. Our troubles in Poona and the Deccan by Arthur Crawford. With numerous illus. by Horace Van Ruith . HE BHUNDAREES OR TODDY DRAWERS. These come from the Konkan, where they tend thecocoanut and betel (sooparce) palms, but numbers of themhave spread into the Deccan. They are employed on therailways as porters and gatekeepers, and in the police, butthey rarely enlist in the regular army, possii^ly becausemost of them, though broad in the chest and with immensemuscular development of the legs and arms, are below themilitary standard fn height. They arc a somewhat stolid,but good-natured race, ver
. Our troubles in Poona and the Deccan by Arthur Crawford. With numerous illus. by Horace Van Ruith . HE BHUNDAREES OR TODDY DRAWERS. These come from the Konkan, where they tend thecocoanut and betel (sooparce) palms, but numbers of themhave spread into the Deccan. They are employed on therailways as porters and gatekeepers, and in the police, butthey rarely enlist in the regular army, possii^ly becausemost of them, though broad in the chest and with immensemuscular development of the legs and arms, are below themilitary standard fn height. They arc a somewhat stolid,but good-natured race, very active and industrious, fairlyintelligent and notoriously trustworthy and honest. If they do not wear much clothing when climbing upand down their trees, it is because clothes would be in theway. Off duty they arc particularly fond of bright coloursand finery. A Bhundaree decked out in his gala dress, with BHUNDAREES ARE BUMPTIOUS. 209 a turban as broad as a cartwheel set jauntily on one sideof his head, heavy ear-rings, broad silver kirgooteeor waist-belt, and a showy shawl, is a goodly sight;. ?V^ BHUNDAREES. Their women are quite as addicted to gaudy decoration,and are said to be particularly virtuous. Bhundarees, however, are decidedly but harmlessly bump-tious and conceited: so there is a Mahratta saying, Bhun- 14 2IO OUR TROUBLES IN POONA AND THE DECCAN. daree zateet akud phar! which means There is muchcoxcombry in the Bhundaree caste ; or, Bhundarees arevery cocky. A Bhundaree once your friend is always your friend,once put in a position of trust he never betrays it, and heis truthful as Hindoos go. THE ARTISAN CLASSES. Sonars or goldsmiths head the artisan classes. Froma Brahmin by a Shudra wife was born a Nishada orgoldsmith, so says the Reverend Dr. Wilson ; but he addsin a note (vol. i, page 56): The Bombay goldsmiths,however, do not like to be associated with the Nishadas,and plead for being considered a sort of sub-Brahmin. TheSyadree Khanda gives to the Sonar mo
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