7=8 Major-Gencral Sir J, Malcolm on the Bhilh. 



of a nature beyond the reach of their skill to discover, they invariably at- 

 tribute it to the evil influence of a Dhd/cati,'^ or witch. In such cases, it is 

 their duty to detect tliis Dlidkan, which is effected by the performance of 

 various ceremonies : sometimes by music; and at other times by a bunch of 

 peacock's feathers, made into a broom, being waved round the head of the 

 patient. In some cases, more cruel means are used to compel the Dhdkan 

 to declare her name, and the motives which have compelled her to afflict 

 her victim, and tlie terms on which she will be appeased. 



The belief in witchcraft is common to almost all classes in India ; but the 

 Bhills, from their wildness and ignorance, are deeply tinctured with this 

 superstition. They are, consequentl)', never without Banvds of their own 

 tribe, with whom they consult on all occasions, but particularly when 

 about to undertake a plundering expedition ; and they almost invariably 

 abide by the advice of these oracles. The Baruds of the poorer Bhills differ, 

 in some respects, from the others. They do not require, for their excitement, 

 any music, beyond " the clashing of stones." 



It has been stated, that almost every tribe of BhilU has an account of its 

 origin, of similar character to the one before mentioned ; but I have re- 

 marked one important fact, that these traditions, which have been evidently 

 fabricated to minister to the pride of chiefs, whose ancestors have been 

 degraded from the higher and privileged orders, on account of their spurious 

 birth, or some impure habit of life, have always a reference to Bhills, who 

 existed previous to the date of the fable; and this evidence tends, beyond all 

 others, to prove the title of the latter to antiquity, as an original tribe. I 

 select from my papers the following short account of a class, termed the 

 Mehira Bhills, from their being settled on the banks of the river Mehi. 



" Jagdeo (Yajnvadeva), one of the former Rajas of Dhdr, was a lineal des- 

 " cendant of tiie ancient family of the Picdrs. He had four brothers, with 

 " whose aid he attempted to build a fort at Mdndu : but all their efforts were 

 " unsuccessful ; for, as soon as a portion was built up, it fell to the ground. 

 " This had happened several times ; when one night the goddess Hallaka 

 " Devi appeared to Jagdeo in a dream, and said, that unless one of the bro- 

 " thers would make a sacrifice of the head of his son, and his son's wife, they 

 " would never accomplish their object. Jagdeo, on waking next morning, 

 " repeated the dream to his brothers, whom he assembled for the pui-pose 



• For a full account of the Dlidians, vide Central India, Vol. II. p. 212, 4c. 



