Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 6.djvu/212

LOHANA AMILS. Perhaps under the lax government of the Ameers they may have been as Captain Burton describes them: "I may safely assert," he writes, "that in no part of the eastern world as knowir to us, does there exist a more scheming, crafty, or dangerous race than these Hindoo Amils. They are held by no oath, fear no risk, and allow no pity when in pursuit of gain. They hesitate not to forge documents, seals, and orders, for the most trilling advantage, show a determined fondness for falsehood, and unite the utmost patience in suffering, to the greatest cowardice in action."

Severe and bitter as this character is, a pleasant contrast with it is afforded by the last official report in regard to the same class of people. "The estimate (Captain Burton's) recorded less than five years after conquest of their country by the British, may well admit of modification after an acquaintance of nearly nineteen years. Whether or not a better understanding of the principles which regulate the actions of Government, association with Englishmen, extension of education, or the mere dread of punishment, be the cause, there can be but little doubt that many good features have been acknowledged in the character of the Amil, which appear to have been latent when Captain Burton wrote. Among the most prominent of these is an earnest application to duty, which at times and on occasions of emergency rises into something like actual devotion. The efficient ability and energy of Sind Amils, more commonly called moonshees, will be readily attested by all officers, whom long residence in the province has enabled to select their workmen from the mass; and for honesty and integrity, some might be cited in whom these qualities have been especially conspicuous."

The individual seated on the right of the picture is Munga Ram, head moonshee in the office of the Commissioner of Sind. He had served the Ameers Morad Ali and Noor Mahomed in a confidential capacity for eleven years, and for three years preceding the conquest, Meer Shadad Khan. After the conquest he entered the British service, and has risen to his present post. His integrity has been hitherto as unquestioned as his hard work has been unmistakeable. He is a very worthy public servant. In the centre of the picture, standing, is Odha Ram, translator to the Commissioner's office, who has studied English sufficiently to make him the best Sindee teacher in the province, and his translations in the general and educational departments are many and popular. The boy on the left is now an English clerk in the Commissioner's office, who does credit to the Hyderabad English school in which he was educated.

The second Photograph is of Amils who had risen to the rank of deewans under the Ameers, and are good specimens of the elder grades of the Lohana Amils.

The Lohanas, as has been stated previously, are Hindoos. Some belong to the Vaishnuva, others to the Sivaic sects. It may be said of all, that abstract