1840.] The Hodesum (improperly called Kolehan), 7B7 



sport. Here are the ever-dancing and singing-Sontals, dressed out in 

 flowers and feathers, with flutes ornamented with streamers made 

 of pith ; the wild Kurrias, or hill men, from the Luckisinnee hills in 

 Borahbhoom ; the Koormees, Taunties, Soondees, Gwallas, Bhoo- 

 mijes, &c, with sonorus ' dammas' or kettle drums, and other uncouth 

 music, armed with swords, bulwas, and bows and arrows of every 

 description ; the Hos, simple and unpretending, but with the heavi- 

 est game bags ; the little ill-featured Tamarias, with spears, shields, 

 and matchlocks ; the Nagpoor Moondas, with huge ornaments stuck 

 through their ears, indifferently armed with bows and arrows, clubs, or 

 bulwas; the southern Koles, and the far comer from Sarnda with 

 their chain earrings and monstrous pugrees ; the Bhooians with 

 their long bows ornamented with horse tails, or the feathers of the 

 blue jay, and their immense barbed arrows ; the Pykes of the rajas, 

 koonwrs, thakoors and other zemindars with their shields, tulwars, 

 powder-horns, and immense matchlocks with rests, dressed out in all 

 colours ; lastly, the rajas, thakoors, &c. themselves, with guns of Delhi 

 manufacture, prodigious scimetars, or an occasional *^ Angrezee bun- 

 dook," the gift of some sahib long passed from the scene, seldom 

 fired, but kept for show in a venerable clothing of rust. Mid great 

 shouting and gabbling the parties claim and carry off their several 

 heads of game, or wrangle for the arrows sticking in the carcasses and 

 elsewhere about ; all then repair to the banks of the nearest stream, 

 where they form their temporary camps ; fires are lighted, the game 

 is cut up, bundles of provisions unpacked, and for a mile or upwards 

 along the wooded vista, the clear bright water reflects innumerable 

 groups, which on either bank are cooking, eating, drinking, sleeping, 

 laughing, or dancing. 



Such is the faint description of a scene in which I have often 

 mingled, and look back to with much regret; 



" 'Tis merry, 'tis merry in good green wood," 

 and the sports of these simple people in their sylvan retreats must 

 afford the highest excitement and pleasure to all in whom to a passion 

 for field sports is joined a love for the beauties of nature, here seen 

 in her wildest and most striking attire. 



These people have no amusements, with the exception of their 

 hunting and fishing excursions, and the dancing and singing during 



