Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 3.djvu/259

Rh Kolees are by far the most advanced in civilization; and where Government schools have been established, many of them avail themselves of the means of education offered for their children. In Guzerat members of the tribe still hold petty chieftainships, with estates attached to them, and were recognized and confined in their properties by the Mahomedan Emperors; but in other parts of India such rank, which very probably existed at a remote period, has altogether disappeared. The Himalaya Kolees are by some believed to be descended from the Kunyts by women of lower caste. This, however, is not established, and is not consistent with the fact of their wide spread existence. They are divided into several Gotras, or divisions, Soocha Kolees, Kuraks, and Neech Kolees; of these, the latter are the most numerous. Their women look after water mills. Kolees are not allowed to enter temples, nor to make offerings save by the hands of the priests, and in this respect they appear in the same condition throughout India.

The man photographed is about forty years of age, and five feet five inches in height, with very dark eyes and complexion.