272 PECULIAR HINDOO TRIBES. 



ostentatious in public, has remained nearly unaltered, and 

 its delineation belongs rather to the history of countries 

 where they are still the ruling race. Since the time of Au- 

 rengzehe their bigotry has greatly abated. An interesting 

 description of their domestic habits, generally involved in 

 much guarded obscurity, has recently been given by an 

 English lady, whom fortune had united to a Mussulman of 

 distinction, named Meer Hassan Ali. The picture greatly 

 resembles the pleasing one drawn by Mr. Tully's relative 

 of the ladies of Tripoli ; and both represent the inmates of 

 the Moslem zenana in a somewhat favourable light. Though 

 buried in complete seclusion, they are described as mild, 

 cheerful, content with their lot, and even possessing some 

 measure of information. 



In consequence of the recent successes of the British 

 arms, the Mohammedans have been dislodged from the 

 Mahratta courts, where they had found shelter, and their 

 predatory bands have been dissolved. Their religion, how- 

 ever, still prevails in the vassal states of Hydrabad and 

 Oude, as well as in the independent one of Sinde. 



Another foreign race of considerable importance is that 

 of the Parsees or Persians, the ancient worshippers of fire, 

 long since driven from their native country by the per- 

 secuting sword of the Arabs. The fury of that invasion 

 is too clearly demonstrated by the fact, that there remains 

 in their original seats only a small and poor remnant of this 

 once powerful people. On the contrary, the refugees in In- 

 dia are numerous and opulent. They take the lead in the 

 commercial transactions of Bombay, Surat, and other north- 

 western ports ; indeed, they are the proprietors of almost all 

 the houses in the former, obtaining often very high rents- 

 from the English residents. Their general conduct is quiet, 

 orderly, and respectable ; though their usual retired habits 

 are combined with that love of occasional pomp and show 

 which prevails so generally among the inhabitants of the 

 East. 



The Jits, or Jauts, are a numerous people, occupying the 

 western provinces which border on the Indus. They appear 

 to have emigrated from the great plains beyond the Oxus r 

 and retain still the warlike and pastoral habits of Scythia. 

 We have seen them become formidable by their valour to 

 the great conquerors, as well as to the Mogul rulers of Hin- 



