The times., 1900-12-31

Marcn, Just before the NiceroyS first visit
the country was ringing with tales OF
| dreadful daeoites, in which the Mianas
appeared to be the chief actors. So dar-
| ing had they become that a gang of them
attempted to loot the station at Wanka-
neer. There they came on d police Sepoy
| with an obsolete Snider, and they retreat
ed. But the contents OF the rife found
their way into one pair Of naked legs; and
as buckshot in the calves greatly initiate
against successful sprinting the owner of
those calves was constrained reluctantly
to submit to an official interview, with
the result that he and seven of his COM
panions are now making themselves USE
ful in Jail.
Half the crime in Kathiawar is commit
ted by Mianas, and it is all Morji's fault
that we have them Morji was the son of
kayagi and about a hundred and fifty
years ago he had a great dispute with the
chief of Morvi. He wanted some viii
lagos and he wished to be Independent.
So bright idea occurred to him one day
and, acting on it, he invited the Mianas
to come over from Sind to>help him. Now,
any one who has seen Sind will agree
that it is not country that begs you to
stay; and the Mianas were therefore moth
ing loath to leave it. OF course, when
they first came to help Morji they said
nothing about remaining permanently; but
after they had helped him they declined
to depart and spoiled the pleasure of the
worthy chief in his new gotten villages
and independence. So they had to be
given small piece of territory, and it
was hoped they would settle down and
become good, law-abidng subjects. But
hopes are vain. They did nothing of the
sort; and they are now known as 1.-The
gypsies Of India"
Looking at them you would be quite
ready to believe they came from the orig
inal gypsy stock. Sinewy and we'll made,
they are blessed with large share of
good looks. Their hair grows in flowing
cuTls. Their eyes rowing and roguish,
sparkle with fun or ire with a readiness
indicative of unstable affection, not to say
treachery. The curled mustache and
parted beard, combined with the set of
the turban give them a rakish, devil
may-care appearance that does not belle
them. Their women, too are handsome
and their morality-well, among them
selves it does not exist. Scars with them
are honorable and an individual without
a nose OF an ear in Malta, their home,
is such a common sight that you might
take 1t to be a popular health mark, like
vaccination. Absolutely regardless of life,
they are as tricky as monkeys; and they
admire most these qualities in others.
They are Mahometans, inasmuch as they
bury their dead and profess There is but
one God. and Mahomet is his prophet
but profession is the extent of their faith.
A story is told that once a Mana saw an
Arab in the Gaekwar's army praying.
"Of whom are you afraid" he asked,
that you bow your head like that and
touch the earth with your browse"
"Of no one but God" was the proud re-
ply.
''oh. then. come with me to Malta" re-
Joined the other; I'VE don't fear even God
therei'
During the greater part of the year
they live in the open country and join
in groups OF three or four families. shell
tering in temporary huts made mostly
of millet stalks and grass. From these
hamlets, or vardhs, they start out on
their forays. They are principally foot
men excel in the use of the sword, and
in the tactics of village night attack are
At home they herd cattle
mysteriously acquired, and abroad they
are regarded with terror that to them
is delightful.
In times of famine the Mianas are a
source of constant anxiety to the politi
cal officers, and. owing to their repeated
it had finally to be arranged |
that none of them should be allowed TO
leave their own country unless provided |
with special pass. II caught wandering |
without one they were arrested and be- |
came at once liable to a months impri- |
sonment. That was the only possible !
means of keeping a check on them. They !
are a thorn in the side Of any administra- |
tor. and, knowing their repugnance to |
work, when the scarcity began the ques-
ton as to what could be done with them |
was one of the gravest. On relief they |
we're mere idlers, constant anxiety, and |
more bindrance than help. But they have
their pride. There was a difficult piece |
Of railway embankment to be made up |
MouI way. All who had tried it had |
failed. The Mianas knew this. and when
they were sent to try their hands at it
emulation rose high in their dishonest |
hearts. What no other people had ac-
complished they would do. The spirit
spread. Individuals and families com
leted to see who could work hardest and
10 most. They toiled and struggled with
persist ence hitherto unknown among
hem where good object was concerned.
Day by day, to the CONSERVATION be it
aid of the authorities, great lengths were
ldded to the work. and in six weeks what
I had been hoped would keep them out
# mischief till the famine ended had
)een completed
There" they said triumphantly, look
ghat we can do"
And the authorities looked and noted,
nd whatever else the Mianas did after
hat had to be equally well done.
About three hundred of them had been
RATED into Rajkot on road construction.
nd they were watched closely. They
ould not enter the town without passes.
nd even if they had them they were
bliged to be back for rollcall at sunset
hings were monotonous for the little
onimunity. Attempts at pilfering had
cen continually repressed, and there
ame Iull. 1t was evident the Sircar
as not going to be robbed. and it was
vidcnt also that the Sircar would not al
wv those precious Kathiawar States to be
,oted. Here was a crisis. The Mana !
lind was sorely exercised Was life !
orth living? At last a genius arose. He ,
ad slept on the problem and had brought :
,rth to his own satisfaction solution. :
e and his family were suddenly seized {
ith enormous energy. An hour before | 7
he usual time to start one morning they S
ent to the Karkun, saying they wanted to a
} 4 good days work, and desired. there /
re, to begin at once. Now, it is not we'll I
, discourage enthusiasm, and, all I'M a
ispecting. the Karkun allowed them to h
}. They were paid by piece. and each S
le's lot of dug earth was lying in tidy O
caps to be measured and paid for, be- a
Luse these worthless, not being trusted by t
le shopkeepers, had to be paid daily S
ne early birds set to work and worked v
ost sedulously. But not as the Karkun n
Id expected. No. They busily aug ,
ented their heaps from these of their !
,ighbors, and when the rest came the q
st comers had grand mounds Cor which =
tn.