Their former occupation was to trade in cattle like the Banjaras, but they have now adopted the more profitable trade of slaughtering them for the export of meat; and as this occupation is not considered very reputable, they have perhaps thought it desirable to abandon their caste name.

The derivation of the term Mukeri is uncertain.

According to one account they are a class of Banjaras, and derive their name from Mecca, on the ground that one of their Naiks or headmen was camping in the neighbourhood of this town, at the time when Abraham was building it, and assisted him in the work.

When they emigrated from Mecca their illustrious name of Makkai was corrupted into Mukeri.

[470] A variant of this story is that their ancestor was one Makka Banjara, who also assisted in the building of Mecca, and that they came to India with the early Muhammadan invaders.