BOIIRA, Many of the If ahomedan shopkeepers on all the western aide of India, and as far east as Secunderabad and Bellary, are Bohra, and they aro in many parts of Central India and the N.W. Provinces; in the Rajput states, on the north-western coast of peninsular India, and are gradually extendin„e to the south. They call themselves Ismaili, acknowledge an Arcbiman drito or religious chief, and aro an active, intelli gent, mercantile race. They are scattered all over the country, but are found principally in Gujerat and the adjoining provinces of Cutch. Sind, and other parts of the Bombay Presidency. They are a peaceable, inoffensive body of men. They are fair, robust, somewhat taller than the average Englishman. Wilson says that these appear to have originated in Gujerat, where they became converts to Mahomedanisni; but they seem to have come from Sind. They ere engaged in every branch of commerce es 'wholesale mer chants of the first class, as well as pedlars; and sometimes both characters aro to be found in the same person. They are a chief inedinin through which the retail trade in European articles is carried on. The good understanding in which they livo with each other strengthens their asso ciation ; and though they hare in former times snffered from tho violence of power, few of the industrious clasees have escaped so well, during the worst of times, as the Bohra. They are united under the spiritual rule of their elected mullet], or priests, to whose orders, in conformity with the ancient precepts of the remarkable sect of Mahomedans to which they belong, they render implicit obedience, corresponding in many respects with the Istnailiyah, the Ansariah, the Mutawilah, and the Druses of Syria, and holding the doctrine of the divine character of Ali. They are of the sect
of the Hasani, the Assassins once so dreaded in Egypt and Persia, for the murders perpetrated in blind obedience to the mandate of their spiritual chief, so famous in the crusade history under the name of the Old Man of the Mountain, or Shaikh ul-Jabal. At Oojein, in Sir J. Malcolm's time, 1200 families lived in four mahal or wards connected with each other, but separated by strong gates from the other parts of the city. No one except a Bohra could enter their precincts without leave. The chief mullah, who resided at Oojein, was appointed by the, high priest of this class at Surat, and his authority extended over all his sect. His orders regulated their most minute actions ; and he promulgated annually a table of rules for their guidance. He estimated the Bohra in his diocese or charge at nearly 10,000 families, or about 45,000 souls. They seem to abstain wholly from political intrigue, are liberal-minded and open-handed, and as good citizens far excel the Mahomedans either of Arab or Persian descent. The name is said to be derived from Beohar, trade. Wilson says the word is derived from the Gujerati words, Vohora, Wohoro, and Ohoro. The Bohra in the N.W. Provinces of India and the Upper Doab have a humbler branch, called Koyan or Rebte, who are money-lenders. Sir J. Malcolm says that besides the Mahomedan Bohra, there is a tribe of Brahmans from Nat'hdwara in Mewar, who have likewise this Mal colm's Central India, ii. p. 111 ; Census.