PALLIWAL. Next to the Rajputs of Aral mir, equalling them in numbers and far surpans ing them in wealth, are the l'alliwal. They arc Brahmans, and denominated Palliwal from having been temporal proprietors of Palli, and all its lauds, long before the Rahtor colonized Marwar. Tradition is silent as to the manner in which they became possessed of this domain, but it is con nected with the history of the Palli or pastoral tribes, who from the town of Palli to Palit'hana, in Saurashtra, have left traces of their existence. The Palliwal Brahmans, as appears by the annals of Marwar, held the domain of Palli when Seoji, at the end of the 12th century, invaded that land from Kanouj, and by an act of treachery first established his power. Their subsequent migra tion to the desert of Jeysulmir is attributed to a period of a Muhammadan invasion of Marwar,when, a general war contribution (dind) being imposed on the inhabitants, the Palliwal pleaded caste and refused. This exasperated the raja, for as their habits were almost exclusively mercantile, their stake was greater than that of the rest of the community, and he threw their principal men into prison. In order to avenge this, they had recourse
to a grand chandi,' or immolation, on which he issued a manifesto of banishment to every Palliwal in his dominions. The greater part took refuge in Jeysulmir, though many settled in Bikanir, Dhat, and the valley of Sind. In the early part of the 19th century almost all the internal trade of the country passed through their hands, and it was chiefly with their capital that its merchants traded in foreign parts. They were the Metayer of the desert, advancing money to the cultivators, taking the security of the crop, and buying up all the wool and ghi (clarified butter), which they exported to foreign parts. They also rear and keep flocks. They were then subject to the visits of the Maldote, Tejmalote, and other plunderers. The Palliwal never marry out of their own tribe, and, directly contrary to the laws of Menu, the bridegroom gives a sum of money to the bride. There is little doubt that the Palliwal Brahmans are the remains of the priests of the Palli race, who, in their pastoral and commercial pursuits, have lost their spiritual power.