Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 4.djvu/35

 BUSTEE. (179) N the preceding article all the available special information in regard to the origin of the Ranghur Rajpoots has been already given, and includes both the Hindoo and Mahomedan portions of the clan. The subject illustrated, it will be observed, has the strong bold features of Rajpoots in general, as befits the descendant of a pure Aryan tribe. Hindoo Ranghurs are agriculturists for the most part, and scarcely in any respect differ from their Mahomedan brethren in general or social customs. They are a temperate, soldierly class of men, exceeding only in opium, which they take habitually; and neither in dress nor in character do they differ from other Rajpoots. They are a fine athletic race, and in particular good swordsmen. The tégha, or broad curved sabre, is a favourite weapon among them, and in the use of it, with a shield, they are esteemed peculiarly skilful. Their education in the use of weapons and general athletic exercises begins, indeed, from boyhood; every village has its gymnasium, where instruction is given by some one more than ordinarily skilled, every evening, after work is done, and every morning before it commences; and to these exercises the development of youthful strength, the martial air, and the soldierly pride of the Ranghurs may be attributed. Like their Mussulman brethren they take service in the irregular cavalry, and there are many of them in Skinner's horse; but they do not serve in the infantry, which they esteem far below their social rank as Soorujbunsi, or descendants of the solar race, the proudest of the two great divisions of the tribe. In religion they are Hindoos, though it is asserted not unaffected by contact with their Mahomedan relatives. The truth is, that living together, they join in most public festivals and observances without hindrance. In profession the Ranghur Rajpoots follow Krishna, under his human deified form of Ram, King of Oude; and the relation of the Ramayana, in which his deeds are celebrated, is keenly relished by them. They employ Brahmins as their priests, but do not hold them in very particular esteem or reverence. As a class they are extremely ignorant, few having knowledge of reading or writing, and, if any, the merest rudiments. As to