The “ Kols’’ of Chota-Nagpore. 191 
They must go “fasting to the mount,” and stay there till ‘ there is a 
sound of abundance of rain,” 
when they get them down to eat and 
drink. My informant tells me it always comes before evening. We 
must conclude that the old women are wonderfully clever at taking a 
“ forecast,’ and do not commence the fast till they sniff the rain. 
All the villagers living in the vicinity of the hill make offerings of 
goats, whenever they think it desirable to propitiate this spirit ; but he 
is not invoked in cases of sickness, unless the ojha declayes it necessary. 
Sometimes bullocks are offered. 
The next in importance in Chota-Nagpore appears to be the spirit 
Dara, whom the Oraons and Moondahs living with them adore in the 
form of a carved post stuck up where the great jatras are held, or in 
the village dancing place. Dara appears to be a god of rather 
bacchanalian characteristics, worshipped amidst much revelling and 
wassail. A sacrifice to him of fowls is followed by a feast in his 
honour, at which all the elders drink themselves into a state of sottish 
drunkenness, whilst the young people dance and make love; and next 
day comes the jatra which all the country attend. 
The Penates are generally called the “old folks.” They are in 
fact the manes of the votaries’ ancestors ; votive offerings are made to 
them when their descendants go on a journey, and they are generally 
the first that are propitiated when there is sickness in the family. 
By the Singbhoom Kols, the manes of the ancestors of the principal 
lady of the house are also honoured. ‘The offerings to them are made 
on the path by which she was brought home asa bride. Desaoolli 
and Jaeroolli are propitiated for harvesés and for cattle, Chandoo 
Seckur, the same probably as the Chanala of the Hos, for children. 
The Pahan has to solemnize regularly the following festivals. The 
Hurihur, at the commencement of the planting season. LHvery one 
then plants a branch of the Belowa in his field and each contributes 
a fowl, a pitcher of beer and a handful of rice to the feast. The sacrifice 
is offered to Desaoolli, Jaer Boori and others, in the Saerna. 
During the Sarhool—when the Sal tree blossoms—the sacrifice of a 
goat and fowls is offered inthe Saerna by the Pahan to the manes of the 
founders of the village and to Dara. The introduction of the Sal 
blossom, in memory of the forest that was cleared when the village was 
formed, is very appropriate. At the khurria Poojah, when the rice is 
