80 
THE ORIENTAL ANNUAL. 
sanctity. I have not, at any time, met with these 
people ; hut Captain Taylor, whose beautiful sketches 
are the chief embellishment of the present volume, 
has been more fortunate. He gives me the following 
note concerning them. 44 1 have seen more of them 
at Hyderabad than elsewhere. Their costume is 
peculiar above all others. It consists of a conical 
felt hat, worked into chequers of white, red, and 
black ; and their gown, which descends from the 
neck to the calf of the leg, is of diamond-shaped 
patches of the same colours. A few gourds for 
carrying water, are hung over the shoulder, or at 
the waist ; and usually a bright steel rod, sometimes 
headed with a trident, completes their equipment. 
They never marry, but are of habits exceedingly 
dissolute and debauched, and are always most 
sturdy and importunate beggars.’’ Stories of the 
kalundurs are current throughout India, and nu- 
merous enough to occupy another series of a thou- 
sand and one nights, though not always very credit- 
able to the tribe. I have selected the following, as 
being illustrative of their pretensions to the especial 
favour and protection of Providence : — 
THE KALUNDUR AND THE VIZIER. 
In the days of religious prosperity, a kalundur, 
whose travel- worn appearance betokened his arrival 
from some distant place, made his salaam to the 
