Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 3.djvu/216

Rh all dispense with covering, and the family reposes by night, as by day, under the shelter of its grain bags, apparently indifferent to dew, cold, or heat, being protected at night by thick wadded quilts,—ruzzais,—with which they are well provided. During the night all is silent in the camp; but men are sitting by the watch fire, and their dogs are alive to every stir within miles of them. As the morning breaks a hasty meal is taken, the cattle are loaded, and the day's march begins.

During the monsoon, when their nomadic life is impossible, Brinjarees unite in communities, and select some good grazing ground. There they tend their cattle, make and repair their grain bags, ptick saddles, and bullock gear, and amuse themselves in hunting. They are passionately fond of wild hog, and have always a number of strong, fierce dogs belonging to their camps, mtli which the hogs are brought to bay, and speared by the men. They also lay nooses on the ground for antelopes, and are adepts at snaring partridges or floriken. Large parties of them will also beat their grazing grounds for hares, driving them into nets; or, as they are roused from their forms, killing them with short heavy sticks, which they fling after them with much dexterity. Brinjarees are seldom good marksmen, and firearms are always scarce among them, a few rusty matchlocks forming the equipment of a large encampment. Their favourite weapon is a short spear, the staff of which, a stout bamboo, as shown in the Photograph, forms ordinarily a driving pole; but a large, sharp spear head is usually carried in the waist band, which can be fitted to it in a moment, and constitutes a truly formidable weapon.

The Brinjaree men have no particular costume. Among those who may have come from the Upper Provinces, it is not unusual to see a white turban crossed by a yellow or red band, a red turban with white or pink, and the like, which has a lively effect; but the costume of the women is everywhere the most picturesque, whether as regards arrangement, or colour, in India. It consists of a full petticoat reaching nearly to the ankle, made of strong cotton cloth, printed in the country, with the gayest colours, and peculiar patterns used only by the tribe. The upper part of this garment may be of one colour—blue or red, or green or orange, with a broad border, in which the fancy of the cloth printer as to pattern and colour is assisted by that of the owner, who adds to the pattern, devices of her own invention, in pieces of coloured braid, or silk, or twisted thread, sewn on with great ingenuity and effect. The bodice is plain in front, and shaped to fit the bust and figure exactly, reaching as far as the hips. The sleeves descend below the elbow. It is tied at the back, behind the neck, across the shoulders, and again at the waist, and does not anywhere completely meet. It is on the bodice, which, in fact, is a stomacher also, that the greatest pains and patience are expended by the Brinjaree women. It is quilted throughout, into every variety of pattern that can be invented, with variously coloured silk and cotton thread; pieces of gay coloured