13. Hindoos believe that holy men, by means of great austerities, can attain power to compel the gods to do their bidding.
14. For some account of the modern agitation against cow-killing. See note ante, Chapter 26, note 6.
15. On the sacredness of the Nerbudda see note ante, Chapter 1, note 13.
16. The Holī festival marks approximately the time of the vernal equinox, ten days before the full moon of the Hindoo month Phālgun. The day of the bonfire does not always fall on the 16th of March. It is not considered lucky to begin harvest till the Holī has been burnt. Mr. Crooke holds that 'on the whole, there seems to be some reason to believe that the intention to promote the fertility of men, animals, and crops, supplies the basis of the rites' ('The Holī, a Vernal Festival of the Hindus', Folklore, vol. xxv (1914), p. 83). I agree.
17. The pīpal-tree (Ficus religiosa, Linn.; Urostigma religiosum, Gasp.) is sacred to Vishnu, and universally venerated throughout India.
18. About four hundred thousand persons.
19. Two pice x 400,000 = 800,000 pice, = 200,000 annas, = 12,500 rupees. Even if the author's estimate of the numbers be much too large, the pecuniary result must have been handsome, not to mention the butter and flour.
20. Hindoo sacred books.
[CHAPTER 28]
Pestle-and-Mortar Sugar-Mills—Washing away of the Soil.