1922.} Indian Science Congress. 1.8.C. 153 
wars and Bharias included amongst Kolarians. In point of 
strength the Dravidians as exhibited by these tribes far out- 
weigh the Kolarians, the former numbering 30 lacs against 
15 of the latter. It is note-worthy that the Kolarians have 
much more assimilated with the Hindus than the Dravidians. 
In fact it is very difficult to differentiate Kawars, Binjhwars, 
Sawars and Bharias from low caste Hindus. These people 
have absolutely lost their languages, if they had any, and their 
manners and customs have undergone great changes. In Cen- 
tral India even Kols have forgotten their languages which is 
preserved by their brethren in Chutiya Nagpur. Thus it is 
only Korkus amongst the main tribes of Kolarians who speak 
their primitive tongue. On the other hand the two main 
tribes of Dravidians mentioned above have retained their 
languages even in the remotest corners. True, there are thou- 
sands of Gonds who speak only Hindi. And yet the persist- 
ence with which the primitive tongue has held its own in the 
midst of very unfavourable surroundings goes to show that 
languages die hard, and are the best index of the tribal unity, 
if not identity. 
I will now try to give you a glimpse of these nine Central 
Indian tribes, and leave you to judge where they shou find 
back to 
u a 
14th century. Surely three million Gonds did not start agen 
in order to strike the great Kalachuris of Tripuri in their own 
homes and oust them for their errand ately 
again and again during the period immediate!) ‘ : 
exodus. in fact the cret-aaceatat of the ruling irage ——. 
ing to tradition, was a mere adventurer and got the t 
i bulpore country having no 
through luck. The king of the Jabba aa of his successor 
male issue was advised to leave the se 
The bird alighted on the head of one Jadoral, a som 
south of the Godavari and the king g@ “pe 
and kingdom. Even the beginning of the Chris 
