Evening star., 1901-02-25
THE GYPSIES IN INDIA
THE MIANAS ARE A MOST TROUBLE
SOME TRIBE.
Are without Principle or Fear, Al
ment of Pride-In Famine Time.
Bombay Correspondence London Post.

| Bombay Correspondence London Post.
When 1 travelled through Kathawar in
March just before the viceroy's first visit
| the country ringing with tales of
| dreadful dacoities in which the Mianas ap-
| peared to be the chief actors. So daring
| had they become that a gang of them at
| tempted 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 constrained reluctantly
to submit to an official interview with the
result that he and seven of his companions
are now making themselves useful in Jail.
Half the crime in kathiawar is committed
by Mianas. and 1t is all Morji's fault that
we have them. Morji was the son OF
Kayagi, and about hundred and fifty
years ago he had great dispute with the
chief of Morvi He wanted some villages
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 1t Is not
country that begs you to stay; and the
Mianas We're, therefore, nothing loath to
leave 1t. OF course when they first came
to help Morji they said nothing about re-
naming 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 a small piece OF
territory. and it was hoped they would
settle down and become good. law-abiding
subjects. But hopes are vain. Ihey olu
nothing of the sort; and they are now
known as 1.-The gypsies OF India
Appearance and Characteristics.
Looking at them you would be quite
ready to believe they came from the original
gypsy stock. Sinewy and well made. they
are blessed with large share OF good
looks. Their hair grows in flowing curls.
Their eyes. rowing and rosuish, sparkle
with fun or ire with a readiness indicative
of unstable affection, not to say treachery.
The cured mustache and parted bearo,
combined with the set OF the turpan' give
them a rakish, devil may care appear
ance that does not belle them. Thelr
women, too. are handsome. and thelr mo-
rality--well, among themselves 1t does not
exist. Scars with them are honorable, ana
an individual without nose or an ear IN
Malta their home, Is such common slgnt
that you might take 1t to be popular
health mark, like vaccination Absolutely
regardless Of life, they are as tricky as
monkeys; and they admire most these quai-
tiles in others. They are Mahometans in
asmuch as they bury their dead and pro-
| fess There is but one God. ana Mahoine'
tent of their faith. story is told that
once Mana saw an Arab IN the Gack-
wars army praying.
"Of whom are you afraid" he asked,
"that you bow your head IKE tnat anu
touch the earth with your broWs?
"Of no one but God" was the proud re-
ply.
ioined the other; 1--WE don't fear even God
there .
During the greater part of the year they
live in the open country and join in groups
of three or four families, sheltering in tenn
porary huts made mostly of millet stalks.
and grass From these hamlets, or Vardhs,
they start out on their forays Ihey are
principally footmen. excel in the use of the
sword and in the tactics of village night
attack are unsurpassed. At home they
herd cattle mysteriously acquired, and
abroad they are regarded with a terror that
to them is delightful.
Mianas in Famine Time.
In times of famine the Mianas are
source of constant anxiety to the political
officers, and, owing to their repeated depre-
dations it had finally to be arranged that
none of them should be allowed 10 ieaFe
their own country unless provided with
special pass. If caught wandering without
one they were arrested and became at once
liable to a months imprisonment That
was the only possible means OF keeping
check on them. They are a thorn in the
side of any administrator. and, knowing
their repugnance to work, when the scarcl-
ty began the question as to what couid De
done with them was one or the graVest.
On relief they We're mere idlers, 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 II
had failed. The Mianas knew this. and
when they We're sent to try their hands at
1t emulation rose high in their dishonest
hearts What no other people had accom-
plished they would do The spirit spread
individuals and families competed to see
who could work hardest and do most. They
toiled and struggled with persistence
hitherto unknown among them where a
good object was concerned. Day by day, to
the CONSERVATION be 1t said of the authori-
ties great lengths were added to the work.
and in six weeks what 1t had been hoped
would keep them out OF mischief till the
famine ended had been completed.
There" they said, triumphanty, look
what we can do!
And the authorities looked and noted, and
whatever else the Mianas did after that
had to be equally well done.
About 800 of them had been drafted into
Rajkot on road construction, and they were
watched closely. They could not enter the
town without passes, and even II they had
them they were obliged to be back for roll
call at sunset. Things were monotonous
for the little community. Attempts at pill
fering had been continually repressed, and
there came lull. 1t was evident the sircar
was not going to be robbed, and 1t was evil
dent also that the sircar would not allow
those precious Kathiawar states to be loot
ed Here was a crisis. The Mana mind
was sorely exercised Was life worth liv-
ing: At last a genius arose. He had slept
on the problem and mad brought forth, to
his own satisfaction, solution. He and
his family were suddenly seized with enor-
nous energy. An hour before the usual
time to start one morning they went to the