Note 71 — Volume II.
Reading edition
4. On their relations to Brâhmans and Râjputs a competent observer, Mr. J. R. Reid, writes71:—“Their Brâhman and Chhatri neighbours generally insinuate that they are of mixed breed, the offspring of Brâhman men and Chhatri women, or of Chhatri men and Brâhman women. By other castes they are regarded as a kind of Chhatri, and are spoken of, and indeed often speak of themselves, as Bhuînhâr Thâkurs. Their clans (gotra) are the same as those of the Brâhmans, and, like the latter, the Bhuînhârs wear a thread (janeû) ninety-six hands breadth (chaua) in length, the Chhatri’s thread being eighty only. They do not perform priestly offices, nor receive offerings given from a religious motive (dân, dakshina); but they are saluted with the pranâm, or pâêlagi, and return the salutation with a blessing (asîrbâd). Physically they are of the same type as the Brâhman or Chhatri. In character they resemble the former more than the latter; and the following proverbs are in vogue:—