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KUNAITS.
(207)

The Kunaits, who are Hindoos, form the most numerous of the castes dwelling in the Cis Sutlej, Himalaya territory, and are said to be descended from Rajpoot fathers by women of lower caste, probably aboriginal. The origin of the tribe appears, however, to be extremely uncertain, and it is more probable they are portions of aboriginal tribes who were converted to Hindooism. As might be expected, the Kunaits of the upper ranges are strongly tinctured with Buddhism. There are temples of Devi or Kali, and those of the Buddhist faith, in all villages, and the people worship at both. Their marriages are conducted by Lama priests, according to the Buddhist ritual; and local families intermarry, whether Buddhists or nominal Hindoos. On the southern faces of the hills, however, the Kunaits are exclusively Hindoo. They employ Brahmin instead of Buddhist priests, and worship Devi or Kali. They are better educated than their northern brethren, and are a very intelligent class. All the ministers of the petty hill states belong to that sect; and some of them, according to their class, are highly educated, not only being good accountants, and possesing a good deal of shrewd, general information, but able to read sacred books, and to become acquainted with Hindoo law. The class at large are agriculturists, and are industrious and respectable farmers. In the higher ranges the Kunaits are merchants also, and carriers; and it is through their lands that most of the trade with Tibet passes. They use sheep as beasts of burthen. Thus Kunaits may be seen alike in the towns of Tartary as in the cities of Northern India; but they do not settle in the latter localities, and are seldom seen far from the skirts of the Himalayas.

The strange custom of polyandry prevails among the Kunaits of the northern localities. One woman is the wife of all the brothers of the family. While one brother is left at home with the wife, the others are absent on their business. When one of these returns, the other goes away. Thus the routine is perfectly well understood. It is strange that the Kunaits should continue to prefer this detestable custom to the practice of each having his own wife, which prevails