TROPICAL TRIBES AND RACES 195 



astic courage and generous self-devotion, so singularly combined 

 with gentleness and an almost childish simplicity of character. 

 In no part of the world has the devotion of soldiers to their 

 immediate chiefs been more remarkable than among the Dogras. 

 They have ever been distinguished for their military fidelity and 

 loyalty. 



In vigour and manly strength the Dogra is not the equal of the 

 Sikh or Jat. In their own country the Mians and Rajputs are 

 generally inclined to be delicate. This is due partly to poverty 

 and under-feeding from their dislike to agriculture, and partly to 

 the prevalence of fever. When enlisted, however, they rapidly 

 develop and fill out ; but though good food, combined with drill 

 and gymnastics, make them steady and well set-up, they rarely 

 run to any great height, their average stature being 5J feet. 

 The taller men amongst them are chiefly agriculturists from the 

 plains, who, though physically more stalwart, have not the 

 pluck and activity of the hardy hillmen. 



Since the British occupation of Kangra, the Dogras of that 

 neighbourhood have been compelled by poverty to resort to 

 agriculture, though the highest classes still hold aloof from 

 ploughing. 



At the present time fully 70 per cent, of the population are 

 agriculturists. In Jummoo, on the other hand, the predomin- 

 ance of the cultivator is less striking ; here the Mians live in 

 pride, poverty, and indolence. This acts unfavourably on their 

 physique, which cannot be compared with that of the better- 

 fed agriculturists of Kangra. Opinions differ as to the relative 

 value of Jummoo and Kangra Dogras as soldiers. Both are 

 equally courageous, but the Kangra Dogras are generally 

 esteemed to be the better. They are said to have more 

 heart, greater capacity for endurance, and greater pride of race. 

 The agricultural classes have usually three meals a day. 

 Before going to work the men partake of bread reserved from 

 the previous night's supper. At noon is eaten the first full 

 meal, consisting of rice, dal, and bread made of wheat or maize. 

 Supper mainly consists of wheat bread, rice seldom appearing. 

 The different millets are largely used as food. Maize is a very 

 favourite grain, and from September to May is in constant 

 consumption. After May wheat matures, and for the 

 remaining six months of the year wheat meal is the staple 

 foodstuff. 



