64 THE HIGHLANDS OF CENTRAL INDIA 



at a little distance mucli resembled oaks, and half-cleared 

 fields, gave indications of tlie approach, of the border belt 

 of half -reclaimed land which intervenes between the open 

 plain and the forest-covered hills. The Mhowa (Bassia 

 latifolia) is one of the most useful wild trees in this part 

 of India. It is not cut down like other forest trees in 

 clearing the land for tillage, its value being at first greater 

 than that of the area rendered unproductive by its shade 

 and roots. As the country gets more thickly peopled, 

 however, the case is reversed, and it generally disappears 

 in long-settled tracts. As a singular instance of the 

 influence sometimes exerted by social customs on the 

 physical character of a country, I may mention an 

 exception to this rule in the case of the district of Nimar, 

 which, even in its fully cultivated parts, is still thickly 

 dotted with Mhowa trees. The reason of this I believe 

 to be that, during the " times of trouble " referred to in 

 my first chapter, the majority of the small proprietors of 

 the land were ousted from possession of their fields ; but 

 the custom having been established that possession of the 

 fruit-trees growing on it did not necessarily pass with the 

 land, they mostly retained the proprietorship of these 

 trees. Thus it has happened that the land is often owned 

 by one party and the trees by another. The rent is paid 

 only by the landholder; and thus, though it would pay 

 him to clear off the trees, it would not pay the tree-man ; 

 and so they have remained, doubtless to the very great 

 advantage, and certainly to the beauty, of the district. 



The value of the Mhowa consists in the fleshy corolla 

 of its flower, and in its seeds. The flower is highly 

 deciduous, ripening and falling in the months of March 

 and April. It possesses considerable substance, and a 

 sweet but sickly taste and smell. It is a favourite article 

 of food with all the wild tribes, and the lower classes of 

 Hindus; but its main use is in the distillation of ardent 

 spirits, most of what is consumed being made from Mhowa. 

 The spirit, when well made and mellowed by age, is by 

 no means of despicable quality, resembling in some degree 

 Irish whisky. The luscious flowers are no less a favourite 

 food of the brute creation than of man. Every vegetable- 



