THE STANDARD BUDGET ADOPTED FOR THE
SECOND GROUP
As in the case of the Kaliparaj group, we collected
weekly budgets of a few families of different castes includ-
ed in this group. Some of these budgets were written by
the heads of families under our supervision and instruction
from day to day, and others were prepared by ourselves
after daily visits to the families concerned. Unfortunately,
this was an off season when there is usually little field-work
to be done. Consequently in accordance with the custom
prevalent among these castes many persons had come as
guests. We, therefore, find in some of the budgets rich
meals prepared by the family to entertain such guests.
Moreover it is necessary to remember that these budgets
relate to families whose heads could appreciate such an
enquiry, and such persons, as in the case of the first group,
were naturally above the average. Again, the diet that
the average family of the group takes is not as varied or
rich as is revealed by some of these budgets.
A minute study of these budgets supplemented by con-
versation with different members of this group leads us to
the following conclusions regarding the diet of the people
comprising this group :
(i) The staple food of these people, like that of the first
group is rice, as this is a rice-region.
(ii) The food-grain next in importance varies slightly
with different castes but mainly with their economic condi-
tion. A few families like the Rajputs, Suthars^ Darjis and
some Mahommedans use jowar or rice-flour. But the
majority of this group, namely, the Kolis and others use
Nagli-flour in the form of loaves.
(iii) Other items of- expenditure are similar to those of
the first group, except that mutton and fish and a few luxu-
ries like dishes of 'lapsi*1 or milk and ghee occur in this
group.
1 Wheat pieces mixed with sugar or gul and ghee.