Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 5.djvu/214

CHISHTEES. veneration by the kings of the Adil Shahy dynasty. His descendants still exist at Beejapoor, and the shrine of their ancestor is considered holy, the people of the country around visiting the annual festival of the saint's "assumption of glory." In Mooltan, the Chishtees are for the most part landholders and cultivators, though some affect austere religious lives. They are a peaceful, industrious tribe, settled on the banks of the river Sutlej; bigoted, very strict, and orthodox Mahomedans of the Soonnee sect, and more than ordinarily educated in the practice and doctrines of their faith. Throughout India there are many mendicant fakirs, who have taken upon themselves the vows of the order of the patron Chishtee saint, and beg for alms, singing verses in his praise, and recounting the miracles attributed to him. Some of these itinerant fakirs are very dissolute, but others of good character establish themselves in solitary huts on great highways, which are resting places for wayfarers; or near villages, taking charge of Mahomedan cemeteries, and performing simple ceremonies for the dead. In some instances such persons have risen to local sanctity, and their tombs are visited by devotees, who perform ceremonies on the anniversary of the saint's death.

The dresses of the three persons represented in the Photograph are as follows: the man to the left wears a chintz turban of white, red, and yellow, with a dark red shawl; the one in the middle, a white muslin turban, shawl of green and orange check, and a lower garment of white and blue check; the one to the right, a silk turban, and shawl of white, red, and yellow, and trousers of white and green check. All three are five feet nine inches in height, and have pale brownish complexions, with hazel eyes.