Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 6.djvu/114

JUMAL KHAN.—DOOMKEE. with a stroll"- detachment of troops in his vicinity, was posted at Janadeyra, to superintend the reformed Belochees.

These arrangements did not, however, prove successful. The Doomkees and Jekranees, Khosas, Boordees, &c., made repeated plundering excursions from British Sind into the neighbouring countries, hill and plain. The Bhoogtees did the same from their side into Sind, and murder and robbery everywhere prevailed. The district along the border was left uncultivated, the canals were not cleaned out for many years, and nearly all the peaceable people left the country.

From the isolated position of the troops located in forts, no impression could be made upon these lawless tribes. The country afforded neither food nor forage, and the alarm was continuous. On the 10th December, 1846, a force of armed men, Doomkees and others, about 1,500 strong, passed through the British outposts, who dared not attack them, and advanced to within fifteen miles of Shikarpoor, remained twenty-four hours within British territory, secured every head of cattle in the country around, and returned to their hills, seventy-five miles distant, in perfect safety. The number of cattle obtained was about 15,000 head. The outposts being too weak to hinder these proceedings, a regiment of cavalry and 200 native rifles were sent after the Bhoogtees, and overtook their party at Hodoo; but they showed a firm front in a strong position, and the British force retired, the Bhoogtees continuing their march in triumph. A regiment of the Sind horse was now ordered up from Hyderabad, and the frontier was placed under charge of Major (General) Jacob. Desolation and ruin prevailed everywhere: no one could go in safety from place to place even on the main tracks, without strong escort; not one of the Jekranees or Doomkees had as yet attempted any peaceful labour, and there were no roads and no bridges.

The effects of the arrival and location of the Sind horse, who were acquainted with the country, and the admirably energetic proceedings of Jacob, were very soon evident. He had good binformation, and parties of marauders were tracked, attacked without mercy, and many of them killed. The robbers were pursued into their hills, their halting and watering places guarded, and the confederacies to assist them, which had been formed within British limits, exposed and broken up. In one instance a body of Jekranees, just returned from a successful foray, were surrounded in a village, and to a man made prisoners, and the cattle with them recovered. It was after this experience that Major Jacob determined to disarm every man of the province; his advice was approved of, and he carried out the measure himself.

Now a new phase of life to these border tribes was opened. Jacob set 500 Jekranees to open the Nurwa Canal. "The men," he says, "were very awkward at first, but were strong, energetic, cheerful, and good-natured. They soon became used to the tools, and were able to do a better day's work, and earn more than Sind labourers. The men were very proud of this."