Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 7.djvu/256

 ROHILLAS. (398)

OHILLAS are Afghans who have emigrated from their native country, and taken service with H.H. the Nizam's government, or with individuals. They are turbulent and cruel when in bodies, and given to plunder, without mercy to man or woman. They have frequently joined to support local insurrections, hut have suffered heavily from contact with regular troops on all occasions. In 1845–6 General Fraser, Resident at Hyde rabad, induced the Nizam's government to discharge Rohillas from its service. Great numbers of them were collected at Hyderabad, and dispatched to the frontier under military escort; but most of them returned, having no means of reaching Afghanistan. Berar, the northern frontier province of the Nizam's dominions, was their point of rendezvous for many years; but few remain there now, except those who have adopted peaceable habits and occupations. One of those represented in the Photograph, an old man, has settled near Oomrawutty, and the other is a jemadar in the Berar regular police. Rohillas in the Deccan have for the most part merged into the general Mussulman population, and not unfrequently contract local marriages. They do not differ in any way as to habits and food from the ordinary Mussulmans of the country.