1865.]" Notes of a tour in the Tributary Mehals; 



building there. It is very prettily situated, and the gurh on a little 

 hill in the centre of the valley has a commanding position, but I fear 

 it is not a healthy site, from the number of enlarged spleens and cases 

 of skin-disease I observed amongst the people. There are many fine 

 old village sites in Nuagurh, now occupied by impoverished squatters, 

 mostly Oraons from Chota-Nagpore. 



The old inhabitants have died off or removed to more civilized and 

 securer regions further south. The shabby huts of the squatters hud- 

 dled together under the shade of the grand old trees, the monuments 

 of the more civilized race that preceded them, look as much out of 

 place as mud cabins in a street of palaces. The Rajah and other 

 zemindars give these new settlers, when they first come, three years of 

 absolute immunity from demands of every kind. In the fourth year 

 they are called on to pay a light assessment. It is difficult to describe 

 on what principle it is imposed, but in old settled villages of Oraons 

 it does not amount, including rent and contribution, to more than, 

 Rs. 1-8 per house or family. The soil in this part of Q-angpore ap- 

 pears very fertile, and there is still available much of the slightly 

 swampy, rich looking land, that gives the best crops of rice. I find 

 " Sirosha" now in flower, growing in great luxuriance. It is sold here 

 at one maund for the rupee. 



The Coles are evidently a good pioneering race, fond of new clear- 

 ings and the luxuriant and easily raised crops of the virgin soil, and 

 have constitutions that thrive on malaria ; so it is perhaps in the best 

 interest of humanity and cause of civilization that they be kept mov- 

 ing by continued Aiyan propulsion. Ever, armed with bow, arrows 

 and pole-axe, they are prepared to do battle with the beasts of the 

 forest, holding even the king of the forest, the "Bun Rajah," that is 

 the tiger, in little fear. Mixed up with them are numbers of the 

 Kherria tribe, who are as yet a mystery to me, and I will say nothing 

 more about them till I learn more. I am assured that they have no 

 affinity with either Moonclahs or Oraons, i.e. with those who are 

 generally called Coles. 



Borgaon, near the Mahabeer hill on the borders of Bamra, is the 



largest village Cangpore possesses on this side. It contains 160 houses — ■ 



20 of Brahmins, 20 of ' Telis,' oil-pressers, 22 of various Hindu 



Ooriah castes, and the remainder Oraons and Kherriahs. The two 



2 



