Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 6.djvu/110

KHAIR MAHOMED, CHIEF OF THE BOORDEES. of the tribe as they could command, in the hill campaign of Sir Charles Napier. This they did, and were restored to favour.

After the predatory tribes of Kutchee, the Doomkees, Jekranees, &c., had been transported and settled on the Sind border, they joined the Boordees and Khosas in carrying on frequent plundering excursions in secret. These lawless proceedings were generally attributed to the Bhoogtees and other hill men till 1847, when the Sind horse was again posted on the frontier, and Major Jacob discovered and broke up the whole confederacy of robbers on the British border, and punished many of the offenders. At this time, everyone in the country went armed; but Major Jacob now applied for and obtained permission to disarm all persons not in Government employ, and the rule was rigidly enforced.

Meer Ali Moorad also gave Major Jacob power over all his subjects on the border; but the greater part of the district of Boordeka was covered with almost impenetrable jungle, and its nature afforded great facilities for the practice of robbery, which, in spite of every effort, was carried on by the Boordees occasionally in gangs of from six to twenty men, calling themselves Bhoogtees, but really inhabitants of Sind. In order to lay open this wild country, Major Jacob obtained permission to cut roads through the jungle. This was done, and together with other means adopted, proved completely successful in quieting the district, which has thenceforth become as orderly and peaceable as possible; the people have taken wholly to agricultural and pastoral pursuits, and cultivation has greatly increased.

"Finally Boordeka became British territory in 1852, when the lands of Meer Roostum, which had been given to Ali Moorad at the time of the conquest of Sind, were again removed from him. The revenue of the district was about Rs. 60,000; but since the whole became British, and great works of irrigation and communication have been executed in it, the revenue most rapidly increases, &c."—Jacob's Report, &c.

The foregoing is a specimen, one among many, of the difficulty of suppressing inveterate hereditary habits of violence in the Beloch frontier tribes. It has been perfectly successful, and the Boordees are now considered peaceable and well-disposed cultivators. No doubt, however, the traditions of the border forays, which made them famous, linger among them, and the old practices would be renewed under any relaxation of watchfulness.

Khair Mahomed is the seated figure in the plate, and wears a white turban, and brown chogha, carrying the usual Beloch arms, sword, shield, and matchlock. The attendant, standing and unarmed, is dressed in white.