Indische Palaographie von circa 350 a. Chr. – circa 1300 p. Chr. c48.s5.1.2

c48.s5.1.2

The titles of their subdivisions, which are very numerous, indicate in some instances, a desert origin, a hypothesis which is borne out by their appearance. They are usually a tall, sinewy race, their women especially being remarkable for their powerful physique. Their dress, too, is that of the west rather than of Hindūstān, and one of their sub-castes bears the distinctively western appellation of Cāraṇ. The Lavāṇa, again, another section, indicates by its connection with salt a trade from the coast or Sāmbhar lake. The colonies above referred to appear to have been left in the south after expeditions by various Muslim leaders across the continent to the Dekkan and Karnatic. The settlers seem to have made no attempt to regain the north, but acquired land, and to some extent adopted the vernaculars of their neighbours. It is said, however, that the primitive customs and beliefs of the tribe are more carefully maintained by the Dekkan than by the North-country Banjāra. Other branches are found in Central India and the Panjāb. One section has been converted to Islam, under the name of Turkiyā, a title which has led, by one of the humours of the Census, to its being numbered amongst the Osmanli and other Turks, though the farthest region to which it ascribes its origin is Mūltān. In the Panjāb, too, a good many Banjārā are called Sikhs, but this refers to the creed of Nānak, rather than to the more exclusive doctrines of Guru Govind.