Julaha

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This article is an extract from

THE TRIBES and CASTES of BENGAL. By H.H. RISLEY, INDIAN CIVIL SERVICE, OFFICIER D'ACADÉMIE FRANÇAISE. Ethnographic Glossary. CALCUTTA: Printed at the Bengal Secretariat Press. 1891. .

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Julaha

This name is repudiated by all classes of Muhammadan weavers, being considered as an abusive one, and synonymous with the Arabic "Ahmaq," a fool.

Various humorous stories are told of the stupidity of the Julahas, one of the favourite in Dacca being the tale of how a party of them tried to escape from Dhemra, a celebrated weaving village. They jumped on board a boat at night, forgetting, however, to unfasten the painter, and after rowing with might and main all night, at daybreak, much to their astonishment, the boat was still at the ghat of Dhemra.

After puzzling their brains for some time they came to the sage conclusion that, though desirous of leaving Dhemra, Dhemra was unwilling to part with them, and had followed in the wake of their boat. When general stupidity is imputed to a body of men in India, we may surely infer that they have become converts to a new religion, or belong to a servile aboriginal tribe. The Julahas, there is every reason for believing, belonged to a despised Hindu caste, who in a body became converts to Muhammadanism.

Their customs, observed with that punctiliousness peculiar to converts, are essentially Shiah. During the month of Muharram they do not comb their hair, chew betle, or eat from vessels in which fish have been dressed. Besides, on the fifth, sixth, and seventh days of that month they wear the "Baddhi " and "Kafni," badges of the two Martyrs.

Their headman is called Mu'tabar, and the honorary titles among them are Malik, Mundle, Karigar, and Shiqdar.

In former days the Julahas were peculiar among Muhammadans in never having the "Kabin," or marriage settlement, drawn up in the presence of the Qazi; but of late years the practice has been introduced, and in addition a "Mahr-namah," or deed of settlement, is executed.