The ‘ Kols” of Chota-Nagpore. 171 
generally dark and ill-favoured. They have wide mouths, thick lips 
and projecting maxillary processes, nostrils wide apart, and no elevation 
of nose to speak of, and low though not in general very receding 
foreheads. I have seen amongst them heads that in the woolly crispness 
of the hair completed the similitude of the Oraons to the Negro. It 
may be said that the class I am describing have degenerated in feature 
from living a wilder and more savage life than others of their clan ; 
but Ido not find this degeneracy of feature amongst the Jushpore 
Korewahs, who are to the Moondahs of Chota-Nagpore what the 
Jushpore Oraons are to the Oraons of the same district.* I found the 
Korewahs mostly short of stature, but with well knit muscular frames, 
complexion brown not black, sharp bright deep set eyes, noses not de- 
ficient in prominency, somewhat high check bones, but without notable 
maxillary protuberances. In the more civilized parts of the province, 
both Graons and Moondahs improve in appearance. The former indeed 
still retain their somewhat diminutive appearance, but in complexion 
they are fairer, in features softer, some even good looking, and the 
youthful amongst them all pleasing from their usual happy contented 
expression and imperturbable good humour. 
Driven from the Rhotas hills, the Oraons, according to their own 
tradition, separated into two great divisions. One of these, moving 
east, found a final resting-place in the Rajmahal hills; the other, going 
south, sought refuge in the Palamow hills, and wandered trom valley 
to valley in those ranges, till they found themselves in Burway, a hill- 
locked estate in Chota-Nagpore proper. From thence they occupied 
the highlands of Jushpore and formed the settlements in the vicinity 
of Lohardugga, on the Chota-Nagpore plateau, where they still 
constitute the bulk of the population. The Satyomba Moondahs had 
not effected settlements so far to the west. 
The identity of the language spoken by the Rajmahal hill people 
(not the Sonthals) and that of the Oraons is full and sufficient 
confirmation of the tradition of their common origin, and of the 
division of the tribe spoken of above ; but a comparison of the customs 
of the Rajmahal hill people, who being isolated must have retained 
those they brought with them to the hills, with the customs of the 
Oraons, demonstrates that the latter are derived from the Moondahs. 
* Asiatic Society's Journal, Vol. XXXIV. p. 16. 
