THE MAHADEO HELLS. \ \ ' \ , / > \ i < rci 



wild animals, procured by extensive drives in which the whole 

 population of a tract will unite ; and many small fish are also 

 captured in the mountain streams, chiefly by poisoning the 

 pools with various vegetable substances, of which I am ac- 

 quainted only with the leaves and fruit of the species of 

 stryclinos that grow wild in these hills. 



Those of the wild men who live in the neighbourhood of 

 the plains, and have got accustomed to contact with their 

 inhabitants, add considerably to their means of subsistence by 

 trooping out in large numbers, after they have cut their own 

 dhyas, to the reaping of the wheat harvest of the plains in 

 the month of March, much after the fashion of the gangs of 

 Irishmen who cross the Channel about harvest time. But the 

 genuine hill-man of the far interior cannot yet bring himself 

 to this, and is often put to severe straits by the failure of his 

 scanty crop. 



Such was now the case with the Gonds and Korkus in and 

 about the Puchmurree hills; and I soon saw that to make any- 

 thing of them I must appeal to their bellies. I accordingly sent 

 down to the nearest large market in the plains, and purchased 

 a mighty store of wheat and millet about twenty-five bullock 

 loads I think and had it sent up by the agency .of some of the 

 Banjdrd* carriers, who are in the habit of penetrating the 



* These Banjaras are a curious race of nomads who are found everywhere in 

 Central India, acting as carriers with herds of pack bullocks. Their name 

 means " Forest Wanderer," and they appear to be perfectly distinct both from 

 Hindus and from the known aboriginal tribes. It has been conjectured with 

 some probability that they are gipsies. They are a fine stalwart light- coloured 

 people, ready for any adventure, and of dauntless courage. With the aid of 

 their splendid dogs they do not scruple to attack and spear the wild boar, the 

 bear, and even the tiger ; and they are at all times ardent and indefatigable 

 sportsmen. Each tanda, as their camps are called, is commanded by a 

 chief called the naik, whom all obey, and who, in council with the elders, 

 disposes of intertribal offenders, even to the extent of capital punishment it is 

 believed. The old men and many of the women and children remain encamped 



