1840.] On the Huh in Malwa. 321 



times dug and filled with hot ashes, across which women run, gene- 

 rally those who have vowed to do so, should they be blessed with a son, 

 in which case they cross it with the "child of the vow" (33) at the 

 breast — but the distance is such a mere step, that they as rarely get 

 scorched (34) as did the priestesses of Diana during the similar cere- 

 mony. Though if Sonnerat is to be believed, which he is not (35), it is 

 not in every part of India so easy an ordeal. 



There is a peculiarity in the Duraheti here, that it is not as in most 

 places restricted to the 1st of the month, but continues during seve- 

 ral days, many classes having a sort of exclusive Duraheti, when they 

 only play with their own kith and kin ; but I must confess I have been 

 able to get very little information on this point, nor could, or would, any 

 one explain the rules by which these associations are regulated. In 

 some castes, the licence on these occasions is frightful. Men, I have 

 been credibly informed, unsatisfied with common filth, smear themselves 

 over with ordure, fling it at each other, and remain covered with it for 

 days, during which time they do not enter their houses, and their bread 

 is cooked, and flung out to them by the females. (36) But such horrors, 

 and all the more outrageous extravagancies, are confined to the lowest 

 classes and to towns, the village amusements being generally of a 

 more simple and pleasing character. On the second day of the month, 

 Juma-ditiya or Jumgut, the brahmun worships his shastrus, the 

 koith, his pen and ink, the banker his books, and the mass some Devi or 

 other; at about 12 a grand assembly (Jumgut) takes place at any prin- 

 cipal house in the district, invitations being sent to all the neighbour- 

 hood where nautches, masks, &c. amuse the folks till night. Here 

 should end the festival, but where the district is rich and populous, the 

 zemindars of different villages have their separate Jumguts on different 

 days, these rarely extend beyond the 5th, the term observed by 

 respectable people, and in the Deccan, and called Rung Punchmi ; but 

 some of the lower classes continue the sports for a few days more, and 

 in this part of the country, they are not concluded till the 13th, and by 



33. See Calmet's Dictionary. 



34. Boyle, art. Comane. 



35. It is Sonnerat, I believe, of whom the following story is told. A friend of his 

 who had been in India congratulated him on the success of his book, but said he, 

 I never saw the line things you speak of. My good fellow, replied Sonnerat, I did not 

 write for such as you, but for those who have not been in India. 



36. On such points as these it has of course been necessary to trust to native 

 information, but great pains have been taken to establish accuracy by comparing 

 different accounts. 



