The people of India : A series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan, originally prepared under the authority of the government of India, and reproduced by order of the secretary of state for India in council
Vk icm. Ik A F X .,,< vt . DW ti Ta . R F • ^p^ 7^. X -T2Zr :; ' FINE ARTS ' UBRARY 22 FEB 19/6 tORDOS: PRI!CTRll BY C. WHITIHO, BBACFOBT HOVSB, STKASD. PEEFACE. DURING the administration of Lord Canning, from 1856 to 1863, the interest which had been created in Europe by the remarkable development of the Photographic Art, communicated itself to India, and originated the desire to turn it to account in the illustration of the topography, architecture, and ethnology of that country. There were none, perhaps, in whom this interest was awakened more strongly than in Lord and Lady Canning. It was their wish to carry home with them, at the end of their sojourn in India, a collection, obtained by private means, of photographic illustrations, which might recall to their memory the peculiarities of Indian life. The great convulsion of 1857-58, while it necessarily retarded for a time all scientific and artistic operations, imparted a new interest to the country which had been the scene of, and to the people who had been the actors in these remarkable events. When, therefore, the pacification of India had been accomplished, the officers of the Indian Services, who had made themselves acquainted with the principles and practice of photography, encouraged and patronized by the Governor-General, went forth, and traversed the land in search of interesting subjects. In this way the design soon exceeded the dimensions of a mere private collection; but Lord Canning felt that its importance was sufficient to warrant official sanction and development, and, therefore, placed the matter in the hands of Mr. Clive Bayley, his Home Secretary. Some of the more important results appear in the present work. PREFACE. The photographs were produced Avithout any definite plan, according to local w and personal circumstances, by different officers ; and copies of each plate were sent home to the Secretar}'- of State for India in Council. After a time, it appeared that a sufficient number of illustrations had been received from various parts of India, fairly to represent the different varieties of the Indian races. The negatives remained in India; but fi^om the plates sent home it was easy to produce fi-esh negatives, the prints of which might be multiplied to any extent. The Secretary of State in Council sanctioned this operation, and the work was executed by Mr. W. Griggs, at the India Museum, under the superintendence of Dr. Forbes Watson. In many cases some descriptive account of the tribes represented accompanied the photographs sent fi-om India. These varied greatly in amplitude and value. But on the whole it may be said that they were sufficient to constitute the basis of the sketches contributed by Mr. John R. Melville, Colonel Meadows Taylor, Mr. Kaye, Dr. Forbes Watson, and others. These sketches do not profess to be more than mere rough notes, suggestive rather than exhaustive, and they make no claim to scientific research or philosophic investigation. But although the work does not aspire to scientific eminence, it is hoped that, in an ethnological point of view, it will not be without interest and value. NAMES OF THE GENTLEMEN WHO ARE KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN PHOTOGRAPHING THE DIFFERENT SUBJECTS. DANNENBERG, J. 0. A. DE MONTMORENCY, Lieut. R. H. GODFREY, Rev. E. HOOPER, Lieut. W. W. HOUGHTON, Majoe. McDonald, capt. h. c. MULHERAN, J. OAKES, Capt. RIOHTER, Rev. G. SHEPHERD AND ROBERTSON. SIMPSON, De. B. SWITZER, Dk. B. W. TANNER, Capt. H. C. B. TAYLOR, Capt. C. O. WATERHOUSE Lieut. J. NAMES OF THE AUTHORS OP THE DESCRIPTIVE NOTICES WHICH WERE SENT WITH THE PHOTOGRAPHS FROM INDIA. BEYNON, Capt. W. H. CUNLIFFE, B. DALTON, LiEUT.-CoLONEL E. T. DENNYS, Colonel J. B. GORDON, Capt. A. C. HERVEY, Colonel C. R. W., C.B. HOOPER, W. S. KRISHNASAWMY, S. B. MANDERSON, R. MULHERAN, J. NELSON, Capt. F. PHAYRE, Colonel Sie A. P. POWER, J. RICHTER, Rev. G. SWINTON, A. THOMAS, E. B. THOMSON, Capt. WALTER, Capt.. C. K. M. WATERHOUSE, Lieut. J. It is to be regretted that, in some instances, neither the names of the Photographers, nor of the Authors of the Descriptive Notices, have been forwarded from India. VOL L CONTENTS. No. or SUBJECT or PHOTOGRAPH. \ ^»- 8. \ \ 4&5. ^ 8 s^9: 10 & 11. ^12. ^13. 15, 16, & 17. ^18. ^19. ^22. ^ 28. ^ 24 fi^26. ^26. ^27. ^28. \ ^ 29. 30. ^ 31. ^32. ^33. ^34. "^35. 36, 37,Va, &^38. ^89. ^40. ^ ^ 41,^2, & 43. ^ ^ ^44 & 45.. 46, 47, 48, 49, & 50. ^51. ^53. ^ 54 &^55. TRIBES, CASTE, &c. 80NTHALS; Aboriginal PAHABIS, or PAHAKIAHS ; Supposed Abori- ginal MULLIKS ; Sooneb Mahombdan MUSAHARS ; Low Caste Hindoo RUJWARS ; Low Caste Hindoo DOSADHS; Low Caste Hindoo RAJBANSI; Aboriginal DOMES ; Hindoo (Outcast) AHEER8; Hindoo CHEROOS; Aboriginal COLES; ORAON COLES; Aboriginal . . .. HOS, or LURKA COLES ; Aboriginal .... COLE CHRISTIANS; Aboriginal KOREWAHS; Aboriginal MOONDAHS; Aborginal BHOGTAHS; Aboriginal CHUTTRO RAJAH, and RAJPOOT; Hindoos. RAJPOOT CHRISTIAN KHANTIS, or KHAMTIS ; Wild Frontier Tribe. MISHMIS; Wild Tribe SINGHPHOS ; Frontier Tribe MEREES ; Hill Tribe ' .. KANXANGS ; Hill Tribe MOAMURIAS, or MUTTUCKS ; Hill Tribe .. SONAIS DOOANEAHS ; Mixed Race ........ KACHARIS, or BODOS ; op Tibetan Origin .. NAG AS ; Marauding Tribe KOOKIES ; Robber Tribe MUNIPOOREES BHOTANESE ; chiefly of Tibetan Origin . .. BHOTIAS LEPCHAS; Aboriginal CHEBOO-LAMA, late Dewan, or Prime Minister of Sikkim LAMA, or BUDDHIST PRIEST TIBETANS;  * Under this heading, locaUty does not always show the place or even the district of birth, though it does so when possible, will explain the origin of the difficulty which occurs in certain cases. The text SONTHALS. THE Sonthals, though belonging to the same race as the Coles, Bheels, and other cognate aborigmal tribes of India, have not, until a comparatively recent period, been settled in the territory which they rendered for a time famous by their rebellion in 1855. They were a wandering race from the neighbourhood of Cuttack and Pulamow, and were permitted in 1832 to settle themselves at the foot of the Rajmahal hills, on land which the hillmen would not cultivate. In 1851, they numbered 82,795 souls. They are well made and active men ; possessing the thick lips, high cheek- bones, and spread nose of the Bheel, Cole, and other hill tribes, and nearly beardless; quiet, inoffensive, cheerful, inteUigent, and obliging; timid, cowardly towards mankind, but brave when confronted with wild animals. They are industrious cultivators, and enjoy their existence unfettered by caste ; they eat beef, kid, pork, poultry, drink a spirit called pachui, and have no objection to a hearty dance ; but, on the other hand, do not reftise to eat even snakes, ants, frogs, and field rats, when better diet is scarce. The Sonthal women are fat and short, and though not pretty according to the European idea of beauty, have a very pleasing expression of countenance. The men are generally five feet six inches in height, and weigh about eight stone. The dress of the men is a small piece of cloth roimd the loins, that of the women an ample flowing cloth, one end of which is fastened round the waist, the other passed over the left shoulder, leaving the right shoulder and arm uncovered ; the women are fond of such simple ornaments as they can afford (and by no means particular as to weight ; one woman's bell-metal ornaments weighed thirty-four pounds !) the men wear small zinc ear-rings, finger rings, and sometimes a wrist bangle of iron ; the hair in both male and female is worn long, and tied in a knot on the crown of the head. Their reUgious observances are few, consisting of prayers, sacrifices, and dances " the whole of which are generally performed and attended to by the votaries whilst in a state of intoxication." They pray chiefly for protection from famine and sickness, from disease among their cattle, and for defence from wild animals and SONTHALS. snakes. To propitiate their invisible deity, they sacrifice buffaloes, pigs, goats, and poultry, sprinkling the blood of the victim over the offerings of the worshippers. The flesh is eaten by the persons invited to the feast, which generally terminates in debauchery, stimulated by a wild dance. (For an amusing description of the dance, consult Asiatic Journal^ vol. xx., p. 553, and of the sacrifice, p. 570*). The marriages mostly take place once a year, in January : for six days all the candidates for matrimony Uve in promiscuous concubinage, " afler which the whole party are supposed to have paired off* as man and wife ; feasting and drinking according to the abiUty of each couple, closes the ceremony.*' The famiHes are large, " averaging, perhaps, eight children to each couple." The Sonthals, though armed with no more formidable weapons than bows and arrows, are excellent shots ; " so expert that nothing with life is to be found near their villages when of any standing ;" the bear falls an easy prey, and Captain SherwiU mentioned having seen running hares and even birds on the wing, brought down by them ; these latter with blunted or knobbed arrows. The country now inhabited by the Sonthals (the capital of which is Burhait) is situated south of the Ganges, in lat. 26^ N., and long. 87^ W. * Implements of agriculture, p. 579 ; Mineral produce of country, p. 570, &c. so NT HAL. ABORIGINAL. UGULPORE HILLS. SONTHALS. ABORIGINAL. BHAUGULPORE HILLS. PAHAEIS OR PAHARIAHS (BHAUGULPOOR). THE Paharis or Pahariahs of Bhaugulpoor are a race, inhabiting the hiQy and jungly country (the name signifies hilhnan) of that large territory. • The Pahariah is much shorter than the Sonthal, shghter in make, nearly, if not quite beardless, and of a much less cheerful disposition than his neighbour, with whom he contrasts unfavourably also on the score of industry. His great delight is to lounge in the nearest markets, decked out with beads and chains, his hair fastidiously oUed, combed, and ornamented. He cultivates as Uttle land as possible, preferring to imdergo the fatigue of hunting, travelling for miles to get a shot at a deer or peacock, or in roaming about in search of honeycombs, wild yams, or other edible roots. His religion consists in the adoration of an invisible spirit called Bedo Gosain, who made heaven and earth ; and is worshipped through the medium of various gods, visible and invisible, the former being wooden images, stones, trees, heaps of bones, and skulls of wild animals. He beUeves in a future state in the form of transmigration: the good, after a short period of happiness with Bedo Gosain, being bom again to positions of great wealth and power ; the bad being condemned for many years to inhabit |the vegetable kingdom, or in graver cases to be bound and suffer eternal punishment in pits filled with fire and maggots. The Paharis encourage polygamy, the maximum number of wives being four. The re-marriage of widows is allowed ; and fornication in either sex is punished by fine, sacrifice, and consequent feasting. They are largely employed as coolies (or luggage bearers) by persons travelling between the hill and plain country. PAHARI. SUPPOSED ABOR G I N A L. BHAUGULPORE h ILLS. 3. THE MULLIKS. THE Mulliks are considered by other tribes of Mahomedans a distinct race. The ignorant think that they are of giant origin; but learned Mahomedans suppose that they were degenerate Hindoo Eajpoots who embraced Islam in the reign of Mahomed Ghoree. There is, however, no certain information as to their true origin or genealogy ; but that they are a distinct race is universally admitted. The Mulliks themselves are ignorant of their genealogy, and object to being questioned about it. Those who can read and write Persian and Oordoo are generally decent and tractable persons, and often hold offices under Government; but the generality of the Mulliks are a turbulent people, addicted to the use of toddy, and apt to commit all kinds of atrocities while under its effects. They are chiefly employed in the management of landed property, and fill the subordinate offices of Brahils, Village Gomashtas, and Peeadas. They profess the Mahomedan reUgion according to the Soonee tenets ; but have no particular article of diet. They make a mystery of their peculiar marriage rites, which are performed by their females in a most secret manner, but they are not allowed to form marriage alliances with the other Mussulman sects. The Mulliks reside chiefly in the province of Behar. They cultivate land, and the wealthy among them possess extensive landed property. M U L L I C K. SOONEE MAHOMEDAN. B E H A R. MULLICKS. SOONEE MAHOMEDANS. BEH AR. 5. THE descriptive particulars respecting the Musahars will be supplied on a separate slip for insertion on this page. MUSAH AR. LOW CASTE HINDOO. BE H AR, EUJWAKS. 13 UJWARS, or Eajwars^ are a race, supposed (like the Boonyas, with whom JLt; they have much in common) to be aboriginal. They occupy the south- eastern hills of Behar. During the Mahomedan rule in the province of Behar, they were much employed in guarding the passes of the hills, and possessed hold- ings of land rent free in payment for their services in this respect. Since the resumption of these holdings they have taken to a vagabond life ; and, their means of subsistence being precarious, they are addicted to robbery and thieving. Great numbers of them are little better than slaves of the various Zemindars of the districts adjoining their native hills. Rice is their chief diet. They have few prejudices of caste, and eat swine, and even the dead bodies of animals. Those, however, who become disciples (Bhuggut) of the Gooroos, abstain from animal food. They are great drunkards, and indulge in a Hquor called Omedha daroo, which is prepared by allowing rice and other grain to stand in water until it decomposes and ferments in the sun. The Rujwars are diArided into numerous clans, the head men of which are called Bhogtas. R U J W A R. LOW CASTE HINDOO. B E H A R. 7. THE descriptive particulars respecting the Dosadhs will be suppKed on a separate slip for insertion on this page. DOS ADH. LOW CASTE HINDOO. BEH AR. D S A D H 3. LOW CASTE HINDOOS. B E H A R. 9. EAJBANSL RAJBUNSI or Rajbansi is the modem name of a people of Kocch-Behar, originally belonging to the great Kocch tribe, from which Kocch— commonly called Kocch-Behar — took its name. Their territory originally extended from 88^ to 93^ E. long., and from 25^ to 27^ N. lat, and in union with the Mecch or Bodo tribe, they were long successftil in keeping out the invading Moslems, Bhootanese, and Assamese. But the grandson of the chief who originated this policy of union, cast off the Bodos, and, with all the people of condition, apostatized to Hinduism : ** the country was renamed Bihar, the people Rajbansis, or descendants of princes," (see Journal Asiatic Society^ Bengal^ vol. vii., p. 1 2), so that only the lowest of the people " could tolerate the very name of Kocch, and most of these being reftised a decent status under the Hindu regime, yet infected with the disposition to change, adopted Islam in preference to helot Hinduism. Thus the mass of the Kocch people became Mahomedans, and the higher grades Hindus ; both style themselves Rajbansis ; a remnant only endure the name of Kocch, and of these but a portion adheres to the language, creed, and customs of their forefathers." RAJ B ANSI- ABORIGINAL, NOW H NDOOS. B E H A R. 10. R A J B A N S t S. ABORIGINAL, NOW HINDOOS. B e H A R, 11. DOMES. THE complexion and mode of life of the Domes indicate the difference of tliis race from all the other classes of people residing in Behar. There are no means of obtaining any information which may throw hght upon their early history ; suffice it to say that the Hindoos admit their claim to antiquity. Their designation in the Shastras is Sopuckh, meaning dog-eaters. They are found in every village in Behar, though they have fixed habitations nowhere. They profess the Hindoo religion, and worship Baho, Sookdeo, and the Debee. They eat the food prepared by all the Hindoo castes, excepting Dhobee (washerman) and Chamar (shoemaker). They make bamboo baskets, mats, and chicks, or blinds, by which they earn about two annas per diem ; but are so fond of drinking, that they spend nearly the whole of it in spirits, and lead a most miserable life, httle better than that of a mendicant or Fuqueer. They receive alms from the Hindoos during the ecUpses of the sun and moon. They also supply fire to the funeral pile, for which they are rewarded according to the circumstances in life of those who buy it from them. They always snatch away the upper covering of a Hindoo corpse as soon as it is placed near the pile. These cloths they sell at very cheap prices to procure Uquor. In short, they are employed in most menial offices, and bear a bad character. They have often been convicted and punished as robbers, &c. Their chief diet is rice and dholl ; they eat swine, as well as the dead bodies of all quadrupeds. Swine are killed at their weddings, and are considered a great luxury. Notwithstanding profligate habits many of them attain the age of eighty or ninety ; and it is not till sixty or sixty-five that their hair begins to get white. (MS. Documents.) DOME. HI N DOO OUTCASTE. B E H A R. 12. (13) AN Aheer, according to Menu, is of mixed origin, the offspring of a Brahmin father and of a woman of the Ambashtha, or medical, caste. The Abhiras, however, were a pastoral tribe, who settled, about the beginning of the Christian era, on or near the lower course of the Indus, on a tract known to classical geographers as the Abiria of Ptolemy, lymg north of the Sahyadic mountain, and of Syrastrena From the pastoral habits of the tribe, its name, in a more or less corrupted form, came to be generally applied to the shepherds and cowherds of Hindostan. They form a distinct caste, and are especially numerous in the north-western provinces, where they are distinguished as three races, acknowledging no other connection than the name of Ahir, which is common to aU. The three races are the Nand-bansa (race), Jad- or Yadu-bansa, and Gwal- (Gowala, cowherd) bansa. The first are most numerous in the Central Doab, the second in the Upper Doab and west of the Jumna, the last in the Lower Doab and in the province of Benares. The two first are numerously subdivided, and bear distinctive appellations, taken generally from the place where they reside. Some of the Jad-bansis have embraced Islam, and, in common with certain other tribes, are known as EAngars. Tribes of Ahirs are also numerous in Kajpootana and the Punjab. In the Delhi territory the Ahirs eat, drink, and smoke with Jats and Goojurs, and in some cases with Rajpoots. The several subdivisions intermarry, avoiding only the four families nearest in affinity; and when they are much intermixed, as in the Delhi district, with Goojurs and Jats, they conform to the usage of those tribes in the marriage of the widow of an elder brother to the next in seniority. In some parts of the Bengal territories they are still called Abhirs. The Ahir tribes extended to the centre and south of India. They are believed to have once possessed considerable power as independent princes, in the Deccan and Telingana, and the period of the " shepherd kings " is often referred to in local tradition, as that which preceded the establishment of regular monarchies by Hindu princes. Hill forts are frequently found to bear names traceable to these shepherd AHEER. princes. Yemmee Gooda, the hill of the buffaloes, Yenna Gooda, the hill of butter, Gwalconda, or Golconda, the Shepherd s hill. Gawilgurh, in Berar, Aseergurh, in Khandesh, Gwalior, and many others, no doubt belonged to them, and were, possibly, the capitals of princes of these tribes, originally perhaps, nomadic Scythians. The latest authentic record of princely power among the Ahirs, is probably that of Asa Ahir, of Aseergurh, in Khandesh, whose fort was taken by stratagem, by Nusseer Khan Farookhy, afterwards king of that province, about the year 1410 a.d., when Asa and the whole of his family were cruelly put to death. This "shepherd king'' is related to have possessed the greater part of Khandesh, Berar, and Gondwana, with 5,000 buffaloes, 5,000 cows, and 20,000 sheep ; all of which, with his family jewels, and his territory, became the spoil of his Mahomedan conqueror, who rebuilt Asa's fort, calling it Aseerghur, as contracted from Asa-Ahir-Ghur, or the fort of Asa Aheer, which was, no doubt, its original appellation. The tribes of Ahirs and Gwallas, of Berar and KLandesh, are still very numerous, and have stations in the Satpoora and other mountain ranges, where they pasture their large herds of cattle during the greater part of the year. Among these tribes, many curious traditions of ancient greatness still exist. AHEER. HINDOO. SHAHABAD. 13. THE CHEROOS. THE Cheroos of the present day call themselves children of the Moon, " Chun- drobuns," wear the " Janeo/' or Brahminical thread, and declare themselves to be a branch of the Westem Chutrees. Their origin is not ascertained. The most distinguished of the race in modem times were the Rajahs of Palamow. According to the family records they were formerly chiefs of Kumaon, and conquered Bhojpore in the Arrah district, expelling the Rajah of that country. There they reigned for six generations, till driven out by a stronger tribe ; they then, some 250 years ago, invaded Palamow, driving fi'om thence the Rajpoot Rajah, who was of the Ruksale family, and who took refuge in Sirgoojah. In Palamow they con- structed two extensive forts of brick ; the first built was abandoned in consequence of some unlucky occurrence during its construction, this led to the building of the second, which is a stupendous work, large enough to contain a small town within its lofty walls. Here the last independent Rajah attempted to hold out against a British force, but the fort was breached by artillery, and he then surrendered. The last of the race died childless, but there are three collateral branches now in existence, and Baboo Hiu* Buksh Rae, represented in the photograph, is the proprietor of the estate consisting of 370 villages, descended to him through the second of these branches. He is consequently a Cheroo of the best blood. CH EROO ABORIGINAL (HINDOO). PALAMOW. 14. THE COLES OF CHOTA NAGPOEE. THE country called Chota or Chootea Nagpore is the larger portion of an extensive plateau 2,000 feet above the level of the sea, on which are the sources of the Coel, the Soobunrekha, the Damodur, and other less known Indian rivers. The plateau is fenced in most places by a Une of hills, some of which attain a height of upwards of 3,000 feet The whole surface is undulating, sometimes gently, and sometimes abruptly, and the scenery is further diversified by interior ranges of hills, and the protrusion of vast rocks of granite, either in great globular masses, or in huge fragments piled up in most fantastic shapes. The total area is estimated at 4,468 square miles, with a population of 645,359 souls, of whom about one-half are what are known to Europeans by the name of Coles. The word Col or Kol is an epithet of opprobrium appKed to these tribes by the Hindoos. It is a Sanscrit word, meaning pig or out-cast, and its ftirther employ- ment as a name for a people ought, as Major Dalton, the chief local authority, justly remarks, to be interdicted. It includes many tribes, but the people of Chota Nagpore, to whom it is generally appUed, are either Moondahs or Oraons ; and though the two races are found in many parts of the country occupying the same villages, cultivating the same fields, celebrating together the same festivals, and enjoying the same amusements, they do not intermarry. The uniform tradition in Chota Nagpore is, that the Moondahs were the first settlers, and thus acquired certain proprietary rights in the soil, which they are most tenacious of to this day. In nearly every village are found descendants of these first settlers, who are called "Bhooyhars," land^learers^ and their lands, called " Bhooyharee," are very Hghtly assessed at fixed rates, or, in some instances, held rent-fi"ee. In ancient times the Coles acknowledged no Eajah, but the country was divided into groups of villages called " Purhas," under chiefs who occasionally met and took counsel together as a confederacy. Traces of this old division ar^ still found. The THE COLES OF CHOTA NAGPORE. representative of the old chief of the " Purha " is still in some places amongst themselves styled Rajah, and a meeting of the " Purha " is called whenever it becomes necessary to take into consideration any breach of social observances by one of the tribe. The Moondahs, the Coles of Singbhoom (called also the Lurka or fighting Coles, but properly the " Ho " tribe), the Sonthals, the Korewahs, and the Kheniahs, are all kindred tribes, speaking the same language, and having many customs in common. The Oraons, who also call themselves Coonkhur, are not of the same family ; their language, which is quite different from the Moondah, shows that they are of common origin Tvdth the Hill-men of Rajmehal. No other tribe with which they can claim near affinity is kno\\Ti. According to their own tradition, they migrated ages ago from Goojerat, entered the Rhotas hills and Rewah, and when driven from thence, found themselves, after many wanderings, on the Chota Nagpore plateau, and being a peaceable and industrious race, they were well received by the Moondahs, and found no difficulty in obtaining firom them permission to settle. Since that period the two races appear to have lived harmoniously together, assimilated to each other in customs, joining together in amusements, sports, and ceremonies, so that to a casual observer they appear like one people ; but, as before stated^ they never intermarry, and each race retains its physical pecuhaiities. Physically, the Moondahs are the finer race of the two ; they are taller, fairer, better proportioned, and have more intellectual features. The Oraons are generally a dark-complexioned, short, thick-set race, with round, good-humoured faces of rather a lower type ; but neither are wanting in inteUigence. The Oraons are the more industrious and energetic ; and it is generally people of their tribe that, under the denomination Dhangur, are employed on great works in all parts of India and in the colonies. The Moondahs mostly love their ease and then- lands too much to become voluntary wanderers. The Coles are frequently spoken of as a wild Hill race Uving in a jungly country. In reality, they are not far, if at all, behind the agricultural classes of Lower Bengal in point of civihzation ; their country is for the most part highly cultivated, and they generally five in villages sheltered by mango and tamarind groves of most venerable and picturesque appearance. The Oraons and Moondahs dispose of their dead in the same manner. They bum the body near some stream or tank, collecting the ashes in an earthen vessel, which they bury. Afler a lapse of three years the vessel is taken up, and amidst a curious medley of singing and weeping, lamenting and dancing, re-buried under a large flat stone previously procured and placed in position alongside of those which mark the graves of the deceased's forefathers in the village cemetery. In marriages, the Moondahs preserve many ceremonies which the Oraons do THE COLES OF CHOTA NAGPORE. not recognise ; some of these are singular. Preliminaries having been settled^ the chief brings the price that is to be paid for the girl, which, in Chota Nagpore, varies from seven to ten rupees. The bride (always an adult girl), and the bridegroom, are seated amongst a circle of their friends, who sing whilst the bridesmaids rub them both with turmeric. This over, they are taken outside and wedded, not yet to each other, but to two trees ; the bride to a muhoowa tree, the bridegroom to a mango. They are made to touch the tree with " Sindoor " (red powder), and then to clasp it in their arms. On returning to the house, they are placed standing face to face on a curry stone, under which is a plough yoke supported on sheaves of straw or grass. I'he bridegroom stands ungallantly treading on his bride's toes, and in this position touches her forehead with ** Sindoor." She touches his forehead in the same manner. The bridesmaids then pour over the head of each a jar of water. This necessitates a change of raiment. They are taken into an inner apartment to effect this, and do not emerge till morning. Next morning they go down to the river or to a tank with their companions, and parties of boys and girls form sides under the bride and bridegroom, and pelt each « other with clods of earth. The bridegroom next takes a water vessel and conceals it in the stream; this the bride must find ; then she conceals it for him to find. She then takes it up filled with water and places it on her head. She lifbs her arm to support her pitcher, and the bridegroom, then standing behind her with his bow strung, and the hand that grasps it lightly resting on her shoulder, shoots an arrow between her arm and the pitcher. The girl walks on to where the arrow falls, and, with head erect, stiU supporting the pitcher, picks it up with her foot and restores it to her husband. What is meant by the battle of the clods and the " hide and seek " for the water vessel, is not apparent, but the meaning of the rest is plain. The bride shows that she can adroitly perform her domestic duties, and knows her duty to her husband, and in discharging an arrow to clear her path of an imaginary foe, the latter recognizes his duty to protect her. In the Oraon marriages many of these symboUcal ceremonies are omitted, and the important one of exchanging the " Sindoor " is differently performed. Very few Coles indulge in the luxury of two wives at a tune, but there appears to be no law against a pluraUty, if the man can afford to maintain more than one. The Coles, whether of the Moondah or Oraon tribe, are passionately fond of dancing, and it is as much an accomplishment with them as it is with the civiUzed nations of Europe. They have a great variety of dances, and in each steps and figures are used of great intricacy, and performed vnth a neatness and precision only to be acquired by great practice. Children, once on their legs, immediately set to work at the dancing steps, and the result of this early training is that, however difficult the step and mazy the dance, the limbs of the girls move THE COLES OF CHOTA NAGPORE. as if they belonged to one body. The Coles have musical voices, and a great variety of simple melodies. The dances are seen to greatest advantage at the great periodical festivals called " Jatras." These are held at appointed places and seasons, and when the day comes, all take a hohday and proceed to the spot in their best array. The approach of the groups from the different villages, with their banners and drums, yaktails, waving horns, and cymbals sounding, marshalled into alternate ranks of boys and girls, all keeping perfect step and " dress " — ^boys and girls, with head- dresses of feathers and with flowers in their hair, the numerous brass ornaments of the young men glittering in the sun — has a very pleasing effect In large villages where there are Oraons, or a mixture of Oraons and Moondahs, there is a building opening on the " arena" called a " Dhoomcooriah," in which all the unmarried men and boys of the village are obliged to sleep. Anyone absenting himself and sleeping elsewhere in the village is fined. In this building the flags, musical instruments, and other " property " used at the festivals, are kept. They have a regular system of fagging in the "Dhoomcooriah." The small boys have to shampoo the limbs of their luxurious masters, and obey all orders of the elders, who also systematically bully them, to make them, as is alleged^ hardy. In some villages the unmarried girls have a house to themselves, an old woman being appointed, as a duenna, to look after them. There is very Kttle restriction on the social intercourse between the young men and the girls. If too close an intimacy be detected, the parties are brought before the " Purha " and fined, and if the usual arrangements can be effected, they are made to marry. If a girl is known to have gone astray with a " Dikko," or stranger, she is turned out of the village, and will not be allowed to associate with her former companions, unless her parents can afford to pay a very heavy fine for her re-admission, and then the damsel must submit to have her head shaved, as a punishment to her and warning to others. (Information supplied by Major Dalton.) ORAON COLE. ABORIGINAL. CHOTA NAGPOOR, 15. ORAON COLE FEMALE. ABORIGINAL. CHOTA NAQPOOR, 16. t COLE NATIONAL DANCE. OH OTA NAQPOOR. THE HO TEIBE, OTHEEWISE CALLED THE LUKKA OR FIGHTING COLES OF SINGBHOOM. (18) THE Singbhoom district is where the languages spoken by three great divisions of the Hindoo family, the Hindee, Ooria, and Bengallee, approach and blend; but there is a space between the limit of each, a tract of open undulating country surrounded by hills, about sixty miles in length from north to south, and from thirty-five to sixty from east to west, occupied by a people speaking a language having httle affinity with any one of the three, and upon whom no Hindoo doctrine has ever exercised the slightest influence, — a people on whose smiling country covetous eyes have often been directed, but into which no one ever attempted to intrude with impunity. It appears to be a generally received opinion, that the scattered remnants of the primitive tribes found in the hills and forests of Northern and Central India, were the former lords of the more fertile plains from which they were driven as the Aryan race advanced. Most of the Hill races have traditions of such compulsor}^ migrations similar to those of the Oraons or " Coonkhurs " of Chota Nagpore, treated of in a previous note ; but the Moondahs of Chota Nagpore and the Hos of Sing- bhoom, kindred tribes, are in possession of lands as fair as any to be found in India, which they have occupied for ages, and there is no reason for supposing that they were ever forced to retreat before the usurping Hindoos, The tradition of the Oraons indeed, shows that the Moondahs had been long settled in these parts, when they, under pressure from the west, sought and obtained a shelter there. In Chota Nagpore, since its chief adopted Hindooism, his object has been to introduce colonies of Hindoos to support him in the position he chose to assume as a Eajpoot potentate ; and these Hindoo colonists, called " Suds," receiving from him grants of land, including villages of Coles, pushed aside a large proportion of the old settlers, appropriated their lands, and arrogated over the remainder, rights which the Maharajah himself did not possess, and could not have conferred on THE HO TRIBE, them ; but the Hos settled in the heart of Singbhoom have, from the earhest times, proudly held the country of their adoption against all attempts at invasion, and so far as is known, they never submitted to rulers of an alien race, till they were forced to do so by British troops. It was no doubt in retaliation for attacks on their independence, that the Hos became, as they were found to be when brought to our notice in 1819-20, the terror of the inhabitants of the more civilized parts of Singbhoom, and of all the surrounding districts. They attacked and pillaged villages, showing little mercy to the inhabitants, if of the Brahminical race. A long line of Brahmin villages, on the Brahmini river in Gangpore, was laid waste by them, and has remained depopu- lated ever since. No travellers ever ventured to pass through their country, no Brahmin, Rajpoot, or other Hindoo of caste, or Mussulman, was suffered to reside in it. In 1820, Major Roughsedge, the Govemor-Greneral's agent, entered the Colehan at the head of a force consisting of artillery, cavalry, and infantry. He was surprised to find the wild race of whom he had heard such dispa- raging accounts, in possession of an open, undulating^ richly cultivated country^ studded with villages in groves of magnificent tamarind and mango trees^ abounding in unusual indications of rural wealth. He was allowed to enter on this scene unmolested: but the slaughter of some of his camp-followers who had incautiously strayed into one of the villages demonstrated the hostility of the people, and an attempt to capture the murderers, brought about an immediate collision between the Lurkas and our troops. A party of cavahy sent to the offending village were met in the open field by a body of 300 warriors, who undauntedly advanced to meet their charge, rushed between their ranks hacking especially at the horses with their formidable battle-axes, and showing no dis- position to yield or to turn, tiU half their number had been sabred. In the village, where the murder was committed, was found a reserve of sixty men, who fought desperately, and were all kiUed. Eventually the Lurka chiefs, in the immediate vicinity of Chyebassah, reluctantly agreed to acknowledge and pay tribute to the Rajah of Singbhoom. Major Roughsedge met with fiirther opposition firom the Lurkas of the Southern Peers, especially those of Barunda, near Jyuntgurh, and in consequence of their aggressions, the Government determined on the prompt reduction of the Lurkas by a large force which entered Singbhoom during the following month firom different directions, in three columns, under the command of Colonel Richards. After hostilities of about a month's duration, the leaders surrendered and entered into engagements, binding themselves to subjection to the British Government, and agreeing to pay the Rajpoot chiefs at the rate of eight annas (one shilling) for each plough, which was to be raised eventually to one rupee. This engage- THE HO TRIBE. ment was for five years; and in 1826, in consequence of the intermediate good behaviour of the Lurkas, the restriction Kmiting the assessment to eight annas was renewed for a further period of five years. It was noticed at this time that the Lurkas evinced a perfect wilUngness to be guided and ruled by British officers, and the utmost repugnance to the authority arrogated over them by the Singbhoom chiefs. They, however, remained peaceably disposed till 1830, when the Jyunt, Lallgurh, and Aunla Peer Coles attacked the Rajahs officer posted at Jyuntgurh, seized all his property, and drove him fi'om the place. No steps were taken to punish the Coles for this aggression, and it was the com- mencement of an organized system of plunder which was carried on vnth impunity for several years. The chiefs, who claimed their allegiance, could not control them, and it was found that they instigated the Lurkas to ravage the territories of those with whom they were themselves at feud, which of course increased the appetite of the tribe for plunder and rapme. In consequence of this unsatisfactory state of affairs, a proposal made by Captain Wilkinson to employ a force to subdue the " Lurkas" thoroughly, and then to take the whole tribe under the direct management of the British officers, was favourably received by the Government and acted upon. Two regiments of infantry, one of cavalrj'^, and two brigades of guns, entered Singbhoom in November, 1836 ; operations were commenced against the refi-actory Peers, and by February following, all the Mankees and Moondahs (as the heads of Peers and villages are termed) had submitted, and bound themselves by fi'esh engagements to obey and pay revenue to the British Government, and no longer to follow the orders of the chiefs to whom they had been required to submit in 1821. Since 1837, with a brief interval during the crisis of 1857, peace has been undisturbed During this period the Cole or Ho population has rapidly increased, and from the region around Chyebassah, the waste lands have entirely disappeared Colonies of Hindoos are now for the first time quietly settled in the heart of the Colehan ; occupying villages apart from the Hos, and placing themselves without demiu* under the Ho Mankees of Peers, that is, the headmen of divisions or groups of villages. Simple rules for the administration of justice were drawn up, which, as now modified, bring the people and their officers together without the intervention of subordinate native officials. Attempts were also made to wean the Hos from the direfiil superstitions that act as the great obstacle to their advancement in civiliza- tion : and with this view a school was estkblished at Chyebassah. The belief in sorcery, so common among wild races, is nowhere more universal than among the Hos ; death used to be the invariable punishment for supposed witchcraft. When a belief is entertained that sickness in a family or mortality amongst cattle, or other misfortune has been brought about by sorceiy, a " Sokha," or witch-finder, is employed to find out who has cast the spell. By the Sokhas THE HO TRIBE. various methods of divination are employed. One of the most common is the test by the stone and paila. The " paila " is a large wooden cup used as a measure for grain. It is placed under a flat stone, and becomes a pivot for the stone to turn on. A boy is then seated on the stone, and the names of all the people in the neighbourhood are slowly pronounced ; and as each name is uttered, a few grains of rice are thrown at the boy. When the name of the witch or wizard is mentioned the stone turns and the boy rolls off. There is no necessary collusion between the Sokha and the boy. The motion of the hand throwing rice produces "coma," and the Sokha has, it maybe supposed, suflScient mesmeric power to bring about the required result when he pleases. 