Indische Palaographie von circa 350 a. Chr. – circa 1300 p. Chr. c48.s6.14.3

c48.s6.14.3

This phase soon passed, and the Bhīl is now a recognised part of the establishment in the eastern villages of Gujarāt. The Bhīl worships the wood-spirits, and in the west, at least, erects posts to them in the jungle, sacrificing fowls and other offerings through a priest, generally of the tribe, whose duty on other occasions is to discover the witches who seem to be peculiarly active in this community. Some of the eastern Bhīls have been converted to Islām, especially those of the Taḍvī clan, but their observance of its tenets are very half-hearted, and the women especially, keep to their former practices. In former days the Bhīls held a good part of the country north of their present hills, and were driven out by the Rājputs under pressure of the Muslim. Even now, they receive the respect due to their former repute, an instance of which was given above in connection with the enthronement of a Rājput Chief. There is strong reason to think that the tribe was reinforced by the incorporation of refugee Rājputs, who have left their mark upon certain clans of Bhīl, especially in the south of Rājputāna. In fact, the connection between the two is said to have resulted in the formation of the Bhilālā, now a separate tribe.