240 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [Sept. 



strong hilly and jungly country where the boundaries of four foreign 

 jurisdictions meet, viz. Meywar, Boondee, Jeypoor, and Ajmeer. 



There are twelve tribes of Meenas in Central India, but the one 

 under notice is called the Purihar tribe. These are descendants of 

 the Purihars, who were the dominant race in Marwar, till dispossessed 

 of their ancient capital (Mundore) by the Ehatores towards the close 

 of the 14th century. Though defeated, the tribe would appear not 

 to have succumbed to the new rule, as there are no descendants of 

 them, I believe, to be found in Marwar at the present day, but emigrat- 

 ing they got possession, subsequently, it would appear, of Bagherah in 

 the present Ajmeer Istimraree and contiguous to some of their present 

 haunts. This their genealogists represent to have been in the second 

 generation from Nath Rao, the last Mundore Prince, with whom 

 his dynasty perished. In a generation or two afterwards, they are found 

 in the Chronicles lurking on the quadruple boundary above indicated, 

 a race of outcasts without a common head, and such they have con- 

 tinued ever since, {( their hand against every man and every man's 

 hand against them," plundering in gangs and joining any of the great 

 marauding movements that have from time to time been organized 

 under noted leaders. Thus, in 1847, some of the boldest of the out- 

 lawed Thakur Jawahir Singh's followers were these Meenas. The 

 same indomitable spirit which carried the Purihars forth out of the 

 land of their lost dominion seems to have maintained them in a state 

 oi wild independence throughout the long interval since ; for though 

 nominally owning allegiance to the States upon the verge of whose 

 territories respectively it has suited their purposes to locate them- 

 selves in fallahs or gangs, to increase probably their chances of eva- 

 ding pursuit by enlisting in their favor the national jealousies of the 

 llajpoot States, yet fortified by traditions of former ascendancy, they 

 have never really succumbed to any Power, but hanging together 

 as one man, have always united to repel the frequent futile attempts 

 that have been made from time to time by the rulers of States individu- 

 ally to coerce any of their Meena subjects, so called. The aggregate 

 of male adults in the tribe is about 24,000 ; of this number about 

 10,00U, distributed in 200 villages, are located along these border 

 tracts. 



