1875.] 347 



An Account of the Maiwdr Bhils. — By T. H. Hendlet, Surgeon, Jaipur 



Agency, Mojputand. 

 (With a plate.) 



Much has been written on the subject of the Bhils, but it may not be 

 thought uninteresting to give an account of those members of the race who 

 reside in the hilly tracts of Maiwar, as there they have perhaps best pre- 

 served their individuality. I have been able to collect a good deal of in- 

 formation, whilst residing amongst them as Surgeon of the Maiwar Bhfl 

 Corps, and have in addition derived much benefit from the local knowledge 

 of Thakur G-ambhi'r Siugh, a Rathor Chief settled in the Tracts. Major 

 Gunning, Commandant of the Bhil Corps, has kindly read the bulk of 

 my paper, and has also furnished a large number of valuable notes, without 

 which it would have been difficult to complete the subject — to both these 

 gentlemen my best thanks are due. 



Religion. — In the present day, the religion of the Bhil is one of igno- 

 rance and fear, modified more or less by contact with powerful and formed 

 faiths ; in some parts of Khandesh, for example, Muhammadanism has been 

 the prevailing influence, in Maiwar Brahmanism. In the hilly tracts, the 

 erection of cairns, usually on hill tops ; the adoption of Shiva and his con- 

 sort as symbols of the powers of terror and darkness ; the construction of 

 stone platforms on which stand blocks, smeared with red paint ; the sacri- 

 fice of animals and tradition of human oblations ; the use of effigies of the 

 horse, are apparently relics of their ancient faith. 



Cairns. — Piles of loose stones, solid or hollowed out in the centre, or 

 mere platforms, are erected on the summits of high hills, the supposed sthdns 

 or seats of the gods or goddesses, usually the latter — in or on these are 

 arranged a large number of stone or burnt clay images of the horse. I have 

 seen a hollow cairn on the verge of a steep crag near Khairwara, four feet 

 in diameter and as many deep, filled with these images, each of which was 

 about four inches in length. On the platforms the effigies are ranged in 

 rows, often with many broken chiraghs (clay dishes) in front of them ; in 

 these ghi or oil had been burnt, and the stones and horses were blackened 

 with grease. Above wave on long bamboos pieces of rag, a universal custom 

 amongst Hindus, Muhammadans, and even Christians (Roman Catholics), 

 who often leave a shred of clothing on a pole or neighbouring bush as tribute 

 to the guardian or deity of the shrine. It will be noted hereafter that some 

 of these cairns or platforms are erected to the memory of the dead, but this 

 is, perhaps, due to the supposition that the spirits of the deceased go to 

 the hill deities. 

 T7 U 



