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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[OCTOBER, 1881.
He, being in good health, addresses these orders to all governors of zillîs, governors of tâlukâs, headmen of villages, officials and employés, great men, chief men and others Be it known to you that for the increase of my parents and of my own merit in the next world and of my fame, I have granted with heartfelt devotion, confirming the gift by a libation of water, on the day of the full moon of Vaisakha in the year four hundred of the Saka era, to Bhatta Go minda (Govinda), the son of Bhatta Isara (Isvara), an emigrant from Da sa pura, who belongs to the Chaturvedis of that (town) and to the Kausika Gotra in general, and studies the Chhandog a såkhả (of the Samaveda) for the performance of the Bali, Charu, Vaiśvadeva, Agnihotra, the five Mahîyajñas and similar rites, the village of Nandiaraka situated in the Kan târagrå. maso daśa tam zilla, the boundaries of which are-to the east the village of Girivili, to
the south the river Mad & vi, to the west the ocean, to the north the village of D eyathali. (The grant of) this village-which is not to be entered by any royal officials, and to be enjoyed by the grantee's) sons, grandsons and remoter) descendants-defined by the above-stated bonndaries includes the ..... the rent paid by non-resident cultivators, the income in grain and gold and the right of forced labour, with the exception of former gifts to gods and Brahmans, and is to be valid as long as moon, sun, sea, earth, rivers and hills endure. Wherefore nobody is to cause hindrance to him who by virtue of the rights conferred by this gift to a Brâhman, cultivates (the land of this village), causes it to be cultivated, enjoys it or causes it to be enjoyed by others, or assigns it to others)
............... Written by the Secretary for peace and war Reva, the son of Madhav a. This is my sign-manual, (that) of the illustrious Dharasenadeva.
BOMBAY BEGGARS AND CRIERS.
BY K. RAGHUNATHJI.
(Continued from p. 147.) MURLIS AND Wights.
in distant towns and villages, and the females, Murlis are girls wedded to Khandoba, under the cloak of religion, are prostitutes. the lord of Jejuri. If a low caste Hindú is An ordinary Hindû may keep one of these childless, he vows that if Khandoba blesses women under his protection, but generally and him with offspring, male or female, the same will correctly speaking they are the Kasbins of be set apart for life, to worship and attend Maratha and other low caste Hindús. Without upon the deity, and he accordingly dedi- the least shame for a few annas or so they will cates it; others again forsake their little ones take up quarters with any one, not excepting under the plea of a vow made by them, while a Musalman. The standard of morality among grown-up women leave the protection of their them, even in Jejuri, is very low, indeed, husbands and become Murlis on the mere BO much so that a gentleman visiting Jejuri pretext that Khandoba had appeared to them with his servants, has either to stay outside in a dream and told them they ought to become the place for the night with his servants, or Murlis. Mangs and Mahårs are not behind to accommodate them in his own house, to in having Waghias and Murlis among keep them from mischief at the hands of these them. The male is called Wåg hiâ, and the women. The males of these people marry female Murli. These hang about the temple the daughters of Murlis, but the Murlis themand loiter in the streets with a bag made of selves cannot marry, they being the wedded tiger-skin, which they carry suspended from wives of their god. "That a Murli should be their necks, and with which they touch the fore- a woman of abandoned character is understood heads of passers by and ask for charity. The to be a matter of course, even more than that males and females dance together with bells in a Kasbin should be so." The term Murli is their hands, and a small native drum, called in applied by the natives to a loose and flirting Marathi daphri, and sing the praises of their god woman. The life of these Murlîs is "openly a and lávanis, for the entertainment of listeners. life of prostitution, prostitution under the supThey do not live at Jejuri alone, but are scattered posed sanction of religion." And a majority of
