6 Notes of a tour in the Tributary Melrals. [No. 1, 



Moonclah race. It is I think highly prohable that the chiefs of Boftai 

 and GTangpore were originally Bhooyas who becoming leaders of their 

 people and Rajahs, and allying themselves by marriages with other 

 Rajahs were gradually admitted into the fraternity of Rajpoots or 

 Khettrees. It may be said indeed of both of them, that the inter- 

 marriage with families of better certified Khettree descent has not yet 

 obliterated their Bhooya lineaments, for they bear a very remarkable 

 likeness to that race in feature. 



GANGPORE. 



This is a very extensive estate lying between Chota-Nagpore, Jush- 

 pore, Oodeypore, Sumbulpore, Bamra, Bonai and Singbhoom. It is 

 kidney-shaped. Its greatest length from east to west is about 97 

 miles, and in breadth from north to south it varies from 15 to 50 

 miles. The topographical survey of the estate is not yet complete and 

 its area cannot therefore be computed with accuracy, but I estimate it 

 at double the size of Bonai or about 3000 square miles. Of this area 

 not more than a tenth is under cultivation. 



The Snnkh and Koel rivers from the plateau of Chota-Nagpore, 

 unite near Gurjun in Gangpore and form the Brahmini. The Eeb, 

 another river of some magnitude, flows through Gangpore south on its 

 way to the Mahanuddee. The ordinary level of Gangpore is about 

 700 feet above the sea ; the highest hill yet noted by the topographical 

 surveyor is 2,240, not much above the general level of the Chota-Nag- 

 pore plateau. The descent, however, from the plateau to the ordinary 

 level of Gangpore is gradual, and there is a tolerable road. As in 

 Bonai, the majority of the population are Bhooya, and they were no 

 doubt the first settlers. All the zemindars under the Rajah are of that 

 race, and hold their estates as fiefs at low fixed rates and terms of ser- 

 vice. Consequently the Rajah is under the necessity of adopting a con- 

 ciliatory policy towards some of them at least. There are generally 

 one or two in opposition, but fortunately for the Lord Paramount, the 

 great vassals are too jealous of each other readily to combine. The 

 largest estate is held by the vassal who bears the title of Mahapater. 

 It borders on Singhbhoom, extends to the Brahmini river and com- 

 prises 100 villages for which the Mahapater pays only Rs. 200. This 

 part of Gangpore was at one time more densely populated than it is 

 at present, but all the more peaceably disposed of the old inhabitants 



