en by Akbar. As they were without
occupation Akbar then assigned to them the business of making saddles
and bridles for his cavalry and scabbards for their swords. It is not
unlikely that the Jingar caste did really originate or first become
differentiated from the Mochis and Chamars in Rajputana owing to the
demand for such articles, and this would account for the Mochis and
Jingars having adopted Rajput names for their sections, and making
a claim to Rajput descent. The Chitrakars of Mandla say that their
ancestors belonged to Garha, near Jubbulpore, where the tomb of a
woman of their family who became _sati_ is still to be seen. Garha,
which was once the seat of an important Gond dynasty with a garrison,
would also naturally have been a centre for their craft.

Another legend traces their origin from Chitrarekha, a nymph who
was skilled in painting and magic. She was the friend of a princess
Usha, whose father was king of Sohagpur in Hoshangabad. Usha fell
in love with a beautiful young prince whom she saw in a dream,
and Chitrarekha drew the portraits of many gods and men for her,
until finally Usha recognised the youth of her dream in the portrait
of Aniruddha, the grandson of Krishna. Chitrarekha then by her magic
power brought Aniruddha to Usha, but when her father found him in the
palace he bound him and kept him in prison. On this Krishna appeared
and rescued his grandson, and taking Usha from her father married
them to each other. The Chitaris say that as a reward to Chitrarekha,
Krishna promised her that her descendants should never be in want,
and hence members of their caste do not lack for food even in famine
time. [474] The Chitaris are declining in numbers, as their paintings
are no longer in demand, the people preferring the cheap coloured
prints imported from Germany and England.

2. Social customs.

The caste is a mixed occupational group, and those of Maratha,
Telugu and Hindustani extraction marry among themselves. A few wear
the sacred thread, and abstain from eating flesh or drinking liquor,
while the bulk of them do not observe these restrictions.

Among the Jingars women accompany the marriage procession, but not
with the Chitaris.

Widow-marriage is allowed, but among the Maharanas a wife who has lived
with her husband may not marry any one except his younger brother,
and if there are none she must remain a widow. In Mandla, if a widow
marries her younger brother-in-law, half her fi