They stand distinctly below the Khatri, and perhaps below the Arora, and are for the most part engaged in petty shopkeeping, though the Bhatias of Dera Ismail Khan are described as belonging to a widely-spread and enterprising mercantile community.

They are very strict Hindus, far more so than the other trading classes of the western Punjab; and eschew meat and liquor.

They do not practise widow-marriage." Mr.Crooke's account [426] leaves little doubt that the Bhatias are a branch of the Bhatti or Yaduvansi Rajputs of Jaisalmer who have gone into trade; and Colonel Tod expresses the same view: "The Bhattiah is also one of the equestrian order converted into the commercial, and the exchange has been to his advantage.

His habits are like those of the Arora, next to whom he ranks as to activity and wealth." [427] "The chief occupation of the Bhatias," Mr.Crooke states, "is moneylending, and to this they add trade of all kinds, agriculture, landholding and Government service.

Many of them go on expeditions to Arabia, Kabul, Bokhara and other distant places of business.