Indische Palaographie von circa 350 a. Chr. – circa 1300 p. Chr. c48.s5.2.1

c48.s5.2.1

§ 70. **Shepherds and Woolworkers** (4,265,600). These two occupations go together, and are exercised by several communities of considerable numerical importance. Their social rank varies a good deal, but, in spite of alleged descent from the Jādav family of Mathurā which some of them claim, they stand, on the whole, lower than the breeders of horned cattle. There are, however, exceptions, such as the Gaḍḍi of the Panjāb Himālaya, who are of the same stock as the Khatrī, and rank but little below the Hill Rājputs. They are admittedly wellborn, and state that they were driven from northern Rājputāna by the Muslim and took refuge in the Kāngra and Chamba hills. Like all the shepherd classes, they weave the wool of their herds, both sheep and goats, into strong homespun and blankets. They are also credited with being very skilful and industrious cultivators of the upland regions affected by them. They have no connection with the caste of the same name along the Jamnā, which is Muslim and a branch of the Ghōsī, mentioned above amongst the cattle-breeding castes. The chief shepherd caste of the Ganges valley is the Gaḍariyā, or Gaṛēṛī, as it is called in Bihār. In that Province it ranks higher than in the west, but its home is alleged to be in the latter, and some of its divisions derive their origin from Marāṭhā shepherd clans who came north through Mālvā and Gvalior. One of the chief shrines at which the caste worships is in the last named State.