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,
