Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 4.djvu/60

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BUNNEA.

pretence. They were the origin of the Sontal war; their exactions from that simple people having driven them into rebellion. " Jiska Bunnea yar, oosko dooshmmi kya dm'kar;" whoever has a friend in a Bunnea, what need has he of an enemy; is a pithy Hindoostani proverb, which explains itself. "Too Bunnea ho; "you are a Bmmea ; is a bitter term of abuse; but the class is patient, and apparently yielding, and, in its way, long suffering; and being by reputation, and in fact, aiTant cowards, they resort to the coward's only protection—submission—until opportunity comes for retaliation. In native states they were often plundered, by exactions, and are still; they are deemed fair game. In our own territory some of them have become millionaires, and the wealth of India, as a class, is with them. They rejoice in the contrast; and are one at least, of the classes of India, who gratefully acknowledge the protection they receive.