The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-01-03

1
that to them is delightful.
In times of famine the Mianas are 8
lsource Of constant anxiety to the poll.
tical officers, and, owing to their re-
peated depredations, it had finally to be
arranged that none of them should be
allowed to leave their own country UNI
less provided with a special pass If
caught wandering without one they
We're arrested and became at once liable
to months Imprisonment. That was
the only possible means of keeping a
check on them. They are thorn in the
side of any administrator, and, know
ing their repugnance to work, when the
scarcity began the question as to what
could be done with them was one of the
gravest. On relief they were mere
idlers, a constant anxiety, and more
hindrance than help. But they have
their pride. There was difficult piece
of railway embankment to be made up
Morvi way. All who had tried 1t had
failed The Manas knew this, and
when they were sent to try their hands
at it emulation rose high in their dis
hoest hearts. What no other people had
accomplished they would do. The spirit
spread. Individuals and families COM
peted to see who could work hardest
and do most. They toiled and struggled
with a persistence hitherto unknown
among them where good object was
concerned Day by day, to the con-
sternation be it said of the authorities,
great lengths were added to the work.
and in six weeks what it had been
hoped would keep them out of mischief
till the famine ended had been COM
pleted.
There" they said, triumphantly,
'look what we can dol"
And the authorities looked and noted,
and whatever else the Mianas did after
that had to be equally well done.
| About three hundred OF them had
been drafted into Rajkot on road con-
struction, and they We're watched close
ly They could not enter the town with
out passes, and even is they had them
they were obliged to be back for roll
call at sunset. Things were monoton-
Gus for the little community. Attempts
at pilfering had been continually re-
pressed, and there came lull. 1t was
evident that Sircar was not going to
be robbed, and IL was evident also that
the Sircar would not allow those
precious Kathiawar states to be looted
Here was a crisis. The Mana mind
was sorely exercised. Was life worth
living? At last genius arose. He had
slept on the problem and had brought
forth, to his own satisfaction, q solu-
ton. He and his family were suddenly
seized with enormous energy. An hour
before the usual time to start one
morning they went to the KarlSun, say
ing they wanted to do good days
work and desired. therefore, to begin
at once. Nok, 1t is not well to discour-
age enthusiasm, and, all unsuspecting,
the Karkun allowed them to go. They
were paid by piece, and each ones lot
of dug earth was lying In tidy heaps to
be measured and paid for, because these
worthless, not being trusted by the shop
keepers, had to be paid daily. The
"early BIRDS set to work and worked
most sednlously. But not as the Kar-
kun had expected No. They buslly
augmented their heaps from those of
their neighbors andt when the res
came the first corners had grand
for which to draw remunera-
ton. They were immensely pleased,
but not so their nelghbors, who prompt
ly prepared to settle the difference with
the depredators according to custom.
And the culprits were nothing loath.
The war began. and, delighted, the rest
Of the people not directly concerned,
gathered to see the fun. Armed Sepoys |!
interfered, however, and the feelings of /
all were terribly hurt. What right had |
any one to stop them? they asked. |
Surely they could rob each other If they |
wished to- No one else suffered. The |
Sircar was none the worse off If No. !
had taken a portion of the work of I
Nos. and 8. The amount of labor was
lust the same, and had to be paid for |
lust the same. What did 1t matter who
n the end got payment? Their rights
we're being interferd with now. with
They would see to it. So
o the political agent. But the matter
vas not settled to their liking, and they
vent back sadly bordering and longing
or the good old days of promiscuous
)lunder. Once or twice, just for va
ety, some lively member would play
ully knock down the overseer or the
<arkun and, to avoid repetition of
UGH behavior. the offender had to be
logged. He took it in perfectly good
'art In fact, he declared he liked it,
because 1t warmed him, and forthwith
lie sinned again. Finally, it was de-
ided that the only punishment that
would restrain him was filming, for in
his way his family too, would be made
o suffer. 1t was last attempt. but
succeeded, for with all his faults
lis thievishness and his immortality. the
fiana cares for his women folk and his =.
title ones. SO order was restored
/ remember well visiting their little ;
illage near Baikot. There they were,
Id and young, looking as happy as ,
andboys. In moment one became :
ne center of crowd full of grievances
told most cheerfully. One hoard =
eaded old scamp suggested that 1t !;
'ould be brilliant idea on the part of
ne visitor to lend them money. IT was :
OF baksheesh they required-only a a
van! From the low waffle, mud plas- =
ared huts on either side, women looked +
Oddly out. Children, as free from COW :
ing as the day they first looked out !,
n world of sin and sorrow, pressed /,
'rward among the legs of their seniors >
} catch glimpse of the sahib IL was
delightful picture-a wonderful ex-
b. I. A..