Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 4.djvu/49

AHEERS, The Aheers, at one period in the history of India, were ruled over by princes who possessed large territories, and they were the founders of many of the remarkable mountam forts. They are called Gwalas or Gaolies, as well as Alieers, and GuaUor, Ga-milghur, Golconda or Gwala-conda, &c., and many other places, have been named by or after them. Aseerghur, the famous fortress in Khandesh, was called after Asa Alieer, a famous Aheer prince, who possessed Khandesh, Berar, and other neighbouring provinces. In the commencement of the fifteenth century the fort was taken by a treacherous stratagem, by Nusseer Khan Farookhy, Mahomedan king of Khandesh, who destroyed the family, plundered the fort of vast treasures, and annexed its dependencies to his own kingdom. Many centuries before this period, as Colonel Briggs states, the temple (fort) of "Asa," was celebrated as the residence of Aswathama, a local Hindoo sovereign.

The Aheers have now no chiefs or head men; they have become completely absorbed into the Sudra class of India. They do not, however, marry out of their caste, and their ceremonies are performed by Brahmins in the Bhanwar, or first-class marriages; but in the second class, or Darejha, there is a feast to friends and neighbours, which is sufficient. Widows can many under the second rank.

Aheers are vegetarians for the most part, and live much upon milk and ghee, but they do not object occasionally to eat kids or goats, which they have sacrificed. They refuse game and wild hog. Brahmms of some castes, not the highest, will take water from Aheers, on account of the purity of their caste and life. They are a sober quiet people, occasionally taking spirits, especially when they live in jungles, though not to intoxication; nor do they indulge in opium, but smoke tobacco. They have no pretension to be called soldiers, though they sometimes enlist in the native infantry; they are, however, in general, a fine strong race, capable of undergoing much fatigue, and in this respect do not vary throughout India. As might be supposed from their occupation of cowherds, Aheers are for the most part entirely uneducated. Very few can read or write, and they have little occasion to keep accounts, as they are never merchants. None among them are ever very rich, nor are any very poor. They make no pretensions on any score, and are everywhere a peaceful, contented race of people. They are always simply dressed, and their houses are very cleanly kept. The costume of the men is a white or chintz cotton jacket, or long tunic, quilted, or plain, according to the season, and a dhoti or waist cloth, also white, with or without a border. In the North- West Provinces the women Avear the petticoat, boddice, and scarf, which have been adopted from the Mahomedans, and this costume is seen as far south as the Taptee river. In the south they wear the sari, or single piece garment, which is that of the ancient races. The figures shown in the Photograph show the costume of the Northern Aheers both for males and females very intelligibly.