Chaini,, Chain, Chai
This article is an extract from
THE TRIBES and CASTES of BENGAL. Ethnographic Glossary. Printed at the Bengal Secretariat Press. 1891. . |
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Contents |
Chain, Chai
Origin
Barchdin, a cultivating and fishing casto of Behar and Central Bengal, probably an offshoot from some non-Aryan tribe. The chains are found in Oudh, where Mr. carnegy connects them with the Tharu, Raji, Nat, and other broken and gypsy-like tribes inhabiting the base of the Himalayas, and traces in their physiognomy features peculiar to Mongolian races. Mr. Sherring; again, in one place speaks of them as a sub-caste of Mallahs, in another as a class of 'jugglers, thimble-riggers, and adventurers, who attend fairs and other festivals like men of the same profession in England.' A sub-caste of ihe Nunias bears the name chain, but the Nunias do not admit any affinity. Mr. O. F. Magrath, in his Memorandum on the Tribes castes of Behar, published in the Bengal Census Report of 1872, says they closely resemble Binds in their occupations, being chiefly boat¬men, who also engage in fishing. Chains are thickest south of the Ganges, while Binds are most numerous in North Behar. Mr. Magrath adds that their reputation as thieves, impostors, and swindlers is in his experience not altogether deserved, as the men whom the common people, and even the police of Behar, describe as Chains usually turned out on inquiry to be Maghaya Doms, Nats, or Raj wars. The termchaipani,, however, is a common expression for stealing among Hindi-speaking natives, while throughout Bengal individuals belonging to the caste are watched with great suspicion.
Internal structure and marriage
The muls or exogamous sections of the Chains in Behar throw no light on the origin of the caste, as with Internal structure and one exception they appear to have been bor¬ rowed from the Brahmauical. Chains practise adult as well as infant-marriage, but the latter is considered more respectable. Polygamy is permitted if the first wife is barren or suffers from an incurable disease or any serious bodily defect. A widow may marry again. Though not compelled to marry her deceased husband's younger brother, it is deemed right and proper for her to do so if such a relative exists. The standard of female morality appears to be lax, and sexual indiscretions are leniently dealt with provided that they occur within the limit of the caste. If a woman give rise to scandal by an intrigue with a member of the caste, she may either obtain absolution by giving a feast to the brethren, or her husband may apply to the caste council for a divorce. In the latter case she may marry her lover. For offences outside the circle of the caste, no mode of atonement is appointed; and a woman who goes wrong with a member of either a higher or a lower caste is turned out of the Ohain community, and generally becomes a public prostitute.
Religion
As among other impure castes, a Dasnami Gosain acts as guru, a degraded Maithil Brahman as purohit. In Oudh the Chains worship Mahabira, the monkey-god, Sat Narayana, and Devi Patan, while they drink spirits and feast on pork . Those whom we find in Behar, like other fisber tribes, are followers of the Panch I iriya creed, while the Bengal members of the caste worship Roila Baba. Both freely indulge in spirits whenever a favourable opportunity presents itself.
Social status and occupation
In point of social standing chains rank with Binds, Nunias, and Pasis; but nowhere do they rise to the distinc¬ tion, which Binds and Nunias sometimes attain, of gi vmg water and certain kind of sweetmeats to Brahmans. In Behar and Central Bengal they are cultivators holding lands as occupancy or, more frequently, non-occupancy raiyats. Others, again, are landless day-labourers or boatmen and fishermen, catching mullet with weirs of sirki mat, as the Binds do. In Oudh and the North-Western Provinces they are cultivators, and prepare khair" or catechu. In Eastern Bengal they appear as traders in grain and pulse.
The following statement shows the number and distribution of Chains in 1872 and 1881 :¬
Notes
This is one of the largest and most scattered fisher tribes of Northern India. In Bengal they number 67,300 persons, chiefly congregated in Maldah and Murshidabad, while in the nine Eastern districts only 450 are returned. In Bihar as many as 41,686 are registered, being massed in Patna and Mungir, while the Santal pergunnahs contain 17,576. According to Buchanan1 Nator in Rajshahi was, in his day, the centre of the tribe; but Maldah now returns more than any other district of Bengal.
The Chain are found in Oudh, where Carnegy2 connects them with the Tharu, Raji, Nat, and other unclassified tribes, inhabiting
1 "Eastern India," i. 173.
2 "Races of Oudh," pp. 8, 14.
the base of the Himalayas, and traces in their physiognomy features peculiar to Mongolian races. Sherring,1 again, in one place speaks of them as a subdivision of Mallahs, in another as a predatory tribe of Oudh and Gorakhpur. Beverley, on the other hand, thinks they resemble the Binds although the Chains are most numerous south of the Ganges, the Binds in Northern Bihar. It is most probable that, like other fisher castes, the Chains are remmants, or offshoots, of an aboriginal race, having no relationship with the true Aryan Hindus.
Wherever found, the Chains are notorious as thieves, and "extraordinary clever impostors and thimbleriggers,"2 although Mr. Beverley asserts that this bad character is not altogether deserved. The term "Chai-pana," however, is a common term for stealing among the Hindi speaking natives, while throughout Bengal individuals belonging to the caste are watched with great suspicion.
At their homes Chains are cultivators, as well as boatmen and fishermen, catching mullet with the "Sirki" mat, as the Binds do. In Oudh, and the north-western provinces they are cultivators and prepare Khair, or catechu. In Eastern Bengal they appear as traders in grain and pulse.
As among other impure tribes, a Dasnami Gosain acts as Guru, a degraded Maithila Brahman as Purohit. In Oudh they worship Mahabira, the Monkey god, Sat Narayana, and Devi Patan, while they drink spirits, and feast on pork. Those who come to Bengal, like other fisher tribes, are followers of the Panch Piriya creed, and worshippers of Koila Baba, freely indulging in spirits whenever a favourably opportunity presents itself.
Chaini, Chain or Chai
A sub caste of caste of Mallahs in Behar.
