Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 8.djvu/18

 RAJAH BINIJAH. (408)

HE Plate represents a boy of the military class of Mysore, which is a numerous one, attached to the Rajah's court and army. They are Hindoos of good caste, aspiring to be termed Kshettryas, or descendants of Rajpoots; but their right to such a claim may be considered doubtful. In the first 1iahratta war the Mysore horse did excellent service under the late Duke of Wellington, and are frequently mentioned in his dispatches; and the body materially reduced, still exists, performing police and other local duties in the service of the state. The members of it ride their own horses, and maintain them out of the pay, and in some instances lands, assigned to them. The youth represented is handsomely dressed in cloth of gold, and may belong to some locally noble family.