150 MANUFACTURING IRON. 



tnry, between the Augurecas, Lohars, and 

 Loharias; and on extraordinary occasions, 

 assembles a punchite, of which he is always 

 the president. It therefore seldom happens 

 that any disputes amongst these people are 

 carried to the Judge of the district for his 

 decision.* 



* I was at BeMeah during the vernal festival of the 

 iy and was much gratified to see several old men, at 

 least sixty years of age, dcincing on the green and throw- 

 ing Habbear [pink powder] over one another with as 

 much cheerfulness and glee as if they had been chil- 

 dren. It is a strange coincidence that at this festival, 

 which generally finishes about the end of March or be- 

 gining of April that they should have the custom of mak- 

 ing Hull fool [as we have of making April fools on 

 the 1st. of that month] by sending letters and making 

 appointments in the names of persons who are known 

 to be absent from their homes, and the laugh against 

 the fool, is proportionable to the goodness of the plot. 

 They have another vernal festival named Bhuviya on 

 the 9th. of Baisach) exclusively for such as keep horn- 

 ed cattle for use or profit, when they erect a pole and 

 adorn it with garlands, and perform much the same rites 

 as used to be adopted by the English on the Ist^ a( 



