Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 3.djvu/47

Rh proportions of them; but there are many tribes of Rajpootana proper such as the Rahtores and others, who refuse the restraints of discipline, and who are to he found among the levies of native armies only. Rajpoots are also landholders and farmers, one member of a family holding and cultivating the ancestral property, the others entering general service as soldiers. They do not often engage in trade, particularly those of the purest descent; when they do so, it is in its highest branches, as bankers or dealers in money, jewels, or valuable products, and manufactures. Almost as a rule, they despise high class education, and, for the most part, are apparently more indifferent to intellectual aims and exertion than other Aryan Hindoos; there are, however, instances among them of high scientific attainments, of which the celebrated astronomer Jey Singh, is a remarkable example. For the most part, Rajpoots of all classes are a robust, high-bred, handsome people, both male and female. The men have generally prominent marked features, and the women, if not possessing the soft tender beauty of many other Hindoo tribes, are finely formed, and the general cast of the countenances of all is unmistakeably Aryan or European. In colour, they are frequently fair and ruddy, with grey or hazel eyes, and brown hair, and are never bluish-black, like the tribes which belong to the aboriginal stock of India. Rajpoot females, except of the lowest and poorest classes, are rarely to be seen abroad, unless, indeed, closely veiled, being even more jealously secluded after they have attained womanhood, than Mahomedans. Both males and females are strongly addicted to the use of opium, and by some spirits are also indulged in. Flesh is not ordinarily eaten, and many take vows against the use of it in any shape; but mutton is not prohibited, nor the flesh of wild hog.

The subject of Plate 119 appears to be a substantial farmer, or, perhaps, a banker, by the thin gold chain about his neck. He carries his sword as the invariable appendage of a Rajpoot gentleman, which he never discontinues in public; and his plain suit of cloth, with brocade trousers and a shawl about his waist, form a costume at once simple and elegant.

No. 120 is evidently a person of higher rank, and is most probably a zemindar or landholder. His tunic is richly embroidered on the shoulders and breast; he wears an embroidered sword-belt, gold upon velvet; his turban is a shawl handkerchief, or muslin striped with gold. Rajpoots, both male and female, are fond of dress of the richest and gayest colours. The costume of the women is invariably a very voluminous petticoat, in the richer classes of brocade or satin, which is tied round the waist, and a boddice, which fastens at the back, and over it a muslin shirt, which falls over the petticoat. Above all these is a scarf of muslin brocade, or plain white, which is folded once round the body, and passing across the head, falls to the side and back in graceful folds.