Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 5.djvu/130

 KHUTTUK HOESEMAN. (253)

HE plate represents another man of the Khuttuk Afghans, who is a horseman, equipped after the fashion of the tribe in armour. Over his turban he wears a cap of light steel chain mail, part of which, thickly quilted with cotton or wool, and fastened across his chest by straps, descends as far as his waist, and, when mounted, protects his back and arms. He has bright steel gauntlets reaching to the elbow, the leather covering for the hands being studded with bosses of steel or brass. His tunic is of quilted cotton, thick enough to turn a sabre cut, and with strong jack boots reaching to the knee, completes the costume. His arms are a light matchlock and sword, and his powder horns and bullet bag hang at his waist and on his right side. The Khuttuks cannot, however, bring many horsemen into the field, and their strength lies in their foot soldiers, who are formidable in mountain warfare (vide ante No. 252).