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MEWATEES.

them never-to-be-redeemed impurity. Like most of these half converted tribes, the women have a far grater veneration for, and attachment to, the ancient belief than the men. Both men and women have, however, great faith in particular saints. Those of the Mewatees are Shah Mudar, of Mukkinpoor, near Cawnpore, and Sheikh Salar, of Oude. To the shrines of both these holy persons the Mewatee women take their children at certain ages, according to vow; but generally when teething is completed, or at from two to three years. The original hair, which has never been cut in these cases, is then shaved off, and offered up with a thank offering to the saint for having guarded the child's life. It might be thought that this custom savoured of Jewish origin; but it is strictly Hindoo, and one of the strongest evidences of a Hindoo origin and maintenance of ancient custom. Every Hindoo mother vows the first hair of her child to her tutelary divinity; and when the period of her vow has run, resorts, if possible, to the most venerated temple of that divinity within reach. Should this be impossible, however, the ceremony is performed as home, in the name of the god, and the hair shaven off is sent by a special messenger to the shrine, to be offered up by a Brahmin. This ceremony is never omitted, even by the highest caste Brahmins, as well as all other classes of Hindoos, high and low; and it is strange, perhaps, that a similar rite as regards the first born is practised by all classes of Mahomedans throughout India, on the sixth or fortieth day after birth. It is difficult to say whether this is an original Mahomedan custom or one adopted from the Hindoo. It is, however, in any case, entirely different from that of the Mewatees. 

The Mewatees have not by any means a good reputation as a tribe. They are, according to a local report, "like the Goojurs, thieves and cattle stealers, and have the vices of Mahomedans without the virtue of Hindoos." In the mutiny and rebellion, in some districts, especially around Agra, they were more troublesome even than the Goojurs, adding to their original evil disposition the bloodthirstiness of Mahomedan fanatics. In the latter particular they were led on by their own priests, who are for the most part ignorant and very bigoted; and, on the occasion on question, preached the "jehad," or holy war, to their followers, exciting them against the Christians and Hindoos of these localities. Their acts of rebellion were, however, quickly suppressed, and the tribe resumed its usually peaceful employments. These are, for the most part, agricultural; but a few take service as irregular soldiers with native princes, and are found south as far as Hyderabad, in the Deccan, where some of them are in local employ. There are a few also in the ranks of the irregular cavalry; but Mewatees do not enlist in the infantry. The clan is not migratory, and has the strongest attachment to its own lands; and although members are found in foreign service, they never take their women with them, and invariably return, after a period, to their own country.

As a race, the Mewatees are one of the finest of the North-West Provinces.