_Brahman, Malwi._--This is a local class of Brahmans from Malwa
in Central India, who are found in the Hoshangabad and Betul
Districts. They are said to have been invited here by the Gond kings of
Kherla in Betul six or more centuries ago, and are probably of impure
descent. Malwa is north of the Nerbudda, and they should therefore
properly belong to the Panch-Gaur division, but they speak Marathi and
their customs resemble those of Maratha Brahmans, who will take food
cooked without water from them. The Malwi Brahmans usually belong to
the Madhyandina branch of the Yajurvedi sect. They work as village
accountants (_patwaris_) and village priests, and also cultivate land.