from their relatives and others purchase it from shopkeep-
ers. By far the most important item of expenditure is
toddy or liquor. The task of computing what an average
family spends on toddy or liquor seemed almost impossi-
ble, for these people have an insatiable desire for drink.
Even the occasions of marriages and deaths are made
mere orgies of toddy and liquor. Though villagers are
usually supposed to spend little on medicine, it is neverthe-
less true in the case of these people that an appreciable
amount is usually spent in paying their medical adviser
who is styled a Bhagat (devotee). When any member of a
family is laid up with fever, the 'Bhagat' is sent for. As
soon as he reaches the cottage of the sick, he declares him-
self to be 'possessed*. As a sign of possession, he shakes
his head and rocks violently, all the while uttering some
weird words which he alone understands. Sometimes he
strikes his patient with the branches of some tree in order
to cure him. Sometimes he gives him the juice of some
leaves or roots. During his visit he is served with toddy or
liquor and given a few coppers as his fee. No expense is
incurred on education as it is imparted free to these people
both in Atgam and Khergam to its immediate east. After
considering all these details like lighting, smoking, use of
intoxicants, medicine and education, we have adopted the
modest sum of Rs. 25 or Rs. 5 per capita for a normal
family of 5 persons as the normal expenditure on other
necessaries.

The following will be the total expenditure, on the
basis of the prices of 1926-27, for a normal family of five
persons :

Man Rs. As. Ps.
Woman Rs. As. Ps.
Child Rs. As. Ps.
Family of 5 persons Rs. As. Ps-

Food Clothing
45 12 0 11 8 0
36 10 0 14 4 0
80 8 0 800
180 0 0 BS 12 0

Other Expenses: including lighting,
smoking, intoxicants, medicines etc. . 25 0 0
Total. . 238 12 5