49/364 In virtue of being Muhammadans they abstain from pork and liquor. Dr.Buchanan [424] quaintly described them as "Impudent fellows, who make long faces, squeak like pigs, bark like dogs, and perform many other ludicrous feats. They also dance and sing, mimicking and turning into ridicule the dancing boys and girls, on whom they likewise pass many jokes, and are employed on great occasions." The Bhand, in fact, seems to correspond very nearly to the court jester of the Middle Ages. A section of Oswal Bania and Halba. |