Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 5.djvu/92

MOMUNDS. were, for the most part, petty disputes between individuals, trespassers, and marriages, and, on the Momund side, the professing injured party being sure of the support of his clan, led them, by the certainty of plunder, to avenge his cause, or, after the old mountain fashion, to redress the injury.

The irritation and loss produced by these raids could not be endured, and the Government of India directed the confiscation of the fiefs, and an attack on the Momund villages. These operations took place in 1851–52, and were completely successful; the Momunds were defeated, though 6,000 strong, by the late Lord Clyde at Shubkudr, and the Michnee and Punjpao Momunds, being much reduced by this defeat and their necessities, submitted, and prayed for restoration of their lands, which was granted on condition of their paying a nominal yearly tribute of 800 rupees for both fiefs. On the Alumzye or Punjpao Momunds the lesson they had received had a good effect, and since then they have not transgressed; but the Michnee Momunds proved more intractable. About the close of 1852, as Lieutenant Bullenois of the Engineers was riding near the boundary of their hills, he was shot by some men of the tribe and his head sent to Lalpoora. They refused to pay tribute, their chief fled from Peshawur, and there could be no longer doubt that the tribe were in rebellion. As in the former instance, a force was moved upon Michnee, which was taken, and some important villages destroyed. Those who had not joined the rebellion were confirmed in their holdings, but the lands of rebels were confiscated and assessed. Subsequently the rebel chief came under permission to Peshawur to pray for restoration, but he could obtain no security, and was dismissed with an injunction never again to enter British territory. It does not appear that the murderers of Lieutenant Bullenois were ever discovered.

The Pind Alee Momunds behaved even worse than the Michnees. Their raids have been constant, and their reliance in the strength of their country, and on the impossibility of any British force penetrating to Lalpoora, has produced a confidence in their own strength which is hardly surpassed on the border.

The Momunds are considerably affected by Wahabeeism, and in the frontier war of 1863 they were especially restless and intriguing. In sympathy, if not actual alliance with the Akhoond of Swat and the Wahabee leaders, they assembled at Shubkudr, and made a raid into the British territory early in December; which, had not the coalition at Swat been broken up, would, no doubt, have become formidable. In the campaign of 1868 the Momunds did not join the fanatics, but they continue to be as deeply imbued with Wahabee doctrines as ever, and in case of a re-commencement of the holy war, are, perhaps, as little to be depended upon as any other of the border mountain tribes.

The Momunds are Soonnee Mussulmans, agriculturists, graziers, and traders. They are, for the most part, fine, powerful men, with the strong Jewish