Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 7.djvu/107

BHEELS OF THE VTNDHYAN RANGE. animals, especialy of deer. A few have swords and daggers, but in warfare or in the chase, they rely only on the bow.

Their usages in regard to marriage are curious, and different in many respects from all other tribes. They will not marry women of their own tribe, nor of that of mother’s brother, nor of their mother’s mother. Yet polygamy is a rule, and men with four and five wives are common. The women are prolific, but few children in comparison, survive the life of hardship to which they are exposed, and the malaria of the jungles is fatal to many. Nor is the adult population exempt from its influence, and fevers, dysentery, and diseases of the spleen, are common and fatal. The Bheels allege that but for the use of ardent spirits in large quantities they could not exist in the jungles, and the habit of drinking leads to terrible excesses among them.

The Bheel women have much influence over the men, but never accompany them in their expeditions. It is said that Bheels never spare their prisoners except by the intercession of their women. They have little opportunity of exhibiting dress, as what they have is scanty and poor in the last degree; but they are fond of ornaments, and wear rings of brass from the ankles to the knees, the upper ring having a circle of small bells attached to it, with heavy silver rings on their toes. These ornaments being hereditary possessions, descend in families as it were heirlooms. Vide following article, No. 364.