Money is a great and rare article, and quite a marvel,
For it makes everyone claim for you the strongest friendship.
“_Banjāra._”—Derived either from the Sanscrit word “Banj,” meaning
Trade, or from the Persian word “Brinj,” Rice, and “Ar,” Carrying.
The Banjāras are wandering tribes, leading a sort of gipsy life. They
possess many valuable pack animals, and carry their own grain, and that
also of farmers, from one part of the country to another. As a rule
they are well-to-do.
They are divided into several “Gôts,” or original races, some of them
children of the stock of “Thurkee,” “Baidh,” and “Subanna,” and many
claim “Gour Brahman” as their ancestor. Nearly every community has a
Chief, or “Naik,” or “Tanda,” who lives a life of asceticism, and to
whom they yield implicit obedience. Some Banjāras are known to engage
in gang robberies, but this is rare with most of the tribes.
They are to be found both amongst the Mahomedans and Hindus. Amongst a
particular class of them “bull worship” is said to exist. When sickness
occurs the sick man is led to the feet of the bullock “Hatadiya,”
devoted to the god “Balaji,” a Hindu deity of Gujerat. On this animal
no burden is ever laid, but he moves steadily at the head of the
convoy, and the place he lies down on when tired, _that_ they make
their halting-place for the day.
At his feet they make their vows when difficulties overtake them; and
in illness, whether of themselves or cattle, they trust to his worship
for a cure.—_Crooke._
They are believed to have been originally the grain-carriers for the
old Moghul armies, and had many privileges given to them in
consequence. Distance and climate do not stand in the way of their
conveying grain from one part of the country to the other, and being
held in fear by other natives, they are never molested or interfered
with. They are gradually dying out, as the traffic in grain is being
carried on by other means.
“_Faithful Dog._”—Dogs play a prominent part in the Folk-tales of most
countries, and in India they have ever been the cherished companions of
many tribes. With the Banjāras they are the sentinels of their
encampment; as it is so well known they are equally so to the Bedouins
in the desert. It is believed by many that they are in touch with the
spirits of their dead, and a sure protection from evil influences.
There are many legends and omens about them in the district, too
numerous to mention here.
It is not lucky for a dog to lie on its back.
It is not lucky for a dog to be given to howl.
It _is_ lucky for a strange dog to follow one home.
And so on.
When the natives see the wild dog in the jungles, (and they are still
existing there) they marvel at the triumph that man has had over them,
to bring them from such a fierce and savage state to be so close a
friend and companion.
Crooke says there is an old bit of folk-lore from the Mirzapoor
district, where the merchant kills his faithful dog near a tank.
Our thoughts will also take us to the old Welsh tradition of Prince
Llewellyn’s hound, still kept in memory in the name of the village,
Beddgelert, or grave of “Gelert.”
These are but further instances of the common groundwork of all
folk-lore.
There are two breeds of the Banjāra dogs known in the district. They
are not unlike the “Gudhi” dogs bred in the Kangra district, but devoid
of their woolly and shaggy coat. The ears with one of the breeds are
carried erect, and they stand over two feet in height. They are devoted
to their individual master, and remain attached to him till death. They
seem to anticipate his every wish and thought, and almost to assume a
certain likeness to him.
An unfaithful dog is spoken of as:
Khandhâh peendhâh saeent-dha ghur
Vungh Bhonkdhâh kassâe dha ghur.