1872.] N'otes on the Baigtis of BdUgMt, 173 



whatever to call to them, and equally hopeless trymg to catch them. They 

 are, as may be imagined from their habits, thoroughly acquainted with every 

 path in the forest ; it is difficult to get them to give information about 

 game. 



149. In theu' dealings they are proverbially honest, and indeed are 

 quite unaccustomed to money dealings of even the most trifling natm'e. 

 They generally barter what they collect, in the shape of forest produce, for 

 salt. Colonel Dennys, in his Tribes Report, gives an interesting account of 

 theii* origin and customs, showing them to be distinct from the Hindus. 

 They certainly have nothing of the Hindu about them, except the reverence 

 for the cow, and the worship of some of the same idols. They hardly seem 

 to understand the use of water except for drinking, and are filthy in their 

 persons. They never use the plough or till the land, but sow in the «,shes of 

 the jungle which they cut do^\^l. The places thus sown they call " bewurs." 



^ ^ tP tS* vt vP ^ 



Extract from letter No. 1532 A, dated ^Oth June^ 1869, from tlie Deputy 

 Commissioner, Boldglidt,- to the Commissioner, Ndgpur Division. 



tP -ir tP Tp TT Tp 



81. The Baigas, of whom there are about 2,334 in the district, are to 

 be found on many of the hill tops in the upper plateau. Their villages, 

 composed of a neat square of about 20 to 10 or even 5 houses, are generally 

 found in small depressions in the hill side, securely hidden from external 

 gaze by the surrounding forest trees and jungle, and were it not for the 

 fact that these wild people generally cut their dhyas (called by them and 

 the Gonds " chewers") on the summits of the highest peaks, and connect 

 themselves with the outer world by narrow but well-beaten footpaths, it 

 would be extremely difficult to find out the sites of their villages. 



82. The di'ess of the Baigas of the wilder classes consists of merely a 

 vety scanty rag romid their loins. This is what they wear when visited by 

 Europeans, but I understand that a Baiga at home, without visitors, 

 considers part of even this dress superfluous and adopts a more light and 

 airy costume. On the other hand, those who are accustomed to visit and be 

 visited by more civilized people, dress very well, and adopt jackets, tm-bans, 

 dhotis, and other fashions from the plains. 



83. The houses of the Baigas are so small that even the dhya-cutting 

 Gonds, when asked about them, enlarge upon theii^ diminutiveness, as 

 compared with their own dwellings. From the ground to the ridge pole 

 is generally about six feet, the breadth is about the same as the height, and 

 the length may be one or two feet more. The only materials used in the 

 construction of the houses are bamboo and earth. The frame-work of the 

 building is made of whole bamboos, which are covered over with bamboos, 

 wattle and dab. The villages are generally built in the form of a square 



