The Kasars of Jahlam

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This article is an extract from PANJAB CASTES SIR DENZIL CHARLES JELF IBBETSON, K.C. S.I. Being a reprint of the chapter on The Races, Castes and Tribes of the People in the Report on the Census of the Panjab published in 1883 by the late Sir Denzil Ibbetson, KCSI Lahore: Printed by the Superintendent, Government Printing, Punjab, 1916. Indpaedia is an archive. It neither agrees nor disagrees with the contents of this article. Secondly, this has been scanned from a book. You can help by sending the corrected version to the Facebook page, Indpaedia.com. All information used will be duly acknowledged.

The Kasars of Jahlam

The Gakkhars, Sainis, and other castes mentioned above are described in their proper places. But the Kasars of Jahlam have apparently returned themselves in a body as Mughals, for no fewer than 8,527 of the Jahlam Mughals show Kasar as their clan. These Kasars occupy the north of the Dhani country about Bubial and Chaupeda. They say that their old home was in JammU; and that they joined the armies of Babar and so obtained possession of their territory which was then almost uninhabited. Their present claim to 31ughal origin is evidently suggested by their association with the JMughal power, and is apparently a new idea ; for up to the time of the Census itself they seem to have enjoyed the rare dis tinction of being one of the few Salt-range tribes who claimed neither Rajput, Awan, nor Mughal descent. They are described by Mr. Thomson as a pas sionate and revengeful race, careless of human life, but good citKivators though somewhat exacting landlords. Envy is llieir most odious quality; every family is distracted with mean jealousies wich are sometimes prosecuted with astonishing rancour, and not imseldom degenerate into criminal greed.

It is fair to add that their vices seem to be gradually losing strength. Many I have Done ableto obtain satisfactory information regarding this word. The city of Kayan was the capital of'Kai Kayus, Kai Kubad, and Kai Khasru ; and some pay that the gakkhars call themselves Kayani hecausc they claim descent from these thrce Kings. Others say that the Mughahs proper, and especially the Chngliattas and Qizilbashes, are Kaytinis; and that the Gakkhars call themselves Kanani or Canaanites hecausc they claim descent from Jacob and .Joseph who lived in Canaan ; and that it is this word which has beeu misread Kayani. of the headmen are personally very engaging, good horsemen, keen sportsmen, with frank manners and a good presenee ; and it is sometimes difficult to understand how they should have such a mean side to their character/'