Major-GeJieral Sir J. Malcolm on the Bhills. 81 



not necessary to dwell. My chief purpose is, to describe the usages of the 

 original and unmixed Bhills ; but of these also there are many tribes, and 

 classes. 



Near Adijanti, and on part of the Sutpiird range, there are many Maho- 

 medan Bhills, who appear to be a portion of this people, that have been 

 converted to the faith of Mahomed, and were, at one period, probably re- 

 claimed from those plundering habits, into which they relapsed, as the Go- 

 vernment became weak and distracted. This tribe would seem, from my 

 information, to know little of their professed religion but the name, and to 

 be as ignorant and superstitious, as the rest of their brethren. 



In every province, where Bhills are established, I have found the names 

 of tribes, or rather families, increase in the ratio that enquiry was pursued. 

 The slightest circumstances with them, as with other unsettled races of 

 men, give rise to such a distinction. The name of an ancestor, a dispute 

 in the tribe, which causes the separation of a branch of it, a favourite spot 

 of residence, a wonted signal,— any thing, in short, gives rise to a name, 

 which is perpetuated, and forms a tie of brotherhood, long after its origin 

 is forgotten. I heard of a small tribe, known by the name of KuM Bhills, 

 which, I was told, had been adopted from their established signal, on plun- 

 dering expeditions, being like the crowing of a cock. After this explana- 

 tion, it is unnecessary to give a list of these tribes; though I obtained several 

 of those that inhabited the different countries under my charge, asl deemed 

 such minute knowledge useful, in the exercise of local administration. 



There are, even among the Maila, or impure Bhills, some essential distinc- 

 tions. Those settled on the Nermada, speak with detestation of other 

 classes (particularly that denominated iV^'A*), which dwell in the Sat pur a 

 ranges. 



I made every effort to obtain some written record of the Bhilh, that 

 might throw light upon their origin, and peculiar habits, but without suc- 

 cess. Several heads of tribes on the Nermada, assured me, tiiat such records 

 existed, as they had heard their chief Ra-wels, or priests, who come from 

 Mai-war, read accounts from books; but enquiry led me to conclude, that 

 the books refe rred to, were no more than those genealogical accounts t 



♦ An intelligent BhiU assured me, that some of the SHp'urd Bhills had a language pecuhar 

 t-, themselves, but f have doubts oC the faet. It is, however, a subject that merits enquiry. 



+ I have given a particular account of these genealogical works, in the Memoir of Central 

 India, Vol. I. p. Sie-S.'iO. 



Vol. I. jyj 



