Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, or the Central and Western Rajput States of India v3.c40.172

v3.c40.172

The Khosa Tribe.—The Kosas or Khosas, etc., are branches of the Sahariya, and their habits are the same. They have reduced their mode of rapine to a system, and established kuri, or blackmail, consisting of one rupee and five daris of grain for every plough, exacted even from the hamlets of the shepherds throughout the thal. Their bands are chiefly mounted on camels, though some are on horseback ; their arms are the sel or sang (lances of bamboo or iron), the sword and shield, and but few firearms. Their depredations used to be extended a hundred coss around, even into Jodhpur and Daudputra, but they eschew coming in contact with the Rajput, who says of a Sahariya, “ he is sure to be asleep when the battle nakkara beats.” Their chief abode is in the southern portion of the desert ; and about Nawakot, Mitti, as far as Baliari.² Many of them used to find service at Udaipur, Jodhpur, and Suigam, but they are cowardly and faithless.