h social position.

In Madras a curious connection exists between the Kapus and Balijas
and the impure Mala caste. It is said that once upon a time the Kapus
and Balijas were flying from the Muhammadans and came to the northern
Pallar river in high flood. They besought the river to go down and let
them across, but it demanded the sacrifice of a first-born child. While
the Kapus and Balijas were hesitating, the Malas who had followed them
boldly sacrificed one of their children. Immediately the river divided
before them and they all crossed in safety. Ever since then the Kapus
and Balijas have respected the Malas, and the Balijas formerly even
deposited the images of the goddess Gauri, of Ganesha, and of Siva's
bull with the Malas, as the hereditary custodians of their gods. [114]

Bania

List of Paragraphs

1. _General notice._
2. _The Banias a true caste: use of the name._
3. _Their distinctive occupation._
4. _Their distinctive status._
5. _The endogamous divisions of the Banias._
6. _The Banias derived from the Rajputs._
7. _Banias employed as ministers in Rajput courts._
8. _Subcastes._
9. _Hindu and Jain subcastes: divisions among subcastes._
10. _Exogamy and rules regulating marriage._
11. _Marriage customs._
12. _Polygamy and widow-marrriage._
13. _Disposal of the dead and mourning._
14. _Religion: the god Ganpati or Ganesh._
15. _Diwali festival._
16. _Holi festival._
17. _Social customs: rules about food._
18. _Character of the Bania._
19. _Dislike of the cultivators towards him._
20. _His virtues._
21. _The moneylender changed for the worse._
22. _The enforcement of contracts._
23. _Cash coinage and the rate of interest._
24. _Proprietary and transferable rights in land._
25. _The Bania as a landlord._
26. _Commercial honesty._

List of Subordinate Articles on Subcastes

1. Agarwala, Agarwal.
2. Agrahari.
3. Ajudhiabasi, Audhia.
4. Asathi.
5. Charnagri, Channagri, Samaiya.
6. Dhusar, Bhargava Dhusar.
7. Dosar, Dusra.
8. Gahoi.
9. Golapurab, Golahre.
10. Kasarwani.
11. Kasaundhan.
12. Khandelwal.
13. Lad.
14. Lingayat.
15. Maheshri.
16. Nema.
17. Oswal.
18. Parwar.
19. Srimali.
20. Umre.

1. General notice.

_Bania, Bani, Vani, Mahajan, Seth, Sahukar._--The occupational