Note 70 — Chapter VI
Reading edition
The exact figures are:—
Not permitting widow marriage 9,713,087, or 24·05 per cent.
Permitting widow marriage 30,667,081, or 75·95 per cent.
Total Hindus 40,380,168, or 100 per cent.
These figures are, however, subject to the correction that some even of the lower castes partially prohibit widow marriage, and this is represented by the Byâhut section, which appears in many of them. In the whole of the Behâr Provinces (Census Report, 200) the Musahars of the north-eastern area, with only 5·5 per cent. of widows amongst women between 15 and 40 years, are most addicted to widow marriage. The Thârus of Champâran, and the Dhobis, Lohârs and Dusâdhs of North-West Behâr, follow them very closely in this respect. ↑