1836.] 



An account of the Maun Bhows. 



houses, lands, and riches, and to follow other pursuits. 

 Some years ago I had one of them employed in the Police ; 

 they are also permitted to enter into the bonds of conjugal 

 tenderness, but who in other respects with the exception of 

 wearing black clothes, adhere strictly to custom and habits 

 of the order. 



It is not unusual to hear of the Maun Bhows having fol- 

 lowers among the Koonbies and other classes who are term- 

 ed Bhoalls (persons who abstain from partaking of flesh, fish, 

 and spirituous liquors). The Bhoalls do not cut off the 

 Sendhy or wear black clothes, but they receive the munter of 

 initiation after having solemnly vowed on the Geeta that 

 they will acknowledge Krishen as their only god, and that 

 they will abandon the worship of all others. It is absolutely 

 necessary for the man who becomes a Bhoall to have his wife 

 also initiated, but then it must not be by the same Gooroo or a 

 member of the same villy or Mhutt that instructed her hus- 

 band : were they both to be initiated by the same Gooroo, 

 the distinction of husband and wife would no longer exist ; 

 they would become members of the same family and be con- 

 sidered as brother and sister ; and with the Bhoalls such a 

 consummation is not desired. 



These Bhoalls* frequently attend the shrines in Mhutts 

 when the Maun Bhows are absent and receive any offerings 

 presented in the name of Krishen, these consist of every de- 

 scription of fruit, sugar, rice, bread, &c. and all sorts of 

 flowers except the Kunner or Oieandur. 



* About three miles from Rakissbhaun there is a small village named Sagur 

 on the banks of the Godavery, where about a hundred years ago there resided a 

 female of the Maun Bhow sect, in charge of the Mhutt. It appears that the wife 

 of a poor Mussulman an inhabitant of the place despaired of having any children 

 and after the manner of the Hindoos she presented herself before the Devotee 

 and asked her for her blessing, and she vowed that if she should have a child it 

 should be consecrated to Krishen. It so happened that her hopes were realized 

 and in fulfilment of her vow she presented the child to the old Maun Bhow 

 Devotee ; who entreated of the mother to keep the infant, as she could neither 

 leceive nor adopt it as it was not of the Hindoo faith; after much persuasion on 

 the part of the mother, the old woman allowed her to leave the boy in the Mhutt 

 with hei*. In the course of a few years the old Maun Bhow woman died, and the 

 proselyte remained in charge of the shrines, he afterwards married aud his descen- 

 dants continue in charge of the place. They wear black clothes, abstain from 

 flesh and spirits and subsist by begging and on the offerings presented at the 

 shrines. 



