Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 6.djvu/227

 DAPPIERS OR SHIKAREES. (326)

SHIKAREE WOMAN. (326-2)

APTAIN BURTON'S interesting paper on the Population and Customs of Sind affords the following particulars regarding the Shikarees, or Daphers, as they are called in the Sindee language:—

"The Sindees being all Moslems, no distinctions of caste, properly speaking, exist among them. The Koree (weaver), Dedh and Chamar (workers in U-ather), Chuhroo and Bale Shahee (sweepers), and Dapher or Shikarees (huntsmen), known as such in all Mussulman countries, are considered low and vile. They always marry into their own trades, and the two latter are not generally allowed to live inside villages or towns.

"Among the Daphers or Shikarees a curious custom prevails. Although Moslems, they eat carrion, live in the different shikargahs (or hunting grounds), and are not allowed to enter a mosque. When, however, one of this class wishes to become a good Mussulman he lights four fires, and stands in the middle till sufficiently purified by the heat. The Kazee then causes him to bathe and put on fresh clothes, and finally teaches him the Kalmeh (or delaration of belief), he then enters into the Machhi class."

"In spite, however," adds the official report, "of the prejudice against this class of men, some Shikarees are highly valued by their native employers. Instances to this effect might readily be found in the territories of H. H. Meer Ali Morad, of Khyrpoor, whose passion for sport would lead him to cherish his best huntsmen and foresters as he would a favourite hawk, and perhaps there is nothing to which the Meer is more sensibly attached than to this intelligent but fiercely disposed bird. Meehan, one of the head Shikarees of the Jam of Beyla. has also quite an enviable reputation on the Mekran coast."