ACCOUNT OF THE MHAIRS. THE following is a short description of a race of men of whom we had no knowledge till within the last few years, and of whom I do not recollect to have seen any mention in any of the Calcutta newspapers; probably on account of the very few Europeans who have ever yet pene. trated their country, notwithstanding the proximity of a large cantonment. The country of the Mhairs, whose very name is, perhaps, unknown to many of your readers, is situated but a very few miles west of Ajmere, and is composed of successive ranges of huge rocky hills, the only level country being the vallies running between them. Its extent I have not been able precisely to ascertain; but I should conjecture that it cannot be great. All the mention made of this highly interesting race in this history would lead us to imagine, that they have ever been what they still continue, wild mountaineers, with very loose ideas of the laws "of Meum and Tuum." Either from their insignificance or sturdy valour, the rulers of India were never able to make any impression on them, notwithstanding their vicinity to the occasional residence for a long period of the emperors of Hindoostan. In later times, the Mhairs have been the terror of their lowland neighbours; and even the Rajpoots, perhaps, with the sole exception of the Rohillas, the bravest men in India, trembled at their approach. In appearance, the Mhair far exceeds in muscular strength any other class of natives of India it has been my good or ill fortune to fall in with. Hardy, active, courageous, and brave to excess; hand to hand he fears nothing; man and beast are his natural foes, and on them he preys. His countenance and figure are well adapted for the life he is bred up to; and although I have observed a manly openness, and even dignity, displayed in the appearance of a few, yet the general expression evinces a total want of the finer feelings which adorn civilized man. The peculiarities in the disposition of the Mhairs are an irresistible love of freedom which is among them carried to such an excess, that they acknowledge no king or chief; or at any rate the obedience they pay to them is purely nominal, Asiatic Journ.-No. 100. and only continued as long as suits their own convenience. When a predatory excursion was determined on, some distinguished warrior volunteered his services to lead the attack, and those who placed confidence in him associated themselves with his band; but their choice of leaders was entirely voluntary, and the engagement was only binding according to the will of the people. Their natural dispositions and love of plunder were, however, always strong inducements to fidelity during any warlike expedition. Regarding the religion of the Mhairs, I have been unable to learn any thing correctly: their ideas of caste, however, are quite distinct from those of the neighbouring peo ple, or of Hindoos generally; and I believe they make no objection to receive food from the hands of Europeans; but they still have some prejudices on the subject, which perhaps would induce the expression "low caste Hindoos" to be applied to them. They do not hesitate in expressing the contempt they entertain for even the highest class of Bramins or Rajpoots, and, in fact, generally for all natives distinct from themselves. A people of such predatory habits as this, will not naturally be fond of agriculture, or at any rate will not make it a favourite pursuit; they have, though, some cultivated ground on the table-lands on the tops of the mountains; and the vallies appear highly susceptible of cultivation, having a fine soil and abundance of water. habits and customs would lead a traveller to conclude them nothing more or less than "Bheels;" but it is rather a surprising fact, that that appellation is among them the greatest insult that can be offered; such a stigma thrown on the most inferior among them, is only to be wiped away by the blood of the offender. Their The country of the Mhairs a common observer would pronounce impenetrable, and so it certainly would be to any thing but European valour; from what I myself have seen, I should almost be inclined to say that impossibilities are to be surmounted to effect an entrance into the heart of it. Its inhabitants reside in the deepest jungles, on the summits chiefly of their almost inaccessible mountains. Their VOL. XVII. 3 A towns were securely hidden from all human search; the vallies were entirely deserted, and not a trace of man was there to meet the eye of a stranger, who could only conclude the country to be a barren and uninhabited waste; while, in reality, the people constantly stationed in the watch-towers, with which the summits of the mountains are crowned, had in all human probability given the alarm, and the sides of the hills were every where covered with the mountaineers, ready to rush down on their unsuspecting victim. Such was the state of the country but a very few years ago. I recollect passing a spot which most powerfully brought to my recollection Sir Walter Scott's beautiful description of the ambuscade in "The Lady of the Lake," which he thus describes : "Instant through copse and heath arose, To plaided warrior armed for strife;" and my imagination was so worked on, that I could scarcely rouse myself from the utmost conviction I felt of my being surrounded by the savage inhabitants of the deep and sequestered glen through which I was passing. From these fastnesses the Mhairs were used to come suddenly down with an irresistible impetuosity, and burn and plunder the whole neighbouring country; the people were paralized with dread, and the hardy savages were safe again before they could resume courage to act on the defensive. Subsequent to our attaining a sinail territory and some influence in their immediate vicinity, they continued their depredations till our patience was exhausted, and it became necessary to teach them that they had a new and formidable foe to contend with. After every attempt had failed by pacific measures to bring them to listen to reason, a force was ordered to storm the only pass leading to their principal towns. Desperate as this service was, or rather would have been under other circumstances, it entirely succeeded. The Mhairs on that occasion for the first time saw and felt the power of British troops, and for the first time experienced the irresistible A effects of good musketry. Arrows (which I believe are their only weapons, unless they occasionally dart their spears) showered down from invisible hands on our little band until the Light Company was or dered to clear the jungles and rocks (behind which the enemy were concealed) of the hidden foe. With incredible difficulty and perseverance the extreme natural difficulties of the pass were surmounted, and a general volley so frightened and terrified the terror-stricken Mhairs, that they offered no more resistance, but fled in every direction, allowing our troops without further opposition to scramble up the pass, and take possession of their towns. They had never before heard the sound of a musket: the effect that a welldirected fire had on them may, then, be more easily imagined than described. party of officers which but a short time ago went up this very pass, found the road so extremely rugged and dangerous, that, unencumbered as they were, it was not without the greatest difficulty they could overcome the inconveniences they met with, and which they declared they could not conceive surmountable by troops. The consequence of our connexion with them has been, that although slight opposition was made at first, the lesson they received, almost without bloodshed too, has prevented their subsequently engaging in their old excursions, and they are now quiet, and have been so for some time. The vallies display a most luxuriant cultivation. Agricultural pursuits, as the most beneficial, and likely to encourage peaceable habits among the people, are patronized; and Government, ever anxious for the happiness and real welfare of the natives, is engaged in reconciling, and in some measure civilizing these demi-barbarians, by raising a local battalion in the midst of the country, half of which is to be composed of its native inhabitants. A short time ago so great success as could have been wished had not attended the plan; none of the fine men could be brought to enlist: indeed only old men tottering with age, and young boys still too weak to handle a musket, and without other means of providing for themselves, would make their appearance, and even they were scarcely manageable: but there is little doubt that the very able and conciliating conduct of the Political Agent and Com them and the Asiatics of the plains. A common native is either slavishly obse quious in his address, or he is insolent there is no medium. The Mhair has nothing of the kind; his character is marked by that natural feeling of independence by no means incompatible with respect, which is so apparent in his discourse: and in him, though a poor half-naked savage, for he is no more, one cannot but recognize a man in some respects on a level with one's-self.-[India Gazette. mandant of the corps relative to them will, in the course of time, establish discipline, and induce more serviceable men to come forward. They profess, and certainly entertain a great respect for the European character, and acknowledge us their superiors very readily; and the confidence they have in our honour induces them to put themselves in our hands whenever necessary. With every proper respect, they still have in their conversation with us a kind of manly openness and independence which marks the wide difference between HERTFORD COLLEGE. To the Editor of the Asiatic Journal. SIR-In the last number of your Journal, I find a very accurate report of two debates on the interesting subject of Haileybury College. After the just panegyrics passed on this truly useful and valuable seminary of education, by successive Governors-General of India, and by the most experienced and enlightened servants of the Company, any encomia by me, however well-merited, must be unnecessary, where hundreds and thousands of persons the best informed, are prepared to bear testimony to the most satisfactory results. Neither in our universities, nor in public or private schools, can such a particular description of instruction be given as is specifically calculated to qualify for a due discharge of the important duties of a civil servant of the East-India Company. I, Sir, was educated in a school of five classes, formed from four hundred boys; I afterwards spent at a university the requisite course of terms. On my arrival in India, forty-four years ago, I soon became sensible that I by no means possessed the knowledge, information, and acquirements, indispensably necessary to constitute an efficient civil or military servant: and I found a general regret prevalent, and loudly expressed, that there existed no adequate system of preparatory edu cation. With the exception of a very small number of studious servants, whose talents and acquirements have since distinguished them, the service remained devoid of the benefits of an efficient previous education, till the intuitive and luminous mind of one of the best of men, the late Charles Grant, was principally and happily instrumental in applying a remedy to a crying evil, by effecting the institution of the admirable College of Haileybury; which, independently of other numerous patriotic acts, must alone immortalize his name. I hope, Sir, that the enemies of this College (if any such there can be, on principles tolerably rational) do not suppose that this, or any other human plan of education can be altogether unexceptionable or perfect. Are they prepared to say, that our two universities are beyond disadvantageous remark, or censure? The great moralist and lexicographer, Johnson, being asked by a lady, anxious about the morals of her son, which of the two universities he would recommend in pre"Madam, they ference? answered, drink much about the same quantity of Port-wine at both." But, Sir, even supposing that Oxford and Cambridge were perfectly immaculate, in point of moral propriety, the complete course of instruction in oriental belles-lettres, 3A 2 the future safety and prosperity of British India. without which a civil servant cannot properly discharge laborious, legal, and political duties in India, could not be obtained at the English colleges. Again, supposing it made optional with parents to give a private education to a certain number of nominated writers, the requisite acquirements would necessarily be previously specified, and the young men would be examined along with those educated at Haileybury. If any, thus privately educated, should prove inferior in a knowledge of sine qua non branches of the high and liberal education now given, they must be returned to their studies; and it is more than probable that, on account of the difficulty of procuring masters to teach privately oriental languages little known in this country, with the other more abstract and refined departments of knowledge, the expense would much exceed the present, under a chance of experiencing repeated and vexatious failures. Several years ago the question was decided in favour of the integrity and stability of the College: but, nevertheless, no blame can be imputed to any proprietor proposing what he deems ameliorations; more especially when the question is discussed with the temper and good feelings evinced in the two recent debates. From the remarks made by the Chairman, it would appear that he had it in contemplation to consider what farther emendations might beneficially be introduced at at Haileybury; and, indeed, there seemed to be a pretty general feeling, that what has worked so well hitherto, ought to be left to the manage ment of the Court of Directors, who, no doubt, will attend to various suggestions worthy of attention. The question does not call for an appeal to Parliament: I feel confident, however, that no parliamentary committee, after mature deliberation, would recommend the repeal of a clause of an aet, under which a noble institution flourishes, and which was established for the avowed object of promoting If, by an act little short of insanity, the genius of evil should achieve the abolition of this main stay of our prosperity, no point of economy would be gained; while consequences destructive of health, and subversive of morals, must be a certain and infallible result. Suppose the College abolished and sold to some manufacturer: writers imperfectly instructed, as formerly, proceed to India, where they must remain four, instead of two years, at college; removed from the superintending care of their parents at a period of life when most wanted; exposed to seductions of vice, under a novelty of form, and qualified by example; running heedlessly in debt during a double period of unavoidable residence at college; and intimately feeling all the multiplied miseries of an unhappy condition, arising from the ill-judged destruction of the noble institution of Haileybury. But, Sir, the change will likewise occasion great increase of expense to the Company, for many additional Professors must he appointed at Fort William, with salaries on the India scale, independently of a heavy expenditure in enlarging the college, and adding to its accommodations. Sir, in your valuable Journal, and in a Pamphlet on the Civilization of India, I formerly lamented that balloting in the India-House was limited nearly to about 1,000 votes, in and contiguous to London; while nearly an equal number of voters residing at a distance, and who, from a long service in India, were perfectly conversant in all subjects discussed, were excluded from the ballot from various causes, principally inability to travel. I suggested an easy and obvious remedy for this evil, so detrimental to the best interests of the Company. In a few words, it consisted in taking votes locally, and transmitting them to the scrutineers at the India-House, to whom alone the names could be known, under the sanction of an oath of secrecy. Such a measure would, doubtless, secure the stability of every ordinance of manifest utility. I have some reason to think that this improvement is likely to be introduced into the next charter. It has been suggested that it might be desirable to substitute a school for the College. Such school, to be efficient, must have as many masters, as there are professors in the present establishment. The expense to parents would be greater. This ineligible measure would be but a mere change of name, but a total loss of dignity. So inexpedient an alteration will hardly be proposed. Your's faithfully, JOHN MACDONALD. SYLHET DISTRICT. (Extract of a Letter from the Sylhet District, dated 7th June, 1823.) WE wonder Government have not endeavoured to raise a corps of Hillmen for this frontier, instead of sending Hindoostanees here. A finer race than the Munnypoor and Cachar people I have never seen in India, not even excepting the Goorkhas: every man is a Hercules. They are, moreover, bitter enemies to the Burmahs, the only people we have to dread in this quarter. Several objections might, however, be made to this plan. In the first place, it would require no ordinary share of patience and perseverance, to break them in for good soldiers: the severe drill and strict discipline to which Hindoostanees submit from the first, would never answer with them; but I am convinced that, by a proper system, they might be made noble soldiers of. Look at our Goorkha corps, which were pretty nearly similarly situated; I feel convinced that, under our present mode of discipline, any attempt at recruiting among them would fail, as they would all speedily desert and return to their mountains. Sylhet is separated on the N. and N. E. from Assam by an extensive range of mountains, some points of which are 6,000 feet above the adjacent plains; they are inhabited by Cossecahs and other tribes. The principal passes into Assam are Luckhath, only about eighteen miles N. of the town of Sylhet, and Bhookola in Cachar. On the east it is divided from the Burmah empire by the two small hill states of Munnypoor and Cachar; and independent Tipperah, inhabited by the Kookies (a savage race), bounds it to the southward. The eastern and southern parts of the dis trict are intersected by hills; but the north- |
