1840.] The Hodesum [improperly called Kolehan). 80/ 



especial care of that truly wise and benevolent man, Major Wilkinson, 

 the late Political Agent of the South- West Frontier,* and fortunate was 

 it, that his excellent arrangements were so well seconded by the 

 inherent good feelings of the people, for whose welfare they were 

 directed. The depredations committed by the Hos formerly on 

 their neighbours, for the sake of driving off their cattle, were chiefly, if 

 not entirely, at the instigation of the Hindoo Zemindars around, 

 who employed them to wreak their own malice on their neighbours, 

 and indeed the Hos served them, in a manner, as mercenary hordes. 

 Their forays were never marked by cruelty or unnecessary violence, 

 nor except when they were openly resisted, was ever life taken. 

 A fearful number of people (among themselves) have fallen sacrifices to 

 the horrid superstitions respecting witchcraft ; but such crimes, 

 common to the barbarous ages of all nations, and but too prevalent 

 formerly in our own, must be, by the impartial observer, attributed 

 more to the depravity of the judgment than the heart. The 

 superstition still continues, but the horrors resulting from it have 

 almost entirely ceased. But cold blooded murder for the sake of gain, 

 robbery, even pilfering, lying, deceit, dishonesty, even of the most 

 venial kind, are almost unknown, and looked upon with disgust. 

 The truth and integrity of a Kole are well known, and the fidelity 

 of their wives, and modesty of the females in general, proverbial. 



They are on the whole a light-hearted and good-natured race, 

 irascible, though quickly appeased. But so strong is their sense 

 of injury, that a harsh word suddenly spoken, will produce the most 

 serious results ; for this reason they seldom quarrel, and terms 

 (epithets) of abuse are unknown in the language ; among females the 

 mere hearing of a few words of reproach will induce them to commit 

 suicide, and this crime among both sexes is so frightfully prevalent, as 



!|to afford no parallel in any known country. The mere banter- 

 ing a lad on his predilection for any girl, has led to self-destruction ; 

 jokes of an injurious nature they do not understand, and indeed 

 seldom or ever indulge in them, although in the most harmless way. 

 Beggars are scarcely known in the country, but the Hos are charitable 



, {to those deserving aid, and hospitable to strangers to the same de- 



* Now Resident at the Court of the Raja of Nagpore (Berar.) 



5 K 



