JOURNAL 
OF THE 
ASIATIC SOCIETY. 
— • — 
Part I. -HISTORY, LITERATURE, Sec. 
No. II.— 1872. 
The Legend of Bdghesar, a deified spirit held in great reverence hg the 
Kusrii, Surl, Markam, Netia , and Sarsun clans of the Oond Tribe . — 
By Capt. W. L. Sam mams, Assistant Commissioner, Manbhum. 
Once upon a time, in a family of the Gond tribe, there were five brothers, 
named respectively Kusrii, Siiri, Markam, Netia, and Sarsun. 
On the first occasion on which Kiisru’s wife was pregnant, she brought 
forth a male child ; but on the second occasion she gave birth to a tiger’s 
whelp. This young cub was treated by its parents with as much affection 
and regard as their first-born ; and the superior nursing it received, had such 
a powerful effect on its growth and constitution, that in a few months it grew 
up to be the finest child of its age and kind that ever was known. From 
childhood he was the constant companion of Kusrii, never forsaking his 
side for a moment ; and so great was the filial attachment he bore towards 
his unnatural parent, that, to this day it is said in praise of him, he was 
never known to have injured Kusrii in any way. To the Gond mind no 
doubt this was a most remarkable trait of character ; for what is the ex- 
perience of their lives from day to day, but that of the strong lording 
it over the weak. 
Kusrii, whose occupation was husbandly, had taken to tilling jungle 
lands near his village, and during such time as there were crops in the 
ground, he used to spend the greater portion of it in watching them. But 
at one time it so happened that for some days past he had been less vigilant 
than usual, and the nilgai and sambar, making the best of the opportunity, 
well-nigh ruined the crop and Kt'isrd’s prospects. However, it was better to 
save what remained than lose all, thought Kusrii philosophically ; so he 
