Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 6.djvu/101

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RIND.
(298)

THE Rinds are one of the most ancient, if not the most ancient and pure, Beloch tribe in Sind, and many of the other tribes are said to have branched off from them. The Rinds have now no especial location or territory, and, like Boorgarees and others, are found singly or in small groups all over the country, but most especially in the northern district near Jacobabad, and in the southern of Theree and Parkur. At Sehwan, in Central Sind, Bahwul Khan, who is a jahgeerdar or estate holder, is now perhaps the head of the tribe—a rough, illiterate man, of boisterous manners, but a keen sportsman, ready to join in any field sports with English officers. In Captain Minchin's Report on the Beloch Tribes on the Sind Frontier of the Punjab, he mentions that the Beloches, according to their own traditions, emigrated from Aleppo, through Persia, to Kutch Mekran and Sewustan, and that they are mentioned in the Koran as one of the elder Arabian tribes, existing prior to Mahomed's birth. These emigrants came through the Bolan pass into Upper Sind, and became known as Rind Belochees. They then divided into two factions, Lisharees and Rinds, and disputed the rights of the water of the Jhool river, the Lisharees being successful. Under their leader, Chakur, the Rinds allege that the clan joined the Emperor Hoomayoon, in his recovery of the Delhi kingdom, and obtained a grant of land in the Baree Dooab, of which Sat Gurra is the chief town, where Chakur died, and his tomb is still existing. In the Googaira district, a good many Rinds are still found, but they have lost their connection with the Beloch Rinds of Sind. In all probability a confederation of Belochees served under Meer Chakur, as an ancient proverb states,

" Rind, Gobul, Gudabee,
Dustee, Béwakee Murree,
Durusta Gholam,
Meer Chakur Kee."

"The Rind, Gobol, Gudabee, and worthless Murree, are truly slaves of Meer