.150 .aURY^y OF THl GANGBS, 



have been ineurred by many of theiHj to render their temporary hab|tiv» 



flans comfortable ap4-: convenient. On the ridge of the bank, on each 



- side of th@ road ,. grasg; huts and sradi.. Bangaiahs are erected, in front of 

 ^hich 'are high C^^fe^r^^jinjijaitationpf forts and b#istions, with embra-r' 

 spres, &c. On these tli^y repose, .with ail the pride of conscious supe-^ 

 ripritj and independence, -M^i^J of theni profess a total disregard far 



;.all worMly, concerns, 4nd appear eonipletelj in a state of nature, __. , ■ ...^ 



'■"'Amono' these Go'saim aye many men of considerable property, who 

 ''assume only tlie garments of the devotee, being in other respects well 

 'provided with '-all the comforts and conveniencies of life;" some of them 

 follow a military profession, but the greater number are engaged In agri-. 

 cultural or commercial pursuits, in which they acquire large fortunes. 

 On occasions like the present, they expend large sums, in charity, among 

 the poor of their own se6l, and in presents to the priests or Bt'cthmens^ 

 'who 'preside over the different places of sacred worship. One mode of 

 dispensing their' charity is by stationing people ^at different places on the 

 roads to distribute water to the thirsty passengers; and although the boon 

 be small, it is very salutary, and there Is always a constant succession of 

 claimants and petitioners, " '' " "'"•■' '' '^ ' 



The Gosains or Sannydsis are distinguished by a sheet or wrapper of 

 cloth, dyed with red ochre, and round the neck they were a string of 

 beads, called Rudrdcshai^ this latter, however, is not confined to this se<5t, 

 as the Uddsis and Jdgis make use of the same. The Gosains are the wor« 



- shippers of Siva, The Bairdgis are the disciples of Vishnu, and are dis« 

 tinguished by two perpendicular stripes of yellow ochre, or sandal, on the 



? Seedi of the Gmitrm of EyjiFHSus % a species of Ekocurpm. 



