220 
fee ealled “ roosoom,” a per-centage on the govern- 
ment demand on every village. Under the British 
Government his oceupation qua “ deshmükh ” is 
gone, and most are now pensioners. The subject 
of the present sketch, however, is the hereditary 
“ deshmükh ” of Khangaum, and, while retaining 
that honorary title, he acts as “ patel,” and has 
other duties, which he discharges with considerable 
abihty. The pensioned “ deshmukhs ” have been 
found very useful, as they are the depositories of 
mueh valuable local Information, historical and 
traditional. 
773 (5,229.) The “Patel.”—The “patel” under the 
old government came third in the list of village 
officials, taking his place after the “ deshmükh ” 
and the “ deshpandia.” Now that these offlces 
are abolished, he is the final link in the chain 
connecting the government with the people follow- 
ing the “ tehsildar,” to whom it is his business to 
report all occurrences in the village of which he 
is head man. It is his business to collect govern 
ment demands of all kinds, to assist the police in 
detecting crime and apprehending offenders, to 
carry out Orders issued by competent authorities, 
to make transit arrangements for travellers of all 
sorts, but particularly for officials; to supply 
necessaries in the way of food, such as sheep, 
milk, fowls, eggs, &c. to all who encamp in his 
village. He is usually a man of some substance, 
and he is paid at the rate of five per Cent, on the 
revenue collections of each year; so that his official 
income, ealled “ ling,” varies with the amount 
of revenue collected. The gateway behind the 
figure in the sketch shows rudely the usual entrance 
to a Marathi village. 
77-1 (5,230). The “ Kulkurni.”—The “külkurni” 
or “patwari” is the village accountant, scribe, 
and letter writer. He is usually in attendance on 
the “ patel,” whose accounts he keeps. It is his 
duty to keep correct and complete records of as- 
sessments, collections, balances, &c. of each village 
on forms supplied to him by the “tehsildar.” He 
assists in the eutcherry, and he writes letters and 
petitions for the villages. He receives a “ ling,” 
like the “ patel,” of five per cent. on the government 
revenue derived from the village. 
775 (5,321). The “ Mahajun.”—The “mahajun,” 
banker, or “ soucar ” is often a wealthy man ; 
nearly always in comfortable cireumstances. He 
trades in cotton and lends money at high rates of 
interest, and his dass has been freely accused of 
usury and oppression. Before the Indian cotton 
trade received the impetus given to it by the 
American war, and before markets were established 
where the “ ryot ” could dispose of his produce at 
first hand, it often happened that he was hopelessly 
in debt to the “ mahajun,” whose System of ac 
counts was contrived on a principle of compound 
interest, so elaborate that each season only seemed 
to enmesh the cultivator more firmly in the toils. 
The subject of the sketch is a “ Marwari,” a race 
which has a special talent for money lending and 
commerce. On the other hand, it is alleged that 
his presence is indispensible, and that he is rather 
a blessing than a curse. The truth lies between 
the two extremes, and there can be no doubt that 
in a healthy state of trade, where competition and 
Publicity are secured.therapacity of the “mahajun,” 
if he is rapacious, will of necessity be checked, 
and he will find his own place as a useful if always 
somewhat eager trader. The “ Marwari ” has few 
interests beyond money getting, and he is perhaps 
more obstinately wedded to degraded forms of 
Hindoo worship than any other race. 
776 (5,232). The “Josi.”—The “josi”is the village 
priest, and comes of a line of priests. He is of 
Bamun caste, and subsists mainly on the voluntary 
offerings in money and grain of the villagers. His 
chief duty is to read the “ pancham ” or almanac ; 
it is also his business on auspicious days for eom- 
mencing undertakings, journeys, and the like; to 
recite mantras and perform the ceremonies of mar- 
riage; to decide questions of observance and to 
receive back into caste fellowship those who acci- 
dentally or otherwise have violated its ordinances. 
The “josi” is usually a respectable stay-at-home 
member of the Community, and is not to be con- 
founded with those holy men who wander about 
clad only in a film of grey dust and ashes. 
777 (5,233). The “ Gärpagari.”—The “garpagäri” 
is a mild kind of wizard, and in some sort a priest, 
although not attached to any temple or shrine. 
His chief function is to avert hailstorms from the 
crops—“ gärä ” is the Marathi Word for hail—and 
to herald the approach of rain. He also gives 
charms against sickness in man or beast, and per- 
forms incantations. He is not exactly a rain maker, 
like the medicine men of African villages; but 
although he disclaims in time of drought the power 
of bringing rain, he is not loath to take the credit 
of it when it comes. The most striking part of his 
magic art is the noise he makes on a black huck 
horn, or at times on a conch shell. He is a recog- 
nised and highly respectable Institution in Berar, 
and he receives tithe like any vicar; that is to say, 
one “päeli” (about four seers) of grain from each 
cultivation, besides fees for charms, amulets, and 
special cases. In the neighbouring province of 
Khandeish an ordinary “kunbi ” takes the name 
and performs the duties of the official “ gärpagari” 
of Berar, and when hail is actually falling near a 
“ pan ” ])lantation he blows his conch to prevent 
it doing any harm. The “ pan ” leaves, however, 
frequently suffer severely from hailstorms. 
778 (5,234). The “Dhobi.”—The “dhobi” is the 
washerman, and washes the clothes of all who can 
afford it, always excepting those of the Dhers and 
other out castes who have their own washermen 
and barbers. He is paid in grain at harvest, and 
in cash sometimes. He makes sad havoc of the 
garments entrusted to him, but in large towns he 
attainsto great skill in the getting up and finishing 
of “ fine things.” 
779 (5,235). The Barber or “ Ilajäm. ”—The duties 
of the “ hajäm ” or barber are to shave all villagers 
and perform duly such hair-cutting, nail trimming 
and corn extracting as may be necessary, and to 
keep a light burning every night in the house of 
the head man of the village “ patel ” and in the 
villiage eutcherry ; to carry torches at festivals, 
and attend on government officials when they 
visit the place. Ile is usually a great gossip, and 
knows everybody’s business. On the death of a 
villager he attends to shave the head of the widow, 
and to take off her Ornaments just before the 
body is carried to the place of cremation. He is 
paid in grain at harvest by the cultivators and by 
others in cash as he performs his business. He 
carries the Utensils of his trade in a square leathern 
valise; these are simple, and consist of a number 
of country made razors, roughly made and 
fastened into handles like penholders, country