66 MR. R, B. BAINBRIDGE ON 



Terminology. 



Godlings = Gosain , Eiwe, Ndddu 1 ; Erwe = Fu] ah or Propitiation. 



(i) Chal Naddu= Jahirthan Pujah (Sacred grove) ; (2) Chamda Gosain or Chamd 

 Erwe ; (3) Gum Erwe or Gumo Gosain ; (4) Mori Erwe (Peafowl) ; (5) Barya Chuki or 

 Konra Gosain; (6) Pau Duri Gosain or Pau Erwe ; (7) Dal Erwe ; (8) Kutti Erwe or Tand 

 Kutti Naddu ; (9) Chang Erwe ; (10) Sarkari Palki Gosain ; (11) Jandi Gosain or Janda 

 Gosain ; (12) Bajotro Gosain ; (13) Tande Erwe ; (14) Gurya Gosain or Gurka Gosain ; (15) 

 Adwa Erwe (Gosain of Harvests) ; (16) Charkor At Machli Gosain ; (17) Bodri Gosain ; 

 (18) Raksi Gosain ; (19) Kando Gosain or Makaro Gosain ,• (20) L,anj Erwe (seats for the 

 godlings) ; (21) Duara Gosain or Bara Diiari Gosain (slightly different from Chark Go- 

 sain) ; (22) Mangre Erwe ; and (23) Gosain Taddi. 



Pau Duri Gosain. 



Godling of Highways and Journeys. — The legend is that a Saoria, in ancient times, 

 went a journey to a far and strange country. He returned afflicted with a peculiar 

 skin disease. The oracle of the swinging stone was consulted, and he was told to 

 sacrifice to Pau Duri Gosain . He did so and became well ; hence the origin of this 

 deity or godling. The pujah for this godling takes place at the end of the cold season. 

 There is no fixed day and the actual date depends on the quantity of things collected 

 by the villagers, or householder, who is going to do honour to the godling. The 

 Charri Beddu fixes the auspicious day for brewing the pochai. A little oil and cooked 

 rice are taken by the Charri Beddu for his pains. The only essential is that the pujah 

 is forbidden during the dark o' the moon. A great deal of pochai is not made, but 

 every householder in the village brews a little. Invitations to relatives are carried 

 by the village Banddri. The Charri Beddu is brought to the village and is asked to 

 fix the day for the brewing of pochai. A lota of water is handed to him, and, after 

 washing his hands and feet, he sits facing the east with the swinging stone suspendod. 

 He says, " Ber Gosain, the Pau Gosain is to be worshipped; tell us who is to brew 

 the first pot of pochai so that it may be pleasing to Pau Gosain ? ' ' Names of women 

 are repeated, and, when the stone swings in answer, the girl or woman has been select- 

 ed. She must be a relative of someone in the village, or the wife or sister, or niece, of 

 the householder who has arranged the sacrifice. The girl is called and is made to sit 

 near the Charri Beddu. She is oiled by one of the women ; she has sindur placed on 

 her forehead, one line down the forehead, and one line over each eyebrow, which runs 

 down her cheeks and meets under her chin. Water in an earthern-pot is brought and 

 a little rice ; the earthen-pot is placed on the fire and the girl selected takes the rice 

 in her right hand and says, " O Ber Gosain, in my father's house, or brother's house, 

 Pau Gosain pujah is going to take place, and I have been chosen by the Charri Beddu 

 to brew the first pot of pochai, let the pochai be good and let there be peace and joy 

 in his house. Lo ! I scatter the rice." She then casts the rice which need not fall 

 into the pot. After this the serious business of brewing pochai begins. The Charri 



I Naddu =god\\ng-gosa?'n. 



