. Our troubles in Poona and the Deccan by Arthur Crawford. With numerous illus. by Horace Van Ruith . hether it be about a murder or robbery, aburglary, or a boundary dispute. He is the incarnationof the traditions and history of his village, and though heis despised, condemned to live outside the village, andfearful of letting his defiling shadow fall on the Brahmin,the latter well knows he can do nothing without him. Heholds lands—the worst in the village—on hereditary tenure:he is entitled by prescription (which has often been affirmedin the Law Courts) to certain grain allowances, of which
. Our troubles in Poona and the Deccan by Arthur Crawford. With numerous illus. by Horace Van Ruith . hether it be about a murder or robbery, aburglary, or a boundary dispute. He is the incarnationof the traditions and history of his village, and though heis despised, condemned to live outside the village, andfearful of letting his defiling shadow fall on the Brahmin,the latter well knows he can do nothing without him. Heholds lands—the worst in the village—on hereditary tenure:he is entitled by prescription (which has often been affirmedin the Law Courts) to certain grain allowances, of whichhe is as often as not deprived. A stranger or a travellercomes— Mharala Bolawa (call the Mhar). A robberyoccurs— Mharas wichyara (ask the Mhiir). Who owns this THE INDISPENSABLE MHAR. 215 field? What are the boundaries? Mharas mahit ahc(the Mhar knows)—and so on. In all Maharashtra there is no class on the whole soreliable, so trusty, so honest, so hardworking as the despisedMhar. Look at the records of old Infantry Regiments—look at some of the muster rolls now —look at the pension. MHARS. rolls, and you will find the names of Soobedur Majors,Sirdar Bahadoors—Ramnaks—Yesnaks—Bhagnaks and all theNaks. Ask in the Konkan, *By whom was this roadmade? by whom this bridge, this school, or rest-house, orSahebs bungalow built? The answer will be—By any British officer of any service, who makes the bestghorawalla or horsekeeper? who was his most reliable 2i6 OUR TROUBLES IN POONA AND THE DECCAN. servant in any arduous expedition? The answer will beBaloo Mhar. In large cities they are the scavengers—are shamefullyneglected and left to rot and die, as in the city of Poonaat the present moment. THE MHANGS. The Mhang is the lowest of the low, and is—or was—often driven to dacoity by starvation. He gets the hides ofdead animals, (he eats the carcases,) and makes raw-hide ropesand reins, and thongs of whips for cartmen. It was his dutyin old days to carr
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