Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 7.djvu/25

 JAT ZEMINDARS. (344)

HE present subject can hardly fail to be acceptable, not only from the beauty and grace of the Photograph, but as an illustration of a party of well-to-do zemindars. The word zemindar means literally holder of land, and these are probably respectable Jat farmers, who are amusing themselves with a game at puchees, which in all parts of India is universal. The game is not unlike backgammon in principle, and is played with a number of cowries, which one of the players rattles in his hand, and throws upon the ground; as many as show the slits or openings in the shells count for the player, and there is considerable dexterity required in the caster to make as many slits as possible tell for his game. The board is usually made of cotton or woollen cloth, on which the squares for the men are sewn, and the men are moved according to the throws of the parties. At a first glance puchees (twenty-five) appears like draughts, very easy; but it is not so in reality, and requires a good deal of judgment and experience, and lookers-on occasionally suggest moves, or give general advice to the players. Such would seem to be the case on the present occasion. Three of the party are apparently intent upon the game, and the elder and the figure on his proper right are giving their advice. There is nothing particular in the dresses of these men. They are evidently of a comfortable class, as they all wear tunics. In short, the scene and the figures are of every day life, without restraint, and as such are welcome additions to these illustrations of native life in India. The seated figure sits on the edge of his bedstead, and holds in his hand a small hookali of brass, and of a form peculiar to Hindoos of Northern India, which is not inelegant.

As a class the Jats have little education. They leave learning entirely to their priests, who are Brahmins, and to their scribes; but they are excellent practical farmers, and their fine fields of corn, pulse, cotton, and other products, are the admiration of all that see them. The Jats hold Brahmins in great reverence, perhaps indeed in fear; no household ceremony, as marriage and the like, is undertaken without them, and they share the veneration that is