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CHAPTER I

The Country and the People

" By that you love the dearest in this world,

As you wish Christian peace to souls departedStand these poor people's friend."- SHAKESPEARE.

HE Bilaspore district, one of the many of the

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Central Provinces of India, is situated between21° 37' and 23° 7' North latitude and 81° 12' and 83°40' East longitude. It has been described as the upperhalf of the basin of the Māhānadi, for all the rivers flowin a southerly direction and ultimately join the watersof the" Great River" which fall into the Bay of Bengal.This district is surrounded on three sides, that is on theNorth, the East, and the West, by a low range of hillsknown as the Maikal Hills, a branch of the great VindyaRange( Appendix A). Standing on the summit of thisnortherly range of hills and looking south, one sees awide expansive plain, stretching out as far as the eyecan see, covered with thousands of villages, and dottedover with innumerable mango groves which appear assmall dark green patches on the extensive panorama.

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