Natives in Central India. 85 



migrating to the hunting-grounds of other branches by custom 

 and the fear of punishment, instances having lately occurred 

 where the magistrate''s authority has been called in to drive 

 back tribes, who, urged by want, or enticed by more promising 

 wilds, had quitted their own, and located themselves on the 

 hunting-grounds of a neighbouring community. 



These communities are governed by chiefs, termed " Howlia," 

 who attain to their office by descent. It was difficult to obtain 

 exact information regarding these head men ; they would seem 

 to be considered spiritual as well as civil guides, and among the 

 wild untutored minds of these rude creatures, there seemed to 

 be some vague idea that their Howlia is an incarnation of the 

 deity. The occurrence of murder or other grave crime my in- 

 formant had never heard of; but all minor matters are decided by 

 these chiefs. On them likewise devolves the duty of summoning 

 the different members of the tribe to aid in snaring the tiger, for 

 which villagers and proprietors occasionally oifer high rewards. 

 This, when earned, they divide into three shares, one for the 

 god of the river, one for the god of the wilds, the remaining 

 third being apportioned equally among those who were present 

 at the capture, the Howlia or chief obtaining no greater sum 

 than another of the community. They all assemble at the 

 Holi festival, at the place of the Houlia's residence, when 

 he collects his income, the community subscribing one rupee a 

 head. 



Among other modes of obtaining subsistence, thieving is one 

 which they look to as no small means of support. Gang rob- 

 bery, or any system attended with violence, they are not ad- 

 dicted to ; but no field or stack of grain is safe from their de- 

 predations when they are in the neighbourhood. For this, severe 

 fines, and death itself, were often inflicted on them, while the 

 country was ruled by the native princes ; for though the hunters 

 have only a narrow loin-cloth as clothing, and the persons of 

 the women are scarcely hidden by the few rags they pick up 

 in the fields and sew together, yet, when in the grasp of native 

 chiefs, the fear of death has made them produce two to five 

 thousand rupees to purchase forgiveness and regain their free- 



