Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 6.djvu/115

JUMAL KHAN.—DOOMKEE. The experiment had been successful in a high degree. The Beloch settlers soon took to manual labour in their own fields with spirit and with pride. From that time they were completely conquered, and commenced to be reformed: and they are now the most hardworking, industrious, well-behaved, cheerful set of men in all Sind. They are about 2,000 adult males; but for the first three years after their settlement, not one of them was convicted, or even accused of crime, though previous to that they had been robbers and murderers to a man. "Good roads have been made all over the country, means of irrigation have been multiplied fourfold, and everywhere on the border, life and activity, with perfect safety, exists, where formerly all was desert solitude or murderous violence. Not an armed man is now ever seen except the soldiers and police; and person and property are perfectly protected."

The result of the Sind system is in some contrast with that of the Punjab, and high merit may be awarded to both. The Sind Belochees had their trial and opportunity of good conduct, but their inveterate habits only increased under mild measures; and the result of vigorous and stern suppression of crime, followed Major Jacob's measures. To our English readers such episodes in the history of India may be new and strange; but from this sketch of frontier proceedings some years ago, they will be able to estimate the high value of the services rendered by their countrymen.

Jumal Khan is a chief of his tribe, and lives at Jumal, about three miles south-east of Jacobabad, where he has a considerable property. A fine-looking man, five feet ten inches in height, dressed in a voluminous chogha, with a handsome loongee, or scarf, of red and green silk about his shoulders, and a white turban. His matchlock leans against the pillar, and is richly ornamented, and its powder horns, bullet bags, and other accoutrements hang before him, while the sword and shield are not absent.