Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 7.djvu/46

 GUDDEES. (349)

HE Guddees profess to be a Mussulman tribe converted from low caste Hindooism in the reign of Aurungzeeb. They are cultivators, and keep and breed cattle to a large extent. They are by no means pure Mussulmans, but adhere to ancient Hindoo belief in many instances. In marriages some families employ Kazees, and the rites are conducted according to Mussulman customs; in others, the services of Brahmins are engaged, and the marriage is Hindoo. They profess to worship according to Mussulman belief; but they hold the goddess Dcvi or Bhowanee, in her incarnation of seetla or small pox, in veneration and fear, and other minor deities of Hindooism are invoked and propitiated on many occasions. Thus the old state of low caste Hindooism is preserved as a foundation, while the superstructure of Mussulman conversion sits very lightly upon them. Their principal locality is the Dooab of the North-Western Provinces, but they are also found in the Ulwar and Bhurtpoor states of Rajpootana. They are a mild inoffensive people, and, as a class, of good behaviour, peaceful, industrious, and long lived. They eat meat, and drink spirituous liquors, but not to any excess. With their large herds of cattle they possess numbers of carts, both for transport of goods and as travelling vehicles. The cart shown here is one for riding or travelling in. As represented, the curtains on the right side are thrown over the top, but when let down they conceal the inmates from observation. As a vehicle, nothing can be more inconvenient or more rough, and the passenger has to assume a painfully cramped position which cannot be changed. It is, however, very strong, yet light, and with the well-trained bullocks employed can make a long journey in a day.