198 



THE HIGHLANDS OF CENTEAL INDIA. 



Called and sent him on a message 



To the Eed hills Lahugada, 



The Iron Valley, Kachikopa ; 



To those Brothers four he sent him, 



Sent to ask them for their daughters 



To be wedded to his Koitor 



Thus the Tribes our Lingo mated. 



Thus they grew and multiplied. 



Then he chose them into houses, 



Into families of seven, 



Of six, of four, he chose them. 



And he said, " O Koitor listen ! 

 Nowhere Gods of Gonds are wor- 

 shipped ; 

 Let us make us Gods and worship. 

 Then made Ghagara the Bell- God, 

 Made and gave he to Manwajja. 

 Brought the Wild Bull's Tail and 



named it 

 Chiiwardeo ; brought the War God - 



God of Iron, Pharsa Pena; 

 Manko Eeytal, Jango Eeytal 

 Thus their tribal Gods he fashioned. 

 Taught them how to raise their altars ; 

 Taught to offer sacrifices 

 Hoary goats, white cocks a year old, 

 Virgin cows, and juice of mhowa ; 

 Taught to praise with voice and psahVr, 

 Twang of Jantur, sound of drumming 

 Drum of Beejasal resounding 

 Dancing, singing, by the altars. 



Thus he taught them, Holy Lingo ; 

 And his last words then he uttered 

 u Keep your promise to the Turtle, 

 To the Eiver-Turtle Dame ; 

 To the Gods I now am going." 

 Then he melted from their vision ; 

 And they strained their eyes to see 



him-. 

 But he vanished, and was seen not. 



Gonds of the Sahpura Eaoge. (From a photograph.) 



