A History of the Mahrattas v1.c5.s3.31

v1.c5.s3.31

‘It is possible that fuller developments of the results of the Ethnographical Survey may tend to show that Marāthās are merely a heterogeneous population largely aboriginal in origin, living in Mahārāshtra and using the Marāthī language.² There is probably little racial distinction between Marāthās proper, Marāthā Kunbīs, and the numerous other occupational groups in the Deccan, that describe themselves as Marāthās, such as Marāthā Sutārs, Marāthā Kumbhārs, Marāthā Lohārs, Marāthā Parīts, &c. &c.³ Among the Parīts the term Marāthā is held to be equivalent to Kunbī Parīt.⁴ These numerous occupational groups are very similar in physical type to the Kunbīs. Language, residence and social organization are common to all of them. Occupation and the resulting social status form the existing lines of cleavage.’