The Dangis were formerly, as already stated, of a quarrelsome
temperament, but they have now settled down and, though spirited,
are of a good disposition, and hard-working cultivators. They rank
slightly above the representative cultivating castes owing to their
former dominant position, and are still considered to have a good
conceit of themselves, according to the saying:
Tin men neh terah men,
Mirdang bajawe dere men,
or 'Though he belong neither to the three septs nor the thirteen septs,
yet the Dangi blows his own trumpet in his own house.' They are still,
too, of a fiery disposition, and it is said that the favourite dish
of gram-flour cooked with curds, which is known as _karhi_, is never
served at their weddings. Because the word _karhi_ also signifies
the coming out of a sword from its sheath, and when addressed to
another man has the equivalent of the English word 'Draw' in the
duelling days. So if one Dangi said it to another, meaning to ask
him for the dish, it might result in a fight. They are very backward
in respect of education and set no store by it. They consider their
traditional occupation to be military service, but nearly all of them
are now engaged in agriculture. At the census of 1901 over 2000 were
returned as supported by the ownership of land and 3000 as labourers
and farmservants. Practically all the remainder are tenants. They
are industrious, and their women work in the fields. The only crops
which they object to grow are _kusum_ or safflower and san-hemp. The
Nahonia Dangis, being the highest subcaste, refuse to sell milk or
_ghi_. The men usually have Singh as a termination to their names,
like Rajputs. Their dress and ornaments are of the type common in
the northern Districts. The women tattoo their bodies.