Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 6.djvu/195

 A SYUD OF UPPER SIND. (320)

HE Syuds of Upper Sind, who are divided into many families, trace their descent from Mahomed through eight principal p3ersons, who settled in Sind, from Arabia at various periods, the earliest traceable being Syud Mahomed Makkyee, who came from Arabia about the end of the seventh century,

Of the whole there are two principal divisions, the Syuds of Bukkur, and those of Boree. Extensive grants of land were bestowed upon them in their capacities of religious leaders and teachers, which, though much subdivided, they still enjoy, the grants of the ancient Mahomedan kings of Sind having been confirmed by emperors of Delhi, the later local dynasties of Sind, and the present British Government. The Syud, by his descent from Mahomed, is esteemed sacred by all classes of Mahomedans, and in all countries; but the respect and veneration is increased when he leads a professedly religious life, does not enter into secular employment, and is a teacher as well of religion as literature. What Brahmins are to Hindoos, so in some respects, though not entirely, are Syuds to Mahomedans. So numerous are they, however, that it is impossible for all to pursue religious callings, or to share with those families who have obtained estates, either by their austerities, or the preference or religious guidanceship of rulers and men of property. Thus, among the Syuds, the Peers, or saintly characters, have become almost separate from those who enter into professions for their livelihood. In Sind, as in India, the Syud may be found in any profession lawful underthe provisions of his faith; and accordingly he is a cultivator, a merchant, a contractor, a cattle owner, and not very unfrequently a cattle lifter. In the employment of Government he may be a moonsiff, or minor judge; a kardar, or district officer; a moonshee, or scribe; a canal measurer, a soldier, or a policeman. "Sometimes too," writes a describer of the class, "in spite of his genealogical pretensions, he is a liberal-minded, clever fellow, and not markedly dishonest."

Local Mahomedan saints in Sind, as well as in India and elsewhere are not all Syuds; many of them are Sheikhs, and there are males as well as females.