Caste and Race in India c6.36

c6.36

The Mang-garudis, a sub-division of the Mang-caste, are so called because they are snake-charmers; the Tokarphodes take their name from their occupation of splitting (phod) bamboo (tokar); the Nades are so called because they make "nadas" or ropes. The Mangmochis are leather-workers. Kakars make ropes of untanned hide.¹ Nhavis, the barbers of the Maratha country, have among their sub-castes Vajantri and Mashalji. The former are so called because they play music and the latter because they carry torches (mashal) before processions. Among Mahars of the Maratha country two of their sub-divisions are named Panya and Bele, the former from their working with leaves for making umbrellas and the latter from their making mats from chips of bamboo. In the Central Provinces the Yerande Telis, who are a sub-caste of the Teli caste, take their name from the fact that formerly they pressed only "erandi" or castor oil seed. The Sao Telis have given up oil-pressing and are now cultivators.¹