Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 7.djvu/111

 BHEELS OF THE SATPOORA RANGE. (364)

HE Satpoora range is divided from the Vindhyan by the river Nerbudda, and is broken also by the river Taptee, which rises on the table land to the eastward of the range, which descends by abrupt declivities and precipices of basalt into Berar, attaining in many places an elevation of about 4,000 feet above the level of the sea. Among this range the hills are much broken, and the dense forests and ravines afford ample shelter for the Bheels, who do not differ in habits and characteristics from those of the Vindhyau range. We therefore follow Lieut. Waterhouse's report, in illustration of his Photographs. The group No. 363 are of wild Bheels from Nimawur, Khandesb, and other parts of the wildest forest country, who were in prison at Mundhlaiser for an attack upon a police post; and this accounts for their being decently clothed, and having a more civilized appearance than they would have had in their wild state. Two of them are naiks or leaders, and all have Hindoo names, or names approaching Hindoo, such as Jo Ram Naik, Kumaon Naik, Rutna, Tantra, &c.

Bheels do not affect much clothing in their natural condition, a rag round the head, and another fastened to a string round the waist, which passes between the legs, and is tucked into the string behind, being all that is needed. The Bheel has, however, some decent clothing in which he attends fairs, markets, or festivals at certain temples, where he makes annual sacrifices; and the women in this respect are the same as the men. However well he may be dressed, there is no mistaking the peculiar physiognomy of a Bheel—the broad face, with small restless eyes, high cheek bones, flat noses, and large mouths, vary little throughout; and but for a frequently pleasant, merry expression, would be absolutely repulsive.

Wild Bheels have no settled habitations, and move their huts from place to place, as they are influenced by need or fancy. Having cleared a spot in the forest, they construct huts of posts driven into the ground, the walls of which are coarse bamboo mats plastered with mud, and the roof thatched with grass. The floor is then beaten down with clay, and earth is thrown up all round the bottom