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SUPPLEMENT, 1876.]
THE BHADRÅCHALLAM TÅLUKA.
357
THE BHADRÂCHALLAM TÂLUKA, GODAVARI DISTRICT, S. INDIA.
BY THE REV. JOHN CAIN, DUYMAGUDEM.
(Continued from p. 303.) TN describing the people and castes of this ing, due notice having been sent to the bereaved 1 tâluka, I propose to notice first the Kois, parents. Some of the Kois are polygamists, and a tribe already partially described in Captain it not unfrequently happens that a widow is Glasford's Reports, and Colonel Haig's Report chosen and carried off, it may be, a day or two of his visit to Jagdalpur, and also in the Census after the death of her husband, whilst she is still Report for 1871 of the Madras Presidency. grieving on account of her loss. The bride and These people are to be found in the country bridegroom are not always married in the same extending from the banks of the Indrâvati, way. The more simple ceremony is that of Bastar, down to the neighbourhood of Kam- causing the woman to bend her head down, and mânamet, in the Nizâm's country. All those in then having made the man lean over her, the the plains have a tradition that about two hun- friends pour water on his head, and when the dred years ago they were driven down from the water has run off his head to that of the woman plateau in the Bastar country by famine and dis
they are regarded as man and wife. The water pates, and this relationship is also acknowledged is generally poured out of a bottle-gourd. by the Gutta Kois, i.e. the hill Kois, who live But generally on this all-important occasion in the highlands of Bastar. Up to the present
the two are brought together, and, having time I have had but little intercourse with the promised to be faithful to each other, drink Gutta Kois, and the manners and customs
some milk. Some rice is then placed before described in this paper will be those of the Kois
them, and, having again renewed their promises, awelling in the Bhadrâch alla m taluka. they eat the rice. They then go outside the The Kois generally marry when of fair age,
house, and march round a low heap of earth but infant marriages are not unknown. If the
which has been thrown up under a small paral would-be bridegroom is comparatively wealthy,
erected for the occasion, singing a simple song as he can easily secure a bride by a peaceable ar
they proceed. Afterwards they pay their respects rangement with her parents; but if too poor to
to the elders present, and beg for their blessing, do this, he consults with his parents and friends,
which is generally bestowed in the form of "May and, having fixed upon a suitable young girl,
you be happy! May you not fight and quarrel!" he sonds his father and friends to take counsel
&c. &c. This over, all present fall to the task of with the head-man of the village where his devouring the quantity of provisions provided for fature partner resides. A judicious and liberal the occasion, and, having well eaten and drunk, bestowal of a few rupees and arak obtain the
the ceremony is concluded. If the happy couple consent of the guardian of the village to the
and their friends are comparatively wealthy, proposed marriage. This done, the party watch the festivities last several days. for a favourable opportunity to carry off the "Some do not object to run away with the wife of bride, which is sure to occur when she comes another man, and in former years a husband has outside her village to fetch water or wood, been known to have been murdered for the sake or it may be when her parents and friends are of his wife. Even at present more disputes arise away and she is left alone in her house. (The from bride-stealing than from any other cause, eshead-man is generally consulted, but not always, pecially as up to the present time he Government as only a few weeks ago a wealthy widow was officials have not been able to stop this practice. forcibly carried off from the house of the chief Funeral ceremonies.-The bodies of children Koi of a village near Dummagadem, and when and young men and young women are buried. the master of the house opposed the proceedings
If a child dies within a month of its birth, he was knocked down by the invading party.) it is usually buried close to the house, so that The bridegroot generally anxiously awaits the the rain dropping from the eaves may fall return home of his friends with their captive, upon the grave, and thereby cause the parents and the ceremony is proceeded with that even- to be blessed with another child in due course
• There gourds are used by the Kois as bottles, in which Kois stir far from their homes without one of these filled they carry drinking water when on a journey. Very few with watet.
