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MAY 3, 1872.]
NOTES ON THE BHARIAS.
159
NOTES ON THE BHARIAS.
By Mr. C. SCANLAN, ASSISTANT SURVEYOR. I HAD the pleasure of contributing a few fugi- | entered into to accept the suitor's proposal; the tivo notes on the Gonds and Kurkus of these hills, third being called Chikla Mandi-ki-roti, given on but this season I have come across a new branch the morning immediately after the marriage when of this family called the Bharias, concerning the girl's relations depart, and it is only after this whom you will perhaps find the following interest- third feast that the husband gets possession of his ing. I have not been able to determine anything of wife. It is strange that when the newly married their origin, but I do not hesitate to place them in are blessed with an addition to their family, they the great Gor family, of which they form a sub- never even invite the young mother's relatives to division. In their language and in some of their come and see the child, but allow them to visit if customs they differ totally from the Gonds, with the wish takes them naturally. whom they neither eat nor drink nor intermarry. They burn their dead, and bury those killed by acI find, however, they acknowledge the law of cident or wild animals ; but those killed by a tiger. lanjhana, which I described last year as imposing they will not even so much as touch. They put their a servitude of a certain number of years on a man, relatives out of caste, but re-admit them on their who, wishing to marry into a family, could not giving a panchayat dinner. While worshipping afford to make the usual marriage settlement, and the other gods of the Gonds, they hold the Sáj give certain presents to his bride's relatives. In tree as the impersonation of their chief deity. If their caste prejudices, they assimilate with the you want to test the truth of a Bharia's word, Gond in a hybrid sort of manner to the Hindu ; break a leaf of the Saj, put it on his head, and ask and so they will not eat the cow nor wild buffalo, him to repeat his assertion; if it be true he will at but do not hold back from making food of the pig,
once speak it again, if not, nothing will induce the deer, nilgai, and all such wild animals. In their
him to do so; at least thus spoke my deponent. marriage ceremonies they follow suit with the other
Narayan Deva is represented by a copper ring hill people, and impose certain dues on the man mar
about an inch in diameter ; Sakrai Deva by a rying ; for instance, a dowry from the husband
twisted ring of iron about 2 or 3 inchies in diameter; consists of 200 sérs kodo, 25 sérs dál, Rs. 7,
Khauria Khatarpal by a very dimninitive pagri 12 hands long, 2 saris and 2 cholis, and
stool, about an inch square with four legs and about further, when the wife goes to take possession
14 inches high. Dulha Deva Durga is inade of her future home, her relations have to be
of iron, and supposed to be figurative of a peacock : entertained with a feet of gur or a deep potation
it is hollow, and about 14 inch long. Khutia of liqnor to the amount of Rs. 2,—the latter in
Bhimsen exists only in name. variably, if to be found. When a marriage is about
When Gonds, Kurkus or Bharias start together to be celebrated they proceed to prepare an especial
in their tilli crops, they take with them some shade in front of the house where the ceremony
ashes and Indian corn seeds, and as they go along, will take place. A pole of Salai-wood (frankin
they keep making circles with the ashes, and place cense) is buried, and around it, so as to form a
in their centres the seeds of the corn. This pracconvenient square, are raised eight other props, on
tice is supposed to keep away all the bad will of the which rests the roof, crowned with garlands of
Devas. Their women usually dress like the Gonleaves and flowers. The middle pole of Salai is
dis, but if they can afford it, like the generality of called bhaura. Notice is given to all friends when
Hindu women, and do not wear the ponderous the marriage is to be consummated, and then it is
brass ornaments in vogue amongst the former. that the bride to be, comes to her intended's village, and takes up her residence opposite to the house
These hill people will not let the Lamjhana sleep he occupies. It will be remembered I explained
in the same house where his intended lives, nor do last year that the villages in these hills are always
they let them converse more than is good for them; built in two rows. Both of them are well besmeared
if before they are married, they go astray, they are with haldi, a custom which I found extensively
turned out of caste, and the marriage ceremony is practised in the Dekhan among all classes of the
not gone through at all ; but on their giving a native population. The woman's friends make it &
feast after the expiration of three days to their rule to arrive in the morning and the haldi is kept Panchayat, they are re-installed among their breon till evening, but any time during the day the thren as & wedded couple. couple to be united are summoned and made to walk The Bharia Gots, or clans, number eighteen. Tharound the Bhaura seven times with their clothes. karia, Chalthia, Angária, Bhardia, Dariolia, Nahalia, knotted together. After this, the girl's father gives Bagotia, Rothia, Gangia, Paria, Méhenia, Pachalia, her a dowry, when the ceremony is supposed to be Kurmia, Bijilia, Bagdaria Khamarea, Gaulia, Bagover. At night, all present are entertained to & dia, Amoria. dinner, which is called Bhaura-ki-roti; Sagai-ki-roti, Relating to the Khapa or Balkagarh Jagir, the being the first held after arrangeinents have been following was narrated to me The Gond dynasty
