CHAPTER IV. 



THE ABORIGINAL TRIBES. 



Interest of the Subject An Historical Parallel Influence of contact with 

 Hinduism Mixed Races The Rajgonds The Korkus The Bhilalas 

 Introduction of Caste Difficulties of Investigation Meagreness of Ab- 

 original Languages Gond Legends Religion of the Gonds Worship of 

 Powers of Nature Fetishism Worship of Ancestors Demigods and 

 Heroes Idol Worship Sivaism Religious Ceremonies The Great Spirit 

 Religion of the Korkus Sun Worship Burial Customs of the Tribes 

 Personal Appearance Marriage Customs Economical position of the 

 Tribes Drunkenness Agricultural Position The Timber-trade 

 Demoralization of the Tribes Retribution Excise Laws Eorest Regu- 

 lations Improvement in the Condition of the Aborigines Effect of High 

 Prices Culture of the Oil-seed Plant Influence of Hinduism Future of 

 the Aborigines Measures Required Hindu Pilgrims to the Shrine of 

 Mahadeo An Indian Fair Description of the Shrine The Religion of 

 Sivaism Human Sacrifices Omkar Mandhatta Death of a Victim A 

 Priestly Murder Cholera among the Pilgrims Panic and Flight The 

 Scapegoat. 



Something has already been said regarding the inter- 

 mixture of Hindu blood, manners, and religion, that has 

 taken place among the aboriginal races of Central India. 

 Were this an isolated event in the ethnical history of the 

 country it would possess a comparatively feeble interest. Its 

 high importance lies in its furnishing us with a living example 

 of a process which has, as already suggested, played an im- 

 portant part in the development of the races which compose 

 the mass of modern Hinduism. It is the uppermost and 

 most accessible stratum of a geological series of untold 

 antiquity ; and, as the geologist interprets ancient formations 



