Papers Relating to the Aboriginal Tribes of the Central Provinces

About The Book : The aboriginal tribes of the Central Provinces was not left by its author in exactly the shape in which it is now presented. It appears from the autograph manuscript that he first composed an Essay on the aboriginal tribes of the Nagpore country before the incorporation of that territory in the present Central Provinces. Afterwards he enlarged his design so as to morals the whole of these Provinces; and he obtained more specific information regarding the subdivisions of the Gond tribe in particular. This induced him to amplify that portion of the essay which related to the Gonds, and to include among the Gonds proper two tribes (the Madias and the Kolams ), which he had reckoned among the other aborigines. For these, or for some such reasons, he began to rewrite his essay. But at the time of his death, he had proceeded only so far as the specification of ten out of the twelve subdivisions of the Gonds. Thus there are two manuscripts the first, being the original, carried to its conclusion; the second, being the rewritten, or revised essay, curried only a short way into the subject. To the essay, as now published, are appended as foot notes various annotations taken from Mr. Hislop's manuscript. Some hesitation was felt in ordering the publication of these notes, for they were incomplete at the time of the author's death; it was often very difficult to decypher them; and sometimes they contain references to authorities not now obtainable at Nagpore, and, therefore, are not always capable of being verified. But so far as verification has been practicable, it has been made. And though the notes are not by any means what they would have been had they been finished, still they have been put into a readable shape : and, even with their unavoidable imperfections, they may be useful, and may, at least, give some idea of Mr. Hislop's minute and extensive research.