198 The ‘‘ Kols” of Chota-Nagpore. 
discard on embracing Christianity, and the converts may be always* 
recognised by the total absence of all such adornment. The converts 
do not join in the dances, or festivals, and must not even be seen as 
spectators, when they are going on. They appear indeed to lose all 
relish for their old amusements, and shrink with horror at the idea of 
resuming their discarded ornaments. And as Christianity is rapidly 
spreading amongst them, and in all probability will continue to spread 
more and more rapidly every year, it is quite possible that in the course 
of a few generations, the most marked characteristics of the races I am 
describing, will have been effaced for ever. It is marvellous with what 
firmness old prejudices are abandoned, old customs discarded, and even 
tastes changed, when they become Christians ; and there is now a wide- 
spread feeling amongst the Kols themselves, that this change will 
inevitably come upon them all. 
The Moondah-Oraon are a rapidly increasing people. We may 
form some calculation as to the rate of increase by the statistics of the 
Mission. In 1864, the baptised converts numbered 5,923, and in that 
year there were 195 births to 80 deaths. In 1865 there were 7,828 
baptized Christians, and the births during the year were 309 to 86 
deaths. The number of professing Christians is probably double the 
number registered as baptized. I subjoin in a tabular form brief 
vocabularies of the Moondahs and their cognates, referring to Tickell’s 
memoir for a full notice of the language. I annex notes on the Oraon 
language with which I have been kindly favoured by the Reverend 
Frederic Batsch. 
