1836.] An account of the Maun Bhows. 19 



and wash it in the running stream or well, that all the in- 

 sects may be restored to their natural elements. As some of 

 the inhabitants of the chief towns in the Mharatta country 

 are in the habit of sacrificing a number of sheep at the Dus- 

 sir& festival, the Maun Bhows make a point of keeping at a 

 distance from the villages where such scenes take place. 



It is worthy of notice that the Maun Bhows never will 

 take any flour or grain from a basket in the bazar,or corn or 

 vegetables from a field, or pluck fruit of any description from 

 off a tree although the owners tell them to do so. They in- 

 variably wait till the proprietor or person employed by him 

 has helped them with his own hands, otherwise they will pass 

 quietly on. 



During the jutras or pilgrimages to the different shrines of 

 Krishen at the time of the annual festivals, it is customary 

 for persons who have made vows in the name of the Maun 

 Bhows, to entertain a certain number of the pilgrim devo- 

 tees for one, two, or three days ; and such of the Mhunths 

 as may have been fortunate enough to receive in charity any 

 monejr, or large quantity of grain, make a point of entertain- 

 ing all the Maun BhowAlteeths (religiously austere characters) 

 that may be present for one or more days*. 



The Hindoos of the present day although in general very 

 remiss in the observance of their religious duties,few of them, 

 especially of the lower orders, will approach a temple or pass 

 a rough stone or block of timber besmeared with red paint 

 (Sendoor, Minium) and stuck up in a field or under a tree s 

 as the representative of some tutelary deity, without per- 

 forming the Numskar, (customary salutation). The Maun. 

 Bhows on the other hand abhor these red painted stones or 

 blocks, and if they are aware there is one in the road they 

 are travelling, they will make a circuit to avoid it. 



* The Mhunth Sadhy Raz of the Punjuby villy, received a considerable sum of 

 - money in a present from Hindoostan, and in consequence sent notice to many 

 places inviting the Maun Bhows to Rood'hpoor, on Chytre Poornimah 1831, as he 

 > meant to entertain all that would attend ; about fourteen or fifteen thousand pil- 

 grims visited the place and he provided provisions for all for nearly one month, 

 till the Cholera made its appearance and forced them to look for safety in flight' 

 Nothing is more common than to hear of the Cholera making its appearance among 

 the crowds of pilgrims that assemble on such occasions. 



