. The tribes and castes of the Central Provinces of India . himselfdefiled will have to go hungry and thirsty until he gets theopportunity of bathing at his journeys end. The observanceof the rules of impurity thus becomes so irksome that theyare gradually falling into abeyance. The principal occupations of the Mahars are the weavingof coarse country cloth and general labour. They formerlyspun their own yarn, and their fabrics were preferred by thecultivators for their durability. But practically all threadis now bought from the mills ; and the weaving industry isalso in a depressed condition.
. The tribes and castes of the Central Provinces of India . himselfdefiled will have to go hungry and thirsty until he gets theopportunity of bathing at his journeys end. The observanceof the rules of impurity thus becomes so irksome that theyare gradually falling into abeyance. The principal occupations of the Mahars are the weavingof coarse country cloth and general labour. They formerlyspun their own yarn, and their fabrics were preferred by thecultivators for their durability. But practically all threadis now bought from the mills ; and the weaving industry isalso in a depressed condition. Many Mahars have nowtaken to working in the mills, and earn better wages thanthey could at home. In Bombay a number of them areemployed as police-constables.^ They are usually the villagewatchmen of the Maratha Districts, and in this capacitywere remunerated by contributions of grain from the tenants,the hides and flesh of animals dying in the village, and plotsof rent-free land. For these have now been substituted in 1 Bombay Gazetteer, vol. xi. p. II OCCUPATION 145 the Central Provinces a cash payment fixed by Berar the corresponding ofiicial is known as the KamdarMahar. Mr. Kitts writes of him : ^ As fourth bahiteddron the village establishment the Mahar holds a post of greatimportance to himself and convenience to the village. Tothe patel (headman), patwari and big men of the village heacts often as a personal servant and errand-runner; for asmaller cultivator he will also at times carry a torch or actas escort. He had formerly to clean the horses of travellers,and was also obliged, if required, to carry their baggage.^For the services which he thus renders as pdndheivdr theMahar receives from the cultivators certain the cut juari is lying in the field the Mahars goround and beg for a measure of the ears {bhik paydli). Butthe regular payment is made when the grain has beenthreshed. Another duty performed by the Mahar is theremoval of the
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