white birds on the left, while proceeding on an expedition, are highly propitious. Unfavourable omens cause the expedition to be deferred until they become otherwise. On returning, if jackals, asses, and white birds appear on the left, or deer, sâras, or owls on the right, we rejoice exceedingly, and fear no evil. Some of our Jamadârs are so brave that they don’t care for omens. We dispose of our booty through middlemen (arhatiya), who sell it to the great Mahâjans. Of course they know it is plundered property from the price they give; and how could we have silk and fine linen for sale if not plundered? Our zamîndârs know we live by plunder, and take a fourth of the spoil. Sometimes they take such clothes as suit them. On returning from a highway robbery we use great expedition, travelling all night. During the day the plunder is concealed in dry wells; we disperse and hide in the fields. Two or three of the sharpest of the gang go to the nearest village for food, generally prepared food. We soon become acquainted with all the sharp men on the road. One rogue readily finds a companion, and we thus get information of parties travelling and suitable booty. Though we pilfer and thieve wherever we can, we prefer highway robbery, as it is more profitable, and if the booty is cloth, easily disposed of. Always thieves by profession, we did not take to highway robbery till the great famine of 1833. Gulba and Suktua, Baheliyas, first opened the way for us, and taught us this easy mode of living. These two are famed men, and resided near Mirzapur, in Pargana Jalesar (now in the Etah District). The Baheliyas and Aheriyas of Mirzapur soon took a leading part, and were highly distinguished. They are noted among us as expert thieves and highway robbers.” Since this was written the Aheriyas have begun to use the railway in their expeditions, and are known to have made incursions as far as the Panjab, Central India, Bengal, and Bombay. The Etah branch of the tribe is under the provisions of the Criminal Tribes Act. Curiously enough they have escaped record at the last Census. DISTRIBUTION OF AHERIYAS ACCORDING TO THE CENSUS OF 1891. ======================= District. | Number. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~+~~~~~~~~ Muzaffarnagar | 125 Meerut | 1,437 Bulandshahr | 2,905 Aligarh | 9,877 Mathura | 765 Agra | 4 Mainpuri | 781 Bijnor | 229 Morâdâbâd | 481 Pilibhît | 29 Hamîrpur | 73 Benares | 668 Mirzapur | 6 Jaunpur | 129 Lucknow | 2,266 Faizâbâd | 4 +~~~~~~~ Total | 19,779 ==============+=======