NAYRS BIIEELS. 269 



the general aspect of society, and, therefore, not requiring 

 minute description. The Nayrs of Calicut have been re- 

 peatedly brought under the reader's notice on account of 

 their valour, their aristocratic pride, and inhuman contempt 

 of the Pariahs or outcasts. A more unusual distinction is 

 found in the custom by which ladies of quality may without 

 reproach select as many lovers as they incline, provided 

 their birth be suitable ; in consequence of which the legit- 

 imacy of all the members of a noble family becomes more 

 than problematical. In order, therefore, to prevent the 

 succession from passing entirely to another blood, heritage 

 both in royal and noble houses descends, not to the son, but 

 to the sister's son. 



The Bheels or Bhills are a predatory tribe, who stand at 

 the very opposite extreme of Indian society. They occupy 

 the rugged cliffs and defiles in the mountain-border of Mal- 

 wa, Rafpootana, and Guzerat. Though plunder be their 

 " being's end and aim," they do not pursue it in large bands, 

 or carry their devastation into distant countries, like the 

 Mahrattas and Pindarees. They descend from the hills by 

 night, singly or in small troops, carry off with astonishing 

 dexterity whatever comes within their reach, and return by 

 morning to their usual retreats. They wear no clothes 

 except a piece of cloth round the waist ; and, being armed 

 only with bow and quiver, never make an open attack, but 

 shoot from behind rocks and bushes. As they eat beef, and 

 indulge in intoxicating liquors, they have been supposed to 

 be outcasts from the great Hindoo community, and to have 

 taken refuge in these fastnesses ; but Sir John Malcolm 

 assigns reasons for believing that they have ancient and 

 original institutions of their own, and at the same time hold 

 the*general creed of the country. They claim for the whole 

 tribe a descent from the great deity Siva or Mahadeo. They 

 pay blind and devoted obedience to their dhunnee or chief. 

 A young woman who was examined before an English 

 court respecting a murder with which her father and hus- 

 band stood charged, confessed that they had committed it ; 

 but maintained that it was without blame on their part, as 

 the dhunnee had commanded it. This justification not prov- 

 ing satisfactory to the judges, she repeatedly exclaimed, 

 " They had the dhunnee's order !" and showed equal aston- 



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