Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 7.djvu/89

MAHRATTA PUNDITS. that have been long settled in the Saugor and Nerbuddah provinces; but they keep up their connection with their parent land, and do not make local marriages, usually going to the Deccan to contract them. They retain their own language perfectly, and from their high class as Brahmins, and their learning, are much respected and esteemed. Bralimins, in general, wear very plain clothes, and when serving in a priestly capacity have nothing on the head or upper part of the body; but in these instanees the figure on the right of the picture wears cloth of gold with a blue ground: the second, cloth of gold with a pink ground: the third, a red silk coat with gold lace: the fourth, a blue silk coat with gold lace; the turbans, scarves, &c., of all are of like and suitable richness. Rao Krishn Rao has received a title of honour, Rao Sahib, and a medal for good services from Lord William Bentinck, which he is fond of displaying. The rest are pensioners according to the rank they held in the native service, while they still continue their priestly profession. It is to be regretted that further particulars are not given of this remarkable group in the official detail, for the intellectual thee and remarkable figure of Rao Krishn Rao, and his being represented with English books near him, leads to the inference that he is a superior English scholar. The group is contributed by Lieut. Waterhouse, of the Royal Artillery, by whom the whole of the series of Jubbulpoor, Saugor, Indore, Bhopal, &c., were taken, when he was specially employed for the purpose by the Government of India. In the ease and admirable combination of many of the subjects, true artistic skill has been manifested.