Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 6.djvu/105

 GHAZEE KHAN AND SON. (299)

ENERAL Jacob's report on the Beloeh tribes of Upper Sind, supplies the following particulars regarding the Muzarees: "They inhabit the country on the right bank of the Indus, between Mithenkote and Boordeka. This tract is chiefly in the Punjab, a small part only falling within the boundary of Sind. Their head is a chief by name Dost Ali, who resides at Rojan, about half way between Mithenkote and Kusmore. The strength of the tribe may be about 2,000 adult males, or according to Captain Minchin, 2,500. The habits of the tribe were wholly, and are still to some extent, predatory. They constantly plundered the river boats, and made frequent inroads into the Bahawalpoor territory on the left bank of the Indus. They were also at war with the Bhoostees and Murrees, and even attacked them in their hills, as also the Doomkees and Jekranees at Poolajee, from whom they drove off much cattle.

"The Muzarees are the most expert cattle stealers in the border country, and have the reputation of being brave warriors. Not many of the tribe remain in Sind proper; most of them have left the province and now reside with their clansmen and brethren in the Punjab, where they are allowed to bear arms, but not in Sind. They still (1854) make plundering excursions into the Bahawalpoor and Beloeh territory east of the Indus."

In the year 1841–42 Kunjeet Suig contemplated an attack upon the Muzarees, then dependent upon the Talpoor Ameers of Sind, which would inevitably have led to a war with the Ameers themselves. This, however, was prevented under the tripartite treaty for the restoration of Shah Sooja, and the danger to the Ameers, of which they were very apprehensive, passed away as far as the Sikhs were concerned.

Major Minchin's report of a comparatively recent period, 1869, gives a better account of the Muzarees than General Jacob's, and explains the difference between the Sind policy in regard to the frontier tribes and that of the Punjab. In the former all are disarmed, and tranquillity is maintained by a large body of British troops; encouragement is given to the disarmed people of settling on the lands,