54 Abode of Gods
India, speaking a dialect similar to them. Even Greek writers-
like Hirodotus and Strabo have referred about them as Kissi and
Ptolmey mentions them as Kissia. The Khasias divided them-
selves into thoks and their chieftain was known as thokdar.
These thoks fell before the onslaught of Katyurs but did not dis-
appear altogether. The end of these thoks came centuries later
when Gurkhas annexed Kumaon in 1770 and finally Britishers
gave the last nail in the coffin in 1815. Britishers took hold of
Kumaon administration under the treaty of Sitoli.
Whatever may be political implications of Khas history but
there is no doubt about their intrepid qualities as daughty fighters.
to which Kumaon Regiment bears testimony. Besides martial
tradition they have inherited belief in numerous gods and goddesses,,
ghosts and spirits. They burn sacrificial fires with Trisuls (three
pronged lance) and red of Airhi fixed in the centre of sacrificial
pit. Abounding is the faith of a Khasia in Lord Shiva and his
consort Parvati who protects the four corners of Kumaon.
Amongst the local gods and goddesses Bhumia, Bhairav and
Nanda are worshipped. They protect the land, harvest and people.
Khas people did not recognise vedic gods and goddesses till recen-
tly and many of the Brahmanic rituals were- unknown to them.
Crime was hitherto unknown and all cases of indiscipline were
settled by invoking the village god Jagar. So menacing is the
impact of this system that the danger of being indentified by the
village god keeps defaulters shuddering under the devastating
impact of public insinuation and exposure.
The main occupation of a Kumaoni is agriculture, rearing
cattle, small trade and join army.
History—the ascendency of Cfeamds
Before the ascendency of Chands the history of Kumaon is
available in piecemeal.
Som Chand was a Chandrabansi Rajput who founded the dy-
nasty of Chands at a time when he found chaos and established
order. According.to tradition, when Katyari Kings were unable
to control the country, some wise men were sent as messengers to
Kannauj and Prayag who selected Som Chand as the new king.
According to another legendary account when a Raja of Kannauj
was going to Badrinath for pilgrimage, he was accompanied bv