Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 6.djvu/234

 CORPORAL FIRST BELOCH REGIMENT. (327)

PRIVATE FIRST BELOCH REGIMENT. (327-2)

HESE Photographs illustrate the local regiments which were raised in Sind in 1861 by Sir Charles Napier, after the conquest of the province. One is of a naik, or corporal, the other of a private. The uniform is green, with red binding; turban dark blue, drawn round a red skull-cap in ample folds; accoutrements brown leather. These regiments, 1st and 2nd Beloch, were composed of men who fought so bravely against British troops at Meeanee and Dubha, and Captain Hicks, the Adjutant of the regiment, adds:—

"They have equally distinguished themselves in our service as they did against us. During the Indian mutiny in 1857-58, the 1st Beloch regiment, after escorting the siege train from Ferozepoor to Delhi, took part in the siege and capture of that city; subsequently, serving with distinction in the Rohilkhund and Oude campaigns. Having marched from Kurrachee to Nipaul, a distance by the route taken of 2,000 miles, the regiment returned, in 1859, to Sind, where it is now located."

The corporal, Wazeer Khan, No. 327, is a Beloch of the Eind tribe, of whom there are many in the regiment. The private, Shere Mahomed Khan, No. 327–2, is a Pathan of Kandahar, of the Populzye division of Afghans. Their dress has not the flowing contour or the picturesque colour of the Afghan or Beloch costume; but who can say that it is inelegant, or that it does not suit the stalwart forms of the gallant wearers? while the gratification is added that these, once our fierce enemies, have been converted by discipline into some of the bravest of Her Majesty's soldiers. Under recent arrangements, the 1st Beloch regiment has become the 27th Bombay native infantry.

In some instances Belochees take service with native princes in India, and at one time there was a small corps of them in the service of H.H. the Nizam, at Hyderabad, in the Deccan.