220 NARSINGHPUR. from foreign raids and domestic exactions, the people have grown rich; and the western part of the District, though the most recently developed, may bear comparison with most similar tracts in India. Population. A rough enumeration in 1866 returned the population of Narsinghpur at 336,796 persons. The more careful Census of 1872 disclosed 339,305. The last enumeration in 1881 returned population of Narsinghpur District at 365.173, showing an increase since 1872 of 25,778, or of 7.6 per cent in nine years. The general results arrived at by the Census of 1881 may be briefly summarized as follows :-Area of District, 1916 square miles, with 2 towns and 985 villages, and 79,765 houses. Total population, 365,173, namely, males 186,635, or 51'i per cent., and females 178,538, or 48:9 per cent. Average density of population, 190persons per square mile; villages per square mile, '52 ; persons per village, 370; houses per square mile, 436; persons per house, 46. Narsinghpur is at once the smallest and the most densely populated District in the Central Provinces. Classified according to sex and age, there were in 1881— under 15 years of age, males 74,2 24, and females 67,807 ; total children, 142,031, or 38.9 per cent of the population : 15 years and upwards, males 112,411, and females 110,731 ; total adults, 223, 142, or 61*1 per cent. Classified according to religion, the Hindus in 188t numbered 305,137, or 83-6 per cent of the population ; Muhammadans, 13,425, or 3.7 per cent.; Kabírpanthis, 411; Satnamis, 14 ; Jains, 2 170 ; Parsis, 3 ; Christians, 103 ; and non-Hindu aboriginal tribes, 43,910, or 12 per cent. of the District population. The total aboriginal population by race is returned at 63,731, of whom 46,645 were Gonds and 15,903 Kawars. Among the Hindus in 1881, Bráhmans numbered 26,696, and Rájputs 15,603; the mass of the Hindu population consisting of the following castes : - Lodhí, 33,197; Dher or Mahar, 18,218; Chamár, 17,988; Dhimar, 14,408; Kachhí, 14,152 ; Ahir, 12,355 ; Kirar, 11,866; Nái, 8043; Telí, 7735 ; Baniya, 7467; Kurmi, 7182 ; Barhái, 5879 ; Sonár, 5311; and Dhobí, 5046. Of the Christian population, 50 are Europeans, 9 Eurasians or Indo-Portuguese, 31 Natives, and 13 unspecified. Owing to their isolation, the residents of the valley hare assumed in dress and appearance a distinct type from that of the picturesque races of Upper India. Though generally well grown, few are conspicuous for stature or physical appearance; nor does their costume become them. Among nien, the favourite colour of the angarkhá or long coat is yellow, with a green shade from the mahui dye. The sleeves are turned back on the wrists, and the waist-cloth is worn on or below the hips. This, with a white turban, constitutes the usual dress of a prosperous peasant. The chicís affect the Maráthá turban, tied so
