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[edit] Patial

A mat-making caste of Eastern Bengal who deny that they ever cultivate the soil with their own hands. Some say that they are a branch of the Kayasths, but no tangible evidence in support of this view Beems to be available. The mats made by them, coarse, dark-coloured, and thick, are called Motapatl, to distinguish them from the finer kiuds made at Silhet, known as SftalpatL The only plant cultivated for mat-making is the Mathara. tMaranta dicliotoma) , which grows IlL'(uriantly in low, marshy country. It flowers in June and July, and is cut, while still green, about the middle of September, the stems being divided into slips and hung from the rafters, and when required for use steeped in water. Among the Silhet F~itials women make the mats; consequently the money value of a girl who is a skilful workman is considerable, and a father receives from three to five hundred rupees when his daughter marries. In Dacca, on the other hand, men are the sole workers. Although chiefly found in Dacca, the Fatials are scattered throughout Eastern Bengal, wherever the nature of the soil admits of the cultivation of the Mal'anta. 'fhe caste is eclusively Vaish¬nava. The headman has the title PradMn, or Mu'tahar.

[edit] Notes

This is a branch of one of the Navasakha castes, probably of the Kayath, as the family names are identical with those of its lower divisions, but it is regarded as impure.

The sole occupation of this caste is the manufacture of mats, and they deny that they ever cultivate the soil with their own hands. The mats, coarse, dark-coloured, and thick, are called Mota-pati, to distinguish them from the finer kinds made at Silhet known as Sital-pati. The only plant cultivated for mat-making is the "Mathara"1 (Maranta dichotoma), which grows luxuriantly in the low, marshy parts of Bikrampur, around the houses of the peasantry. It flowers in June and July, and, while still green, is cut down about the middle of September, the stems being divided into slips are hung from the rafters, and when required for use steeped in water.

Among the Silhet Patials women make the mats; consequently the money value of a girl who is a skilful workwoman is considerable, and a father receives from three to five hundred rupees when his daughter marries. In Dacca, on the other hand, men are the sole workers.

Although chiefly found in Bikrampur, the Patials are scattered throughout Eastern Bengal, wherever the nature of the soil admits of the cultivation of the Maranta. The caste is exclusively Vaishnava, and the headman is known as the Pradhan, or Mu'tabar.

The only other caste that makes mats is the Doi, or Patia Das.

1 Or Matula, Bengal hemp.