1922.] Indian Science Congress. LCS. 157 
gous institution. Almost every where in a village, he informs 
us there is one building often two, of a public character where 
men eat and spend their time. In these young men sleep and 
strangers are entertained. The Gond marriage is a simple 
ceremony. Its distinctive feature is that the procession starts 
are to be found in many localities. bride price is paid 
The practice of Lamsena or serving for a wife is commonly 
adopted by boys who cannot afford to buy one. Traces of 
brother’s daughter to the sister’s son, which was done for 
bringing the latter as an heir to his house. Now-a-days the 
marriage of brother’s son with sister’s daughter is very much 
in vogue, in fact it is claimed and admitted as a right on the 
ground that the brother’s family gave a girl to the other fami- 
ly and the latter was therefore bound to return a girl to the 
other family. Thisis called Dudh lautana or bringing in back 
the milk. Widow marriage, divorce and polygamy are freely 
allowed. The last is reckoned as a sign of wealth and dignity 
and is sometimes made an exhibition of. A Gond in Bala- 
ghat who had seven wives was accustomed always to take 
them to the bazar walking in a line behind him. 
The Gonds bury their dead. They deify them and wor- 
ship a host of gods of whom Pedda Pen or Bura Deo stands at 
the head. He lives on a Saj tree (Boswellia serrata). The 
Gonds were accustomed to human sacrifices and hook-swing- 
ing, but cannibalism was unknown. : 
As a rule Gonds are simple-minded, shy, quiet, docile and 
honest. ‘They are a pleasant people and leave kindly memo- 
ries on those who have to do with them. Comparatively | 
ay, however, they ‘ ‘ 
the tials and decided that if they buried the _ : ye 
be unable to see them eating. They accordingly os ad 
and ate some of the mangoes, an 
honesty at the journey’s end, cou 
