TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEYS. 73 



Dew-as were completed in addition to the ordinary mapping. The 

 greater part of the ground covered by the surveyors of this party 

 proved tedious and intricate to the plane-tablers. Major J. R. 

 "Wilmer, who was in charge, mentions a peculiar custom that the 

 Bhils have here of branding their male children on the arms above 

 the wrist with burning cotton dipped in oil, so as to enable them 

 to be identified as true Bhils. This custom appears to have been 

 unknown to previous writers. At the close of the season 1881-82 it 

 was arranged that the bulk of this party should be transferred to the 

 Mirzapur district, while the few remaining sheets of the Malwa 

 survey were entrusted to the Khandesh and Bombay Native States 

 (No. 2) party, who had completed their work in the season 1882-83, 

 and assumed in consequence the designation of the Bhopal and Malwa 

 Survey party. The latter work was brought to a termination in 

 1884—85, the entire out-turn of the 15 seasons having amounted to 

 29,262 square miles, comprising 59 standard sheets, all surveyed on 

 the one-inch scale. In addition, large scale surveys were made and 

 mapped of 13 cities and cantonments, representing an area of 

 127 square miles. The survey had been commenced in 1870-71 by 

 Major Riddell, E.E., and carried on by that officer till 1873-74, 

 when the charge of the party devolved on Lieutenant- Colonel 

 Wilmer, by whom the work was continued till 1882-83, when the 

 party was transferred to Mirzapur. The late Khandesh (afterwards 

 re-named the Malwa) party, under Major Carter, R.E., then resumed 

 this work and did a full season's area in 1883-84, and in the 

 following season the charge of the survey was entrusted to 

 Mr. Patterson, by whom the work was brought to a, completion. 

 While working in the Udaipur State some sensational stories were 

 circulated respecting the poles erected as signals to mark the trigono- 

 metrical stations, which the natives were convinced were intended for 

 the immolation of the men and women. Another rumour circulated 

 was that the survey party had come to weigh all the married men 

 and women, and that of those found of unequal weight there would be 

 a redistribution, thus disturbing their marriage ties. The Udaipur 

 Durbar, in consequence of these rumours, desired the survey party 

 to retire as soon as possible, but Mr. Patterson took the occasion to 

 invite the Bhils to the camp and encouraged them to dance and 

 sing and shoot at a target with their bows and arrows, afterwards 

 dismissing them with douceurs. A description by Mr. Gr. P. Tate 

 of the town of Bhinmal and surrounding country will be found 



