grierson_bihar peasant life (1926)
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Date: 29.10.2009
BRIEF RECORD
Author: Grierson, George Abraham
Title: Bihar Peasant Life, Being a Discursive Catalogue of the Surroundings of the
People of that Province, With Many Illustrations From Photographs Taken by
the Author. Second and revised edition.
Publ.: Patna : Superintendent, Government Printing, Bihar and Orissa 1926
Description: 29, vi, 433, xvii, clv p.
FULL RECORD
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B I H A R P E A S A N T L I F E ,
BEING
A D I S C U R S I V E C A T A L O G U E
OF THE
S u r r o u n d i n g s o f t h e p e o p l e o f t h a t p r o v i n c e ,
WITH MANY ILLUSTRATIONS FROM PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN
BY THE AUTHOR.
%xtpztzb (in 1885), xtxiUx <3Drï>sr* of thz (gobmtmmt of §m%*l,
B ï
M.A.S.B., M.R.A.S.,
F E L L O W OF T H E U N I V E R S I T Y OF C A L C U T T A : F O R M E R L Y S A N S K R I T A N D H I N D U S T A N I
E X H I B I T I O N E R , T R I N I T Y C O L L E G E , D U B L I N .
SECOND AND REVISED EDITION.
1926.
1926.
P f t i C E D P U B L I C A T I O N S O F T H E G O V E R N -
M E N T O F B I H A R A N D O R 1 S S A C A N
B E H A D F R O M — -
I N I N D I A .
The Superintendent, Government Printing, Bihar and Onssa, Gulzarbagh; P. O.
(1) MESSRS. THACKER SPINK & Co., Calcutta. (2) MESSRS. W . NEWMAN & Co., Calcutta- (3) MESSRS. S. K LAHIIU & Co., College Street, Calcutta. (4) MESSRS. R. CAMBRAY & Co.. 6 and 8-2, Hastings Street, Calcutta. (5) MESSRS. THOMPSON & Co., Madras, (6) MESSRS. D . B . TARAPOREVALA SONS & Co., 103, Meadow Street,
Fort, Post Box No. 18, Bombay. (7) MESSRS. M . C. SIRCAR & SONS, 75, Harrison Road, Calcutta. (8) PROPRIETOR OF TH E NEWAL EISHORE PRESS, Lucknow. (9) MESSRS . M . N . BURMAN & Co., Bankipore.
(10) BABU R AM DAÏAL AQABWALA, 184, Katra Road, Allahabad, (11) STANDARD LITERATURE Co., L T D . , 13-1 Old Court HouS6 Street,
Calcutta (12) MANAGER OF THE INDIAN SCHOOL SUPPLY DEPOT, 309, Bow Bazar
Stieet, Calcutta (IS) MESSRS. BUTTERWORTH & Co., L T D . , 6, Hastings Street, Calcutta* (14) MESSRS. R AM K RISHNA & SONS, Anarkali Street, Lahore. (15) T H E OXFORD BOOK AND STATIONERY COMPANY, Delhi. (16) Messrs Das Brothers, Nouzerkatra, Patna City.
I N E N G L A N D A N D O N T H E C O N T I N E N T .
(1) FROM THE OFFICE OF THE HIG H COMMISSIONER FOR IITCT, 42, Grosvenor Gardens, London, S. W. 1, or
(2) ANY BOOKSELLER.
IN GRATEFUL ACKNOWLEDGMENT
WOULD NEVER HAvE BEEN WRITTEN.
THIS BOOK
IS DEDICATED
Eaiih'p<n'f 9 4th April 1885.
The first edition of Sir George Grierson's " Bihar Peasant
Life " was published under the orders of the Government
of Bengal in 1885, and has for many years past been out
of print. This second edition has been prepared under
the orders of the Government of Bihar and Orissa, in
consultation with Sir George Grierson, in order to place
this valuable book again within the reach of its own
officers and of the public. The book was compiled by Sir
George Grierson during the early years of his service in
Bihar, and has since attracted the attention of scholars in
all parts of the world. Local customs are continually
changing under modern influences, and Sir George Grier-
;son’s account of the everyday life of the Bihar pesantry
in the latter half of the Nineteenth Century, may be
expected to possess increasing importance as time passes,
The first edition was copiously illustrated with lithograph
ed plates and woodcuts taken from photographs; these
original plates have been reproduced by the zincograph
process. The reading of the proof was entrusted to Rai
Bahadur Shyam Narayan Singh, O.B.E., who was assisted
by Professor Radha Krishna Jha of the Bihar and Orissa
Educational Service. The thanks of Government are due
to both these gentlemen for the care which they have
taken to produce an accurate reprint of the original
edition.
I N T R O D U C T I O N .
W h i l e this work professes to be a catalogue of the names used by
the Bihar peasant for the things surrounding him in his daily life, yet,
in order to relieve the dryness which such a mere list woald possess, the
writer has attempted to give a description, more or leg:; complete, of
that life and of its character and incidents. The book is in fact
a discursive catalogue, and it is hoped that it may serve as a solid
foundation for more elaborate disquisitions on the Bihar raiy<it and
his surroundings.
Such a work as this is nothing if not accurate, and no ordinary
pains have been spared to compass the greatest accuracy possible^
Existing treatises on Indian rural life are not always trustworthy ; and
as it is impossible to tell what is and what is not correct in them, the
writer has avoided taking them as the ground work of his compilation.
Every word in this book has been collected from the mouths of the
people, and noted on the spot where it was spoken, either by the writer'
himself or by one of his assistants. When the work began to assume
shape, it was carefully compared with every available book of reference
and where discrepancies occurred, they weie either reconciled or
explained. Finally the proof-sheets have been circulated to all the
Bihar districts, and have been again checked on the spot by competent
observers, different from the original persons who collected the materials
on which the book was founded.*
So far, therefore, as ;its contents go, this book may claim to be
entirely original, and the writer hopes, Jto a certain degree, accurate.
No originality can, however, be claimed for its general system and
arrangement. This is closely modelled on Mr. Crooke's "Materials
for a Rural and Agricultural Glossary of the North-Western Piovinces
* The writer would here tender his thanks to the various district officers of
* The writer would here tender his thanks to the various district officers of
Bihar, who have spared no trouble in having this local checking performed in a
satisfactory manner. The amount of new information gained, and of mistakes and
misprints corrected through their help, has been very considerable.
INTRODUCTION.
and Oudh.’’* The writer has followed him very closely in the arrange
ment of his matter, and in many cases has not scrupled to use his
very words when they were the most suitable that could be adopted.
The vernacular words embodied in this book have in fact been
brought together horn two sources, viz., the writer's own private
researches during the past seven years; checked and supplemented by-
actual translations of the words given by Mr. Crooke's work made by
the writer's assistants once and sometimes twice over in every
district of Bihar. It will thus be seen how much the writer is
indebted to the latter gentleman. Mr. Crooke's book differed from the
present work in being to some extent a compilation from existing
dictionaries ; and as these were not all of them as accurate as could be
wished, it was impossible that it should not contain some mistakes.
But as one who has probably worked through it with more minute
attention than most people, the writer gladly bears witness to its general
accuracy. This may be considered as really wonderful, when the
extremely slovenly scholarship of some of the books on which
Mr. Crooke had to depend is taken into account.
In the present work every native word is written twice over—once
with accuracy in the native character for those who are able to read it
and once in the English character for those who are not acquainted
with the Indian vernaculars. This transliteration does not pretend
to be scientifically accurate. Such a transliteration with its diacritical
dots and dashes would only puzzle those for whom it is intended, viz.,
those who are ignorant of the language. A l l that has been attempted
for them is to give them a general idea of the correct pronunciation
of the words, without professing to tell them the exact pronunciation
which they hardly require, and which would be difficult to do. For
these persons all that is necessary is that they should pronounce the
vowels as in Italian, and the consonants as in English, and they will
then approach sufficiently near to the way in which the natives them
selves pronounce the words.† For those who are acquainted with the
* Allahabad, 1879. Printed at-the North-western Provinces and Oudh
Government Press. Thô writer would take this opportunity of acknowledging
bis indebtedness to Mr. Crcoke for this really admirable work, without it the
pretent book could never have been written without an expenditure of labour which
few district officials like the writer would have been able to bestow.
‡ The system of transliteration adopted may be briefly described as the
Jonesian system, with every possible diacritical mark omitted. In pursuance of
Jonesian system, with every possible diacritical mark omitted. In pursuance of
this the cerebral letters are given no dots, and, as nearly every final vowel is long
the long mark has been omitted from final vowels.
their vernacular dress are necessary
In quoting Arabic and Persian words in the Nagri character, the
dots, which are sometimes used to indicate an original z, &c, are omitted*
for the reason that the words are given as they are pronounced in Bihar,
and that all the dots in the world will not make a Bihari pronounce a z
as other than j, or sad as other than s.
In order to understand the meaning of the words which the
writer has used to express locality, it is necessary to explain that, under
the name Tirhut, he has included the whole tract which lies between
the river Gandak on the west and the river Kosi on the east and
which is bounded on the north by the Nepal frontier and on the south
by the Ganges. He, therefore, indicates under this term not only the
districts of Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga, but also North Bhagalpnr
and North Munger (Monghyr). This was rendered necessary by the
language of these latter tracts being practically the same as that of
Darbhanga. By North-West Tirhut he means the Sitamarhi and Sadr
subdivisions of Muzaffarpur ; by South-West Tirhut, the subdivision of
Hajipnr , by North-East Tirhut, the Sadr and Madhubani subd visions
of Darbhanga and the Supiul subdivision of North Bhagalpur ;
and by South-East Tirhut, the Tajpur subdivision of Darbhanga,
North Manger, and the Madaipura subdivision of Nor t i Bhagalpur.
By North Bihar he means all Bihar north of the Ganges, and by
South Bihar all Bihar south of it. When he speaks of the east or the
west, the north-east or the north-west, he means, of course, the east, west,
north-east, and north-west respectively of Bihar.
One more word of warning regarding these localities. When the
writer says that a word is used in a certain place, he does not mean
by implication that it is not used anywhere else. He means simply
that the word has been noted by him in such and such a place, and not
elsewhere. That it may be used elsewhere is very possible, and
any notes on this or kindred topics addressed to the writer, care of
the Secretary to the Bihar and Orissa Government, Revenue and
General Departments, will be gladly welcomed.
Regarding the illustrations, they are all (with one or two small
exceptions) lithographed or cut on wood from photographs taken by
the writer, who is glad to be able to thank Mr Schaumburg and the
the writer, who is glad to be able to thank Mr. Schaumburg and the
students of the Government School of Art, Calcutta, for the excellent
very indifferent photographs.* The difficulties experienced by the
* writer in taking some of these pictures were great. The most ludicrous
reports spread through the city concerning his work. The camera of
course was looked upon as a fearful engine of destruction, and some-
times half an hour has been wasted in futile diplomacy to persuade
an old lady to allow the lens to bo pointed at her. Under these
circumstances photographs had almost always to be taken by the
instantaneous process, which, however certain it may be in the hands
of the professional, frequently disappoints the mere amateur. The last
photograph the writer took — that of a native house—was spoilt because
the grandmother of the family refused to allow any of the children to
appear in the picture, her reason being that the Government was build
ing the bridge across the Gandak and wanted children to bury under
its foundations. Just, however, as the plate was exposed, one of the
little boys determined to immortalize himself, and leaped in front of the
lens to the dismay o f the female members of his family. He had his
wish in appearing in the picture, but he was so near the lens that he
covered half of it with his shoulders. On other occasions the writer
was believed to be collecting carts and boats for the Egyptian war, or
to be counting the wells in the country, because he knew a famine was
approaching, and so oti ad infinitum. However, the pictures were
finally taken, and, such as they are, are certainly accurate representa
tions of the originals.
In conclusion the writer has to draw attention to the thoroughness
and accuracy with which his assistants, Munshi Dilawar AU and Mun-
shi Moti Lai have done their portion of the work. The former has,
the writer much regrets to say, died since the above was first written.
The latter has been his assistant to the last, and the writer begs to
record his high sense of his industry and intelligence, and to recom
mend his services to the favourable notice of Government.
* This refers to the illustrations of the first Edition.
„ Khutahra „ Kbutahrd.
„ lawtha „ lawthfi.
Page 2.™
Section 7 line 5. For ïïfw^ read trft**ïï I
i , 12 ,, W*"-T ,, S*Tl
Page 4—
Section 19. For ftTO*i† read ïT5t? ^ f l I
Page 5—
Section 27. For U^tt T read i w i U l I
‚, Pharsa ,‚ PbarsS.
Page 7.—
,9 33. ‚ , balling ‚‚ hauling.
» 33. „ ¶ * ^ t „ 3i-3^t |
„ tagarr tagi.
‚, 48. „ sftf|f „ ^ t f t l
Page 10—
Page 10—
For ?pral read 3T%?ft I
„ ~TO* ,‚ *sr -yww |
palani
ft
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79.
ff
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it
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,, 335 %jSi ,, tnfc3T I
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» 341 ,, -ft¶rt „ ift i n i
ii S43 , , ^ „ i f ^ l
» 344 „ *§*HI „ i§rV[ |
99 350 ‚, q-R^T ,‚ e f * K I
-i 853 II f r f f t ,, trgnft i
II II *rar‡ ,. Melt i
i . 856 „ ckhar ,‚ ohh.
II 856 ‚ , q fo t? WTf ‚ , Ufir?!-f ^ ) f )
i i II trW „ %]^41
361 ,, ^ ¶ T ‚ , 3&*-|- |
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chha ,,
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Section 585. For ff ~^-fT read fTf *~f -lT I
Nas pal „ Ns pl.
^ - 1 ¶ 1 , i ^ N ¶ t I
592. ,‚ „ f a q r f l
595. ,‚ ferït ,, frtft,
597. „ -f cT^l ¶f-r „ '?ci^T "-TOR I
602, „ Jï""^l v |l'5T"cïfl I
- 603. „ ^ S ï ï ‚ , *†OT,ïïl
i , 604. , , ~ f l ^ t >‚ * - ' ^ I
JI
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616. „ — i r e ^ l „ --––f––-?t 1
618. „ mm „ –jfe–rti
624. „ - y w „ ^mi
636. „ tn---rtf ,, Wï Ctl
638. ,, tr-ft „ i*t ^
643. TT9?T 1T----T 1
643. ,, TT9?T „ 1T----T 1 .
,, 736. ^~3ST vft&%l |
„ tr^-f--^ „ qTO*"ft
^--fcl-ft „ ww*ft I
„ " l " ^ 1
„ 743. „ « f v r t „ ^ ï ï l T l
-•"TO i " ~ T i
„ 744. „ *rf¶rwr „ w r t i n n i
745. , "f'-(ft „ f V t -
„ 747. „ x-§ï „ -f–j–;i
-f-ftwi „ n^m i
„ »---f-n-i „ 5 w s n i ! i
„ ---TO „ ^SIT-I
‚‚ 255. ‚‚ ^ – - – „ - ~ ~ i
I
,. so2 ,, -rfirc ,, rtnx
„ 803 ^I"lTf „ <*YfT*
„ 814 „ *wl ^¶T
S-TC-d >, -ff—"ft
„ 828 „ trcT-i „ -nni
,, 832 „ tf–~T „ t r W T
„ ,, ^«"ff t - Sanghariya -Jarffft-rT Sanjhariy.
„ 841 ,, ."f---ïT „ -ffT
„ 844 „ BIW Jna „ ¶p¶ Jana
>, ,. -fift^T „ *ftST Koranja
«f--T bhanj
„ „ «•«« „ «f--T bhanj.
*f « i
it i9 n TOT
II
it JR ‡4 I
II *J**ror i
99
91
19
<Tir-iT maggha.
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1316
1318
1344
1345
1354
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99 99
line 14 insert accept.
Appendix page 16 IH41~9T read ïïfirëfatt
C O N T E N T S .
D I V I S I O N I . — I M P L E M E N T S A N D A P P L I A N C E S U S E D I N A G R I C U L T U R E A N D R U R A L M A N U F A C T U R E S
SUBDIVISION I.—IMPLEMENTS USED IN PREPARING LAND FOR CULTIVATION
CHAPTER 1.—The plough „ 2.—Mattocks and spades ... ... „ 3.—The harrow „ , 4.—Rakes used in field work ...
„ 5.—Pickaxes, pitchforks, &c. SUBDIVISION II.—IMPLEMENTS USED in SOWING, WEEDING,
AND IRRIGATION ...
„ 4.—Implements used in connection with irrigation
SUBDIVISION III.—APPLIANCES USED IN FIELD-WATCHING
CHAPTER 1.—The sling
,, 2—The scarecrow „ 3.—The watchman's platform
SUBDIVISION IV,—IMPLEMENTS USED IN HARVESTING CHAPTER l.—The sickle or reaping-book
„ 2.—Rakes used on the threshing-flcor ... * .–• „ 3«—Granaries
SUBDIVISION V.–IMPLEMENTS AND APPLIANCES USED IN
CONNECTION WITH CATTLE
CHAPTER 1.—The fodder-cutter and trough ,, 2.—The muzzle and blinkers „ 3.—The whip and goad „ 4.—Hobbles for cattle „ 6.-Ropes ... ... ... ... ••• „ 6—Pads for cattle „ 7.—Grain-bags and paniers for loaded cattle „ 8.-Canvas, leather, oi11arpaulin covers ... ••• „ 9.—Vessels from which animals are fed ... ••• „ 10.—Dairy utensils ... .. . 9 ...
SUBDIVISION VI.—APPLIANCES USED IN THE CONVEYANCE OF GOODS OR PASSENGERS
CHAPTER 1.—- The country cart „ 2.—The large, c mplete country cart... „ 8.—-The light country cart .. „ 4.—The bullock carriage „ 5.—The peny carriage „ 6.—The country boat
7.—The litter
8 8— 9
ib.
ib.
ib. 21— 24
25—27
ib. 27- 28 28— 37 3 7 - 38 38— 39 40—42 42-46 45—46
„ 7.—The litter
SUBDIVISION VII.—APPLIANCES USED IN RURAL MANUFACTURE
CHAPTER 1.—Appliances used in the manufacture of oil ... .•• i , 2..— Appliances used in the manufacture of sugar,.. ••*
46
PAGB
OHAPTBR 3.—Appliances used in the manufacture of indigo ... 60—62 „ 4.—The spinning-wheel ... ... ... 62—69 „ 5.—The weaver's loom ... ... ... ... 69—76 „ 6.—The saltpetre manufacturer ... ... ... 76—77 „ 7.—A distillery of country liquor ... ... ... 77—78
SUBDIVISION VI II .– APPL IAN CES USED BY MISCELLANEOUS
VILLAGE TRADERS AND PROFESSIONALS . . . ... .. . 79
CHAÏTBR 1.-The palm-juice seller ... ... ... 79-80 „ 2.—The bird-catcher ... ... ... ... ib. „ 3.-The barber ... ... ... ... 80-81 „ 4.—The country surgeon ... ... ... ... ib. „ 5.—The farrier ... ... ... ... ib. „ 6.-—The washerman ... ... ... ... 81—82
SUBDIVISION IX.—TOOLS AND APPLIANCES USED B Y COUNTRY
ARTIZANS ... ... ... ... ... 83
CHAPTBB l.—The carpenter and turner ... ... ... 83—85 „ 2.—The blacksmith ... ... ... . .. 85—88 „ 3.—The mason or bricklayer ... .. . ... 88—90 „ 4.—The grain-pareher ... ... ... ... 90—92 „ 5.—The baker ... ... ... ... 92—93 „ 6.—The confectioner ... ... ... ~. 93—94 „ 7.—The tobacco-manuf aoturer ... ... . .. 95 „ 8.—-The pipe-maker ... ... ... ... 96—97 „ 9.—The pipe-stem maker ... ... ... ib. f , 10.—The cotton-carder ... ... ... ... 98 „ 11.—The shoe-maker ... ... ... ... 98—P9 „ 12.—The blanket-weaver ... ... ... ... 99—100 „ J3.— The fancy silk or fringe-maker ... ... ... 100—101
14.—The embroiderer ... ... „ 15.—The dyer ... ... ... ... 101-102 „ 16.—The wood-painter ... ... ... ... ib. „ 17.—The tinman ... ... ... ... 1O2-1O3 „ 18,—The jeweller ... ... ... ... 103—105 „ 19.—The lapidary ... ... ... ... 105 „ 20.—The seal-maker ... ... ... ... 106 „ 21.—The gold-washer ... ... ... ... ib. „ 22—-The brazier ... ... ... ... 107—108 „ 23.—The brass-founder ... ... ... ... ib. „ 24 —1 he brass-b angle maker ... ... ... ib. ,, 25.—The glass-maker and glass bangle-maker ... ... 108—110 „ 26.—The lac bangle-maker «.«.« ... ... ib. „ 27.—The potter ... ... ... ... HI—112 „ 28.—The firework-maker ... .r. ... ... 112—114 „ 29.—The bookbinder ... ... ... .., 114—115 „ 30.—The rope twister ... ... ... ... 315—116 „ 31.—The weaver's brush-maker ... ... ... ib.
82.«—-The bow-maker , ... ... ... ... ib. „ 33.—The weapon-cleaner ... ... ... ... ib.
D I V I S I O N I I . — D OM E S T I C A P P L I A N C E S A N D
U T E N S I L S ... . .. . . . . .. 117
SUBDIVISION I.—APPLIANCES USED IN THE PREPARATION OF
food •• ... ... ... ib.
Cs±r --B 1.—Sieves ... ... ... ... ... 117—118 2.—The pedal for husking grain 118—119
SUBDIVISION II.—DOMESTIC FURNITURE ...
CHAPTER 1. —Stool ... ... ... ,, 2.—The bed and cot ‚, 3.—The weighing scales ... ... ... ... ‚, 4.—Nets „ 5.—The pad used for supporting water-pots, etc., on a
woman's head „ 6.—The stick ... ... ... „ 7.—Boxes ... .. . „ 8.—Metal vessels us ?d in cooking and for ordinary domestic
purposes ... ... ••• „ 9,—Earthen vessels ... ... ••• „ lO.—wooden vessels ... ••• „ 11.—Leather vessels ... „ 12.—Leaf platters ... .•• •••
„ 13.—Stands for vessels ... ... ... ...
CHAPTER 1.—Clothes
SUBDIVISION IV.—APPLIANCES USED IN WORSHIP ..,
D I V I S I O N III.—SOILS CHAPTER 1.—Classificationof soils ...
„ 2,—soils classified according to village site
„ 3.—Soils classified according to „ 4.—Soils and water action ... ... ••• „ 5.—Muddy ar.d waterlogged soils „ 6.—High laiids and low lands ... ... ••• „ 7.—Ravines, mounds, etc. ... ... ••• „ 8.—Stony soils ... ... ••• „ 9.—Cultivated and waste ... „ 10. Fallow „ 11.—Richness and poorness of soil ... „ 12.—Irrigated and dry lands ... ... „ 13.—Lands which retain and which do not retain moisture „ 14.—Lands bearing a single and ft double crop ... „ 15-—Terms used in connection with different crops „ 16.-Land impregnated with salt, etc. ... ... , .. .
D I V I S I O N I V . — G E N E R A L A G R I C U L T U R A L O P E R A T I O N S ... ... ... ... «•
SUBDIVISION I.-PLOUGHING AND HARROWING „•
SUBDIVISION II,-MANURING , „ I M •» SET
CHAPTER 1.-Kinds of manure ... ... ... ... ,, 2.—Modes of manuring ... ... ... ... „ 3.—Manure used as fuel ... ... ... ...
SUBDIVISION III.—SOWING AND TRANSPLANTING T
PAGE
121
141 141— If-
ib. ib. ib.
142— 150 ib.
ib. 176- 177 177— 178 178- --179
ib.
CHAPTBB 1.— SOWING
ib.
„ 4.—Sowing time
CHAPTER L-Digging
„ 2.—Hoeing ...
„ 3.—weeding .. .
SUBDIVISION VII.—THRESHING AND WINNOWING ... CHAPTER 1.—The threshing-floor
„ 2.—sheaves and bundles ,, 3.—Treading out grain „ 4.—Crops on the threshing-floor M ."..—winnowing
i . Miscellaneous
SUBDIVISION VIII.—DIVISION OF CROPS
CHAPTER L—Div sion and valuation .. . „ 2.—The shares into which the crop is divided „ 3.—Deductions and remissions „ 4.-Mode of division ... ...
SUBDIVISION IX.—IRRIGATION ...
CHA -*TEB 1.—Irrigation generally ... „ 2.—Kinds of irrigation „ 3.—Irrigation from canals ., 4.— Ditto well ... „ 5,— Cons' ruction of wells ... „ 6.—The lever used in raising water ... „ 7.—The skin lag used for drawing water
— Other well appliances connected with irrigation „ 9.—The pathway for bullocks, etc.
10, —The workmen employed at the well 11. —'the I ersian wl eel " ...
- 12.—Irrigation from tanks and streams . .... „ 13.—water-lifts and other terms common to irrigation by the
swing-basket and the spoon-lever „ 14,—-water-channels ... ...
D I V I S I O N . V . — A G R I C U L T U R A L P R O D U C T S A N D T H E I R E N E M I E S
SUBDIVISION I.-AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
CHAPTER. 1.- wheat ... „ 2.-Mixed crops .. . ... .. . „ 3.—Barley and oats ... .. . ... „ 4.—Rice ... .. . ... .. . •••
5.*--rIndian corn or maize ... .. . ... ••• 6. – The large millet .. . .. . ... 7. -– The small bulrush millet
,• 8.—The small mil.ets „ 9.—Pulses .. . .. . ... .. . .. . „ 10.—Peas .. . ... ... ... ,, 11.– Gram ... „. ... ...
i t
189
ib.
ib.
ib
ib. 208- 209
ib. 209— 210
ib. 225- 227 227—229
230 231—282 282—287
„ -12--Sugarcane I , 18.-Cotton ... ••• •«•
... 282—287 287-239
PAGB
CHAPTER 14.-Tobacco .. . ... .. . ... 2S9—241 ,, 15.—Opium poppy ... ... ... ... 24l~-243 „ 16—Hemp ... ... ... .. . ib.
17.—Indigo ... -• ... 243—244 1*.-Other dyes ... ... ... ... 244-246
„ i9.—Oil-seeds ... ... .. . ... 2l6-247 20.-Fibres ... ... ... ... * 247-248
„ 21. -Betel ... ... ... ... 24S—249 „ *2.—harden crops ... ... ... ... 250-257
SUBDIVISION II.—INSECTS AND CAUSES OF INJURY TO CROPS ... ib.
CHAPTER 1.—Destructive insects and diseases ... - ... 2*>7- 265 „ 2.—Noxious weeds ... — ... 265—269 „ 3.— Miscellaneous ... ... ... ... 26 —270
D I V I S I O N V L — A G R I C U L T U R A L T I M E S A N D
S E A S O N S ... ... ... ... ... 271-287
D I V I S I O N V I I . - C A T T L E
A N I M A L S
A N D O T H E R D O M E S T I C
CHAPTER 1.-
7.- ‚, 8.- ‚, 9- H 10- „ 11.-
12.- 13.
25.-
289
-Cattle generally ... ... ... ... ib. -Bulls ... ... ... ... ib. -Pullocks ... ... ‚ ... ... 289 –293 Cows and breeding ... ... ' ... ... 293—294
-Calves ... ... ... ... 294 —295 -Buffaloes ... ... ... ... 295-296 -Goats ... ... ... ... ib. -Sheep ... ... ... ... ib. -Pigs ... .. . ... ... ... 296—297 -Horsep, mules, and asses ... ... ... ib. -Elephants ... ... ... ... 297-298 -Camels ... ... ... ... ... ib. - Straying of cattle ... ... ... ... ib. -Colours of cattle . ... .. . ... ... 2.'S-299 -Hides ... ... ... ... ... ib. -Cattle slaughter ... ... ... ... 209—300 -Feeding cattle ... ... ... ... 300—3<>1 -
! asturage ... ... .*• ... ib. -Fences .. . ... .. . .. . ... 302 -Grazing-fees ... ... ... ... ib. -Cow-houses and enclosures for cattle, cattle-owners, etc.... 302—303 -Cattle-dealers ... ... ... ... ib. -Milk and Us preparations ... ... ... 303—3«>5 -Cattle diseases ... . ... ... ... 306—308 -Cattle fodder ... ... ... ... 308—313
D I V I S I O N V I I I . - L A B O U R, A N D P E R Q U I S I T E S
A D V A N C E S , W A G E S ,
CHAPTER 1.—Pay and advances to labourers „ 2.—Advances to tenants ... „ 3.—Dues paid by tenants ...
D I V I S I O N I X . — L A N D T E N U R E S
CHAPTER 1.—Tenures „ 2—Proprietary tenures ... 3.—Intermediate tenures
315
323
„ 3.—Intermediate tenures ... „ 4.—Shares and sharers ... „ 5.—Cultivating tenures ... ,, 6.—-Rents ...
325—326 826—327 327—329 829-332
vi
PAGB
D I V I S I O N X . — T H E N A T I V E H O U S E ... .. . 333
CHAPTER 1.—The native house .. . ... ... .. . 333—334 „ 2.—Parts of a house ... ... ... ... 334—340
„ 3—Materials used in the constraction of the house ... 340—344
D I V I S I O N X L — F O O D .. . ... ... ... 345
CHAPTER 1.- -Meals .. . .-. .. . ••• ib.
2.-Kinds of food ... .. . ... .. . 345—358 D I V I S I O N X I I . - C E R E M O N I E S A N D S U P E R S T I T I O N S
O P R U R A L L I F E ... ... ... ... 359 CHAPTER I.— Marriage .. . ... .. . . . . 359—36l
„ 2.— wedding ceremon.es generally ... ... ... 361—364 „ 3.—Special wedding ceremonies amongst the Hindus ... 364—376 „ 4. -Marriage ceremonies amongst the Mnsalmans ... 376—388 „ 5,—Birch customs generally ... ... ... 388—390 „ c.—Ceremcnies peculiar to the birth of a Hindu child ... 390—3w2 „ 7. —Birth customs amongst Musalmans ... ... 3 2—393 ,, 8.—Disposal of the dead amongst the Hindus ... ... 3V-3—397 „ 9.—Disposal of the dead amongst Musalmans ... ... 397—398 „ 10.—Ceremonies at ploughing and sowing and transplanting ... 399—400 „ H. — Harvest ceremonies ... ••• ... 400 — 40l „ i 2.—Miscellaneous ... .. . .. . ... 401—403 „ 13,—Arbitrations, oaths, etc. ... ... ... 403—404 „ 14.—Miscellaneous superstitions ... ... ... 404—411
D I V I S I O N X I I I . — T R A D E , M O N E Y - D E A L I N G S , A N D A C C O U N T S ... ... ... .. . ... 413
CHAPTER 1.—Trade and bazar accounts ... ... ... 413—415 2. —Accounts between landlord and tenant ... ... 415—42 • 3. —Interest, discount, and commission ... ... 4'Jl—422 4. —Rates of interest ... .. ... ... 422—423 5. —Mortgage ... ... ... ... 423—424 6. —Miscellaneous ... ... ... .. . 424—426
D I V I S I O N X I V . - W E I G H T S A N D M E A S U R E S ... 4*27
CHAPTER I.—Measures of length ... ... ... ... 427—429 „ 2.—superficial measure ... ... .. . ... 430 „ :«.—Measures of proportion ... ... ... 430—431 „ 4.—Measures of weight ... ... ... ... 431—433
APPENDIX ... ... ... ... ... i—xvii
The Country Plough.
(NOTE. The front portion of the body is given in seotioo, so as to show the
position of the share.)
Potted tracts signify border
impure dialect is spoken
IMPLEMENTS AND APPLIANCES
AGRICULTURE AND RURAL MANUFACTURES.
S U B D I V I S I O N I.
I M P L E M E N T S USED I N P R E P A R I N G LAND FOR
CULTIVATION.
C H A P T E R I . — T H E P L O U G H .
1. The ordinary country plough is generally known as ¶|C har
Sometimes the Hindi form of the word, "5^ hal, is used. In Gaya, the
word *rflT-"T lngal is also used.
2 . f -gpftCt khinauri is used for an old or worn plough. In t h e
South-Easfc and in North-West Tirhut this is iFa t thenthi, and generally
over North-East and South Tirhut <3"V[ thentha. In Shahabad it f g
^ T C t khutahra. A new plough is *J"IHT nawatha or ^T3lnautha to
the west, ¶ ¶ 9 t nawghar in Champran. and m¶&l lawatha generally
over North- East and South Tirhut.
3 . In West Bihar and South Bhagalpur ^tlT angt *,and in South
Munger *ffa% sngah, mean the plough and all its appurtenances, as in the sentence fat (or "f*C ^tttf) ^ ~TC~f ifinrnC snga (or har
snga) lene w bahiyr, —bring the plough, & c , to the field.
4„ The various parts of the common plough are as foibws :-—
5 . The beam (a), — North of the Ganges this is ¶ffipj haris, and
so also in Shahabad. In East Tirhat it is also called vCN„ hars. In
Patna, Gaya, and South Munger it is snrh. ï n South
Bhagalpur it u is v f t ^ h a r i s is, however, understood more
or less everywhere.
6. The body (?).—This is everywhere TT har<*.
7, The handle or stilt (c). —In Shahabad and north of the Ganges -his n Jt?ï&v parihath j in the eastern portion of the latter tract it is also mil* lagan. IT*T lagn is used in South Munger, Patna, and Gaya, and *ftll¶t jiangano in South Bhagalpur. In South- western Shahabad -fftf*f_ pirihat is used. The knob at the end
of the body near the handle is in Patna *H^m chandwa, in Gaya
*-rf t chndi, north of the Ganges and in Shahabad IT <T mutha (or in
the south-west of the district –a " sft ckanduli), and in the south-east i^f%"fl muthiya, . In South Bhagalpur iraCt mak*ri is a piece used for amending it when broken. The first, second, and fourth names are
only used if it is a separate piece of wood.
8 t The notches on the beam (d).— by which the share is raised
or lowered.—In Sran f i t ," kherha, in Gaya Hlft khtnrhi, and
in Shahabad %!ft kherhi. In Patna they are 7 %X kheha, in Charn- pran ŒTCTT kh<U, and throughout Tirhut TITlft khhi. In South- E ist Tirhut, it also T^¶¶*I kharha> and in South-East Bih^ ^TujT
khonrha or ^ T - krh.
• 9. The sole (e). —in which the share is fixed.—
In West Bihr, it is tor or 3fal torn. I n East Bihr, it is^
¶TQ ns or T " n nasd.
North of the Gangesthe thicker end of ‚the sole is called ltf«r mantk
or ïlt"TI mantlia.
1 0 The share {f)— Everywhere TO phr. In North-East Tichufc
also W&J phdrd or TOfTI phdld, and in South-East Tirhut, al-e
5sJtCWT lohma.
11 .The wedge fixing the beam to the body (g) —North of t h e
Ganges and in Shahabad and South Munger, this is TnB pat. Variants are *3IT patta (Gaya), mzi plU (South Tirhut and Patna), and
Xf—?t pto (South Bhagalpur). .
A second wedge is sometimes added, which is known as ^iNft. chail everywhere north of the Ganges and in Gaya and the south- west, and also as ^wsft: chelkhi in South-East Tirhut. In East Tirhut it is also called %ffc cheri. Another name i3 m^^pchar
(in North-East Tirhut and Shahabad), or xperft pachai everywhere
south' of th« Ganges. In South Bhagalpur, it is called sSV(X mtt upar
pata.
§ 17.] j THE FLO UGH.. a
in Champran and Tirhut; the latter is also used in South Munger. Other forms are ¶jt*l baren in North-East Tirhut, mj&t barh'an
in Sran, 3T^t baraini in Patna, and baran in Shahabad.
Other names are W ^ftsTT sabka dkar iy, *RC ^rfWT sata dharig>
in Patna, and WSHE^ 9abhadhar in Gaya, because it holds the whole
plough together. Also c ^ T « taraila in South Bhagalpur, <*nc*ft taraili
in South-West Shahabad, and ¶tt«TT humna in Patna.*
1 3 . –"--1-5 i r o n clamp {i) for preventing the share falling off.—- ~I5*IT^ kar"&r or TO karur everywhere to the west. A
variant is -fi^"3TKt karuari (Patna,, Champran, and West Tirhut). Jn South-West Shahabad it is also called J§~C[ khr. In Patna it
ev
is also called <5pf-fiT jonk‚ and the same name is current all over
Bihar, *ft¶ft jonkl and f‡*ft chobJw are also used in South-East
Tirhut. In North-East Tirhut a wedge is also used for the same
purpose, and is ealled *n^ft gs.
14. The yoke. —North of the Ganges always TIWf p^o; so also
in Patna, Gaya, and South Munger, with a variant JtfM pala in
South Bhagalpur. In Shahabad and Gaya, the word is generally
~33V<ï juth, which is also sometimes used in Sran and the
east. Sometimes it is made up of two bars. The upper bar then is considered the yoke proper, and is hence usually called the
^135|T^juth. The lower bar is generally cTT^~T tarsaila..
This double-bar arrangement is not commonly found i n the
plough yoke. It is more usually met with in the yoke for well irriga-
tion (if†^ mot) ; As a general rule *t:n^ plo or "f"9ElT^juth (accord-
ing to locality) may be safely used for the single-bar plough-yoke and
•for the double-bar irrigation yoke, and <-Spa5ïT ju for the single-bar cart-yoke. See § 938.
1 5 . The outer pinsr which join the two bars of the yoke, are
^NTT sal or 3W3l samaila to the west and -fi T kanaila to the east, are also ^«rf-R^t kankilli in South Bhagalpur.
1 6 . The inner pins are ^JJ samaila or (Patna and the south-
east)Hf*RT samail and (Gaya) Hi? *TT samaiy.
1 7 . The leather thongs (j}‚ which attach the yoke to the learn
<of the plough.—These are from Patna to the east of the South Gangetic
;tract, and in Champran, mx*l nran, with a variant 3N[ t larani in
* About ¶|Win hw-*nna there is a story of a Jolha (the proverbial fool of
Bihar stories) who found a humn On the road and cried out in his foolishness ~f 3Qpf
^ff *J*W, ^-ffaPW V aon ^ ar ^ e humn> lehetv karab bany^ I-hhxe
^ff *J*W, ^-ffaPW V ^ ar ^ e humn> lehetv karab bany^ I-hhxe
4 BIHAR PEASANT LIFB.
North-West and South-East Tirhut, and optionally *TC-T^ lran in South-East Bihar, mm ndh and -flrtft naraili are used in Shahabad, and variants of the former word occur in W%¶X ladaha (South–Eas Tirhut), *it*T laidh or wm ldh (North-East Tirhut), and ¶f *l-?t h*r
ladhi or 51T"-T[ ha ndha over South Tirhut generally. Tf^T ndh
is also used in Gaya. TT Tt *tt ha ndha in Sran is only used when
they are of string. When they are of leather, in that district, they
are calledJJ^n^t dul. South Bhagalpur has €f¶T don or i"*t ledh.
The ropes (i) which go round the bullocks' necks.—These are everywhere except in the extreme west sftcft jo ti. In the extreme
west (Sran, Carnpran, and Western Shahabad) the masculine form
fjf†c!T jota, is the usual one. In North-East Tirhut they are also
samel or *TJ-f samail, and in South Bhagalpur 1qit l~ phnsa.
1 9 . The projecting knob (i) in the midcfle of the upper part of the yoke.—Round this the thongs which fasten the yoke to the
beam are fixed. This is everywhere JTT. -fT mhaddewd. Variants are
Yl¶f---5ft mdhadeo (Patna and Gaya) and <R~f*? I tnaidaw (South
Munger). In South Bhagalpur it is ïf^ïï~TT"- manjh¶cara*
2 0 . The notches (m) near each end of the yoke. — To these the
ropes which go round the bullocks' necks are fixed. These are ?g†¶‡‡
Jthdnñ in Patna, with variants Tll"^t khrh in South-East Tirhut and §lft khe*r hi to the we&t. South West Shahabad has w^j|t khaddhi.
In Gaya the word used is 3ïfoft kanausi, and in South Bhagalpuc
;Q—• khta, whiles f%*T"5T srnal or *¶-fi'H nakti are optional names in
South-East Tirhut.
2 1 . The leaf of the yoke (n).— This is xm pattd, -mi palll
or (in South-Munger) TT3rf pala and (in Sran) TJlcTT pt.
2 2 . The trough in which the share lies when fixed in the body is
¶jjft ¶I Mol, or in South Bhagalpur ^ ^ f tkhol .
2 3 . The bamboo whip with which the bullocks are driven is tiFT
paind, and its lash is fg>fe chhiti in North-East Tirhut. Other nameg
will he found in § 98 and ff.
2 4 . A drill plough,— This is generally Sir; tar, with variant!
in South-East Tirhut nttft tnri and tor in South Munger. The
share is 3 T ^ I tarasi. XmWl khill is the nail which fastens the share
to the body. The bamboo pipe is in West Bihr i t ^ bns, also
sometimes bansa in Shahabad. In East Bihr, this is generally
^ 28.] MATTCcKs AN D SPADE«. 6
The cup at the top, into which the grain is poured, is in West Bihr WMl ml or H^*[ malwa. In East Bihar it is tr*TT pail
(sometimes spelt T-TOTt pail or TR TT paela) or sn*5?t ml. In South
Munger, it is also — lift ukhri, and in Patna 3lfi"Ct akari.
2 5 , The sharpening of a ploughshare is called as follows in
the various districts :—
Shahabad : Ht^ fqHFW dhdr pitwala ; or in the south west of the
district ~fPC„ ¶^IIITO dhar phargwala.
Patna : "ft^^HCWW dhdr asrdsba.
Gaya : «5THT*asr.
South Munger and South Bhagalpur : VXT. H~"W dhdr pajdva or
mmx. asr.
Also, North-West Tirhut and Sran : • * " ft"fT-M dhar jpijdwala*
North-East Tirhut : HIT «MHM dhlr banaeba.
South-East Tirhut : tffTT N ~-0"ffT-S;* phr kar 5 lcba.
2 6 . When a man wishes to plough deep he harnesses the yoke
higher up the beam in the notches d. This is called in West Bihr
?farPC augr. In North-West Tirhut it is called 3WT^ lagr, and
in the rest of Tirhut W*M tarakh. In South-West Shahabad, it is
called ^nx¶^awe, in South Munger 3TC*T thdrhd, and in South
Bhagalpur HTG> thrha. Light ploughing is doun in the converse way
and is known everywhere as %"f sev, or in North-East Tirhut ?f-f seb.
C H A P T E R I I . — M A T T O C K S A N D S P A D E S .
2 7 . A large mattock is in West Bihr and Gaya x f o l phaur.
Variants are qf^‡"t phaho (Patna and Gaya), iRt^T phahor (South
Munger), 1 ^ | ( phaord (Patna and Gaya), and VfTT phahur or tf"–sT ¶f- phauha in Shahabad. In South-West Shahabad, it is TR^T pharsa-
In Tirhut it is ~"[IT^ kudr, and in South Bhagalpur and South
Munger, ^ ^ T C x kodr. Another name current in Gaya is *- R .^;hm
or *-lfl*n jhm. In the same district, ^faft bhi is a heavy kind of wooden spade tipped with iron for hard soils, and 'ft khurni or
khudni is a kind of spade.
2 8 . A mottock with a narrower Wade is ^ o f t kudri, qfcrft
6 BIHAR r a A S A N r LIFE.
^ ^ W > kudl and -ff^t* kudr are often used to signify also the smaller variety. In South Bhagalpur, it is §Vt ^*?T* thenth kodr.
2 9 • The handle is if"? bent, and the upper end of it, whieh project3
beyond the socket, ¶^T kr or ¶ T hr, or (in South-West Tirhut) PT5Tmtha. Other names for this end are era or W ¶V^t ardni>
and in South Bhagalpur T1T2 pla. The ring or socket in the blade*
to which the handle is fixed, is ps or xnstt pdsd (or in South
Bhagalpur TTT ‡ pso). In South-West Shahabad it is –fft<t pamwnr
and in South Munger (optionally) XTT*2T past. The curved part of t he-
blade is in Sran and Patna -Jf t phari. Elsewhere, north of the Gange*
and in South Munger, "f«ft pharki. In Patna and South Munger, it! is also oalled iWT phal, in South Bhagalpur i*TXpharo; and in Gaya
irni?t phri. In Shahabad, it is "-H-f dhr, and in the. south-west of the
district, damph. The place where the ring and the blade meet is *fi*5-?t kanthi in Patna and Gaya, *T¶ff nahin in Shahabad, san or cR?5r
Jcantha in South Bhagalpur, and sun in South Munger. In Sran the part of the handle which is grasped is i|gr mtha, and the corners 3i*f*l kna. Anew mattock is «l-f x •—; nawghara, and a worn one thenth*
1. Bent (handle), 4. Phari (blade). 2. Pasa (socket). 5. Kanthi (neck). 3. Hura.
3. Hura.
§ 841. TAB H A R E O * .
C H A P T E R I I I . — T H E H A R R O W .
30? This is usually the flat plank, with (in the east) a grove along
the underside. It is dragged along the ground to break the clods after
ploughing, while a man stands on it to give weight. In West Bihar
and in South-East Tirhut, it is called ^ïTt hengd, and in East Bihr
more usually **-f‡fftchaunk or *-^ft c h a u k . In Patna i t is also called
f% nT si lawe, Tfë-T patawe, or ^fimCt lagwari.
3 1 . When drawn by one pair of oxen—one ox at each end—it is
called ¶flft hengi in Champran, f wt*ft dugo in Tirhut, *r* %TX ekahar
in South Bhagalpur, and --n;"{T dobarada elsewhere. When drawn by
two pairs of oxen—one pair at each end—it is called in North-Easfc Tirhut ¶f†li‡¶T chaugor, in the rest of Tirhut ^ i V t ^ . charagori, ^ ‡ l ‡ [ dohar|in South Bhagalpur, and elsewhere ^^^[^chaubarad*
3 2 . The pegs to which the hauling ropes are fastend are generally
3§rVt khnti. In Shahabad they are also called ^f^^T sdnrusd, and in
the south-west of the district 1Jlft gull. In Gaya they are *H*lgrT baunkh,
in Patna and South Munger, ¶"fl§T bahakha, and in South Bhagalpur %fal ankora.
3 3 . The halling ropes are, north of the Ganges generally, and in
West Shahabad,WT*<Pt barahi. North of the Ganges, they are also ^!¶ft hengahi. In Shahabad, chains used for the purpose are *nfcfi*-j sinkar, and
in Patna and Gaya t l f ¶ siiara when used with four bullocks abreast. These words are also used in North Tirhut. In Patna they are also ¶ cfi
TPCïïs chauk nran when of rope. In South-East Tirhut, they are also
called Hftisr^ marikhar, and in South Bhagalpur ^ " § ‡ ^ jagadori. In
South Munger, they are*faff¶ sikar when made of chain, and ?rfic?.f <C
marikhar when made of rope, and ?p-^TT majhautar, is the rope or leather strap joining the two yokes when four bullocks are used. So also in
Patna and Gaya. The last word is 3*w†tli majhotar in East Tirhut. In
East Tirhut, when made of leather, they are called mm mairan or 5-f 5f merhan, and when made of rope JfT "ft barha or . f ^ t barahi. Sometimes
long strips of bamboo are made to serve as hauling ropes. They are
then called in South Munger •tf""§^ kudandi, in South Bhagalpur %^^^tt bansajoti, and elsewhere ^sno^T arau.
8.’ BIHAR PEASANT 11FëI E4 35.
the hollow of the stem of the talipot palm, the harrow being composed
of the split half of a log of that tree.
1. Henga (harrow), 2. Khunti (pegs). 3. Barki (ropes).
The Harrow (Henga or Chaulci).
3 5 . The cylindrical roller Js rarely used in the field. It is ealled
everywhere by a corruption of its English name, viz. ‡fa* rol.
The block itself is called vmi pall {Patna), *rft ka (Gaya), *CWt ekath in Shahabad, and *Pff"‡t laki in Sourh-West Shahabad. Elsewhere it is simply f t chaunk or chauk.
3 6 . Sometimes the harrow is made of two parallel planks joined
together. This is called FïT henga, or -if ft chauk, &c‚ as above.
C H A P T E R I V . — R A K E S U S E D I N F I E L D W O R K .
3 7 . Rakes are seldom used. Sometimes a bundle of thorns is
dragged over a field to soften the surface when it has been baked hard
by the sun after rain or irrigation. This has no special name. In parts of Tirhut, the WQ&l kant or ?gH§'ft‡t khakhorn is a sort of rake'or harrow
worked by oxen to loosen the soil and extricate weeds from a crop of young rice. A T -fffX-fT pachphariy or (in Sran) 5lS*T'ft gelkani is a
kind of plough with five shares used in indigo factories.
C H A P T E R V . — P I C K A X E S , P I T C H F O R K S , &c.
3 g ‚ A pickaxe.— North of the Ganges this is 7tQj gainta, south
of the Ganges it is nm gainta or TT?t gaint. In South Bhagalpur. it is 3fa gainch, and in South Munger !TT"fT gt.
3 9 . The dredger, used in well-sinking, has various names. In
A Collection of Baskets.
1. 0h.hai.nta. made of split bamboo. 8. Dagn, 2. Ditto „ ditto, woven up with tl fibre. 9. Dla 3. Oriya • , split bamboo. 10. Tokri 4. Daura ditto, 11. Tap 5. Dauri „ ditto, strengthened with tl leaves. 12. Sikahuti 6. Two ditto „ split bamboo. 13. Phuldli
made of split bamboo, edge sewn with tl leaves, split bamboo, tl slips and bamboo, bamboo slips. munj grass, flower-basket
7. Dagra ditto, edge sewn with rattan.
BASKETS. 9
tfrtf* tardU. In North-East Tirhut, it is ^ * f l chhit, %wH kathul,
or x-ff%l*irT pathiya. chhit is also used in South-East Tirhut, where
also occur W&¶n kathawat and (also in Shahabad) 3ITT^ tagi.
Elsewhere south of the Ganges, it is n*CT gaint or *emil k hant, and in
South Munger, t l T chhit.
4 0 . The pointed Iron spear for tapping the well-spring also has
various names, viz. 39U?T khunt north of the Ganges generally, 1TO~IT
gaj in Sran, and tfttfift gobhn in South-West Tirhut. In Gaya, it
is ft*TfT khobhan and in Shahabad khobhan, but in the south-west
of the latter district, it is *PC¶fT laraha. In South Munger, it is %viw debhan, and in South Bhagalpur, it is OT*nn gajr or ^‚^tft khant.
4 1 . The hooked stick for pulling down fruit from trees is generally
TJITT lagg or *irnffc laggi. The hook of this is ^¶J«ft a n k u s or (in
South Bhagalpur) 3fpft kn. The long pole with a small net at the
end to catch the fruit as it falls, is *R*fS!T jhol, ^f^ft khonch, or
(in Sran) *fi‡lT jhor. Another optional name in South Munger is
^ W 3 6 T ^" jalkhr.
The short stick thrown up into fruit-trees to bring down fruit is I f *¶H jhitahdy and also (in Sran) mv^tlagml.
SUBDIVISION II.
I M P L E M E N T USED I N SOWING, WEEDING, AND IRRIGATION.
C H A P T E R I . — B A S K E T S .
4 2 . Baskets are generally woven of bamboo slips or tw.g?. Unless otherwise stated, this may be assumed of all the following.
4 3 . Baskets used specially by the sower are called generally ^ * & T
ord, 3l‡¶rt ori, or 3Rtfëritt oiy (sometimes made partly with the fibre of
the leaves of the tl palm) ; also we meet, to the west, ¶g2t chhaint, and
to the east ^tet chhit (a large one), ¶ftil chitt (a small one), or ^<ft
dau. South of the Ganges, they are also called in Patna q~32T batt
(also in Shahabad) daur, or daur (sometimes made of the
10 B I H A R P E A S A N T L I F E .
East Tirhut) trfa-H pathiyd (also U‘?ed for feeding cattle), and in South
Mungër f*%?TT khanchiyd. The only difference amongst all these is that in the case of the ^i^T daur nd daur, the bottom is woven of
bamboo slips, like a mat.
44» There are likewise several other kinds of baskets, used indis- criminately for this and other domestic and agricultural purposes. Thus, sinaU straw giain-baskets are ^ir*ft changel or *ïpft changeri } and
sometimes ""§Mt dl or ^f^~n daliy, especially towards the east. In Patna and South Mungsr, they are called batari. Another very similar basket (but still smaller) is called very generally "J?f-Jft
maunl or *f†f¶^T maunnigd, also. cfcTS bdll in Patna‚ Gaya‚ and South
Mnger‚ and 1Jntit phulukï in East Tirhut. A largo open basket
made of split&nb
PLEASE NOTE: The accuracy of the searchable background text is significantly reduced by the exceptionally poor print quality of the original.
Date: 29.10.2009
BRIEF RECORD
Author: Grierson, George Abraham
Title: Bihar Peasant Life, Being a Discursive Catalogue of the Surroundings of the
People of that Province, With Many Illustrations From Photographs Taken by
the Author. Second and revised edition.
Publ.: Patna : Superintendent, Government Printing, Bihar and Orissa 1926
Description: 29, vi, 433, xvii, clv p.
FULL RECORD
www.sub.uni-goettingen.de/ebene_1/fiindolo/gr_elib.htm
NOTICE
This file may be copied on the condition that its entire contents, including this data sheet,
remain intact.
B I H A R P E A S A N T L I F E ,
BEING
A D I S C U R S I V E C A T A L O G U E
OF THE
S u r r o u n d i n g s o f t h e p e o p l e o f t h a t p r o v i n c e ,
WITH MANY ILLUSTRATIONS FROM PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN
BY THE AUTHOR.
%xtpztzb (in 1885), xtxiUx <3Drï>sr* of thz (gobmtmmt of §m%*l,
B ï
M.A.S.B., M.R.A.S.,
F E L L O W OF T H E U N I V E R S I T Y OF C A L C U T T A : F O R M E R L Y S A N S K R I T A N D H I N D U S T A N I
E X H I B I T I O N E R , T R I N I T Y C O L L E G E , D U B L I N .
SECOND AND REVISED EDITION.
1926.
1926.
P f t i C E D P U B L I C A T I O N S O F T H E G O V E R N -
M E N T O F B I H A R A N D O R 1 S S A C A N
B E H A D F R O M — -
I N I N D I A .
The Superintendent, Government Printing, Bihar and Onssa, Gulzarbagh; P. O.
(1) MESSRS. THACKER SPINK & Co., Calcutta. (2) MESSRS. W . NEWMAN & Co., Calcutta- (3) MESSRS. S. K LAHIIU & Co., College Street, Calcutta. (4) MESSRS. R. CAMBRAY & Co.. 6 and 8-2, Hastings Street, Calcutta. (5) MESSRS. THOMPSON & Co., Madras, (6) MESSRS. D . B . TARAPOREVALA SONS & Co., 103, Meadow Street,
Fort, Post Box No. 18, Bombay. (7) MESSRS. M . C. SIRCAR & SONS, 75, Harrison Road, Calcutta. (8) PROPRIETOR OF TH E NEWAL EISHORE PRESS, Lucknow. (9) MESSRS . M . N . BURMAN & Co., Bankipore.
(10) BABU R AM DAÏAL AQABWALA, 184, Katra Road, Allahabad, (11) STANDARD LITERATURE Co., L T D . , 13-1 Old Court HouS6 Street,
Calcutta (12) MANAGER OF THE INDIAN SCHOOL SUPPLY DEPOT, 309, Bow Bazar
Stieet, Calcutta (IS) MESSRS. BUTTERWORTH & Co., L T D . , 6, Hastings Street, Calcutta* (14) MESSRS. R AM K RISHNA & SONS, Anarkali Street, Lahore. (15) T H E OXFORD BOOK AND STATIONERY COMPANY, Delhi. (16) Messrs Das Brothers, Nouzerkatra, Patna City.
I N E N G L A N D A N D O N T H E C O N T I N E N T .
(1) FROM THE OFFICE OF THE HIG H COMMISSIONER FOR IITCT, 42, Grosvenor Gardens, London, S. W. 1, or
(2) ANY BOOKSELLER.
IN GRATEFUL ACKNOWLEDGMENT
WOULD NEVER HAvE BEEN WRITTEN.
THIS BOOK
IS DEDICATED
Eaiih'p<n'f 9 4th April 1885.
The first edition of Sir George Grierson's " Bihar Peasant
Life " was published under the orders of the Government
of Bengal in 1885, and has for many years past been out
of print. This second edition has been prepared under
the orders of the Government of Bihar and Orissa, in
consultation with Sir George Grierson, in order to place
this valuable book again within the reach of its own
officers and of the public. The book was compiled by Sir
George Grierson during the early years of his service in
Bihar, and has since attracted the attention of scholars in
all parts of the world. Local customs are continually
changing under modern influences, and Sir George Grier-
;son’s account of the everyday life of the Bihar pesantry
in the latter half of the Nineteenth Century, may be
expected to possess increasing importance as time passes,
The first edition was copiously illustrated with lithograph
ed plates and woodcuts taken from photographs; these
original plates have been reproduced by the zincograph
process. The reading of the proof was entrusted to Rai
Bahadur Shyam Narayan Singh, O.B.E., who was assisted
by Professor Radha Krishna Jha of the Bihar and Orissa
Educational Service. The thanks of Government are due
to both these gentlemen for the care which they have
taken to produce an accurate reprint of the original
edition.
I N T R O D U C T I O N .
W h i l e this work professes to be a catalogue of the names used by
the Bihar peasant for the things surrounding him in his daily life, yet,
in order to relieve the dryness which such a mere list woald possess, the
writer has attempted to give a description, more or leg:; complete, of
that life and of its character and incidents. The book is in fact
a discursive catalogue, and it is hoped that it may serve as a solid
foundation for more elaborate disquisitions on the Bihar raiy<it and
his surroundings.
Such a work as this is nothing if not accurate, and no ordinary
pains have been spared to compass the greatest accuracy possible^
Existing treatises on Indian rural life are not always trustworthy ; and
as it is impossible to tell what is and what is not correct in them, the
writer has avoided taking them as the ground work of his compilation.
Every word in this book has been collected from the mouths of the
people, and noted on the spot where it was spoken, either by the writer'
himself or by one of his assistants. When the work began to assume
shape, it was carefully compared with every available book of reference
and where discrepancies occurred, they weie either reconciled or
explained. Finally the proof-sheets have been circulated to all the
Bihar districts, and have been again checked on the spot by competent
observers, different from the original persons who collected the materials
on which the book was founded.*
So far, therefore, as ;its contents go, this book may claim to be
entirely original, and the writer hopes, Jto a certain degree, accurate.
No originality can, however, be claimed for its general system and
arrangement. This is closely modelled on Mr. Crooke's "Materials
for a Rural and Agricultural Glossary of the North-Western Piovinces
* The writer would here tender his thanks to the various district officers of
* The writer would here tender his thanks to the various district officers of
Bihar, who have spared no trouble in having this local checking performed in a
satisfactory manner. The amount of new information gained, and of mistakes and
misprints corrected through their help, has been very considerable.
INTRODUCTION.
and Oudh.’’* The writer has followed him very closely in the arrange
ment of his matter, and in many cases has not scrupled to use his
very words when they were the most suitable that could be adopted.
The vernacular words embodied in this book have in fact been
brought together horn two sources, viz., the writer's own private
researches during the past seven years; checked and supplemented by-
actual translations of the words given by Mr. Crooke's work made by
the writer's assistants once and sometimes twice over in every
district of Bihar. It will thus be seen how much the writer is
indebted to the latter gentleman. Mr. Crooke's book differed from the
present work in being to some extent a compilation from existing
dictionaries ; and as these were not all of them as accurate as could be
wished, it was impossible that it should not contain some mistakes.
But as one who has probably worked through it with more minute
attention than most people, the writer gladly bears witness to its general
accuracy. This may be considered as really wonderful, when the
extremely slovenly scholarship of some of the books on which
Mr. Crooke had to depend is taken into account.
In the present work every native word is written twice over—once
with accuracy in the native character for those who are able to read it
and once in the English character for those who are not acquainted
with the Indian vernaculars. This transliteration does not pretend
to be scientifically accurate. Such a transliteration with its diacritical
dots and dashes would only puzzle those for whom it is intended, viz.,
those who are ignorant of the language. A l l that has been attempted
for them is to give them a general idea of the correct pronunciation
of the words, without professing to tell them the exact pronunciation
which they hardly require, and which would be difficult to do. For
these persons all that is necessary is that they should pronounce the
vowels as in Italian, and the consonants as in English, and they will
then approach sufficiently near to the way in which the natives them
selves pronounce the words.† For those who are acquainted with the
* Allahabad, 1879. Printed at-the North-western Provinces and Oudh
Government Press. Thô writer would take this opportunity of acknowledging
bis indebtedness to Mr. Crcoke for this really admirable work, without it the
pretent book could never have been written without an expenditure of labour which
few district officials like the writer would have been able to bestow.
‡ The system of transliteration adopted may be briefly described as the
Jonesian system, with every possible diacritical mark omitted. In pursuance of
Jonesian system, with every possible diacritical mark omitted. In pursuance of
this the cerebral letters are given no dots, and, as nearly every final vowel is long
the long mark has been omitted from final vowels.
their vernacular dress are necessary
In quoting Arabic and Persian words in the Nagri character, the
dots, which are sometimes used to indicate an original z, &c, are omitted*
for the reason that the words are given as they are pronounced in Bihar,
and that all the dots in the world will not make a Bihari pronounce a z
as other than j, or sad as other than s.
In order to understand the meaning of the words which the
writer has used to express locality, it is necessary to explain that, under
the name Tirhut, he has included the whole tract which lies between
the river Gandak on the west and the river Kosi on the east and
which is bounded on the north by the Nepal frontier and on the south
by the Ganges. He, therefore, indicates under this term not only the
districts of Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga, but also North Bhagalpnr
and North Munger (Monghyr). This was rendered necessary by the
language of these latter tracts being practically the same as that of
Darbhanga. By North-West Tirhut he means the Sitamarhi and Sadr
subdivisions of Muzaffarpur ; by South-West Tirhut, the subdivision of
Hajipnr , by North-East Tirhut, the Sadr and Madhubani subd visions
of Darbhanga and the Supiul subdivision of North Bhagalpur ;
and by South-East Tirhut, the Tajpur subdivision of Darbhanga,
North Manger, and the Madaipura subdivision of Nor t i Bhagalpur.
By North Bihar he means all Bihar north of the Ganges, and by
South Bihar all Bihar south of it. When he speaks of the east or the
west, the north-east or the north-west, he means, of course, the east, west,
north-east, and north-west respectively of Bihar.
One more word of warning regarding these localities. When the
writer says that a word is used in a certain place, he does not mean
by implication that it is not used anywhere else. He means simply
that the word has been noted by him in such and such a place, and not
elsewhere. That it may be used elsewhere is very possible, and
any notes on this or kindred topics addressed to the writer, care of
the Secretary to the Bihar and Orissa Government, Revenue and
General Departments, will be gladly welcomed.
Regarding the illustrations, they are all (with one or two small
exceptions) lithographed or cut on wood from photographs taken by
the writer, who is glad to be able to thank Mr Schaumburg and the
the writer, who is glad to be able to thank Mr. Schaumburg and the
students of the Government School of Art, Calcutta, for the excellent
very indifferent photographs.* The difficulties experienced by the
* writer in taking some of these pictures were great. The most ludicrous
reports spread through the city concerning his work. The camera of
course was looked upon as a fearful engine of destruction, and some-
times half an hour has been wasted in futile diplomacy to persuade
an old lady to allow the lens to bo pointed at her. Under these
circumstances photographs had almost always to be taken by the
instantaneous process, which, however certain it may be in the hands
of the professional, frequently disappoints the mere amateur. The last
photograph the writer took — that of a native house—was spoilt because
the grandmother of the family refused to allow any of the children to
appear in the picture, her reason being that the Government was build
ing the bridge across the Gandak and wanted children to bury under
its foundations. Just, however, as the plate was exposed, one of the
little boys determined to immortalize himself, and leaped in front of the
lens to the dismay o f the female members of his family. He had his
wish in appearing in the picture, but he was so near the lens that he
covered half of it with his shoulders. On other occasions the writer
was believed to be collecting carts and boats for the Egyptian war, or
to be counting the wells in the country, because he knew a famine was
approaching, and so oti ad infinitum. However, the pictures were
finally taken, and, such as they are, are certainly accurate representa
tions of the originals.
In conclusion the writer has to draw attention to the thoroughness
and accuracy with which his assistants, Munshi Dilawar AU and Mun-
shi Moti Lai have done their portion of the work. The former has,
the writer much regrets to say, died since the above was first written.
The latter has been his assistant to the last, and the writer begs to
record his high sense of his industry and intelligence, and to recom
mend his services to the favourable notice of Government.
* This refers to the illustrations of the first Edition.
„ Khutahra „ Kbutahrd.
„ lawtha „ lawthfi.
Page 2.™
Section 7 line 5. For ïïfw^ read trft**ïï I
i , 12 ,, W*"-T ,, S*Tl
Page 4—
Section 19. For ftTO*i† read ïT5t? ^ f l I
Page 5—
Section 27. For U^tt T read i w i U l I
‚, Pharsa ,‚ PbarsS.
Page 7.—
,9 33. ‚ , balling ‚‚ hauling.
» 33. „ ¶ * ^ t „ 3i-3^t |
„ tagarr tagi.
‚, 48. „ sftf|f „ ^ t f t l
Page 10—
Page 10—
For ?pral read 3T%?ft I
„ ~TO* ,‚ *sr -yww |
palani
ft
f>
9*
palni.
TOftl
79.
ff
For BT read I
it
~ ~ i
-TCI |
–- . _ i
dobhl.
I-
II
818
319
324
II
II
,, 335 %jSi ,, tnfc3T I
ftff¶-n ,,. fttfbn i
» 341 ,, -ft¶rt „ ift i n i
ii S43 , , ^ „ i f ^ l
» 344 „ *§*HI „ i§rV[ |
99 350 ‚, q-R^T ,‚ e f * K I
-i 853 II f r f f t ,, trgnft i
II II *rar‡ ,. Melt i
i . 856 „ ckhar ,‚ ohh.
II 856 ‚ , q fo t? WTf ‚ , Ufir?!-f ^ ) f )
i i II trW „ %]^41
361 ,, ^ ¶ T ‚ , 3&*-|- |
1*" II 3f* I
II i*
II II
9*
if
if
ff
>f
ff
ff
ff
ff
ft
if
a
a
a
9»
if
a
if
H
a
•j
a
a
a ,
ff
fi
a
if
1•
ff
365
370
375
376
377
878
379
384
388
389
193
394
402
t9
99
99
99
99
i9
%99
i9
ii
9i
ii
ii
i9
99
fi
i9
i9
a'
99
if
a
•ltto*R*r i
chha ,,
bhethi ,,
ufaT ‚‚
-"f fd i
Section 585. For ff ~^-fT read fTf *~f -lT I
Nas pal „ Ns pl.
^ - 1 ¶ 1 , i ^ N ¶ t I
592. ,‚ „ f a q r f l
595. ,‚ ferït ,, frtft,
597. „ -f cT^l ¶f-r „ '?ci^T "-TOR I
602, „ Jï""^l v |l'5T"cïfl I
- 603. „ ^ S ï ï ‚ , *†OT,ïïl
i , 604. , , ~ f l ^ t >‚ * - ' ^ I
JI
TT
« ,» „ -r"-?t |
616. „ — i r e ^ l „ --––f––-?t 1
618. „ mm „ –jfe–rti
624. „ - y w „ ^mi
636. „ tn---rtf ,, Wï Ctl
638. ,, tr-ft „ i*t ^
643. TT9?T 1T----T 1
643. ,, TT9?T „ 1T----T 1 .
,, 736. ^~3ST vft&%l |
„ tr^-f--^ „ qTO*"ft
^--fcl-ft „ ww*ft I
„ " l " ^ 1
„ 743. „ « f v r t „ ^ ï ï l T l
-•"TO i " ~ T i
„ 744. „ *rf¶rwr „ w r t i n n i
745. , "f'-(ft „ f V t -
„ 747. „ x-§ï „ -f–j–;i
-f-ftwi „ n^m i
„ »---f-n-i „ 5 w s n i ! i
„ ---TO „ ^SIT-I
‚‚ 255. ‚‚ ^ – - – „ - ~ ~ i
I
,. so2 ,, -rfirc ,, rtnx
„ 803 ^I"lTf „ <*YfT*
„ 814 „ *wl ^¶T
S-TC-d >, -ff—"ft
„ 828 „ trcT-i „ -nni
,, 832 „ tf–~T „ t r W T
„ ,, ^«"ff t - Sanghariya -Jarffft-rT Sanjhariy.
„ 841 ,, ."f---ïT „ -ffT
„ 844 „ BIW Jna „ ¶p¶ Jana
>, ,. -fift^T „ *ftST Koranja
«f--T bhanj
„ „ «•«« „ «f--T bhanj.
*f « i
it i9 n TOT
II
it JR ‡4 I
II *J**ror i
99
91
19
<Tir-iT maggha.
it
it
ft
it
~TT
srfsIV
flcTt
ON
read ire ‡nf I –ï
a
ti
if
it
it
t>
tt
a
fi
it
a
a
? - n f t i
w w r I
w — ; i
-BWf-;-n i
--If i
–-«-.’t I
fv* .3--: i
1316
1318
1344
1345
1354
1358
1369
1373
1377
1379
99 99
line 14 insert accept.
Appendix page 16 IH41~9T read ïïfirëfatt
C O N T E N T S .
D I V I S I O N I . — I M P L E M E N T S A N D A P P L I A N C E S U S E D I N A G R I C U L T U R E A N D R U R A L M A N U F A C T U R E S
SUBDIVISION I.—IMPLEMENTS USED IN PREPARING LAND FOR CULTIVATION
CHAPTER 1.—The plough „ 2.—Mattocks and spades ... ... „ 3.—The harrow „ , 4.—Rakes used in field work ...
„ 5.—Pickaxes, pitchforks, &c. SUBDIVISION II.—IMPLEMENTS USED in SOWING, WEEDING,
AND IRRIGATION ...
„ 4.—Implements used in connection with irrigation
SUBDIVISION III.—APPLIANCES USED IN FIELD-WATCHING
CHAPTER 1.—The sling
,, 2—The scarecrow „ 3.—The watchman's platform
SUBDIVISION IV,—IMPLEMENTS USED IN HARVESTING CHAPTER l.—The sickle or reaping-book
„ 2.—Rakes used on the threshing-flcor ... * .–• „ 3«—Granaries
SUBDIVISION V.–IMPLEMENTS AND APPLIANCES USED IN
CONNECTION WITH CATTLE
CHAPTER 1.—The fodder-cutter and trough ,, 2.—The muzzle and blinkers „ 3.—The whip and goad „ 4.—Hobbles for cattle „ 6.-Ropes ... ... ... ... ••• „ 6—Pads for cattle „ 7.—Grain-bags and paniers for loaded cattle „ 8.-Canvas, leather, oi11arpaulin covers ... ••• „ 9.—Vessels from which animals are fed ... ••• „ 10.—Dairy utensils ... .. . 9 ...
SUBDIVISION VI.—APPLIANCES USED IN THE CONVEYANCE OF GOODS OR PASSENGERS
CHAPTER 1.—- The country cart „ 2.—The large, c mplete country cart... „ 8.—-The light country cart .. „ 4.—The bullock carriage „ 5.—The peny carriage „ 6.—The country boat
7.—The litter
8 8— 9
ib.
ib.
ib. 21— 24
25—27
ib. 27- 28 28— 37 3 7 - 38 38— 39 40—42 42-46 45—46
„ 7.—The litter
SUBDIVISION VII.—APPLIANCES USED IN RURAL MANUFACTURE
CHAPTER 1.—Appliances used in the manufacture of oil ... .•• i , 2..— Appliances used in the manufacture of sugar,.. ••*
46
PAGB
OHAPTBR 3.—Appliances used in the manufacture of indigo ... 60—62 „ 4.—The spinning-wheel ... ... ... 62—69 „ 5.—The weaver's loom ... ... ... ... 69—76 „ 6.—The saltpetre manufacturer ... ... ... 76—77 „ 7.—A distillery of country liquor ... ... ... 77—78
SUBDIVISION VI II .– APPL IAN CES USED BY MISCELLANEOUS
VILLAGE TRADERS AND PROFESSIONALS . . . ... .. . 79
CHAÏTBR 1.-The palm-juice seller ... ... ... 79-80 „ 2.—The bird-catcher ... ... ... ... ib. „ 3.-The barber ... ... ... ... 80-81 „ 4.—The country surgeon ... ... ... ... ib. „ 5.—The farrier ... ... ... ... ib. „ 6.-—The washerman ... ... ... ... 81—82
SUBDIVISION IX.—TOOLS AND APPLIANCES USED B Y COUNTRY
ARTIZANS ... ... ... ... ... 83
CHAPTBB l.—The carpenter and turner ... ... ... 83—85 „ 2.—The blacksmith ... ... ... . .. 85—88 „ 3.—The mason or bricklayer ... .. . ... 88—90 „ 4.—The grain-pareher ... ... ... ... 90—92 „ 5.—The baker ... ... ... ... 92—93 „ 6.—The confectioner ... ... ... ~. 93—94 „ 7.—The tobacco-manuf aoturer ... ... . .. 95 „ 8.—-The pipe-maker ... ... ... ... 96—97 „ 9.—The pipe-stem maker ... ... ... ib. f , 10.—The cotton-carder ... ... ... ... 98 „ 11.—The shoe-maker ... ... ... ... 98—P9 „ 12.—The blanket-weaver ... ... ... ... 99—100 „ J3.— The fancy silk or fringe-maker ... ... ... 100—101
14.—The embroiderer ... ... „ 15.—The dyer ... ... ... ... 101-102 „ 16.—The wood-painter ... ... ... ... ib. „ 17.—The tinman ... ... ... ... 1O2-1O3 „ 18,—The jeweller ... ... ... ... 103—105 „ 19.—The lapidary ... ... ... ... 105 „ 20.—The seal-maker ... ... ... ... 106 „ 21.—The gold-washer ... ... ... ... ib. „ 22—-The brazier ... ... ... ... 107—108 „ 23.—The brass-founder ... ... ... ... ib. „ 24 —1 he brass-b angle maker ... ... ... ib. ,, 25.—The glass-maker and glass bangle-maker ... ... 108—110 „ 26.—The lac bangle-maker «.«.« ... ... ib. „ 27.—The potter ... ... ... ... HI—112 „ 28.—The firework-maker ... .r. ... ... 112—114 „ 29.—The bookbinder ... ... ... .., 114—115 „ 30.—The rope twister ... ... ... ... 315—116 „ 31.—The weaver's brush-maker ... ... ... ib.
82.«—-The bow-maker , ... ... ... ... ib. „ 33.—The weapon-cleaner ... ... ... ... ib.
D I V I S I O N I I . — D OM E S T I C A P P L I A N C E S A N D
U T E N S I L S ... . .. . . . . .. 117
SUBDIVISION I.—APPLIANCES USED IN THE PREPARATION OF
food •• ... ... ... ib.
Cs±r --B 1.—Sieves ... ... ... ... ... 117—118 2.—The pedal for husking grain 118—119
SUBDIVISION II.—DOMESTIC FURNITURE ...
CHAPTER 1. —Stool ... ... ... ,, 2.—The bed and cot ‚, 3.—The weighing scales ... ... ... ... ‚, 4.—Nets „ 5.—The pad used for supporting water-pots, etc., on a
woman's head „ 6.—The stick ... ... ... „ 7.—Boxes ... .. . „ 8.—Metal vessels us ?d in cooking and for ordinary domestic
purposes ... ... ••• „ 9,—Earthen vessels ... ... ••• „ lO.—wooden vessels ... ••• „ 11.—Leather vessels ... „ 12.—Leaf platters ... .•• •••
„ 13.—Stands for vessels ... ... ... ...
CHAPTER 1.—Clothes
SUBDIVISION IV.—APPLIANCES USED IN WORSHIP ..,
D I V I S I O N III.—SOILS CHAPTER 1.—Classificationof soils ...
„ 2,—soils classified according to village site
„ 3.—Soils classified according to „ 4.—Soils and water action ... ... ••• „ 5.—Muddy ar.d waterlogged soils „ 6.—High laiids and low lands ... ... ••• „ 7.—Ravines, mounds, etc. ... ... ••• „ 8.—Stony soils ... ... ••• „ 9.—Cultivated and waste ... „ 10. Fallow „ 11.—Richness and poorness of soil ... „ 12.—Irrigated and dry lands ... ... „ 13.—Lands which retain and which do not retain moisture „ 14.—Lands bearing a single and ft double crop ... „ 15-—Terms used in connection with different crops „ 16.-Land impregnated with salt, etc. ... ... , .. .
D I V I S I O N I V . — G E N E R A L A G R I C U L T U R A L O P E R A T I O N S ... ... ... ... «•
SUBDIVISION I.-PLOUGHING AND HARROWING „•
SUBDIVISION II,-MANURING , „ I M •» SET
CHAPTER 1.-Kinds of manure ... ... ... ... ,, 2.—Modes of manuring ... ... ... ... „ 3.—Manure used as fuel ... ... ... ...
SUBDIVISION III.—SOWING AND TRANSPLANTING T
PAGE
121
141 141— If-
ib. ib. ib.
142— 150 ib.
ib. 176- 177 177— 178 178- --179
ib.
CHAPTBB 1.— SOWING
ib.
„ 4.—Sowing time
CHAPTER L-Digging
„ 2.—Hoeing ...
„ 3.—weeding .. .
SUBDIVISION VII.—THRESHING AND WINNOWING ... CHAPTER 1.—The threshing-floor
„ 2.—sheaves and bundles ,, 3.—Treading out grain „ 4.—Crops on the threshing-floor M ."..—winnowing
i . Miscellaneous
SUBDIVISION VIII.—DIVISION OF CROPS
CHAPTER L—Div sion and valuation .. . „ 2.—The shares into which the crop is divided „ 3.—Deductions and remissions „ 4.-Mode of division ... ...
SUBDIVISION IX.—IRRIGATION ...
CHA -*TEB 1.—Irrigation generally ... „ 2.—Kinds of irrigation „ 3.—Irrigation from canals ., 4.— Ditto well ... „ 5,— Cons' ruction of wells ... „ 6.—The lever used in raising water ... „ 7.—The skin lag used for drawing water
— Other well appliances connected with irrigation „ 9.—The pathway for bullocks, etc.
10, —The workmen employed at the well 11. —'the I ersian wl eel " ...
- 12.—Irrigation from tanks and streams . .... „ 13.—water-lifts and other terms common to irrigation by the
swing-basket and the spoon-lever „ 14,—-water-channels ... ...
D I V I S I O N . V . — A G R I C U L T U R A L P R O D U C T S A N D T H E I R E N E M I E S
SUBDIVISION I.-AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
CHAPTER. 1.- wheat ... „ 2.-Mixed crops .. . ... .. . „ 3.—Barley and oats ... .. . ... „ 4.—Rice ... .. . ... .. . •••
5.*--rIndian corn or maize ... .. . ... ••• 6. – The large millet .. . .. . ... 7. -– The small bulrush millet
,• 8.—The small mil.ets „ 9.—Pulses .. . .. . ... .. . .. . „ 10.—Peas .. . ... ... ... ,, 11.– Gram ... „. ... ...
i t
189
ib.
ib.
ib
ib. 208- 209
ib. 209— 210
ib. 225- 227 227—229
230 231—282 282—287
„ -12--Sugarcane I , 18.-Cotton ... ••• •«•
... 282—287 287-239
PAGB
CHAPTER 14.-Tobacco .. . ... .. . ... 2S9—241 ,, 15.—Opium poppy ... ... ... ... 24l~-243 „ 16—Hemp ... ... ... .. . ib.
17.—Indigo ... -• ... 243—244 1*.-Other dyes ... ... ... ... 244-246
„ i9.—Oil-seeds ... ... .. . ... 2l6-247 20.-Fibres ... ... ... ... * 247-248
„ 21. -Betel ... ... ... ... 24S—249 „ *2.—harden crops ... ... ... ... 250-257
SUBDIVISION II.—INSECTS AND CAUSES OF INJURY TO CROPS ... ib.
CHAPTER 1.—Destructive insects and diseases ... - ... 2*>7- 265 „ 2.—Noxious weeds ... — ... 265—269 „ 3.— Miscellaneous ... ... ... ... 26 —270
D I V I S I O N V L — A G R I C U L T U R A L T I M E S A N D
S E A S O N S ... ... ... ... ... 271-287
D I V I S I O N V I I . - C A T T L E
A N I M A L S
A N D O T H E R D O M E S T I C
CHAPTER 1.-
7.- ‚, 8.- ‚, 9- H 10- „ 11.-
12.- 13.
25.-
289
-Cattle generally ... ... ... ... ib. -Bulls ... ... ... ... ib. -Pullocks ... ... ‚ ... ... 289 –293 Cows and breeding ... ... ' ... ... 293—294
-Calves ... ... ... ... 294 —295 -Buffaloes ... ... ... ... 295-296 -Goats ... ... ... ... ib. -Sheep ... ... ... ... ib. -Pigs ... .. . ... ... ... 296—297 -Horsep, mules, and asses ... ... ... ib. -Elephants ... ... ... ... 297-298 -Camels ... ... ... ... ... ib. - Straying of cattle ... ... ... ... ib. -Colours of cattle . ... .. . ... ... 2.'S-299 -Hides ... ... ... ... ... ib. -Cattle slaughter ... ... ... ... 209—300 -Feeding cattle ... ... ... ... 300—3<>1 -
! asturage ... ... .*• ... ib. -Fences .. . ... .. . .. . ... 302 -Grazing-fees ... ... ... ... ib. -Cow-houses and enclosures for cattle, cattle-owners, etc.... 302—303 -Cattle-dealers ... ... ... ... ib. -Milk and Us preparations ... ... ... 303—3«>5 -Cattle diseases ... . ... ... ... 306—308 -Cattle fodder ... ... ... ... 308—313
D I V I S I O N V I I I . - L A B O U R, A N D P E R Q U I S I T E S
A D V A N C E S , W A G E S ,
CHAPTER 1.—Pay and advances to labourers „ 2.—Advances to tenants ... „ 3.—Dues paid by tenants ...
D I V I S I O N I X . — L A N D T E N U R E S
CHAPTER 1.—Tenures „ 2—Proprietary tenures ... 3.—Intermediate tenures
315
323
„ 3.—Intermediate tenures ... „ 4.—Shares and sharers ... „ 5.—Cultivating tenures ... ,, 6.—-Rents ...
325—326 826—327 327—329 829-332
vi
PAGB
D I V I S I O N X . — T H E N A T I V E H O U S E ... .. . 333
CHAPTER 1.—The native house .. . ... ... .. . 333—334 „ 2.—Parts of a house ... ... ... ... 334—340
„ 3—Materials used in the constraction of the house ... 340—344
D I V I S I O N X L — F O O D .. . ... ... ... 345
CHAPTER 1.- -Meals .. . .-. .. . ••• ib.
2.-Kinds of food ... .. . ... .. . 345—358 D I V I S I O N X I I . - C E R E M O N I E S A N D S U P E R S T I T I O N S
O P R U R A L L I F E ... ... ... ... 359 CHAPTER I.— Marriage .. . ... .. . . . . 359—36l
„ 2.— wedding ceremon.es generally ... ... ... 361—364 „ 3.—Special wedding ceremonies amongst the Hindus ... 364—376 „ 4. -Marriage ceremonies amongst the Mnsalmans ... 376—388 „ 5,—Birch customs generally ... ... ... 388—390 „ c.—Ceremcnies peculiar to the birth of a Hindu child ... 390—3w2 „ 7. —Birth customs amongst Musalmans ... ... 3 2—393 ,, 8.—Disposal of the dead amongst the Hindus ... ... 3V-3—397 „ 9.—Disposal of the dead amongst Musalmans ... ... 397—398 „ 10.—Ceremonies at ploughing and sowing and transplanting ... 399—400 „ H. — Harvest ceremonies ... ••• ... 400 — 40l „ i 2.—Miscellaneous ... .. . .. . ... 401—403 „ 13,—Arbitrations, oaths, etc. ... ... ... 403—404 „ 14.—Miscellaneous superstitions ... ... ... 404—411
D I V I S I O N X I I I . — T R A D E , M O N E Y - D E A L I N G S , A N D A C C O U N T S ... ... ... .. . ... 413
CHAPTER 1.—Trade and bazar accounts ... ... ... 413—415 2. —Accounts between landlord and tenant ... ... 415—42 • 3. —Interest, discount, and commission ... ... 4'Jl—422 4. —Rates of interest ... .. ... ... 422—423 5. —Mortgage ... ... ... ... 423—424 6. —Miscellaneous ... ... ... .. . 424—426
D I V I S I O N X I V . - W E I G H T S A N D M E A S U R E S ... 4*27
CHAPTER I.—Measures of length ... ... ... ... 427—429 „ 2.—superficial measure ... ... .. . ... 430 „ :«.—Measures of proportion ... ... ... 430—431 „ 4.—Measures of weight ... ... ... ... 431—433
APPENDIX ... ... ... ... ... i—xvii
The Country Plough.
(NOTE. The front portion of the body is given in seotioo, so as to show the
position of the share.)
Potted tracts signify border
impure dialect is spoken
IMPLEMENTS AND APPLIANCES
AGRICULTURE AND RURAL MANUFACTURES.
S U B D I V I S I O N I.
I M P L E M E N T S USED I N P R E P A R I N G LAND FOR
CULTIVATION.
C H A P T E R I . — T H E P L O U G H .
1. The ordinary country plough is generally known as ¶|C har
Sometimes the Hindi form of the word, "5^ hal, is used. In Gaya, the
word *rflT-"T lngal is also used.
2 . f -gpftCt khinauri is used for an old or worn plough. In t h e
South-Easfc and in North-West Tirhut this is iFa t thenthi, and generally
over North-East and South Tirhut <3"V[ thentha. In Shahabad it f g
^ T C t khutahra. A new plough is *J"IHT nawatha or ^T3lnautha to
the west, ¶ ¶ 9 t nawghar in Champran. and m¶&l lawatha generally
over North- East and South Tirhut.
3 . In West Bihar and South Bhagalpur ^tlT angt *,and in South
Munger *ffa% sngah, mean the plough and all its appurtenances, as in the sentence fat (or "f*C ^tttf) ^ ~TC~f ifinrnC snga (or har
snga) lene w bahiyr, —bring the plough, & c , to the field.
4„ The various parts of the common plough are as foibws :-—
5 . The beam (a), — North of the Ganges this is ¶ffipj haris, and
so also in Shahabad. In East Tirhat it is also called vCN„ hars. In
Patna, Gaya, and South Munger it is snrh. ï n South
Bhagalpur it u is v f t ^ h a r i s is, however, understood more
or less everywhere.
6. The body (?).—This is everywhere TT har<*.
7, The handle or stilt (c). —In Shahabad and north of the Ganges -his n Jt?ï&v parihath j in the eastern portion of the latter tract it is also mil* lagan. IT*T lagn is used in South Munger, Patna, and Gaya, and *ftll¶t jiangano in South Bhagalpur. In South- western Shahabad -fftf*f_ pirihat is used. The knob at the end
of the body near the handle is in Patna *H^m chandwa, in Gaya
*-rf t chndi, north of the Ganges and in Shahabad IT <T mutha (or in
the south-west of the district –a " sft ckanduli), and in the south-east i^f%"fl muthiya, . In South Bhagalpur iraCt mak*ri is a piece used for amending it when broken. The first, second, and fourth names are
only used if it is a separate piece of wood.
8 t The notches on the beam (d).— by which the share is raised
or lowered.—In Sran f i t ," kherha, in Gaya Hlft khtnrhi, and
in Shahabad %!ft kherhi. In Patna they are 7 %X kheha, in Charn- pran ŒTCTT kh<U, and throughout Tirhut TITlft khhi. In South- E ist Tirhut, it also T^¶¶*I kharha> and in South-East Bih^ ^TujT
khonrha or ^ T - krh.
• 9. The sole (e). —in which the share is fixed.—
In West Bihr, it is tor or 3fal torn. I n East Bihr, it is^
¶TQ ns or T " n nasd.
North of the Gangesthe thicker end of ‚the sole is called ltf«r mantk
or ïlt"TI mantlia.
1 0 The share {f)— Everywhere TO phr. In North-East Tichufc
also W&J phdrd or TOfTI phdld, and in South-East Tirhut, al-e
5sJtCWT lohma.
11 .The wedge fixing the beam to the body (g) —North of t h e
Ganges and in Shahabad and South Munger, this is TnB pat. Variants are *3IT patta (Gaya), mzi plU (South Tirhut and Patna), and
Xf—?t pto (South Bhagalpur). .
A second wedge is sometimes added, which is known as ^iNft. chail everywhere north of the Ganges and in Gaya and the south- west, and also as ^wsft: chelkhi in South-East Tirhut. In East Tirhut it is also called %ffc cheri. Another name i3 m^^pchar
(in North-East Tirhut and Shahabad), or xperft pachai everywhere
south' of th« Ganges. In South Bhagalpur, it is called sSV(X mtt upar
pata.
§ 17.] j THE FLO UGH.. a
in Champran and Tirhut; the latter is also used in South Munger. Other forms are ¶jt*l baren in North-East Tirhut, mj&t barh'an
in Sran, 3T^t baraini in Patna, and baran in Shahabad.
Other names are W ^ftsTT sabka dkar iy, *RC ^rfWT sata dharig>
in Patna, and WSHE^ 9abhadhar in Gaya, because it holds the whole
plough together. Also c ^ T « taraila in South Bhagalpur, <*nc*ft taraili
in South-West Shahabad, and ¶tt«TT humna in Patna.*
1 3 . –"--1-5 i r o n clamp {i) for preventing the share falling off.—- ~I5*IT^ kar"&r or TO karur everywhere to the west. A
variant is -fi^"3TKt karuari (Patna,, Champran, and West Tirhut). Jn South-West Shahabad it is also called J§~C[ khr. In Patna it
ev
is also called <5pf-fiT jonk‚ and the same name is current all over
Bihar, *ft¶ft jonkl and f‡*ft chobJw are also used in South-East
Tirhut. In North-East Tirhut a wedge is also used for the same
purpose, and is ealled *n^ft gs.
14. The yoke. —North of the Ganges always TIWf p^o; so also
in Patna, Gaya, and South Munger, with a variant JtfM pala in
South Bhagalpur. In Shahabad and Gaya, the word is generally
~33V<ï juth, which is also sometimes used in Sran and the
east. Sometimes it is made up of two bars. The upper bar then is considered the yoke proper, and is hence usually called the
^135|T^juth. The lower bar is generally cTT^~T tarsaila..
This double-bar arrangement is not commonly found i n the
plough yoke. It is more usually met with in the yoke for well irriga-
tion (if†^ mot) ; As a general rule *t:n^ plo or "f"9ElT^juth (accord-
ing to locality) may be safely used for the single-bar plough-yoke and
•for the double-bar irrigation yoke, and <-Spa5ïT ju for the single-bar cart-yoke. See § 938.
1 5 . The outer pinsr which join the two bars of the yoke, are
^NTT sal or 3W3l samaila to the west and -fi T kanaila to the east, are also ^«rf-R^t kankilli in South Bhagalpur.
1 6 . The inner pins are ^JJ samaila or (Patna and the south-
east)Hf*RT samail and (Gaya) Hi? *TT samaiy.
1 7 . The leather thongs (j}‚ which attach the yoke to the learn
<of the plough.—These are from Patna to the east of the South Gangetic
;tract, and in Champran, mx*l nran, with a variant 3N[ t larani in
* About ¶|Win hw-*nna there is a story of a Jolha (the proverbial fool of
Bihar stories) who found a humn On the road and cried out in his foolishness ~f 3Qpf
^ff *J*W, ^-ffaPW V aon ^ ar ^ e humn> lehetv karab bany^ I-hhxe
^ff *J*W, ^-ffaPW V ^ ar ^ e humn> lehetv karab bany^ I-hhxe
4 BIHAR PEASANT LIFB.
North-West and South-East Tirhut, and optionally *TC-T^ lran in South-East Bihar, mm ndh and -flrtft naraili are used in Shahabad, and variants of the former word occur in W%¶X ladaha (South–Eas Tirhut), *it*T laidh or wm ldh (North-East Tirhut), and ¶f *l-?t h*r
ladhi or 51T"-T[ ha ndha over South Tirhut generally. Tf^T ndh
is also used in Gaya. TT Tt *tt ha ndha in Sran is only used when
they are of string. When they are of leather, in that district, they
are calledJJ^n^t dul. South Bhagalpur has €f¶T don or i"*t ledh.
The ropes (i) which go round the bullocks' necks.—These are everywhere except in the extreme west sftcft jo ti. In the extreme
west (Sran, Carnpran, and Western Shahabad) the masculine form
fjf†c!T jota, is the usual one. In North-East Tirhut they are also
samel or *TJ-f samail, and in South Bhagalpur 1qit l~ phnsa.
1 9 . The projecting knob (i) in the midcfle of the upper part of the yoke.—Round this the thongs which fasten the yoke to the
beam are fixed. This is everywhere JTT. -fT mhaddewd. Variants are
Yl¶f---5ft mdhadeo (Patna and Gaya) and <R~f*? I tnaidaw (South
Munger). In South Bhagalpur it is ïf^ïï~TT"- manjh¶cara*
2 0 . The notches (m) near each end of the yoke. — To these the
ropes which go round the bullocks' necks are fixed. These are ?g†¶‡‡
Jthdnñ in Patna, with variants Tll"^t khrh in South-East Tirhut and §lft khe*r hi to the we&t. South West Shahabad has w^j|t khaddhi.
In Gaya the word used is 3ïfoft kanausi, and in South Bhagalpuc
;Q—• khta, whiles f%*T"5T srnal or *¶-fi'H nakti are optional names in
South-East Tirhut.
2 1 . The leaf of the yoke (n).— This is xm pattd, -mi palll
or (in South-Munger) TT3rf pala and (in Sran) TJlcTT pt.
2 2 . The trough in which the share lies when fixed in the body is
¶jjft ¶I Mol, or in South Bhagalpur ^ ^ f tkhol .
2 3 . The bamboo whip with which the bullocks are driven is tiFT
paind, and its lash is fg>fe chhiti in North-East Tirhut. Other nameg
will he found in § 98 and ff.
2 4 . A drill plough,— This is generally Sir; tar, with variant!
in South-East Tirhut nttft tnri and tor in South Munger. The
share is 3 T ^ I tarasi. XmWl khill is the nail which fastens the share
to the body. The bamboo pipe is in West Bihr i t ^ bns, also
sometimes bansa in Shahabad. In East Bihr, this is generally
^ 28.] MATTCcKs AN D SPADE«. 6
The cup at the top, into which the grain is poured, is in West Bihr WMl ml or H^*[ malwa. In East Bihar it is tr*TT pail
(sometimes spelt T-TOTt pail or TR TT paela) or sn*5?t ml. In South
Munger, it is also — lift ukhri, and in Patna 3lfi"Ct akari.
2 5 , The sharpening of a ploughshare is called as follows in
the various districts :—
Shahabad : Ht^ fqHFW dhdr pitwala ; or in the south west of the
district ~fPC„ ¶^IIITO dhar phargwala.
Patna : "ft^^HCWW dhdr asrdsba.
Gaya : «5THT*asr.
South Munger and South Bhagalpur : VXT. H~"W dhdr pajdva or
mmx. asr.
Also, North-West Tirhut and Sran : • * " ft"fT-M dhar jpijdwala*
North-East Tirhut : HIT «MHM dhlr banaeba.
South-East Tirhut : tffTT N ~-0"ffT-S;* phr kar 5 lcba.
2 6 . When a man wishes to plough deep he harnesses the yoke
higher up the beam in the notches d. This is called in West Bihr
?farPC augr. In North-West Tirhut it is called 3WT^ lagr, and
in the rest of Tirhut W*M tarakh. In South-West Shahabad, it is
called ^nx¶^awe, in South Munger 3TC*T thdrhd, and in South
Bhagalpur HTG> thrha. Light ploughing is doun in the converse way
and is known everywhere as %"f sev, or in North-East Tirhut ?f-f seb.
C H A P T E R I I . — M A T T O C K S A N D S P A D E S .
2 7 . A large mattock is in West Bihr and Gaya x f o l phaur.
Variants are qf^‡"t phaho (Patna and Gaya), iRt^T phahor (South
Munger), 1 ^ | ( phaord (Patna and Gaya), and VfTT phahur or tf"–sT ¶f- phauha in Shahabad. In South-West Shahabad, it is TR^T pharsa-
In Tirhut it is ~"[IT^ kudr, and in South Bhagalpur and South
Munger, ^ ^ T C x kodr. Another name current in Gaya is *- R .^;hm
or *-lfl*n jhm. In the same district, ^faft bhi is a heavy kind of wooden spade tipped with iron for hard soils, and 'ft khurni or
khudni is a kind of spade.
2 8 . A mottock with a narrower Wade is ^ o f t kudri, qfcrft
6 BIHAR r a A S A N r LIFE.
^ ^ W > kudl and -ff^t* kudr are often used to signify also the smaller variety. In South Bhagalpur, it is §Vt ^*?T* thenth kodr.
2 9 • The handle is if"? bent, and the upper end of it, whieh project3
beyond the socket, ¶^T kr or ¶ T hr, or (in South-West Tirhut) PT5Tmtha. Other names for this end are era or W ¶V^t ardni>
and in South Bhagalpur T1T2 pla. The ring or socket in the blade*
to which the handle is fixed, is ps or xnstt pdsd (or in South
Bhagalpur TTT ‡ pso). In South-West Shahabad it is –fft<t pamwnr
and in South Munger (optionally) XTT*2T past. The curved part of t he-
blade is in Sran and Patna -Jf t phari. Elsewhere, north of the Gange*
and in South Munger, "f«ft pharki. In Patna and South Munger, it! is also oalled iWT phal, in South Bhagalpur i*TXpharo; and in Gaya
irni?t phri. In Shahabad, it is "-H-f dhr, and in the. south-west of the
district, damph. The place where the ring and the blade meet is *fi*5-?t kanthi in Patna and Gaya, *T¶ff nahin in Shahabad, san or cR?5r
Jcantha in South Bhagalpur, and sun in South Munger. In Sran the part of the handle which is grasped is i|gr mtha, and the corners 3i*f*l kna. Anew mattock is «l-f x •—; nawghara, and a worn one thenth*
1. Bent (handle), 4. Phari (blade). 2. Pasa (socket). 5. Kanthi (neck). 3. Hura.
3. Hura.
§ 841. TAB H A R E O * .
C H A P T E R I I I . — T H E H A R R O W .
30? This is usually the flat plank, with (in the east) a grove along
the underside. It is dragged along the ground to break the clods after
ploughing, while a man stands on it to give weight. In West Bihar
and in South-East Tirhut, it is called ^ïTt hengd, and in East Bihr
more usually **-f‡fftchaunk or *-^ft c h a u k . In Patna i t is also called
f% nT si lawe, Tfë-T patawe, or ^fimCt lagwari.
3 1 . When drawn by one pair of oxen—one ox at each end—it is
called ¶flft hengi in Champran, f wt*ft dugo in Tirhut, *r* %TX ekahar
in South Bhagalpur, and --n;"{T dobarada elsewhere. When drawn by
two pairs of oxen—one pair at each end—it is called in North-Easfc Tirhut ¶f†li‡¶T chaugor, in the rest of Tirhut ^ i V t ^ . charagori, ^ ‡ l ‡ [ dohar|in South Bhagalpur, and elsewhere ^^^[^chaubarad*
3 2 . The pegs to which the hauling ropes are fastend are generally
3§rVt khnti. In Shahabad they are also called ^f^^T sdnrusd, and in
the south-west of the district 1Jlft gull. In Gaya they are *H*lgrT baunkh,
in Patna and South Munger, ¶"fl§T bahakha, and in South Bhagalpur %fal ankora.
3 3 . The halling ropes are, north of the Ganges generally, and in
West Shahabad,WT*<Pt barahi. North of the Ganges, they are also ^!¶ft hengahi. In Shahabad, chains used for the purpose are *nfcfi*-j sinkar, and
in Patna and Gaya t l f ¶ siiara when used with four bullocks abreast. These words are also used in North Tirhut. In Patna they are also ¶ cfi
TPCïïs chauk nran when of rope. In South-East Tirhut, they are also
called Hftisr^ marikhar, and in South Bhagalpur ^ " § ‡ ^ jagadori. In
South Munger, they are*faff¶ sikar when made of chain, and ?rfic?.f <C
marikhar when made of rope, and ?p-^TT majhautar, is the rope or leather strap joining the two yokes when four bullocks are used. So also in
Patna and Gaya. The last word is 3*w†tli majhotar in East Tirhut. In
East Tirhut, when made of leather, they are called mm mairan or 5-f 5f merhan, and when made of rope JfT "ft barha or . f ^ t barahi. Sometimes
long strips of bamboo are made to serve as hauling ropes. They are
then called in South Munger •tf""§^ kudandi, in South Bhagalpur %^^^tt bansajoti, and elsewhere ^sno^T arau.
8.’ BIHAR PEASANT 11FëI E4 35.
the hollow of the stem of the talipot palm, the harrow being composed
of the split half of a log of that tree.
1. Henga (harrow), 2. Khunti (pegs). 3. Barki (ropes).
The Harrow (Henga or Chaulci).
3 5 . The cylindrical roller Js rarely used in the field. It is ealled
everywhere by a corruption of its English name, viz. ‡fa* rol.
The block itself is called vmi pall {Patna), *rft ka (Gaya), *CWt ekath in Shahabad, and *Pff"‡t laki in Sourh-West Shahabad. Elsewhere it is simply f t chaunk or chauk.
3 6 . Sometimes the harrow is made of two parallel planks joined
together. This is called FïT henga, or -if ft chauk, &c‚ as above.
C H A P T E R I V . — R A K E S U S E D I N F I E L D W O R K .
3 7 . Rakes are seldom used. Sometimes a bundle of thorns is
dragged over a field to soften the surface when it has been baked hard
by the sun after rain or irrigation. This has no special name. In parts of Tirhut, the WQ&l kant or ?gH§'ft‡t khakhorn is a sort of rake'or harrow
worked by oxen to loosen the soil and extricate weeds from a crop of young rice. A T -fffX-fT pachphariy or (in Sran) 5lS*T'ft gelkani is a
kind of plough with five shares used in indigo factories.
C H A P T E R V . — P I C K A X E S , P I T C H F O R K S , &c.
3 g ‚ A pickaxe.— North of the Ganges this is 7tQj gainta, south
of the Ganges it is nm gainta or TT?t gaint. In South Bhagalpur. it is 3fa gainch, and in South Munger !TT"fT gt.
3 9 . The dredger, used in well-sinking, has various names. In
A Collection of Baskets.
1. 0h.hai.nta. made of split bamboo. 8. Dagn, 2. Ditto „ ditto, woven up with tl fibre. 9. Dla 3. Oriya • , split bamboo. 10. Tokri 4. Daura ditto, 11. Tap 5. Dauri „ ditto, strengthened with tl leaves. 12. Sikahuti 6. Two ditto „ split bamboo. 13. Phuldli
made of split bamboo, edge sewn with tl leaves, split bamboo, tl slips and bamboo, bamboo slips. munj grass, flower-basket
7. Dagra ditto, edge sewn with rattan.
BASKETS. 9
tfrtf* tardU. In North-East Tirhut, it is ^ * f l chhit, %wH kathul,
or x-ff%l*irT pathiya. chhit is also used in South-East Tirhut, where
also occur W&¶n kathawat and (also in Shahabad) 3ITT^ tagi.
Elsewhere south of the Ganges, it is n*CT gaint or *emil k hant, and in
South Munger, t l T chhit.
4 0 . The pointed Iron spear for tapping the well-spring also has
various names, viz. 39U?T khunt north of the Ganges generally, 1TO~IT
gaj in Sran, and tfttfift gobhn in South-West Tirhut. In Gaya, it
is ft*TfT khobhan and in Shahabad khobhan, but in the south-west
of the latter district, it is *PC¶fT laraha. In South Munger, it is %viw debhan, and in South Bhagalpur, it is OT*nn gajr or ^‚^tft khant.
4 1 . The hooked stick for pulling down fruit from trees is generally
TJITT lagg or *irnffc laggi. The hook of this is ^¶J«ft a n k u s or (in
South Bhagalpur) 3fpft kn. The long pole with a small net at the
end to catch the fruit as it falls, is *R*fS!T jhol, ^f^ft khonch, or
(in Sran) *fi‡lT jhor. Another optional name in South Munger is
^ W 3 6 T ^" jalkhr.
The short stick thrown up into fruit-trees to bring down fruit is I f *¶H jhitahdy and also (in Sran) mv^tlagml.
SUBDIVISION II.
I M P L E M E N T USED I N SOWING, WEEDING, AND IRRIGATION.
C H A P T E R I . — B A S K E T S .
4 2 . Baskets are generally woven of bamboo slips or tw.g?. Unless otherwise stated, this may be assumed of all the following.
4 3 . Baskets used specially by the sower are called generally ^ * & T
ord, 3l‡¶rt ori, or 3Rtfëritt oiy (sometimes made partly with the fibre of
the leaves of the tl palm) ; also we meet, to the west, ¶g2t chhaint, and
to the east ^tet chhit (a large one), ¶ftil chitt (a small one), or ^<ft
dau. South of the Ganges, they are also called in Patna q~32T batt
(also in Shahabad) daur, or daur (sometimes made of the
10 B I H A R P E A S A N T L I F E .
East Tirhut) trfa-H pathiyd (also U‘?ed for feeding cattle), and in South
Mungër f*%?TT khanchiyd. The only difference amongst all these is that in the case of the ^i^T daur nd daur, the bottom is woven of
bamboo slips, like a mat.
44» There are likewise several other kinds of baskets, used indis- criminately for this and other domestic and agricultural purposes. Thus, sinaU straw giain-baskets are ^ir*ft changel or *ïpft changeri } and
sometimes ""§Mt dl or ^f^~n daliy, especially towards the east. In Patna and South Mungsr, they are called batari. Another very similar basket (but still smaller) is called very generally "J?f-Jft
maunl or *f†f¶^T maunnigd, also. cfcTS bdll in Patna‚ Gaya‚ and South
Mnger‚ and 1Jntit phulukï in East Tirhut. A largo open basket
made of split&nb