$6 Account of the Tribes of Mahratta Bramins. No. 8& 



every Karali bramin in Poona uses these practices ; they be- 

 lieVe that the goddess rewards them with twelve years pros- 

 perity. This came to the ears of Sri Mant Nand Saheb, who 

 thereupon seized all the Karali bramins in Poona and shaved 

 their heads.* ' — ^ * K**** ?• «»t.-uyfiL *^*^6J^ 



*/ (ffev^-J**"*--^-**- -'^ - I <**^}~t fit*. ^JL%pj>>*.JL. <?~<4%m* f- 



Since that time they have desisted from slaying bramin 

 youths. At present when the Karali bramins wish to per- 

 form the worship of (Devi) the goddess, they invite a bramin 

 of this country, shew him every sort of kindness, but feed 

 him with poisoned food which causes death in the space of a 

 month ; this goes on at the present day.f They are of the 

 Vamana and Karidra families. 



Kegarding the Chiponi bramins ; Parasurama by penance 

 obtained the favour of Siva, and from him descended the 

 seven families bearing this name. They use the Rug-vedam 

 and the Atharvana Yedam,J and they practise (pampu-sati) 

 demoniac rites ; some of them are Eeligieux, and others are 

 lay -bramins (Laukilkas) they use the magic that sends de- 

 mons into men ; some perform the solemn (yajna) sacrifice. 

 The Concan bramins contract marriage with the daughters of 

 the Chiponis : but never will bestow their daughters on them. 



The document here translated seems to have been pro- 

 cured by Colonel Mackenzie in the year 1807, and has at- 

 tracted some notice because supposed to give curious parti- 

 culars regarding certain sects of bramins. But it may be more 

 useful as a warning how little we can depend on the infor- 

 mation which bramins offer us regarding rival sects. This 

 translation is slightly abridged, a few needless lists of names 

 being omitted. I need not point out its incoherencies. The 



• This "being the utmost degradation : that this was done is not impossible : but thi* 

 does not prove that the sufferers were guilty. 



+ An assertion just as incredible as the preceding fables. 



J The Athervana Vedam is a treatise on magic. 



