Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 2.djvu/76

 BYS, OR BAIS. (78)

HE Bais Rajpoots are one of the most ancient Rajpoot families in Oude, in which they give the name of Baiswavra to a large district. Their tribe was, they informed Sir W. Sleeman, composed of two great famihes, Nyhumas and Synbunsees; the acknowledged head of the former being Hindpal, Talookdar of Koree Sudorlee; and of the latter, Rugonath Sing of Kojurgow. Bais also exist in the adjoining districts of the north-western provinces.

The traditions of the Bais tribe are very remarkable. They refer their origin to Moongi Pattun in the Deccan, and assert that the 360 clans into which they are said to be subdivided are the descendants of Salivahana, king of that city in 78 (who gave name to the Saka era), by as many of his wives. The Bais are included among the thirty-six royal races, and intermarry with Chohans, Kachwahas, and other emment Rajpoot tribes. The branch of them called Tilokchandra (i.e., having the moon for their tilaka or frontal mark), who reside at Dundia Khera, and their nearest of kin, hold themselves superior to the other divisions, and profess to give their daughters to none but the very purest races. This tribe enlisted in great numbers in the Bengal army before the mutiny, and were excellent soldiers, brave and temperate.

There is reason to suspect that infanticide is practised among this, as among several other of the oldest and most esteemed Rajpoot tribes; the difficulty, caused by pride of race, of finding for their daughters husbands of sufficiently pure blood, and the enormous outlay (often embarrassing them for life) which their customs induce them to make on the occasion of marriages in their families, being the apparent causes. The steady efforts of the Government to check the crime have, however, been attended with much success,—Wilson.