Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-10-19
The Mfenas of Central Intiia-A SIngu-
lar Race of Human Beings.
from Nature. |

AHe Nas ohas 01 central 1nGld-A SIEgu
lar Race of Human Beings.
from Nature.]
Lieut. Col. G. L. Showers has communi
Gated to the proceedings of the Asiatic
Society OF Bengal, @ paper upon the
Meenas, wild tribe of Central India,
Lieut.. Col Showers says that when the
Meenas hrst tell under his observation in
the year 1904, they were in a condition oi
entire laWlessness. Emboldened by long
importantly they carried their audicity SO
far as to attack and pillaPe several walled
towns IN the British District of Aimur,
carrying OFT not only the entire plumber to
their hill Businesses, but numbers of the
inhabitants also, holding them to ransom.
At that period it fell to the duty of Lieut..
Col Showers to- take them in hand. He
proceeded to Jehazpoor, the centre of the
disturbed district, and inaugurated certain
measures for the tranquilization and recla-
nation of the race. From time immemo-
rial Jehazpoor, in the state of Adeypoor,
had been notoriously disturbed district
period OF brief tranquility was accorded
to Jehazpoor during the early part of the
present century by the appalling severity
of measures of the noted Minister Lalim
Sing, after Jehazpoor fell into the possess
sion of Katah, in 1906. On the restitution
OF the district however, to Meywar, in
1919, it soon relapsed into its former dis
turbed condition. Jehazpoor was, in truth a
position well chosen for the lawless occu-
patton of professional marauders, being q
strong, hilly and jungly country, where the
boundaries of four Jurisdictions meet, viz. !:
Meywar, Boondee, Jeypoor and Aimur.
There are twelve tlibes of Meenas in Cen
tral India, but the one under notice is
called the Purihars, who were the domi.
nant race in Marwur, till dispossessed of
their ancient capital Mundore by the Rha-
tees towards the close of the fourteenth
century. In generation or two after
wards they are found in the Chronicles
lurking on the quadruple boundary already
alluded TO, race of outcasts, without a
common head; and such they have contin-
ued ever since, 'their hand against every
man, and every mans hand against them"
plundering IN gangs and joining any of the
great maraudlng movements that have
from time to time been organized under
noted leaders. Thus, in 1S47, some of the
boldest of the outlawed Thakur Javhir
Singh's followers were these Meenas.
The same indomitable spirit which carried
the Purihars forth out of the land of their
lost dominion seems to have maintained
them in state of wild independence
throughout the long interval since; for
though nominaliy owing allegiance to the
states upon the verge of whose territories
it had suited their purpose to locate them
selves in fetlnhs or gang, they have never
really succumoed to any power, but. hang
ing together as one man, have always unit
ed to repel the frequent futile attempts that
have been made from time to time by the
rulers of states to coerce any of their Meepa
subjects, SO called. The aggregate of the
male adults in the tribe is about $4,000; of
this number about 10 600, distributed in
200 villages, are located along these border
tracts. Individually, the men are brave to
desperation, athletic and hardy, many of
them tall with fine countenances, denoting
their superior origin. The Meena will nei-
ther eat smoke, nor intermarry with the
aboriginal Bull, Mair, or low caste Meene
of the Aravulla; that is to gay, he will not
give daughter in marriage, though he will
take to his bed as many daughters of the
Inferior trlbes as he can support. Their
pride of birth is indeed excessive fostered
by traditions ascending beyond the bounds
of history to the regions of myth. The
genaalogist of the tribe is the honored
guest in every village he visits in his annual
round. Each family engages his company
for one entire day, which is occupied
in recording in the ponderous manu-
script volume the recent additions to the
family tree, whether in the male or female
branch; for even the ancestry of tho women
is duly recorded, About half the tribe are
armed with matchlocks Of superior manu-
facture, about half with bow, and all with
the kattar, or double-hilted dagger, which
is o weapon they peculiarly affect. It is
weapon never detached from the person
single moment, waking or sleeping. Free
from the ordinary prejudices of caste, the
Purihars are great eaters Of meat. which
their cattle-litting raids furnish in pro-
fusion. They are also great drinkers
of spirits, which serves to increase
their natural ferocity. All the married,
and many besides take in keeping the
widows of the deceased elansmen to the
number of Two Or three each, or otherwise
forcibly domicile women abducted in their
raids. Perhaps the most no. eworthy fact
relating to the tribe was their ignorance
up to the day of Lieut.. Col. Showers ar
rival among them, of the true character Of
the British Government as the paramount
power. The raids of the Meenas into
British territory brought matters to crisis,
and it became necessary to put them down.
But in contrast with the unfortunate con-
tests with savage races, which are going on
at the present day in other parts of the
world, it may not be unworthy of note that
the tranquilization of Jebazpoor was effect
cd without shot being fired.