
12 of the Native States were omitted when Table VIII A was being printed.
13 They will be found at the end of the table for those States, while the total
14 for the Province in the British territory tables is corrected in the errata.
15 They are almost without exception classed as Hindu. I have included under
16 tlie head Dagi those returned as Dagi, Chanal, Hali or Sepi. The 461
17 Diigis of tlie Ambala division returned tliemselves as Chanal. In the
18 Jiilandhar division 12,081 are returned as Diigi-KoH, 4,687 as Dagi-Chanal,
19 48 as Dagi-Barhai, and 1,188 as Sepi. The Dagis of tlie Hill States are all
20 returned as Chanal, except 3,228 shown as Dagi in Mandi and 550 in
21 Bilaspur, and the Halis of Chamlja. The HiiHs are all returned fi-om
22 Chamba, where they number 16,228. Major Marshall, the Superintendent
23 of that State, informs me that Hali is the name given in Chamba to Diigi or
24 Chanal ; and that the Halis are a low caste, much above the Dumna and
25 perhaps a little above the Chamiii-, who do all sorts of memal work and are
26 very largely employed in the fields. Tlicy will not iutermaiTy with the
27 Chamiir." The Sepi, the same gentleman informs me, is a superior kind of [P- 340]
28 Hali. The word is used in Amritsar and Ihc neighbouring districts for any
29 village menial who assists in agricul-
30 ture, just as Hali means nothing
31 more than ploughman in the plains.
32 Mr. Lyall classes both Sepis and
33 Iliilis with Dagis. The main sub-
34 divisions returned by the Kolis are given in the margin. The Dagis show
35 no large divisions. The Ilushyaiimr Kolis are said to be divided into two
36 sections, Andarla and Bfiharla, of which the former ranks higher and the latter
37 lower than the Chamar. '
38 659. The Rehar (Caste No. 176).— The Rehar or Rihara appears to be
39 very closely allied to the Diimna. He is found in the hills. Like the Dumna
40 he works in bamboo, but like the Hesi he travels about as a strolling minstrel.
41 He is said to make the trinkets worn by the Gaddi women, and to furnish the
42 music at Gaddi weddings. He is much dreaded as a sorcerei. Ho is an
43 outcast.
44 660. The Dosali (CasteNo. 178).— The Dosilli is a hill cast* of siiperior
45 standing to the Chamar, \vho makes the cups and platters of leaves which are
46 'Mr. Anderson notes on this, tliat in Kuln Digis, Kolis, Chainars, and in abort all outcasts,
47 are commonly described by the people as bdhar he (outsiders), as oi)posed to andar Tee (insiders),
48 which latter "term includes Kanets and the better castes. The words simply imply that the former
49 class must remain outside the place where food is coolccd and water kept, while the latter may go
50 inside. It is very probable that the terms Andarla and Baharla express the relation in which the
51 respective sections of Kolis stand to each other in tliis respect; and it may be that the two names
52 are applied to tlie Chamar and Kolian section respectively, which, as we have seen above, meet ou
53 the Hushyarpur and Kangra borders.
54 1. Barhai
55 2. BasehiTi
56 Koli DrrisiONB.
57 ... -1,004 3. Chauhan .
58 ... B,018 4. Digi
59 .. 11,016
60 .. 3,990