VOAKNALI. 345 small Christian community. The Muhammadans of Noakhali are probably of very mixed origin. They consider themselves to be the descendants of immigrants from the west, and of locally made converts ; and there is evidence to show that the Muhammadans have constituted the majority of the population in these parts for the last three hundred years. The Afgháns are believed to have fled to the frontier Districts of Bengal after their defeat by Khan Azím in 1583. There must, however, be a large element of Hindu blood among them; for it is said that, besides the children born in Muhammadans by Hindu women, it was their custom to purchase other children, and educate them in the Muhammadan faith. There may also be a small infusion of Arab blood; and hence the various types of face observable. Conversions to the faith of Islám still take place, but they are of rare occurrence. As a whole, the Muhammadan cultivators are a thrifty class. They seldom spend money on passing enjoyments; and the chief ambition of a Muhammadan husbandman is to save enough to buy a small estate, which will give him independence and position among his neighbours. Among the Hindus, the most important castes are-Brahmans, the priestly class, who are also landholders, and are largely employed as ministerial officers and clerks in the Government courts and offices, number in 1881, 10,963; Jugis, weavers, 37,879; Káyasths, the writer caste of Bengal, largely employed in Government service, and as pleaders, accountants, etc., 37,565; Chandáls, a low semi-Hinduized aboriginal tribe, mostly engaged in agriculture, 18,644; Kaibarttás, agriculturists, 16,151; Dhobís, washermen, 15,151; Näpits, barbers, 12,671; Jaliyás, fishermen, 8602; and Sunris, wine sellers and general traders, 5981. The Christian community in 1881 consisted of 8 Europeans, 19 Eurasians, and 561 natives of India. These latter include the descendants of the old Portuguese settlers, who, save that they retain perverted Portuguese names, are not to be distinguished by dress or feature from the natives around them. The Roman Catholics, to the number of 300, have a substantially built brick church, and a resident priest. • Protestants are returned as numbering 168; and Baptists, 80. Town and Rural Population.—The population of Noakhali is purely rural, and no towns worthy of the name are to be found. With the exception of one or two búzárs or rows of shops, there is no such thing as a street of houses in the District. Each homestead stands by itself in the midst of a mass of areca palms and jungle. SUDHARAN (or Noakhali) town, the principal place and head-quarters station of the District, is merely a large village, with a population in 1881 of 5124 souls. It is, however, a municipality, with an income in 1883-84 of £482, of which £354 was derived from taxation; average incidence of taxation, is. 43d. per head. The only places of historical interest in the District are the mosques
