The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-01-03
THE GYPSIES IN INDIA.
A Troublesome Tribe. the Mianas, and
Their Doings.

Their Doings.
When Travelled through the Kathia'
war in March just before the Viceroy' s
first visit the country was ringing with
tales Of dreadful dacoities in which the
Mianas appeared to be the chief actors.
SO daring had they become that a gang
of them attempted to loot the station
at Wankaneer. There they came on a
police Sepoy with an obsolete Snider,
and they retreated. But the contents
of the rifle found their way into one
pair of naked legs; and. as buckshot in
the calves greatly initiates 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
companions are now making thmeslves
useful IN jail.
Half the crime in Kathiawar is COM
mitted by Mianas, and it is all Maorjfs
fault that we have them. Maorji was
the son of Kayagi, and about hundred
and fifty years ago he had great dis
pute with the chief of Morvi lie
wanted some villages and he wished to
be independent So a bright idea oc-
CURED to him one day, and, acting on
it. he invited the Mianas to come over
from Sind ia help him. Now, any one
who had seen Sind will agree that 1t is
not a country that begs you to stay;
and the Mianas were therefore nothing
loath to leave it. OF course, when they
first came to help Morji they said moth
ing about remaining permanently, but
i Ii, Il tt,,n1
to depart, and spoiled the pleasure of
the worthy chief in his new gotten vii
lagos and independence So they had
to be given q small piece of territory,
and it was hoped they would settle
down and become good, law-abiding
subjects. But hopes are vain. They
did nothing of the sort; and they are
now known as "the gyDsies of India"
Looking at them you would be quite
ready to believe they came from the
original gypsy stock. Snewy and well
made, they are blessed with large
share of good looks. Their hair grows
in flowing curls. Their eyes, rowing and
roguish, sparkle with fun or ire with a
readiness indicative OF unstable affec-
ton, 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 themselves it does not exist
Scars with them are honorable, and an
individual without nose or 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 trickey as monkeys; and they adj
mire 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, |
chat you bow your head like that and |
touch the earth with your browse"
"Of no one but God" was the proud |
reply.
ooh, then come with me to Malta"
reioined the other; 1--WE don't fear even |
God there!"
During the greater part of the wear
they live in the open country and Join
in groups of three or four families. |
in temporary huts made
mostly of millet stalks and grass. From
these hamlets, or vardhs, they start out
IN their forays. They are principally
footmen. excel in the use of the sword
and in the tactics of village night at !