Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 5.djvu/218

 BUKIYANAS. (275)

EVERAL instances of Rajpoots converted to Mahomedanism at an early period have already been illustrated, and the Bukiyanas are another of such tribes. They were originally Choulaan Rajpoots, members of one of the highest of Rajpoot clans; but having emigrated from Rajpootana into the Punjab, under their chief Bukka, they were with him converted to Mahomedanism about 300 years ago, and settled in the Googaira district, on lands allotted to them, which they still hold and cultivate. They are herdsmen and farmers only—a fine, stalwart tribe, but not numerous, and given entirely to peaceful and industrious pursuits. They do not intermarry with other Mussulman tribes, and preserve many traditions of their ancestral faith. They are therefore exclusive, and in knowledge of the Soonnee tenets of the faith they profess, not, perhaps, a little ignorant, though conforming in customs and diet to the general rules of Mahomedan practice. The seated figure in the plate wears a white turban, a shawl of tawny orange and green, and trousers of white and blue check. The standing figure, who is five feet eleven inches in height, is of fight brown complexion, wears a white turban, a shawl of orange and black, and a lower dress, which is tied like a full petticoat, of checked orange and green. They have long bamboo staffs, used in herding cattle. The peculiarly Aryan character of their features is remarkable, and both men have light hazel eyes, a further proof of their northern descent.