The ‘‘ Kols’’ of Chota-Nagpore. 173 
adopted it, and in their villages, as well as in those of the Oraons, 
there is always a Pahan. The village system now existing is such as it 
became after many encroachments by the Rajah and the middlemen 
introduced by him. Still as bearing the impress of a very primitive 
form of government, it is worth describing, and in doing so, I 
will make use of a very elaborate report on the subject written by 
Doctor Davidson in 1839. 
The actual descendants of the men who formed the villages are 
called Bhuinhurs. They are a privileged class, who hold their lands 
at low fixed rates or rent-free, but they are bound to do service to the 
chief or his representative. The head of the Bhuinhurs is called the 
Moondah, and is generally the representative of the old Moondah chief 
of the village. He presides when meetings are held to settle disputes 
about social customs ; and all demands for service on the Bhuinhurs by 
the proprietor or farmer are made through him. He holds his lands as 
Bhuinhurree, and has no other emolument. 
The Mahto, though second in point of rank, is the most important 
functionary in the village. He has the assessment and settlement of 
all lands not held by the hereditary cultivators ; collects all dues and 
rents, and is responsible for them to the farmer or proprietor. He 
holds for his services one powa of land rent-free, and in some villages 
gets a fee of one or two pice annually from each ryot. The office is 
not hereditary. 
The Pahan is the village priest. He is a Moondah or Oraon by 
caste, but all observances for propitiating the village gods or devils 
are performed by him. No Bramins are permitted to interfere. The 
office of Pahan is generally hereditary, but is not necessarily so. He 
has under his charge the land called “ Dalikhatari,” and from the 
proceeds of this land, he has to support himself and to provide the rice 
and rice-beer required for the great festivals. 
The Bhandari assists in the collection of rents, summoning ryots 
who have to do work or whose attendance is required by the Zemin- 
dar or farmer, and in looking after the collections made in kind. He 
has an allowance of one powa of land, and gets from each ryot one 
kerai or bundle of each crop as it is cut. 
There is a Gorait for each village, and a Kotewar for one or more 
villages. The former is the messenger of the Zemindar or his repre- 
sentative, the latter is the Police officer, 
