Indische Palaographie von circa 350 a. Chr. – circa 1300 p. Chr. c48.s2.t1.3

c48.s2.t1.3

In the lower Himālayan valleys of the Panjāb there is the Mēgh caste, who perform much the same duties as the Camār of the plains, but are rather higher in social esteem because they are largely weavers, and leave the dirtier offices of the village to lower castes, such as the Kōlī and Dāgī. The latter do the leather work in some parts, but elsewhere they put it on to the Kōlī or Canāl. All are of about the same class as the Camār, some even being subdivided under that title, and represent the earlier tribes of the locality, reduced to servitude by the later comers from the south or west. They resemble the lowest castes of the plains, too, in acting as pipers and drummers at village processions. South and west of the Vindhya, the caste is still known by the names of Cāmbhar, or Khālpō, but is quite unconnected with the northern communities of the former name. The leather work, too, is detached, more or less, from the menial offices, and is not intimately bound up with the village staff.