Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 7.djvu/244

 NAWAB JUMALOODEEN BAHADUR. (395)

HE Dewan is not a pure Afghan, but has an admixture of Hindoo blood. His ancestors in the fourth and fifth generations were Hindoos of the Kullal, or distillers' caste, and were made Mussulman proselytes in the time of the Emperors of Delhi. The Dewan's great grandfather was employed as canoongo to the late King of Delhi, and his grandfather was a chobdar, or mace-bearer, in the late King's service. His father was well educated, and employed in the service of the British Government. His uncle was for many years employed as Meer moonshee in the Indore Presidency, when Jumaloodeen was a clerk or mutsuddy on ten rupees per month. Thence he was dismissed for some fault, and obliged to return to his father in Delhi, and there passed several years of his life in reduced circumstances. At last he procured a letter of recommendation from a moulvee in Delhi to one of the officers of Sekunder Begum, and was taken into Her Highness's service as a mutsuddy; and having been well educated in Delhi, and naturally of a grave and thoughtful mind, he became a great favourite, and rose rapidly, by his ability and perseverance, to the high rank he now holds. Jumaloodeen personally is a most amiable, upright man, and has proved himself an able statesman and councillor. At the time of the mutinies he was absent on a pilgrimage to Mecca. His age is fifty-five, and he is a tall, good-looking man.