650 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. [December, 1910.] 



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recognized and at the same time highly interesting tribe called 

 Hajangs, who are found in the North-eastern districts of Bengal 

 among many others, was not noticed. 



The position and the history of the development of castes 

 like the Karal, which is undoubtedly not of very ancient origin, 

 carry in themselves elements and evidence of many more 

 interesting facts than do those of the well established castes. 

 As the real key to the system and formation of castes can only 

 be found by closely studying these comparatively recently 

 formed castes with all the history of transition they possess, 

 they are of really very great importance to the ethnologists. 

 The omissions of these castes, therefore, from census enumera- 

 tions or caste lists are matters of very great regret to ethno- 

 logists. The reason why time and again such lapses are 

 noticed in our census enumeration is, I venture to think, due to 

 the defective system of census operations that exists in India. 

 The most important work in these operations falls ultimately 

 on a class of men who very imperfectly realize the importance of 

 any such detail, and moreover consider the work itself as a 

 perfect nuisance, as it interferes with their legitimate work 

 and calling. Nor is there any provision to encourage any con- 

 spicuously good and intelligent work shown by any of them. 

 To enumerators, therefore, who are the masters of entries 

 under the column of caste schedule, it will continue to be 

 regarded as a thankless task. Undoubtedly this is the time 

 when our members can render some good service to ethnology 

 by interesting themselves in the work of the present census, 

 which is to be completed by March next. Some years ago the 

 Society organized an Ethnographical Bureau, but I am afraid 

 most of our members have forgotten all about it as we do not 

 hear anything of it nowadays. I hope this short note will 

 attract the notice of some of our members, and that some of 

 them may help the census officers during the present tabulation 

 to attain a better standard of ethnographical data than other- 

 wise they would be able to reach. 



