Indische Palaographie von circa 350 a. Chr. – circa 1300 p. Chr. c48.s2.31.4

c48.s2.31.4

In the Central Provinces, the Kēvat has not abandoned the traditional occupation, and is found mainly along the Mahānadī and its affluents. There is a colony of this caste in east Bengal, where, however, they do not catch fish but buy up and re-tail the haul of the Kaibartta, whom they therefore consider their inferiors. Above the tract occupied by these castes, the Kahār, or Dhīmar, is by far the most important of the group, and with it comes the Jhīnvar of the Panjāb, still higher in position. All these are closely connected both by rank and functions. The latter are numerous and varied. The Kahār or Jhīnvar is a valuable member of the permanent village staff, and receives his share of the crops. Though low in relative rank he is pure, to the extent that he can bear water to all, and enter all but the inner penetralia of their houses. Indeed, in parts of Hindustān, one of the subdivisions is called Mahrā, because he is allowed inside even the women's apartments in the execution of his domestic duties. The Kahār is often a cultivator in the east, but to the west, he fishes, sinks wells, makes baskets, carries burdens and above all, provides the water for the refreshment of the peasant in the field. He has a special branch of cultivation under him, to wit, the growth of water-nuts (trapa bispinosa), in the village tanks. His wife, too, as has been mentioned above, is, the midwife of the Jāṭ and Rājput.