148 THE HIGHLANDS OF CENTKAL INDIA. 



blue, tucked in between the legs so as to leave them naked to 

 the thigh, and a mantle of white cotton covering the upper 

 part of the body, with a fold thrown over the head. The 

 most eastern section of the Korkus (hence called Pothrias) 

 add a bodice, as do some of the Hinduized Gonds. The 

 Gond women have the legs as far as they are suffered to be 

 seen tattooed in a variety of fantastic patterns, done in indigo 

 or gunpowder blue. The Pardhans are the great artists in 

 this line, and the figures they design are almost the only 

 ornamental art attempted by these tribes. It is done when 

 the girl becomes marriageable ; and the traveller will some- 

 times hear dreadful screeches issuing from their villages, 

 which will be attributed to some young Gondin being 

 operated upon with the tattooing-needle. Like all barba- 

 rians, both races deck themselves with an inordinate amount 

 of what they consider ornaments. Quantity rather than 

 quality is aimed at ; and both arms and legs are usually 

 loaded with tiers of heavy rings in silver among the more 

 wealthy, but, rather than not at all, then in brass, iron, or 

 coloured glass. Ear and nose rings and bulky necklaces 

 of coins or beads are also common ; and their ambrosial locks 

 are intertwined on state occasions with the hair of goats and 

 other animals. 



In marriage customs they differ from the Hindus chiefly in 

 the contract and performance both taking place when the 

 parties are of full age. Polygamy is not forbidden; but, 

 women being costly chattels, it is rarely practised. The father 

 of the bride is always paid a consideration for the loss of her 

 services, as is usually the case among poor races where the 

 females bear a large share in the burden of life. The Biblical 

 usage of the bridegroom, when too poor to pay this considera- 

 tion in cash, serving in the house of his future father-in-law 



