HILLS NEAR RAJAMAHALL. 89 



either a hog or a deer, the preacher breaks one of 

 the eggs on the tooth of the animal, and throws the 

 contents on its head, at the same time returning 

 thanks to Autgha, the God of Hunting. This is ob- 

 served on the death of all large game. On their re- 

 turn home with their game, the heads, the tails, and 

 flesh on the inside of the loins, being separated, are 

 considered sacred ; and women are not allowed to 

 taste of those parts; but the hunters feast on them, 

 and the rest (one hind quarter being first given to 

 the fortunate sportsman for his share) is equally- 

 divided among the party for their families. When the 

 hunters have finished their repast, the one who killed 

 the game sacrifices a fowl to Autgha, the blood of 

 which is shed on the fore-teeth of the game, with 

 thanksgivings to the God ; and the preacher, having 

 cut up the heart, that the blood of it may fall on his 

 bow and arrow, breaks an egg on it, praying again 

 to Autgha. 



Should a woman privately eat of those parts of 

 which they are forbidden to taste, the mountaineers 

 believe that Autgha will be offended, and prevent 

 their having any success in hunting on any future 

 excursion; and, if they do not happen to kill some 

 game, the failure is attributed to the above cause ; 

 and the Chertetn % or suspending a stone to a string, 

 is resorted to, to discover the offender, who, on such 

 doubtful proof, is fined a fowl ; which, being sa- 

 crificed to Autgha, the God is thus supposed to 

 be appeased, and will be propitious to them on the 

 next hunting party. 



If 



