ammadans. In order to please him they
took food with Muhammadans, and on this account the Kunbis put them out
of caste until they should purify themselves. But as there were a large
number of them, they did not do this, and have remained a separate
caste. The real derivation of the name is unknown, but the caste say
that it is _be-dar_ or 'without fear,' and was given to them on account
of their bravery. They have now obtained a warrant from the descendant
of Shankar Acharya, or the high priest of Sivite Hindus, permitting
them to describe themselves as Put Kunbi or purified Kunbi. [253]
The community is clearly of a most mixed nature, as there are also
Dher or Mahar Bedars. They refuse to take food from other Mahars and
consider themselves defiled by their touch. The social position of
the caste also presents some peculiar features. Several of them have
taken service in the army and police, and have risen to the rank of
native officer; and Rao Sahib Dhonduji, a retired Inspector of Police,
is a prominent member of the caste. The Raja of Surpur, near Raichur,
is also said to be a Bedar, while others are ministerial officials
occupying a respectable position. Yet of the Bedars generally it is
said that they cannot draw water freely from the public wells, and in
Nasik Bedar constables are not considered suitable for ordinary duty,
as people object to their entering houses. The caste must therefore
apparently have higher and lower groups, differing considerably
in position.

2. Subdivisions and marriage customs.

They have three subdivisions, the Maratha, Telugu and Kande Bedars. The
names of their exogamous sections are also Marathi. Nevertheless
they retain one or two northern customs, presumably acquired from
association with the Pindaris. Their women do not tuck the body-cloth
in behind the waist, but draw it over the right shoulder. They wear
the _choli_ or Hindustani breast-cloth tied in front, and have a hooped
silver ornament on the top of the head, which is known as _dhora_. They
eat goats, fowls and the flesh of the wild pig, and drink liquor, and
will take food from a Kunbi or a Phulmali, and pay little heed to the
rules of social impurity. But Hindustani Brahmans act as their priests.

Before a wedding they call a Brahman and worship him as a god, the
ceremony being known as Deo Brahman. The Brahman then cooks food in the
house of his host. On the same occasion a person specially nominated
by the Brahm