re formerly
patwaris by profession. See article.

_Patwi_.--(A dyer who colours the silk thread which weavers use to
border their cotton cloth.) Synonym of Patwa. Subcaste of Koshti. From
_pata_, a woven cloth.

_Pawanbans_.--(The children of the wind.) Synonym for Bhuiya.

_Pendhari_.--Synonym of Pindari.

_Peng_.--Subcaste of Parja.

_Penthi_.--(Sheep.) A totemistic sept of Bhulia.

_Periki_, _Perki_, _Perka_.--The Perikis are really a subcaste of
the great Balija or Balji caste, but they have a lower position and
are considered as a distinct group. About 4000 Perikis were returned
in the Central Provinces in 1911 from the Nagpur, Wardha and Chanda
Districts. They derive their names from the _perike_ or panniers
in which they carried salt and grain on bullocks and donkeys. They
were thus formerly a nomadic group, and like the Banjaras and Bhamtas
they also made gunny-bags and sacking. Most of them have now taken to
cultivation, and in Madras some Perikis have become large landholders
and claim Rajput rank. In the Central Provinces the Balijas and Naidus
deny that the Perikis have any connection with the Balija caste.

_Peta_.--(A trading Balija.) Subcaste of Balija.

_Phal Barhai_.--(A carpenter who only works on one side of the
wood.) Synonym for Chitari in the Uriya country.

_Phanse_.--(A Pardhi who hunts with traps and snares.) Subcaste
of Pardhi.

_Phansigar_.--(A strangler.) Synonym of Thug.

_Pharsi_.--(Axe.) A section of Uriya, Ahir or Gahara.

_Phopatia_.--Title of the officer of the Andh caste who summons the
caste committee.

_Phulia_, _Phulmali_.--(A flower-gardener.) Subcaste of Kachhi
and Mali.

_Phuljharia_.--(From Phuljhar zamindari in Raipur.) A territorial
subcaste of Ahir or Rawat, Ghasia and Panka.

_Phul Kunwar_.--A section of Kawar. They use the _akre_ or swallow-wort
flower for their marriage-crown.

_Phulsunga_.--A totemistic section of Gadaria. They abstain from
smelling or touching a flower called _gadha_.

_Phurasti_.--(A wanderer.) Subcaste of Kaikari.

_Pindara_.--Synonym of Pindari.

_Pindari_.--A caste. Subcaste of Mang.

_Pinjara_.--(One who cards cotton.) Synonym of Bahna.

_Pipar_.--(A tree.) A section of Khatik and Kalar.

_Pipariya_.--(From the pipal tree, or from Piparia, a common place-name
derived from the tree.) A clan of Rajputs in Saugor. A section of
Sunars in Saugor.

_Piria_.--Subcaste of Kachhi. From _piria_, the basket in which they
carry e