*THE RAJPOOT CHIEFS."

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acquired the epithet of "faithful of the faithful," by his promptitude to submit to the loss of life, on an occasion connected with the most atrocious superstition. Jesswint, through the pressure of deep remorse, had become subject to a temporary alienation of mind, imputed by the magicians to the operation of an evil spirit, which, being exorcised, was said to declare that the chief could only be restored by some one suffering death as a voluntary sacrifice. Nahur Khan instantly offered himself as the victim. The magicians, however, saved him, by pretending that the spirit had descended into a vessel of water, which being swallowed by Nahur, the reason of his illustrious master resumed its At another time, Jesswint, in a fit of rage, ordered his faithful chief to be thrown into the den of a tiger, and there to contend, unarmed, for his life. But Nahur presented to the monster so firm an aspect that it turned away; when the brave commander observed that honour forbade him to attack an adversary who would not look him in the face. On another occasion, when employed against Soortan, also one of the most gallant of these chieftains, with a chosen band, he surprised him in the dead of night, stabbed a solitary sentinel, and having bound the warrior with his own turban to his pallet, sounded the alarm, that the surVOL. II.-Z

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rounding clansmen might see their master carried off withoudaring to attempt his rescue.

Jesswint conveyed his captive to the Mogul court, to introduce him to Aurengzebe. Soortan was accordingly instructed in regard to those prostrations required of all who were ushered into the presence of the great ruler of India. But he said "his life was in the king's hands, his honour in his own; he had never bowed the head to mortal man, and never would." Jesswint was considerably embarrassed, having given him a solemn pledge of honourable treatment, which he could now scarcely expect to have the power of redeeming. The master of the ceremonies, however, endeavoured to obviate the difficulty, by preparing for the chief's entrance into the presence-hall a species of wicket raised a little from the ground, and so small, that it was thought he could not pass through it except in such a position as might be interpreted into an expression of homage. Soortan, however, advancing his feet first, effected his entry, so that the head appeared last, and in a position the reverse of that which he was desired to assume. Aurengzebe, who had no mean vanity, was so pleased with his noble bearing, and so amused with his ingenious disrespect, that he offered him a gift of lands to attach him to his service: but Soortan desired only to be restored to the wild hills that surrounded his castle of Aboo; and his wish was gratified.

These features, though bold, are somewhat rude; yet there are others in which the Rajpoots appear under a more polished aspect than the barons of the feudal ages. There exists, in Colonel Tod's apprehension, no period of their history in which the chief could not have written his name, and even celebrated his own achievements in verse. The charuns, or bards, sometimes are venerated as beings more than human. The donations presented to them are immense: on one occasion six "lords of verse" received 10,0002. each. A caravan placed under their protection may pass in safety through countries that are the theatre of the most bloody war and devastation. If an attack is threatened, they inflict on themselves a wound, and, showing the blood, menace a dreadful vengeance on the adversary who dares to persevere. A similar expedient is often employed at weddings or festivals, to extort extravagant gifts.

The Rajpoots do not subject the female sex to that thral

RAJPOOT LADIES.

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dom and degradation which is the reproach of the Hindoo husband. The ladies of rank are, indeed, somewhat secluded; but more from state than jealousy: they are well educated, and often possess a large share of information. Colonel Tod, who had the opportunity, though separated by a curtain, of conversing with several of the bhyes, or prin cesses, found them extremely intelligent, and well acquainted both with their own interests and those of their country. Wrongs sustained by females of rank have been among the chief causes of their frequent wars. One custom is peculiarly stamped with the refined and romantic gallantry of the middle ages. A young princess, who fears an impending danger, sends to any youth whom she esteems the present of the rahhi or bracelet, with some simple ornaments fastened to it. He becomes then her "bracelet-bound brother," whose pride it is, at the peril of life, to defend a maiden whom probably he never saw. Yet the very dignity attached to the sex involves them in singular calamities. Scarcely have their eyes opened to the light, when a large proportion of the female children are doomed to death by their unnatural parents. This dreadful crime has been imputed to superstition; but Colonel Tod traces it solely to the difficulty, and, above all, the expense of marrying young ladies of this high rank. To remain single is considered worse than death; but the spouse of a Rajpoot must be of pure and high blood on both sides, and must not bear to him the most distant relationship. Whether a match in these and all other respects suitable will be procured, becomes a matter of extreme uncertainty. Even if it is found, there remains another consideration calculated to excite serious uneasiness. Marriage is the occasion on which every Indian makes his greatest display of pomp, wealth, and generosity. Not only must all the ceremonies be costly and splendid, but Bramins, bards, and others attend, who expect to be loaded with magnificent gifts. The prince feels that his reputation depends on the manner in which he is celebrated by these august personages, who assure him that while his treasury is emptied, the world is filled with his praise. A single nuptial feast is sufficient to involve a flourishing exchequer in bankruptcy. One prince, indeed, made an attempt to check this profusion by a law, enacting, that the expenditure on such an occasion should not exceed one year's entire

income of the state; but the vainglory of the nobles could not be confined within these limits. A still more tragical fate, at every period of life, impends over the females of Rajwarra. In the deadly feuds of these turbulent tribes, if the wives and daughters of a vanquished chief fall into the hands of the victor, they become, according to a law similar to that of ancient Greece, concubines or slaves to the enemy of their house. This catastrophe in these proud families is deemed intolerable; and when the last extremity arrives, death by their own hands, or those of their nearest kindred, must save them from it. The repetition of such events causes their life to be held cheap whenever interest or honour appears to require its sacrifice. While resident in Guzerat, General Walker, with his characteristic benevolence, endeavoured to persuade the chiefs of that country to renounce the practice of infanticide, and enjoyed at one time a prospect of success, which, however, proved ultimately fallacious.

The Jharejahs, a Rajpoot tribe, who hold sway in the territory of Cutch, are, by an intricate operation of the system of caste, placed in such a situation that they cannot by any means find a single individual with whom a daughter of theirs can be suitably matched. In this dilemma they have not hesitated to adopt the horrid expedient of putting to death all their female children; so that, as Mrs. Elwood mentions, in a population of 12,000 there were not in 1818 more than thirty women alive. The infants are either drowned in milk, or poisoned by opium applied to the breast of the mother. The English have made vigorous attempts to abolish this inhuman practice. By a condition of the treaty with Cutch in 1819, full protection was guarantied to the Jharejah chiefs, on their consenting to discontinue this criminal custom. Since that time it has not been perpetrated openly; but the interior of palaces and castles affords ample means of concealment; and the very small number of girls in families makes it too clear that it still prevails extensively. The Jharejahs, with this exception, are described by Mr. Burnes as a fine people; and he did not even observe that their excessive use of opium had much debilitated either their minds or bodies.

India contains other detached races marked by striking peculiarities; but none of them so important as to influence

the general aspect of society, and, therefore, not requiring minute description. The Nayrs of Calicut have been re peatedly brought under the reader's notice on account of their valour, their aristocratic pride, and inhuman contempt of the Pariahs or outcasts. A more unusual distinction is found in the custom by which ladies of quality may without reproach select as many lovers as they incline, provided their birth be suitable; in consequence of which the legitimacy of all the members of a noble family becomes more than problematical. In order, therefore, to prevent the succession from passing entirely to another blood, heritage both in royal and noble houses descends, not to the son, but

to the sister's son.

The Bheels or Bhills are a predatory tribe, who stand at the very opposite extreme of Indian society. They occupy the rugged cliffs and defiles in the mountain-border of Malwa, Rajpootana, and Guzerat. Though plunder be their "being's end and aim," they do not pursue it in large bands, or carry their devastation into distant countries, like the Mahrattas and Pindarees. They descend from the hills by night, singly or in small troops, carry off with astonishing dexterity whatever comes within their reach, and return by morning to their usual retreats. They wear no clothes except a piece of cloth round the waist; and, being armed only with bow and quiver, never make an open attack, but shoot from behind rocks and bushes. As they eat beef, and indulge in intoxicating liquors, they have been supposed to be outcasts from the great Hindoo community, and to have taken refuge in these fastnesses; but Sir John Malcolm assigns reasons for believing that they have ancient and original institutions of their own, and at the same time hold the general creed of the country. They claim for the whole tribe a descent from the great deity Siva or Mahadeo. They pay blind and devoted obedience to their dhunnee or chief. A young woman who was examined before an English court respecting a murder with which her father and husband stood charged, confessed that they had committed it; but maintained that it was without blame on their part, as the dhunnee had commanded it. This justification not proving satisfactory to the judges, she repeatedly exclaimed, They had the dhunnee's order!" and showed equal aston

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