Contents: Preface. Language. I. Criminal tribes of the united provinces: 1. Aherias. 2. Badhaks. 3. Banjaras. 4. Barwars. 5. Baurias. 6. Berias. 7. Bhars. 8. Bhatras. 9. Bhatus. 10. Chain Mallahs. 11. Daleras. 12. Doms. 13. Dusadhs. 14. Gujars. 15. Haburas. 16. Jogi Pathan. 17. Kanjars. 18. Karwals. 19. Musahars. 20. Nats. 21. Oudhias. 22. Pasis. 23. Rinds. 24. Sansias. 25. Sanaurias. II. Criminal tribes of other provinces that frequent the united provinces: 26. Bhamptas. 27. Chhapparbands. 28. Marwari Baurias. Appendices. Bibliography. Index.

"As the Sanskrit word for caste--Varna--literally means colour, it may safely be inferred that some of the spirit of exclusiveness to be found in the system was due to the contact between a fair-skinned conquering people and their darker subjects.

This book has been compiled under the information it contains which has been mainly collected from the Criminal Investigation Department records and from various standard works on the subject of criminal castes and classes. It is outside the scope of the book to trace the origin, or discuss the varying features, of the caste system.

The criminal tribes of the United Provinces have for many years been the great stumbling-block in the path of law and order, and the various measures adopted to reform and reclaim them have been attended with little success.

As regards wandering tribes like the Haburas, Nats, Kanjars, Karwals, etc., it is likewise impossible to give accurate figures, as these tribes adopt many tribal aliases to evade police surveillance.

This book was compiled in 1912, but publication was delayed as the new Criminal Tribes Act had not by then come into force, and it was thought desirable that a note should be given on the tribes proclaimed under the act." (jacket)