282 P. N. Bose — Ghhattisgar : notes on its tribes, sects and castes. [No. 3, 
another place I was told, the four gods were the tortoise, the crocodile, 
a kind of fish called hodh, and a ferocious bird the name of which was 
given as sarewa. 
The Gonds of course believe in evil spirits and witches. But they 
do not appear to ha\e any clear idea of a next world. Notwithstanding 
repeated questioning, I failed to ascertain if they had any word for it. 
There is no regular priesthood amongst the Gonds. The nuptial, 
funeral, and similar ceremonies are performed under the lead of aged 
relatives. But generally in every village there is a man who is supposed 
to have the power of charming tiger.s, or preventing by mantras such 
calamities as drought, cholera &c. He is called “ Baiga.” The name is 
derived from a tribe called Baigas to be mentioned later on who are 
especially credited with these powers. 
In some parts, a group of villagers acknowledge a head called Son- 
wani who presides at panchayets to settle disputes. 
Ceremonies. — After a period varying from a few days to one month, 
the child is named and caste people are fed. 
Marriage usually takes place after puberty. There is no restriction 
as to the number of wives which a man may take to himself. But, 
mairiago being a costly concern, it is only the well-to-do who can indulge 
in polygamy. The ceremony consists of four stages, at each of which the 
bridegroom has to spend according to his social status. In the first stage 
called sagdi (a kind of betrothal), the bridegroom has to make a present 
of rice, liquor, and some cash to the father of the bride, and of churi, 
and phunri (silk tape for the hair) to the bride. The second stage 
(barokhi) consists in bringing the bride to the home of the bridegroom 
— a reversal of the ordinary Hindu process — when presents of grain, 
clothes, and cash have to be made to the f.ather of the bride. At the 
third stage, the bride and bridegroom are anointed with oil and tur- 
meric and they go round a pole seven times. The ceremony takes place 
with great feasting and the usual drunkenness. The fourth stage of 
the ceremony consists in sending the bride to her home. 
When the bridegroom has not the means to make the necessary 
presents to the father of the bride, he serves the latter as a labourer 
for a period varying according to the price set upon the lady. 
Burial and Cremation. — The dead are usually buried with head to 
the north and feet to the south. Gi-eat care is taken of the graves of 
distinguished persons. Earthen mounds are raised over these, which 
are kept very clean, and protected from the sun and I’ain by a shed. 
Rude clay figures of men and horses are kept on the mound, symbolic 
probably of the way in which the departed have gone to heaven. A few 
days after death, the srddh takes place, when caste people are fed. 
