 They served as pioneers, operating mainly as a labour corps that worked on construction of roads, bridges and canals.They were not, however, mere labourers because it was expected that their infantry skills would enable them to defend themselves in the event of attack.The Mazhabis, whom historian Stephen Cohen says "had strong caste traditions of violence and aggressiveness and were classed as a criminal caste by the British", lost their military employment following the defeat of the Sikhs in the Anglo-Sikh Wars.