Page:The Imperial Gazetteer of India - Volume 2 (2nd edition).pdf/373

 BHANDARA. Urdu

speaking regions,

is

363

understood generally through the

District,

and Urdu words and idioms have Marathi spoken

Bhandara.

in

largely impaired the purity of the The Gonds and other castes use also

their peculiar languages, intelligible only to themselves.

The

inhabitants of Bhandara, even

among

the higher classes, have a

nor do they compensate for this defect by their candour or manliness. Indeed, the two proverbs most frequently in their mouths by no means tend to a practice of the reputation for bluntness and discourtesy

virtues



which are usually associated with a rude simplicity

remains at home,’ and ‘The perfection of wisdom is the favourite sentiments of a native of Bhandara. however,

will

generally bring

—

Good

out honesty and industry

‘

Charity-

These are

deceit.’

treatment,

among

the

Gonds, and the Ponwars make hard-working agriculturists. But the population generally have none of the hardy-, active habits often found in Northern India. Rarely does a person of the higher rank mount a horse for nearly every journey, long or short, he has recourse to a small two-wheeled ox-cart. And it is not easy to get a fair day’s work

Cheap food and a stationary population, a mild, equable climate, and a landlocked District without roads, have doubtless contributed to produce these characteristics but as the country is out of the labourer.

,

being opened up, greater activity already manifests is

lightly

among

regarded

itself.

Marriage

the lower castes in Bhandara, particularly the

Ponwars, Lodhi's, and Kumbis.

In this licence the

women

take the

from their husbands, and selecting of successive partners, without any opposition from All, except the higher castes of Hindus, practise

lead, often divorcing themselves

their

own

free will

their lawful lords.

the

ceremony

called pdt^ resembling the nikd marriage

Muhammadans, by

which, after the death of a

a pair agree to live together.

custom,

girls receive

of betrothals plicate

is

itself in

common among

husband or

wife,

District, contrary to the general

and the usual method boy are fain to supwhose hand they would win, instead

more honour than boys



reversed, as the relatives of a

the parents of the girl

of being sought

In this

first

after themselves.

The

general ignorance discovers

the loose notions entertained by the j>eople regarding the

respect due to the various

Hindu

divinities.

universal throughout the District;

and

all

Phallic worship

is

almost

kinds of quadrupeds, and

Remarkable sepulchres become objects of reverence and a large tomb near the village of Murmarf, about 10 miles from Bhandara, where rest the remains of an English lady, is held in great veneration by the surrounding villagers. The few Muhammadans in the District are various reptiles, receive the adoration of their several votaries.

notorious for neglect of their religious duties, and for their disorderly

and dissipated Four towns

life.

in

Bhandara each have a population exceeding 5000,