=============+=======
District. |Number.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~+~~~~~~~
Shâhjahânpur | 66
Gonda | 38
Bahrâich | 94
+~~~~~~
Total |198
=============+======
Ghosi [453]—(Sanskrit ghosha, root ghush, “to shout,” as he herds his
cattle).—A tribe of Muhammadan herdsmen. There can be little doubt that
like the Gaddi most of them are Ahîrs who have been converted to Islâm.
To the east of the Province they claim a Gûjar origin and profess to be
divided into three endogamous sub-castes—Lilâr, Chopar, and Gaddi
Gûjar. In North Oudh again they have three endogamous sub-castes—Padhân
or Pradhân; Gaddi and Lâla. The detailed Census lists give 111
sections; but it is at present impossible to distinguish the exogamous
from the endogamous groups. These are of the usual type, some local
like Deswâli, Kanaujiya, Maghariya, Purabiya; and others following the
names of well known castes and septs, such as Baghela, Behna,
Chaudhari, Chauhân, Gaddi, Gahlot, Gaur, Guâl, Guâlbans, Jâdubansi,
Pathân, Râjput, Sayyid, Shaikh, Sadîqi, Tomar, Turk. The word Ghosi is
in fact rather vaguely used. In the Panjâb [454] it is applied only to
Musalmâns, and is often given to any cow-herd or milkman of that
religion, whether Gûjar, Ahîr, or of any other caste, just as Guâla is
used for a Hindu cow-herd. In Lucknow the Ghosis have no other
employment but the keeping of milch cattle, chiefly buffaloes of all
kinds, and they breed buffaloes. They sell milk to Halwâis, and make
inspissated milk (khoa). The Guâla, on the other hand, is generally an
Ahîr or Gadariya, and keeps both buffaloes and cows, and frequently
cultivates some land. They seldom sell milk and curds to Halwâis. The
Shîrfarosh or Dûdhwâla is a still more general term. They are of no
special caste, but are generally Ahîrs, Lodhas, Kurmis, Gadariyas,
Halwâis, or Brâhmans.
[Manners and customs.] 2. The Ghosi conforms to the rules of Islâm, but
retains, like many of these lower Muhammadan tribes, some Hindu beliefs
and practices. To the east of the Province they say that the ancestor
of the race was one Daya Râm Gûjar, who was in high favour with one of
the Muhammadan Emperors, and was by him induced to accept the faith of
Islâm. He was settled in the neighbourhood of Karra Mânikpur, which
they regard as their head-quarters. They profess to follow the Sunni
sect, and to the east worship as their tribal deities the Pânchonpîr,
Imâm Sâhib, and Ghâzi Miyân. To these they offer sugar and water and
cream. Like all Muhammadans they bury their dead and worship the
spirits of the sainted dead at the Shab-i-barât and ‘Id. On the former
feast they offer the halwa sweetmeat and cakes of wheaten flour; at the
latter vermicelli (siwaiyân), milk, and dates. In North Oudh they
worship Gorakh, Shâh Madâr, Sayyid Sâlâr, and Bhairon, besides various
saints and martyrs (pîr, shahîd). They employ Brâhmans to fix the
auspicious times for marriage and other observances. To the east of the
Province they will not eat beef nor will they eat with any Muhammadans
who consume it. This is said not to be the case in North Oudh. They
rank rather low in the social scale, and are proverbial for their
stupidity and for never taking to any other occupation, but the care of
cattle and dealing in milk, butter, curds, etc.