History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c84.s6.t1.6

v5.c84.s6.t1.6

This geographical advantage had given Gujrat a very composite population and a large foreign strain from very early times. In this province the fire-worshipping Persians fleeing before the Muslim advance into Iran had found a new home, and today with all their contact with Europe Gujrati has not ceased to be the language of their homes. Here was the chief seat of that branch of the Ismailia heretics of Islam who are popularly known as Bohras. Another unorthodox Muslim sect, the Mahdavis, muster strong in certain of its localities, such as Palanpur. Isolated Arab, Turkish Persian and Afghan families and even sections of clans have settled here, and these, along with the remnants of the Muslim tribes that had held sway over the land before the coming of the Mughals, have given an unparallelled diversity to the racial complexion of the province. On the Hindu side the population is even less homogeneous. Leaving aside the foreign immigrants of forgotten antiquity who have been completely absorbed into Hindu society,—like the Nagar Brahmans, the Guhilots, the Hunas and Indo-Scythians,—there were in the fringe areas of Gujrat in the 17th century many primitive races not yet broken to civilization and orderly political life. Such were the Kolis in the broken jungly country of Dang (in the south), the Bhils in Baglana (south-east), the wild Rajputs and pseudo-Rajputs in the eastern frontier and the predatory Grasias scattered throughout the province, besides the Kathis of the west.