80 THE HIGHLANDS OF CENTRAL INDIA. 



an exception to this rule in the case of the district 

 of Nimar, which, even in its fully cultivated parts^ 

 is still thickly dotted with Mhowa trees. The reason 

 of this I believe to be that, during the " times of 

 trouble " referred to in my first chapter, the majority 

 of the small proprietors of the land were ousted from 

 possession of their fields ; but the custom having been 

 established that possession of the fruit-trees growing 

 on it did not necessarily pass with the land, they 

 mostly retained the proprietorship of these trees. Thus 

 it has happened that the land is often owned by one 

 party and the trees by another. The rent is paid only 

 by the landholder ; and thus, though it would pay 

 him to clear oS" the trees, it would not pay the tree- 

 man ; and so they have remained, doubtless to the very 

 great advantage, and certainly to the beauty, of the 

 district. 



The value of the Mhowa consists in the fleshy 

 corolla of its flower, and in its seeds. The flower is 

 highly deciduous, ripening and falling in the months 

 of March and April. It possesses considerable sub- 

 stance, and a sweet but sickly taste and smell. It 

 is a favourite article of food with all the wild tribes, 

 and the lower classes of Hindus ; but its main use is 

 in the distillation of ardent spirits, most of what is 

 consumed being made from Mhowa. The spirit, when 

 well made and mellowed by age, is by no means of 

 despicable quality, resembling in some degree Irish 

 whisky. The luscious flowers are no less a favourite 

 food of the brute creation than of man. Every 

 vegetable-eating animal and bird incessantly endeavours 

 to fill itself with Mhowa durinof its flowerino^ season. 

 Sambar, nilgae, and bears appear to lose their natural 



