his cattle. [205]

13. Worship of cattle.

Naturally also the Banjaras worshipped their pack-cattle. [206] "When
sickness occurs they lead the sick man to the feet of the bullock
called Hatadiya. [207] On this animal no burden is ever laid, but
he is decorated with streamers of red-dyed silk, and tinkling bells
with many brass chains and rings on neck and feet, and silken tassels
hanging in all directions; he moves steadily at the head of the convoy,
and at the place where he lies down when he is tired they pitch their
camp for the day; at his feet they make their vows when difficulties
overtake them, and in illness, whether of themselves or their cattle,
they trust to his worship for a cure."

14. Connection with the Sikhs.

Mr. Balfour also mentions in his paper that the Banjaras call
themselves Sikhs, and it is noticeable that the Charan subcaste say
that their ancestors were three Rajput boys who followed Guru Nanak,
the prophet of the Sikhs. The influence of Nanak appears to have been
widely extended over northern India, and to have been felt by large
bodies of the people other than those who actually embraced the Sikh
religion. Cumberlege states [208] that before starting to his marriage
the bridegroom ties a rupee in his turban in honour of Guru Nanak,
which is afterwards expended in sweetmeats. But otherwise the modern
Banjaras do not appear to retain any Sikh observances.

15. Witchcraft.

"The Banjaras," Sir A. Lyall writes, [209] "are terribly vexed
by witchcraft, to which their wandering and precarious existence
especially exposes them in the shape of fever, rheumatism and
dysentery. Solemn inquiries are still held in the wild jungles where
these people camp out like gipsies, and many an unlucky hag has been
strangled by sentence of their secret tribunals." The business of
magic and witchcraft was in the hands of two classes of Bhagats or
magicians, one good and the other bad, [210] who may correspond to
the European practitioners of black and white magic. The good Bhagat
is called Nimbu-katna or lemon-cutter, a lemon speared on a knife
being a powerful averter of evil spirits. He is a total abstainer
from meat and liquor, and fasts once a week on the day sacred to the
deity whom he venerates, usually Mahadeo; he is highly respected and
never panders to vice. But the Janta, the 'Wise or Cunning Man,' is
of a different type, and the following is an account of the devilry
often enact