THE PEOPLE

COMMUNAL LIFE

The district is predominantly rural. Some villages are notable for having an unusual proportion of some particular caste, Marvadis, Vanis, Vanjaras, Kolis, and so on, but the local division of castes is not very pronounced. The aboriginal castes are common in hilly parts and Muhammedans are especially numerous in ancient places of importance. Within a village, again, the distinction of locality is scarcely laid down except in regard to the lowest castes. Mahars and Mangs always occupy quarters on the outskirts, distinct both from general population and from each other. Sometimes but rarely, a quarter within a village is practically set apart for some type of the people, for the Muslims for instance. Similarly, a degree of localisation has developed in regard to occupation, in a large village, one or two definite streets are known as the daily bazar, both permanent shops and stalls for vegetables, etc., being chiefly gathered there.

A close community of feeling is generally observed between the middle castes of the Hindus such as the Kunbis and the Mali's. Their attitude towards Brahmans is nearly that of reverence, but they keep themselves apart from the low castes. Muhammedans move largely in a separate social world and seem to be inwardly suspicious, though all take part, to some extent, in most of the festivals of the other community and there is very little on the surface to suggest anything but amity. The Hindus of the middle class have usually a few recognised meeting places, often an open building commonly called baithak, belonging to some well-to-do man. Groups of men meet there every night for company and discussion, men usually finding an affinity in a particular gathering and habitually going to the same-Muhammedans generally keep away from such groups, even in a small village, because, no doubt, of the deep divisions between the two faiths. The barber holds a very low position so that his name and trade are terms of abuse, but he is a valuable gossipper. The ordinary villager only calls him once a fortnight, but except on unlucky days, he generally has some customer with whom to chatter at the roadside. Men have to attend to their cattle, but they find time to dawdle about the village for some hours in the morning and evening while women fetch water, gossiping at the wells and cook their food. When people work in the fields before nine or ten o'clock, it is often because the weekly market is held on that day and they want to do some work beforehand. In many parts the cattle that are to be driven out to graze must wait likewise on the bare ground for their herdsmen; these are often boys, perhaps two of them to 50 head of cattle. The general life of such a village must be very quiet, but it has many petty relaxations in the way of weekly markets and small fairs and festivals-public and domestic-and is perhaps most suitable to the character of the people. They are admittedly very timid, but also in most respects well behaved. Formerly when plague appeared in a village, every one lived outside for a month at a time, but a man would leave valuable jewellery in his empty house unprotected. Disputes occur especially among relatives and in regard to land; when enmity is alleged in a criminal case and a cause is asked, a man sometimes answers merely, 'He is my relative.' The parties dread the civil court, partly because the plaintiff by needing to prove his case is put at a disadvantage and partly because of the expense and uncertainty involved. So they assert their rights by force on a small scale, which results in petty criminal cases, particularly full of false swearing and with most complicated questions of possession in the immediate background. Village life combines, curiously, beauty and crudeness. In the silence of early dawn there may pass, with no sound of footsteps on the dusty road, the voice of a devotee crying "Narayana Narayana !" or instead it may be the sound of some one moving slowly by and clearing his throat and mouth with painful efforts audible for a hundred yards.

TOP