84 SOCIAL SCIENTIST Balanga had between 250 to 300 houses.6 It seems that the caste/power structure was clearly dominated by two families viz. that of Banamali Pati and Madhab Pati/Michu Pati. Both these families had the same family tree but had been separated by seven or eight generations. In terms of caste they were Brahmins who drew their strength from the brahminical order, control over agricultural space and the profitable rice trade, which was inextricably linked with moneylending in coastal Orissa. The absence of big landlords, coupled with the system of absentee landlordism made the situation extremely convenient for people like Banamali. Thus, we see that the caste power/structure definitely tilting towards him, given his position as the naib. In fact, this seems to have been an important contributing factor which created a fuzziness in popular perceptions, regarding the extent of his authority and an over-lapping with that of the zamindar. Balanga had the usual officers like the mokaddams, lakhrajdars, potdars and the gomastas who were directly under the landlord's establishment of which Banamali was the naib. A classic example was Dhuli Ratha—the gomasta of the Balanga zamindar. Initially he was at Budhei (a village 4 miles from Balanga). He had between 30 to 35 acres of cultivated land and was paid Rs. 20 annually as his remuneration. It also included the chaukidars who were Kandaras (outcastes). Their powers and privileges were inconceivable without the naib. This establishment had clear links with Banam-ali's relatives at Balanga, propertied sections (viz. landed elements/moneylenders) in the adjacent rural and the urban world of Puri, Cuttack and Calcutta. While the rural linkages were associated with Banamali's interest in expanding his landed property, carry on with the grain trade and his role as a moneylender, the urban association was a result of his dependence on the colonial legal system (at Puri and Cuttack) and since Balanga's landlord resided at Calcutta.7 The Balanga zamindari establishment made grants to gods and the Brahmins. The latter included two families who were the priests of Bakreswar Deb—the local deity—and five different classes of people serving the Thakura. Balanga had the professional castes which comprised Banias (goldsmiths), Keotas (fishermen), Telis (oilmen), Bardheis (carpenters), Tamulis (betel-sellers), Bhandaris (barbers), Darjis (tailors), Gudias (confectioners), Kelas (snake-charmers), Tantis (weavers), Dhobas (washermen), goudas (milkmen), Malis (gardners), Kamhars (blacksmiths), sialas (Sundhis who sold liquor Tor Chamars who worked with animal skins) and Jyotishas (astrologers). Some of them had lands which implied accepting Banamali's authority, while the others were landless and followed their caste professions. There were also the holders of service jagirs, from the zamindari establishment, which in real terms meant Banamali Pati. The naib also had retainers who were recipients of certain privileges.8