Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 6.djvu/57

 SIRDAR KHAN NOOMRYA. (287)

HIS person, a fine and handsome specimen of the Sind Belochees, is Mullik, or chief, of the whole tribe of Noomryas, other ilustrative specimens of which will be given hereafter, In Major Preedy's Report on Lower Sind, 1847, the tribe is thus described:—

"The tribe appears to have been of Rajpoot origin. The first of the family whose name has been recorded was Essab Khan, who, accompanied by his eight brothers, set forth from Rajpootana, and, after many adventures, arrived at Kedj, in Mekram, where they were well received by the chief of that place.

"After sojourning for some time at Kedj, the Noomree, or Nownun-dee (literally nine men, assassinated the chief of the place, on account of a gross insult offered to the elder brother by him. In consequence of this act they were obliged to fly the country, and they returned to the western frontier of Sind, where they settled, and intermarried with the people of the locality. In a few years they became a very numerous and powerful tribe, and gradually obtained possession of the whole of the hill tract lying between the Pubb mountains and the Indus, east and Avest, and between the Malleer and Bharun rivers, on the north and south. For many years fierce contests were maintained between them and the Khosas, but the latter were eventually driven beyond the Bharun river. This happened about seventy years ago (or upwards of ninety from the present time). Since then the Noomryas have held undisturbed possession."

Sirdar Khan is a good specimen of the Belochees who fought so bravely against us at Meeanee and Dubha; a powerful, athletic young man, with an open, pleasant countenance. His costume is singularly picturesque, the embroidered cloak, or chogah, hanging over the simple muslin tunic beneath, with its full sleeves reaching to his elbows. His arms are the long, heavy Beloch sabre, and a matchlock, the stock of which is of the usual curved form common to the people of Belochistan, and in great contrast to the simple straight stock of the Indian weapon. The Belochees allege that this form admits of a surer aim being taken,