1854.] On the Ballads and Legends of the Punjab. 61 



There is but one race in the Sind Sagur Dooaba,* whose name, 

 physiognomy and history appear derivable from a Grecian source, 

 I need not name the Gukkur tribe. By a negative argument, there- 

 fore, we might seem compelled to adopt a genealogy, which they 

 themselves wholly disavow. I shall make no apology for delineating 

 the points of resemblance, and of divarication between the Gukkur 

 whom the Sikhs found dwindled to petty princes of Potowar, and 

 the Grekoi whom Alexander planted in that spot and who, for about 

 a thousand years, continued there to reign. t 



The Gukkur in physiognomy is sometimes Greek, sometimes Per- 

 sian. In general character, he is decidedly superior to the races 

 around him, but not more civilized. He is accounted truthful, brave 

 and honourable. The justice}: of the Gukkur Sooltauns is still pro- 

 verbial in their country. The Gukkur will give his daughter to none 

 but a Gukkur. He is not a child of the soil. Has seldom any claim 

 as a cultivator. But he has pretensions to the Kingly share — lately 

 wrested from him. If not a ruler, his vocation is arms. But want 

 has lately driven some to cultivate, which they consider degrading. 

 They have no connection with Pathans or Hindu tribes, nor with 

 any other class around them. In the earliest historical notices of 

 the Sind Sagur Dooab subsequent to those of Greek writers, they 

 appear as Sooltauns between the Indus and the Jelum. Thus they 

 continued until the reign of Hoomaioon, who flying to them for 



earlier coins, and on the reverse Raja Raja6n shewing that the term Maharaja is 

 modern. 



* I must however except the Awaun tribe, of whom I may write more anon. 

 Yavaun is the name by which the Greeks were known in the Hindi annals. Awaun 

 may be a corruption of this. The Awauns call themselves, however, Arabs. Sup- 

 posing their account correct, we may doubt whether the Hindu records of Yavans 

 refer to Greeks and not to this remarkable race. 



+ It was my pleasant task when Boundary Commissioner to procure the re- 

 lease from prison of about twelve of this persecuted race and to get provision 

 made for several. 



% It is said that one bleak night of winter Sooltan Sahrung sitting in his palace 

 at Dhangullee, heard the gheders yelling without, and judging that it must be from 

 cold sent them out cloaks. 



