Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 4.djvu/107

 GOOJUES. (193) N the Photographs Nos. 148 and 157, mclividuals of this tribe are represented. In the present instance two young men, and a woman who is evidently a widow, and perhaps their mother, form an appropriate group. Her head is shaved, she has no marriage token about her neck, and two plain silver rings or bangles have taken the place of the glass rings worn by married women and unmarried girls. There is little to remark upon in regard to their costume: the woman wears the petticoat, bodice, and scarf; and the young men the mirzaee or jacket, and the dhotee or waist cloth of ordinary Hindoos. All local reports agree in giving the character of this tribe as described ante No. 148. They are dishonest, untrustworthy, and lawless in a high degree; and require constant and unremitting supervision. They are notorious and successful cattle lifters, pursuing this branch of robbery with determination and skill. Scouts are dispatched, who find out an unguarded locality at some distance, and in a neighbouring district. Men are stationed on the road to be taken on return, at certain distances; and when the robbery has been effected, the cattle are driven along by night, the drivers being relieved by the several parties on the road. By these means as much as fifty miles will be covered in a night, and all traces of the cattle lost, by their immediate division among the members of the gang, and admixture with their own large herds. Goojurs take great pride in these lawless achievements, and this spirit is maintained by the elders of the tribe and by the women, who preserve traditions of past exploits; and it will require much time for eradication. A common saying is applied to them. "Aheer (cowherd), Gurrenya (shepherd), Goojur—yeh tmon chahen oojur:" "these three prefer the desert;" that is, an open and waste country; and is characteristic of their occupations. Cowherds and shepherds are not, however, habitually lawless classes; but, indeed, much the contrary. The notorious conduct of the Goojurs about Meenit and Delhi, in 1857, has been before noticed. They suffered sharply for it, many of their worst leaders having been tried and hanged, or transported for life; but it is questionable