The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India Volume II Part 52

[264] For the meaning of the term Baiga and its application to the tribe, see also article on Bhuiya.

[265] It is or was, of course, a common practice for a husband to cut off his wife's nose if he suspected her of being unfaithful to him. But whether the application of the epithet to the G.o.ddess should be taken to imply anything against her moral character is not known.

[266] This article is mainly compiled from a paper by Pyare Lal Misra, Ethnographic Clerk.

[267] _Bombay Gazetteer_ (Campbell), xviii. p. 464.

[268] The following particulars are taken from Colonel Portman's _Report on the Bhamtas of the Deccan_ (Bombay, 1887).

[269] Portman, _loc. cit._

[270] _Bombay Gazetteer_ (Campbell), xviii. p. 465.

[271] This article contains some information from a paper by Mr. Gopal Parmanand, Deputy Inspector of Schools, Saugor.

[272] _Memoirs of the Races of the N.W.P._ vol. i. p. 35.

[273] _Tribes and Castes_, art. Bharbhunja.

[274] See article on Kurmi. The remainder of this section is taken from Mr. Gopal Parmanand's notes.

[275] _Ibidem._

[276] _Tribes and Castes of Bengal_, art. Kandu.

[277] This article is compiled from notes taken by Mr. Hira Lal, a.s.sistant Gazetteer Superintendent in Jubbulpore, and from a paper by Ram Lal Sharma, schoolmaster, Bilaspur.

[278] _Tribes and Castes of the N.W.P._, art. Bhar.

[279] _C.P. Census Report_, 1881, p. 188.

[280] _Dhaya_ means the system of s.h.i.+fting cultivation, which until prohibited was so injurious to the forests.

[281] _Tribes and Castes of Bengal_, art. Brahman.

[282] Art. Bhat.

[283] Malcolm, _Central India_, ii. p. 132.

[284] _Rajasthan_, ii. p. 406.

[285] Malcolm, ii. p. 135.

[286] _Rajasthan_, ii. pp. 133, 134.

[287] Great King, the ordinary method of address to Brahmans.

[288] _Rajasthan_, ii. p. 175.

[289] _Rasmala_, ii. pp. 261, 262.

[290] See later in this article.

[291] This present of a lakh of rupees is known as Lakh Pasaru, and it is not usually given in cash but in kind. It is made up of grain, land, carriages, jewellery, horses, camels and elephants, and varies in value from Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 70,000. A living bard, Mahamahopadhyaya Murar Das, has received three Lakh Pasarus from the Rajas of Jodhpur and has refused one from the Rana of Udaipur in view of the fact that he was made _ayachaka_ by the Jodhpur Raja. _Ayachaka_ means literally 'not a beggar,' and when a bard has once been made _ayachaka_ he cannot accept gifts from any person other than his own patron. An _ayachaka_ was formerly known as _polpat_, as it became his bounden duty to sing the praises of his patron constantly from the gate (_pol_) of the donor's fort or castle. (Mr. Hira Lal.)

[292] _Rajasthan_, ii. p. 548.

[293] _Viserva_, lit. poison.

[294] From _dhol_, a drum.

[295] _Rajasthan_, ii. p. 184.

[296] Lit. _putli_ or doll.

[297] _Tribes and Castes_, art. Bhat.

[298] _Ibidem._ Veiling the face is a sign of modesty.

[299] Postans. _Cutch_, p. 172.

[300] Vol. ii. pp. 392-394.

[301] _Rasmala_, ii. pp. 143, 144.

[302] _Bombay Gazetteer_, _Hindus of Gujarat_, Mr. Bhimbhai Kirparam, pp. 217, 219.

[303] In Broach.

[304] Westermarck, _Origin and Development of the Moral Ideas_, ii. p. 242.

[305] Westermarck, _ibidem_, p. 246.

[306] Westermarck, _ibidem_, p. 248.

[307] The above account of _Dharna_ is taken from Colonel Tone's _Letter on the Marathas_ (India Office Tracts).

[308] This article is compiled from papers drawn up by Rai Bahadur Panda Baijnath, Superintendent, Bastar State; Mr. Ravi Shankar, Settlement Officer, Bastar; and Mr. Gopal Krishna, a.s.sistant Superintendent, Bastar.

[309] _Ba.s.sia latifolia_.

[310] The princ.i.p.al authorities on the Bhils are: _An Account of the Mewar Bhils_, by Major P. H. Hendley, _J.A.S.B._ vol. xliv., 1875, pp. 347-385; the _Bombay Gazetteer_, vol. ix., _Hindus of Gujarat_; and notices in Colonel Tod's _Rajasthan_, Mr. A. L. Forbes's _Rasmala_, and _The Khandesh Bhil Corps_, by Mr. A. H. A. Simc.o.x, C.S.

[311] The old name of the Sesodia clan, Gahlot, is held to be derived from this Goha. See the article Rajput Sesodia for a notice of the real origin of the clan.

[312] _Rajasthan_, i. p. 184.

[313] _Ibidem_, p. 186.