Page:The Imperial Gazetteer of India - Volume 2 (2nd edition).pdf/217

 BASTAR. old

when

All petty sales are effected

procurable,

20

from Ndgpur and

are largely imported

Brass "utensils

ones.

Raipur.

207

by

kauris (cowries)

barter, or

making

by kauris or a bori,

12

shells

boris

a

The general system is for and 12 diigdnis one rupee. the Raja to keep up granaries and storehouses, often receiving grain in part payment of the land tax, and retailing it with the other Iron ore necessaries of life to his own establishments and travellers. of good quality abounds on the Beld. Dila, and in the valley of the river Jorivag, but in consequence of the small demand is hardly ever worked. Salt, piece-goods, spices, and opium are imported from the grain, wheat, and coast by way of Jaipur, Sunkam, and Kaller and in the western parts, cloth, tobacco, and paper from Raipur But though the situation of opium from the Nizam’s Dominions. the State is favourable for traffic, and the configuration of the country and the nature of the soil would facilitate the construction of dtigdui,





The Baryara line highways, not a single made road exists in Bastar. from the south of Raipur is expected to assume considerable importance, passing as it does through a portion of Bastar, and thence through the Ahfrf zaminddris and the Sironcha tdluk to a point where it branches into two lines, running respectively to the large stations on By this route, wheat is the south-east coast and to Haidarabad. already exported in large quantities from Chhattisgarh. The State has no navigable river. The estimated gross revenue of Bastar amounted, in 1881, to _;;^92i3, and the tribute to .3^^305. Transit duties are imposed on goods entering or passing through the State, but arrangements are now (1882) being made with a view to their total abolition. The Raja’s military force consisted of 4 gunners, 12 horsemen, 50 sepoys, and 400 retainers armed with swords, and 3 small cannon. Rdja Bhairam Deo claims

to

be a Rajput.

The

family follow primogeniture,

but have no sanad authorizing adoption. his

nephew.

The

Education

is

In 1882, the Raja’s heir was at a low standard in the State.

chief cause of mortality in Bastar

is

fever,

which prevails espe-

from September to November, commonly accompanied with dysentery and diarrhoea. At rare intervals cholera appears, but seldom

cially

On

extends beyond the larger villages on the more frequented routes.

common, and the dread it inspires appears from the numerous temples dedicated to Mata Devi. The patient, into whose body the goddess is deemed to have entered, is treated with scrupulous regard. As soon as the disease shows itself, his feet are

the other hand, small-pox

is

washed with cow’s milk, and carefully wiped upon the head of his nearest relative jMatd Devi is then prayed to take under her special protection the family whom she has honoured with a visit ; the patient is placed upon a bed of fresh rice-straw, with a screen around him his