The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India Volume I (of IV)

R >> R.V. Russell >> The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India Volume I (of IV)

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_Sunar_.--A caste of goldsmiths. Subcaste of Bishnoi.

_Sundhi_.--Synonym of Sundi.

_Sungaria_.--(One who keeps pigs.) Subcaste of Kumhar.

_Sunni_.--One of the two principal sects of Muhammadans who follow
the orthodox traditions, Sunni meaning traditionist.

_Sunri_.--Synonym of Sundi.

_Surait_.--A name signifying persons of impure or mixed descent. A
subcaste of Dhakar and Halba. A subcaste of Jharia Rawat (Ahir)
in Bastar, being the offspring of Jharia Rawat fathers by women of
other Rawat subcastes. A subcaste of Sonkar in Kanker, consisting of
the offspring of illegitimate unions. A subcaste of Jhadi Telenga,
Kumhar and Marar (Mali).

_Suraj, Surya_.--(The sun.) A section of Binjhwar, Gond, Khangar,
Marar, Mowar, Rawat (Ahir) and Sansia (in Sambalpur).

_Surajdhwaja_.--A subcaste of Kayasth.

_Surajvansi_.--(Descendants of the Sun.) Name of one of the two
great divisions of Rajputs. A clan of Rajputs. A subcaste of Barai,
Khairwar and Kalar. A section of Chamar, Dhanwar, Gond and Koli.

_Suratha_.--A subdivision of Valmiki Kayasth.

_Sureyam_.--A Gond sept named after the _sui_ or porcupine, because,
it is said, a porcupine passed by when they were worshipping their god.

_Surkhi_.--(Red.) A clan of Surajvansi Rajputs.

_Sutar_.--The name of a carpenter in the Maratha Districts. Synonym
of Barhai.

_Suthra Shahi_.--Synonym for Nanakpanthi.

_Sutsale_.--(A thread-weaver.) Subcaste of Koshti.

_Suvarha_.--Named after the _suar_ or pig. Subcaste of Dhimar.

_Swami_ or _Aiya (Iyer)_.--(Master.) A title given to leaders of the
religious orders. A title of Sanadhya Brahmans in Saugor. A subcaste
of Jangam.

_Swetambari_.--A sect of Jains who put clothes on their images.

_Tadvi_.--A name for Muhammadan Bhils.

_Tak, Takshac_.--A clan of Rajputs, now extinct.

_Takankar, Takari_.--(From _takna_, to tap, to roughen the face of a
mill-stone.) A synonym or subcaste of Pardbi. A synonym for the Pathrot
or Pathrawat stone-workers in Berar, who are classed with Beldars.

_Takle_.--(Fallen.) A subcaste of Kasar, said to consist of the
descendants of persons excommunicated for sexual offences.

_Tamashawala_.--(Showman.) A name given to Nats.

_Tambatkar_.--(A coppersmith.) Synonym for Tamera.

_Tamboli, Tamoli_.--(A seller of the prepared betel-leaves.) Synonym
for Barai.

_Tandan_.--A subdivision of Saraswat Brahmans in Hoshangabad, perhaps
so called from their being priests of the Tandan Khatris.

_Tankiwala_.--(A sharpener of grindstones.) Subcaste of Dhimar.

_Tanti_.--(_Tanta_, weaver's loom.) A caste. A subcaste of Bhulia
and Mahli.

_Tanti, Tatwa_ (from Sanskrit _tantu_, a fibre).--The great weaver
caste of Bengal and Bihar. A few Tantis were enumerated in Raipur
District in 1911. Sir H. Risley is of opinion that the Tantis are
probably a functional group developed under the pressure of the natural
demand for fine woven cloth. [507] One tradition of their origin is
that the first ancestor of the caste was begotten by the celestial
architect Viswakarma on a low Sudra woman. Viswakarma is regarded
as the tutelary deity of the caste, and is worshipped twice a year
with offerings of flowers, rice and sugar. Images are sometimes made
of him, but more commonly the weaver's loom or some of the tools
of the craft are regarded as the dwelling-place or symbol of the
god. In past times the Tantis made the famous fine cotton cloth,
known as _abrawan_ or 'running water,' which was supplied only to
the imperial zenana at Delhi. Sir H. Risley relates the following
stories illustrating its gossamer texture. On one occasion a daughter
of Aurangzeb was reproached on entering the room for her immodest
attire, through which her limbs could be seen, and excused herself by
the plea that she had on seven folds of cloth over her body. Again
in the reign of Alivardi Khan (1742-56), a Dacca Tanti was flogged
and banished from the city for not preventing his cow from eating up
a piece of _abrawan_ cloth which had been laid out to bleach on the
grass. The famous female spinners who used to wind the fine native
thread were still to be found in 1873, but their art has now died
out. In illustration of their delicate touch it is told that one of
them wound 88 yards of thread on a reel, and the whole weight of the
thread was only one _rati_ or two grains. Nowadays the finest thread
spun weighs 70 yards to the _rati_. The best cloths were woven by
the Dacca Tantis, to whom the Koshtis of Burhanpur in the Central
Provinces stood second. The Bamanmara tank in the old village of
Dhanpur in Pendra zamindari of Bilaspur is so named from the fact
that about a century ago some Brahman traders were murdered on its
bank for the sake of the fine cloths they were carrying rolled up
in hollow bamboo sticks. In Bengal the Tantis are included among
the castes from whom a Brahman can take water. Sir H. Risley is
of opinion that they have to some extent raised themselves to this
position by their own influence, their trade being prosperous and
lucrative, and having long ago attained to the development of an
urban industry. The ordinary status of the weaving castes being at
the bottom of the social scale, the superior position of the Bengal
Tantis is an interesting exception. It is analogous to that of the
Koshtis in the Central Provinces, also a class of urban weavers,
who rank above the impure castes, though they have not attained to
the position of the Tantis, as Brahmans will not take water from them.

_Tanwar_.--A subcaste of Kawar, to which zamindars belong.

_Tanwat, Tanwatkari_.--A synonym for Panchal Sunar.

_Tarane_.--Synonym of Dobaile Teli.

_Tasa_.--Synonym of Chasa.

_Tatwa_.--Synonym for Tanti. (From Sanskrit _tantu_, a fibre.)

_Tawaif_.--(A prostitute.) Synonym for Kasbi.

_Tekam_.--(The teak tree.) One of the commonest clans of Gonds. A
sept of Baiga, Bharewa, Binjhwar and Pardhan. A subdivision of Majhwar.

_Telenga Dora_.--(Telugu Lord.) A designation used by the Velama caste.

_Telenge_.--A Telugu name used by Balijas and other Telugu
castes. Subcaste of Nai.

_Telha_.--Subcaste of Nagasia. The members of this subcaste mark the
forehead of the bride with _tel_ or oil at the marriage ceremony.

_Teli_.--A caste of oil-pressers. Subcaste of Barhai, Dangri and
Gondhali.

_Teli-Bania._--A group of the Teli caste who have taken to
shopkeeping. Subcaste of Teli.

_Teli-Kalar._--A mixed group of the Kalar and Teli castes. Subcaste
of Teli.

_Teli-Marar._--A subcaste of Marar.

_Telkala_.--Subcaste of Gandli.

_Terah-hazar_ or _Birbandhi_.--(Thirteen thousand.) Subcaste of Chero.

_Thakur_.--(Lord.) The common title of Rajputs. This title is also
used by Lodhis, Raj-Gonds and other landowning castes. A surname of
Karhara Brahmans in Saugor. A section of Ahir, Marar (Mali), Panwar
Rajput and Sudh.

_Thakuria_.--(Lordling.) A subcaste of Murao. A subcaste of Kol and
Parja. A section of Darzi and Katia.

_Thanapati_.--(Master of the sacred place.) Synonym for Gandhmali.

_Thapak_.--A surname of Sanadhia Brahmans in Saugor. (From Sthapak,
the consecrator of idols.)

_Thapatkari_.--Synonym of Beldar.

_Thathari_.--A caste of coppersmiths in Sambalpur.

_Thatia_.--A subtribe of Gonds, also called Gaiki or Mahato in Betul.

_Thethwar_.--(One who follows the straight path.) A subcaste of Rawat
(Ahir) in Chhattisgarh.

_Thotia, Thothia_.--(Maimed.) A subdivision of Gonds and Pardhans,
who live by begging from the Gonds.

_Thuria_.--Subcaste of Banjara in Sambalpur.

_Tilokchandi_.--(Bais.) A subdivision of the Bais clan of Rajputs.

_Tirelle_.--(Tirole.) Subcaste of Are.

_Tirgam_.--A subsept of the Uika clan of Gonds in Betul. A sept
of Pardhan.

_Tirmale, Tirmalle_.--A small caste of wandering Telugu beggars. Nearly
400 were returned in the Central Provinces and Berar in 1911. Tirmales
take about performing bulls. The animal is decorated with brass
ornaments and bells, and his back is covered with a patched quilt of
different colours. The Tirmale has a red turban with a scarf round
his neck, and a follower carries a drum. The bull is cleverly trained
and performs various tricks. The caste do this in the mornings, but
in the afternoon they appear as Bairagis or ordinary beggars, and in
the evening as sellers of various sacred articles, such as sandalwood,
Ganges water and rudraksha beads. They take water from the Ganges in
small phials and go down to the south of India selling it. On this
account they are known in Poona as Kashi Kawadi or those who carry
banghys from Kashi (Benares). In Telugu they are called Gangeddulu and
in Tamil Endandi, both words meaning people who beg with bulls. They
may properly be considered as a subcaste of Dasaris. [508] The Tirmales
travel with their families like the Banjaras, and live in tents or
sheds outside the village. Their marriages are generally celebrated
in the month of Shrawan in the rains, when they return from their
wanderings. They speak a corrupt Telugu among themselves, but Marathi
to outsiders. They eat flesh and drink liquor. The dead are buried.

_Tirmalle_.--Synonym of Tirmale.

_Tirtha_.--Name of one of the ten orders of Gosains.

_Titha_.--(From _titahri_, a sandpiper.) A section of Basor.

_Tiwari_.--(Learned in three Vedas.) A family name of Kanaujia and
Gaur Brahmans.

_Tiyar_.--A boating and fishing caste of Sambalpur and Bengal. In
the Central Provinces they numbered 700 in 1911. The caste is a
numerous one in Bengal and has been fully described by Sir H. Risley,
[509] so that no detailed notice of it is necessary here. The name
is derived from the Sanskrit _tivara_, a hunter, the Tiyars styling
themselves the hunters of the sea. They came to the Central Provinces
from Angul in Orissa, and they offer to the goddess Durga in Angul
an oblation of 60 to 100 _jian_ fish and a headload of lotus flowers
on her special festival. In honour of Durga they observe a fast
on the four Tuesdays of the months of Chait and Kunwar (March and
September). In Chait they also worship their hooks and nets. At their
marriages when a father has selected a bride for his son he consults
an astrologer to compare their horoscopes. If the conjunction is
unsatisfactory he will change the boy's name to suit the astrological
calculations. The wedding is celebrated in the common fashion of the
Uriya castes. If a bachelor marries a widow he first goes through the
form of wedlock with a bunch of flowers. Among their caste penalties,
that imposed for the killing of a cow may be mentioned. It is called
the Gocharan Brit, and the offender is required to consort with cows
for twenty-one days. He must mix and take his meals in the cowshed,
and must copy the behaviour of the cows, lying down when they lie down,
standing up when they stand up, following them when they walk about,
and so on. At the expiration of this period he makes a pilgrimage to
a certain village, and on his return partakes of the five products
of the sacred cow and gives a feast to the caste. The Tiyars are a
low caste, and eat fowls and drink liquor. They will admit a member
of any higher caste on his giving a feast to the community. In the
Central Provinces they have exogamous sections within which marriage
is prohibited; these generally have titular names, as Padhan chief,
Das slave, Guru preceptor, and so on. They catch fish with the _ghani
benda_, a large bamboo basket covered with palm-tree bark, which is
sunk under water and secured in the bed of the stream.

_Todasai_.--(Worshipper of six gods.) A section of Raj-Gond.

_Tomara, Tuar, Tawar_.--(_Tomar_, a club.) A well-known clan of
Rajputs. A sept of Gond.

_Toriya_.--A name given to Gonds who worship twelve gods in Chanda.

_Tumram_.--(_Tumria_, a pumpkin.) A clan of Gond, said to be those
who worship six gods.

_Turi_.--A caste. A synonym for Basors or bamboo-workers. A section
of Kalanga.

_Turk_.--(Muhammadan.) A section of Panwa Rajput in Balaghat.

_Turkan_.--A subcaste of Bahna, so called because their forefathers
are said to have been soldiers in the army of the king of Delhi.

_Turkia, Kurkanya_.--A Muhammadan group. Subcaste of Banjara, Chamar.

_Uchla_.--(A lifter.) Title for Bharota.

_Uchle_.--(Pickpocket.) Subcaste of Mang.

_Uchodia_.--A subcaste of Bhand.

_Ud_.--Subcaste of Chasa. See Odde.

_Udainath_.--A subdivision of Jogi.

_Udaiputria_.--(One belonging to Udaipur.) Subcaste of Dhobi.

_Udasi_.--A class of religious mendicants. See Nanakpanthi.

_Uika, Oika_.--A very common clan of Gonds, who are said to be
worshippers of six gods.

_Ukas_.--A subcaste of Barhai.

_Ulluka_.--(An owl.) A totemistic sept of Sudh and Dumal.

_Umre_.--A subcaste of Bania. See subordinate article to Bania. A
subcaste of Kalar, Nai and Teli.

_Unayo, Unnaya_.--(From Unan in Oudh.) A subdivision of Nigam
Kayasth. It is also sometimes considered as a half subcaste, in
addition to the twelve proper subcastes.

_Unewal_.--A subdivision of Rhedawal Brahmans found in Jubbulpore. They
take their name from Una, a village in Kathiawar.

_Upadhya_.--(A teacher.) A surname of Kananjia and Sanadhya Brahmans. A
title of Manbhao.

_Upmanyu_.--An eponymous section of Brahmans.

_Uraon_.--Synonym of Oraon.

_Uriya_,--(A native of Orissa.) A synonym for the Sansia caste of
masons in Sambalpur. A subcaste of Ganda, Ghasia, Gond, Karan, Kewat,
Koshti, Savar, Sundi and Sunar.

_Urkara, Urkare_.--(From Warkora, a wild cat in Gondi.) A section of
Sunar and Gond.

_Usrete_.--A subcaste of Kurmi and Nai.

_Uthaigira_.--(A picker-up of that which has fallen.) Synonym of
Sanaurhia.

_Utkala_.--(A resident of Orissa.) One of the five orders of Panch
Gaur Brahmans inhabiting Orissa.

_Vadar or Wadewar_.--(A stone-cutter.) Synonym of Beldar.

_Vade, Wade_.--(A carpenter.) A sept of Maria Gonds.

_Vadra_.--(A carpenter.) Subcaste of Kammala.

_Vaghe_.--(From _vagh_, a tiger.) See Waghya.

_Vaidika_.--(Reciter of the Vedas.) A title of Brahmans.

_Vaishnava_.--(A worshipper of Vishnu.) A name for the mendicant
orders of Vishnuite devotees and Bairagis.

_Vaishnava Sunar_.--A group of Sunars who claim to be Brahmans. See
Panchal.

_Vaishya_.--Name of the third of the four classical castes. See
Introduction. There is no Vaishya caste at present, but the Bania caste
are considered, perhaps incorrectly, to be descended from the Vaishyas.

_Vajantri, Wajantri_.--(Musician.) A subcaste of Gurao. A synonym
and section of Mang.

_Vallabkacharya_.--A Vishnuite sect and order of religious
mendicants. See article Bairagi.

_Valmika, Valmiki_.--A subdivision of Khedawal Brahmans who take
their name from the sage Valmika. A subcaste of Kayasths.

_Vamachari Sect_.--Synonym for Vam-Margi.

_Vani_.--Synonym for Bania.

_Varade, Warade_.--(A resident of Berar, a variant of Berari, _q.v._)
A subcaste of Simpi or Maratha Darzi. A subcaste of Dhangar and Nai.

_Varendra or Barendra_.--A subcaste of Bengali Brahmans.

_Vartati_.--(Pure.) Subcaste of Andh.

_Vasishta or Vashishta_.--Name of a famous saint in classical
literature. An eponymous section of Brahmans.

_Vellala_.--The great cultivating caste of the Tamil country, to
whom by general consent the first place in social esteem among the
Tamil Sudra castes is awarded. They have a strength of more than 2
1/2 millions in India; in the Central Provinces there were in 1911
about 700 in Chanda, Nagpur and other Districts. In the _Madras Census
Report_ of 1901, Mr. Francis gives an interesting description of the
structure of the caste and its numerous territorial, occupational
and other subdivisions. He shows also how groups from lower castes
continually succeed in obtaining admission into the Vellala community
in the following passage: "Instances of members of other castes
who have assumed the name and position of Vellalas are the Vettuva
Vellalas, who are really Vettuvans; the Puluva Vellalas, who are
only Puluvans; the Illam Vellalas, who are Panikkans; the Karaiturai
(lord of the shore) Vellalas, who are Karaiyans; the Karukamattai
(palmyra leaf stem) Vellalas, who are Balijas; the Guha (Rama's
boatman) Vellalas, who are Sembadavans; and the Irkuli Vellalas, who
are Vannans. The children of dancing girls also often call themselves
Mudali, and claim in time to be Vellalas, and even Paraiyans assume
the title of Pillai, and trust to its eventually enabling them to pass
themselves off as members of the caste." The Vellalas will not touch
the plough with their own hands. Some of them abstain from flesh and
liquor, and prohibit the remarriage of widows with a view to raising
their social status.

_Vidur_.--A caste. A subcaste of Gondhali, Kasar, Komti, Kunbi,
and Lohar, comprising persons of illegitimate descent.

_Vir_.--Subcaste of Gopal.

_Virmushti_.--A class of Bairagis or religious mendicants.

_Vishnu Swami_.--A class of Bairagis or religious mendicants.

_Vishwamitra_.--Name of a famous saint in classical literature. An
eponymous section of Brahmans.

_Vyas_.--A section of Brahmans and of Agharia.

_Waddar_.--A name for Telugu Oddes or navvies in Chanda. A subcaste
of Beldar.

_Wadewar_.--Synonym of Odde or Beldar in Chanda.

_Waghe_.--(_Wagh_ or _bagh_, a tiger.) A section of Koshti and Mana,
a clan of Maratha.

_Waghmare_.--(Tiger-killer.) A clan of Arakh, Gopal and Mahar.

_Wakkaliga, Okkiliyan_.--A Canarese caste of cultivators, of which
a few representatives were returned from Nagpur. They reside mainly
in the Madura and Coimbatore Districts. The name is derived from the
Canarese _okkalu_, [510] which means cultivation or agriculture.

_Wakmar_.--(One who left the _pangat_ or caste feast while his fellows
were eating.) Title of Hatkar.

_Wandhekar_.--Subcaste of Kunbi.

_Wanjari_.--Synonym for Banjara. Subcaste of Kunbi.

_Warade_.--(A resident of Berar.) Subcaste of Gurao.

_Wartki_.--(A washerman.) Synonym for Dhobi in the Maratha country.

_Wasudeo, Wasdeo_.--The name of the father of Krishna, the Hindu
god. Synonym of Basdewa. A subcaste of Joshi.

_Watkari_. See Otari.

_Wika_.--Synonym for Uika, a well-known clan of Gonds.

_Yadu, Yadava_.--A well-known clan of Rajputs.

_Yadubansi_.--(Of the Yadu race.) A subcaste of Ahir.

_Yadu-Bhatti._--Clan of Rajputs. Synonym for Yadu.

_Yajur-Vedi._--A subcaste of Brahmans who follow the Yajur-Veda. They
are also known as Madhyandan and Apastambha.

_Yarande_.--(One who presses the _erandi_ or castor-oil seed.) Subcaste
of Teli.

_Yati_.--(For Jati). A Jain ascetic.

_Yelama_.--Synonym of Velama.

_Yogi_.--Synonym of Jogi.

_Yojna_.--Subcaste of Komti.

SUBJECT INDEX

This Index contains references to general ethnological and other
subjects referred to in the articles, either those on main castes and
tribes in Part II., or those on religions and sects in Part I. These
latter are usually distinguished by the letters R. for religion or
S. for sect. Very occasionally a reference is made to one of the minor
articles in the Glossary. The reference numbers are to the paragraphs
of the articles. In the few cases where no reference number is given
the subject is either treated generally in the article referred to, or
the article itself is so short that further indication is unnecessary.

Abhiras, the--Ahir, 2

Aboriginal tribes, position of, in Hindu society--Bhuiya, 3

Acrobatic performances--Nat, 4, 5

Address, methods of--Bairagi 11, Brahman, 18, Gond, 72, Gosain, 5,
Lodhi, 10, Muhammadan R., 32

Admission of outsiders--Arya Samaj R., 3, Bhaina, 6, Bhamta, 3, Bhil,
11, Dahait, 3, Dhanwar, 11, Gond, 70, Injhwar, 4, Jhadi Telenga, 3,
Kaikari, 4, Kanjar, 8, Khond, 9, Mahli, 2, Mehtar, 5, Panka, 5, Turi,
6, Vellala,

Adoption--Bhamta, 3

Agricultural rites--Gond' 48, Kohli, 4, Kurmi, 32, Oraon, 21, 22

Agricultural superstitions--Kurmi, 33

Akali sect, the--Sikh R., 6

Akti or Akshit tritiya festival--Chitari, 6, Chitrakathi

Alcohol, prohibition of--Kalar 6

Ambagarhia Deo, worship of--Koshti, 3

Amulets--Bhil, 9, Sunar, 12

Ancestors, reincarnation of--Chamar, 7, Dhakar, 2, Gond, 37, 39,
Khond, 5. Oraon, 10

Ancestors, worship of--Badhak, 9, Gond, 38, 42, Gowari, 5, Koshti,
4, Oraon, 14, Sansia, 3, Sundi, Thug, 17, Turi, 4

Angad Guru--Sikh R., 2

Animal hospitals--Jain R., 14

Animal sacrifices, in Greece--Kasai, 17 sacrifice of buffalo--Mahar, 2

Animals, kindness to--Bishnoi, 3, Dohor

Animals, veneration for--Bhil, 8, Gowari, 5, Jain R., 14, Kasai,
Oraon, 20

Animism--Kasai, 4

Anniversaries of the dead--Kurmi, 28

Appearance and mode of life--Baiga, 7, 8, Beria, 1, Bhil, 12, Bhishti,
Bhuiya, 14, Chamar, 1, Khatri, 1, Kirar, 4, Kohli, 5, Kol, 16, Korku,
10, Korwa, 2, Oraon, 23, Panwar Rajput, 13, Velama, 1

Arjun Guru--Sikh R., 2

Arts, origin of the--Mochi, 3

Arya Samaj R., prospects of--Arya Samaj R., 6

Assassination, methods of--Thug, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Astronomical beliefs and stories--Bhatra, 4, Dhuri, 3, Dumal, 4,
Jadua Brahman, Joshi, 1-16, Mahar, 11, Turi, 4

Baigas, a branch of the Bhuiyas--Bhuiya, 6

Balak Das--Satnami S., 4

Banda, worship of--Kharia, 8

Banjari Devi, worship of--Banjara, 10

Bankrupt, going (or Diwala Nikalna)--Bhat, 16

Barber. See article Nai

Barber-surgeon--Nai, 6

Bathing--Gond, 64, Kurmi, 39

Beard, the--Nai, 11

Beggars or religious mendicants. See articles Bairagi, Fakir,
Gosain, etc.

Begging, mode of--Aghori, 1, Basdewa, Gopal, Jogi, 11, Waghya

Bell-metal--Kasar, 4

Betel-vine, account of--Barai, 5

Betrothal--_Passim_. See especially Banjara, 6, Gadaria, 3, Gond,
Kawar, 4, Kolta, 3, Korku, 4, Kunbi, 7, Kurmi, 5, Prabhu, 1, Rajput,
Turi, 3

Bhang--Kalar, 10

Bhanwar ceremony (walking round the sacred post at marriage)--Kirar,
2, Kurmi, 9

Bhats and Charans--Bhat 2

Birth ceremonies--_Passim_, See especially Ahir 10, Chamur 8, Gond 28,
29, Halba 15, Jat 11, Kawar 6, Kunbi 10, 11, Kurmi 15-17, Mehtar 8-11,
Muhammadan R. 7-9, Sonjhara 4; ceremony of second birth--Korku 10

Birthdays--Muhammadan R. 12

Blacksmiths--Lohar 5

Blanket-weaving--Gadaria 7

Blood, smeared on images of gods--Lakhera 5

Blood-covenant--Kewat 2, Khairwar 5

Brahmo Samaj R., veneration of, foundation of, progress of--Brahmo
Samaj Religion 2, 3, 9

Branding the body--Gond 67, Oraon 11

Bride, purchase of--Agaria 2, Audhelia 2, Banjara 6, Dahait 3, Dangi
3, Kawar 4, Khadra, Kharia 5, Khond 4, Kir 2, Kohli 2, Kol 10, Panwar
Rajput 7, Pardhi 3, Rajjhar 3

Bridegroom, dress of a--Daharia 3, Khangar 3, Sansia (Uria) 2

Buddhism compared with Jainism--Jain R. 2

Buffalo, as a corn god--Kumhar 9, Mahar 2

Bullocks, veneration for--Kunbi 24

Buradeo, worship of--Bhunjia 1, Gond 38, 45, Pardhan 4

Burial--Kurmi 23

Calendar, the Hindu--Joshi 1-15

Camel, sacrifice of the--Kasai 15

Cannibalism--Aghori 2, Birhor, Gond 52

Car Festival--Jain R. 11

Carpentering and woodwork--Barhai 6

Caste customs--Badhak 8, Balahi 3, Banjara 19, Chasa 3, Kabirpanthi
S. 9, Panwar Rajput 13, Satnami S. 8. See also _Admission of
Outsiders._

Caste feasts--Kurmi 41, Intro. 82, 84

Caste Panchayat or committee--Alur 17, Brahman 20, Dhoba 5, Gond 73,
Gowari 7, Halba 18, Kadera 3, Kawar 12, Kol 19, Oraon 27, Pardhan 6,
Intro. 93

Caste rules and penalties--_Passim_. See especially Bharia 7, Brahman
20, Dhanwar 11, Dhimar 12, Dohor, Gond 73, 74, Gowari 7, Jat 13, Kamar
9, Kawar 12, Kol 18, Kurmi 44, Mahar 12, Mehtar 4, Panwar Rajput 12,
Pardhi 4, Teli 11

Caste structure--Mehtar 3; origin of--Intro. 3, 4

Cattle, castration of--Chamar 15; slaughter of--Kasai 2; worship
of--Banjara 13, Hatkar 2

Character. See _Moral Character_

Charans--Banjara 2, Bhat 9, 12

Children, devices for procuring--Kunbi 12, Mehtar 8, Muhammadan R. 7;
superstitions about--Gond 31; traffic in--Ganda 2

Choti or scalp-lock--Nai 9

Circumcision--Muhammadan R. 13

Civil marriage act--Brahmo Samaj Religion 6

Clothes. See _Dress_

Cocoanut, legends about--Kabirpanthi S. 5

Conception, miraculous, of children--Dhanwar 1

Coppersmiths--Tamera

Counting, official counter or Medha Gantia--Bhatra 4, Parja 7,
Intro. 60

Courtesans, education of--Kasbi 4

Couvade, practice of--Oraon 9, Sonjhara 4, Verukala, Intro. 60

Cow-killing, penalty for--Tiyar

Cradle songs--Chitari 5

Criminal practices--Badhak 17, Banjara 21, Beldar 6, Beria 2, Bharota
1, Chamar 16, Kanjar 5, Pardhan 6, Pasi 7. See also _Theft_

Crows, beliefs about--Kunbi 15

Cultivating status--Jat 5, Kunbi 4, Kurmi 45, Intro. 21

Cultivation--Gond 79; patch cultivation 80

Dacoity--Badhak 2, 3, 4, Korwa 10, Mang Garori, Mina 3, Pardhi 12,
Pindari 4, 5, 6, Ramosi 2, Sansia 4, 5

Daily life--Maratha 8

Dancing--Gond 76, Gondhali, Kashi 3, 8, Kharia 12, Kol 17, Korwa 8,
Majhwar 7, Oraon 25, 26, Parja 4

Dasahra festival--Kumhar 10, Mahar 2, Sunar 4

Dauwa or wet-nurse--Ahir 7

Dayanand Saraswati--Arya Samaj R. 1, 2

Days--Joshi 9, 16; omens from--Kawar 10, Parja 7

Dead, beliefs about the--Kurmi 29

Death ceremonies--_Passim_. See especially Bedar 3, Binjhwar 6, Bishnoi
8, Brahman 14, Chamar 7, Dhakar 3, Gond 32-38, Gosain 10, Gujar 6,
Gurao 6, Halba 12, Kabirpanthi S. 7, Katia 4, Kawar 7, 8, Kharia 9,
Khatri 4, Khojah, Khond 6, Kirar 3, Kol 14, Koli 6, Korku 9, Kunbi 14,
Kunjra, Kurmi 20, 21, 22, 26, Lingayat, Mahar 6, Muhammadan R. 14,
Panwar Rajput 11, Parsi R. 16, 17, Rajput 6, Sonjhara 5, Intro. 89