CENTRAL INDIA is occupied by 69 Native States or semi-independent holdings. The rulers of Bhopal and Jaora are of the Muhammadan faith, the other chiefs profess some form of Hinduism. These states are spread through two irregular and detached tracts stretching from west to east across the middle of the continent of India. A straight line drawn from Nemuch, in long. 74° 54' 15" E., to the capital of the Bhopal State, in long. 77° 25' 56", would pass through portions of Gwalior, Jaora, Gwalior, Jhallawar (Rajputana), Gwalior, Dewas, Narsingarh, Bajgarli, Gwalior, to Bhopal. These Native States are in political relation with the Govern ment of British India, conducted by an agent to the Governor-General for Central India and his assistants.
The total area of Central India is square miles, with a population of 9,261,907 souls, or 123.12 persons per square mile. 94 per cent. profess some form of Hinduism, 5 per cent. Muhammadanism, and Jain, Parsec, Christians, Sikhs, and Jews form the other 1 per cent.
Hindus, . . . 7,800,396 Sikhs, 1,45.5 Muhanunadans, 510,718 Aborigines, . . 891,424 Jains, 49,824 Jews, 38 Parsee, 916 Unspecified, . . . . 71 Christians, . . 7,065 The population can best be shown in detail by arranging them as Hindus and Aborigines— The proportions thus being 87.23 females to 100 males.
The race descent is various in the nations, even in the chiefs. The rulers of Rewa, Sohawal, and Koti are Bagbel. Pundela princes rule in Ajai garb, Bijawar, Charkhari, Dattia, Panna, and Urelilia, and other less important though power ful •families in Bundelkhand are Bundela. The maharaja of Urch'ha is the acknowledged head of the Bundela tribe.
The chiefs of Ralam, Sailana, and Sitamau are Rahtor Rajputs, and have a common ancestry, claiming descent from the Jodhpur family. Khichi and Umat Rajputs are in the west from Bundel kliand, and there are small scattered numbers of Kachwaha, and Sesodia Rajputs, with tr Rajputs, in Dhar and Dewas.
?ewa, with an area of about 10,000 square es, has no roads or means of internal corn nication.
i he Jaina, 49,824 in number, are a wealthy amercial people, dwelling in towns, and exercis • much influence over their fellow-townsmen 111 matters bearing on the sanctity of animal . Instances have occurred of their depriving •hole community not only of animal food, but of clean clothes, during periods sacred to their cial faith. They admit of proselytes from the her Hindu castes.
The Chamar are deemed unclean ; to touch them is pollution, and they are rarely allowed to reside within the village.
Baghelkhand and Bundclkhand in the eastern parts of the region include in their population a considerable number of Gond, Kol, and semi-in dependent Baghel.
The Mils in Central India are in the S.W. corner of the Agency.
Kai of Central India occupy the hilly country of Cluttia Nagpur, Mirzapur, Rewa, and Panna. Kol wives eat with their husbands ' • the Kol are passionately fond of dancing, which they cultivate as an accomplishment. They have a peculiar dread of witches, and are very superstitious. The custom of marrying by capture is current amongst them. The young man waylays the girl he has selected to carry off, and brings her to his house. Her relations soon appear, but are satisfied by presents of cows and goats.
The Moghia, 5091 in number, correspond to the Banrior of Rajputana. They are a predatory race, for whose reclamation a special officer has been appointed by Government.
Languages, 19 in number, are spoken in canton ments by 90,811 persons, chiefly Urdu or Hindu stani (71,560), Mahrati (6011), English (5646), and Marwari (3023). The rest are Arabic, Bengali, Afghani. Baluchi, French, German, Gujerati, Hindi, Canarese, Panjabi. Mahrati is the court language at Indore, Gwalior, Dewas, and Dhar, but at the other states Hindi and Rangri.