Indische Palaographie von circa 350 a. Chr. – circa 1300 p. Chr. c48.s2.t2.4

c48.s2.t2.4

are coarse weavers, and in the Dekkan, acrobats, dancers and bad characters generally. Both these bodies have the appearance of belonging to the Kōl-Dravidian race, possibly through the admixture of local blood. In the same way, the Ḍōm of Dacca, long separated from their native country up the Ganges, have acquired characteristics different from those of the Ḍōm of Bihār. It is now generally believed that the Ḍōm were settled in force along the southern Himālaya at a very early period, and judging by the forts and strongholds called after them, they were in a dominant position, like the Dasyu encountered by the first Vedic immigrants. The Ḍōm still on the hills were enslaved by later comers, such as the Khasya and refugee Rājputs and Brāhmans. The community is divided into four groups, field-labourers, weavers, and metal-workers; cane-workers and the lower artisans; exorcists, porters and leather-workers, and, finally, musicians, mendicants, and — tailors. The Ḍōm of the plains, when settled, tend to establish separate castes of cane-workers (Bansphōṛā, Basōr), and labourers. In spite of efforts to get them to work themselves into a better position they seem to have no aspirations beyond their traditional occupations or a little petty cultivation. But in social intercourse they disown the nomads. It must be noted that the Ḍūm of the Panjab, whatever their nominal connection with the Ḍōm, are now an entirely separate community, both in occupation and social position.