BUSTAR, a district and dependency in Central India, surrounded by the Teling in the south, Khond and Mari Gond on the east, and Hindus to the north. It lies westward of the state of Jey pore, and has the Godavery for its southern boundary. In length it is about 170 miles, and in breadth about 120, with an area of 13,000 square miles. It is a country of plains and plateaux, lofty mountains and fertile valleys, rivers and forests, with a population of about 200,000.
The raja claims to be a Rajput, and the family add Singh to their name. The chief town is J ugilitlpur. Till past the middle of the lOth century, human sacrifices to Dcoteshwari Devi were of frequent occurrence, and at certain festi vals as many as a thousand sheep and buffaloes would be sacrificed to two goddesses. The races consist of the hunting and fishing Tugara or Purja, who will eat anything, from beef and mutton down to rats and snakes. The Gudaea, who subsist by cultivation chiefly, seem much given to dancing and amusement. On holidays, men and women join in dancing to the music of a fife and drum. A ring is formed by all joining
hands ; the company circles round and round, relieved now and then by mighty hops to the centre and back. This finished, a man steps forward, singles out one of the other sex, and banters her about her ugliness, and so forth, and the woman retorts. The Soondee deal extensively in mahwa arrack. The Maria are numerous ; in habit the densest jungles, avoid all contact with strangers, and are so timid that they flee to the hills on the least alarm. They are strong and agile, very expert in the use of the bow, and are a cheerful, light-hearted race. The women tattoo themselves from head to foot. The clothing of the Maria decreases in quantity in direct proportion to the increase of the distance of their abodes from civilisation. They are very inquisitive, sharp observers, apt to learn, and remarkable for their truthfulness and honesty. The savage race in the Bella bills have leaf aprons.