26 



Report on Bustar. [No. 11, new series. 



God is regularly j:>erformed once a year previous to using the new 

 grain of the season, at other times each brings his offering and 

 presents it to the God. Besides these, every village throughout 

 Bustar contains its representative of Duntaishwarree, called 

 Maolee, and also the common village Goddess of the small 

 pox, or Sitla Maee, here also erroneously denominated Bho- 

 wany and Thakorin. The Mariahs or Jhorias are the same, 

 their name being derived from words in use among them 

 signifying trees and jungle, significant of the locality which they 

 inhabit. Their dress is of the most scanty nature, barely serving 

 the purposes of decency, and their women especially wearing no 

 more than an apron of leaves without any covering above. Their 

 language is said to differ from that of the Moriahs ; my circuit 

 did not lead me through any part of the country inhabited by 

 them, but they are described (by those on whose word I believe 

 I can depend) as being a large and powerful race, mixing but little 

 with the other tribes, sensitive though well disposed and bearing a 

 singularly high character for honesty and trustworthiness. Their 

 women engage in out of door labor in conveying the baggage of 

 travellers and in carrying loads. They are even less discriminate 

 in the choice of food than the Moriahs and do not reside long in 

 one village, but change the site every 3 or 4 years. Their vil- 

 lages are formed in one long street by two rows of houses one 

 opposite the other. Besides the two foregoing the following 

 castes are enumerated as inhabiting the more civilized portions of 

 Bustar. 



1. 



Bhuttras. 



9. 



Kamit. 



2. 



Gandas. 



10. 



Telee. 



3. 



Soondees. 



11. 



Koombar. 



4. 



Mahras, 



12. 



Xao. 



5. 



Hulmas. 



13. 



Dhobee. 



6. 



Moraes. 



14. 



Chumbar. 



7. 



Purja or Jugra. 



15. 



Ghussia. 



8. 



Gudmas. 



16. 



Kosta. 



The 1st of these, though strictly spe.'lung Gonds, assume to 

 themselves the pretensions of a superior caste in many instances, 

 wearing the brahminical thread, and are frequently entrusted with 



