72 Major-General Sir J. Malcolm on the Bhills. 



the goddess of small-pax, Sita Mata, whom they invoke under various 

 names, in the hope of averting its dreadful ravages. They pay great reve- 

 rence to Mahadeva ; from whom (as has been stated) they boast their 

 descent. 



The Bhills often make small mud figures of horses, which they range 

 round their idol, to whom they promise a fine charger if he will hear their 

 petition ; and it is not unusual to place the image upon one of these figures. 

 The extreme reverence of this rude race for the horse is very singular ; and 

 in many of their legends tiie principal event depends on the assistance, or 

 advice, of an enchanted horse. 



The B/»7/« neither build, nor frequent, pagodas or temples; but in general 

 select for a place of worship some particular tree, which is consecrated by 

 a few large stones put on an elevated terrace of mud, which is constructed 

 at its root. In some places, however, a small open shed is erected for some 

 particularly sacred image. 



At the Dasahard* many of the Bhills resort to the principal neighbouring 

 towns to celebrate that feast, and sacrifice at the outside of the village to 

 DuRGA, a goddess to whom they at all times pay adoration. But the most 

 singular, and perhaps the original worship of the Bhills, is that which they 

 pay to their deceased ancestors, or chiefs of note. On the death of one of 

 these, a brass bull or horse is formed and delivered to the Bhat,i who makes 

 an annual circuit of the iiamluts, with this image, performing the requisite 

 ceremonies, and commemorating, in songs, the fame of the deceased ; for 



Bhulbae Mata. In times of epidemic sickness, cholera, &c. &c. 



Bhadri Bae. Small-pox. 



Ghona. Small-pox. 



The sacrifice or offering to Hatipowa and Waghacha Kunwek, is a bullock; to the 

 others, fowls and he-goats : a male bird to the male deities ; and a female to the female ones. 

 Their usual ceremonies consist in merely smearing the idol, which is seldom any thing but a 

 shapeless stone, with vermilion and red lead, or oil ; offering, with prostrations and a petition, an 

 animal and some liquor ; casting a small portion of each, with some pulse, into the fire ; and then 

 partaking of the flesh and remaining liquor, after giving the presiding Ravicl, or Bhat, his share. 



* The Dasahard begins on the tenth of Astoin (September, — October), on which, after the 

 worship and religious ceremonies have been performed nine nights, they throw the image of the 

 goddess Dlvi (KalI) into the river. On this day Ra'ma marched against Ravena, King of 

 Ceylon ; for which reason it is called the victorious tenth. 



f The Bhat is both the bard and chronicler of the Bhills, as of all the low tribes. This class 

 have been described in the Memoir of Central India, Vol. II. p. 131, &c. 



