122 IN THE INDIAN JUNGLE. 



savage tribes inhabiting this wild region, and 

 the records of the criminal courts at Ranchee 

 and Chyebassa show that instances of these 

 horrible practices are not unknown even at the 

 present day. The tribes inhabiting this tract of 

 country are chiefly of Kolarian descent, supposed 

 by some to be the oldest of the races which in- 

 vaded India from the North-East ; by others, the 

 aborigines of the country. 



The particular district I was prospecting is, 

 perhaps, the least known part of this wild region. 

 The hills here rise to over four thousand feet in 

 elevation and are covered with dense vegetation. 

 Few and far between are the small patches of 

 cultivation surrounding the huts of a few Lurka 

 Khols, Bhumijs and Gonds. It is in fact the 

 boast of the Raja of one of these States that 

 he can ride forty miles in a direct line within 

 his dominions without seeing human habitation. 

 Wheeled traffic is unknown on the uplands, and 

 it was with the greatest difficulty that my camp 

 baggage had been transported thus far on pack 

 bullocks. My little hill tent had been pitched 

 on the banks of the Korsua, an affluent of the 

 Brahmini river, in Bonai, and I was working up 

 towards the Keonjur frontier. It was mid- 

 day. We had done a heavy tramp along the 

 banks of the little stream, washing a dish or 

 two of earth as we went, in all likely - looking 

 places. The yellow metal was scarce, and beyond 

 a " colour or two " our day's work had been 

 blank. I had with me Mookroo, my Khol handy- 



