‘The “ Kols” of Chota-Nagpore. 161 
 Madura’s Bramin happening to pass, bearing an image of the sun 
worshipped by the Moondahs, saw the child sleeping and protected by 
a snake with expanded hood. This snake was Poondorik, relapsed 
into his original form. He addressed the Bramin, told his own 
story and the story of the child’s birth, declared that the babe was 
destined to be a great Rajah, and that his name was to be Funimatuk 
Roy, ‘the snake hood crowned,’ a worshipper of the sun, whose image 
the Bramin bore, and the Bramin was to be the family priest. 
The snake then vanished. The child was taken to Madura’s house 
and adopted and brought up with his own son, a boy of much the 
same age. When Funimatuk Roy was twelve years of age, Madura 
convened the Purha chiefs, and it is said the neighbouring Rajahs, 
including the Rajah of Sirgoojah and the Dytya Rajah, and suggested 
that one of ‘the two lads should be selected as the Rajah of Nagpore, 
The lads were subjected to an examination, when it was found that 
the snake boy had already acquired all the accomplishments necessary 
for his destined position, whilst the other was a mere rustic. It was 
then (according to the annals of the Nagbungee family) ruled, that 
Funimatuk Roy and his heirs for ever shor'm .* the Rajahs, and that 
the Moondah’s child and his dcas genes: Should bear burdens, and 
thus all who claim to hold lands as descendants of the Moondahs and 
Oroans that first cleared them, are bound, when called on, to bear the 
burdens imposed on them by the Rajah and his assigns !” 
It is frankly admitted in the annals I quote from, that a difficulty 
arose regarding Funimatuk’s birth, when he sought in marriage the 
daughter of the Sikurbhoom (or Pochete) Rajah. The Sikurbhoom 
family priest. was sent to examine the certificates of birth and found 
none: but Rajah Matuck Roy prayed for the intercession of his 
ophidian parent; he had calmly contemplated his position and put 
it to his father, that if the Sikurbhoom priest was not satisfied, a 
Moondah or an Oroan girl should become Queen of Nagpore. This 
was not to be thought of. So the Nag once more entered an appear- 
ance, satisfied the Bramin by a relation of wonders, and since then 
the Nagbunsis have always intermarried with the best Rajpoot families. 
It is particularly noted that at Funimatuk,Roy’s wedding-feast the 
Oroans and Moondahs all got drunk and began to fight, and the Rajah 
of Nagpore and Madura had to obtain the assistance of his guests, the 
