Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 3.djvu/215

 BRINJARA AND WIFE. (161)

NDER the designation of Biinjam or Bunjara, Lamanee or Lumbanee, this useful and interesting tribe is found all over India. In the North- West Provinces they inhabit the jungles on the southern faces of the lowest ranges of the Himalayas, never penetrating deep into the forests, but selecting for their encampments those portions of open grass lands, chequered by patches of wood, which afford good grazing grounds for their large herds of carriage bullocks. They have no settled places of habitation. During the dry months—that is, from October to June—they travel through the country, transporting salt, ghee, grain, or other produce, from place to place; sometimes trading upon their own account, but for the most part carrying for grain dealers and merchants at a low rate of charge, which is paid in kind or in money, as may be agreed upon. There is no high road in India on which parties of this picturesque people may not be met with, accompanying large or small droves of cattle, according to the wealth of the families who have joined together to make the venture. Their daily marches are in general short, not exceeding eight to ten miles; and some of the party having been sent on in advance to choose a camping ground, the cattle, as they arrive, are driven to the spot appointed for each owner, where they are unloaded, the grain bags carefully piled up, and the cattle turned out to graze, and drink at the nearest brook. Some of these encampments are very picturesque. A tall flagstaff is set up, secured by stays, and the flag of the chief of the party hoisted. These flags have various emblems; but the most usual is a figure of Hunooman, the monkey god, who is the tutelary divinity of all wandering tribes, cut out in white cloth, sewed on a red ground, or vice versa. Around this flagstaff are streets, as it were, formed by the walls of grain bags, peopled by women and children, with a few men left to guard the; and the usual occupations of Hindoo women, grinding com, sewing, cooking, or spinning strong cotton thread or hempen yarn for the sacking of their grain bags, go on till evening closes. The whole then repair to the watch fire, where they sing, or the women dance, till long into the night. Sometimes the chief among the party may have a pall or open tent, made of strong sacking, pitched for shelter or dignity; and in unsettled weather, such a cover is stretched over every pile of grain. But when there is no chance of rain,