788 The Hodesum (improperly called Kolehan), [No. 104. 



their festivals. The youngest boys stalk about birds nesting, armed 

 with a small bow and arrow, or employ themselves fishing. Though 

 cheerful, they are as manly as their fathers in appearance, and I have 

 never seen them engaged in any game, nor am I aware that any 

 are known by them. In Hindoo villages, groups of children may 

 be seen constantly engaged in some puerile amusement, such as 

 trap and ball, prisoner's bars, peg-top, mock processions, &c. ; and the 

 older ones in fighting cocks, quail, or rams. But these appear to 

 afford no pleasure to the Hos; on calm summer evenings they are 

 fond of assembling at their doors to listen to the flute, the girls sing in 

 concert, the younger ones go through the quiet demure dance of the 

 country, and papa and mamma sit aloof looking approvingly on, 

 and solacing themselves with a little " Eely" ; while twilight lingers, 

 their happy laughing voices, or the wild humming melody of their 

 songs is heard ; but no squabbling, no abuse or high words, no " Gallee," 

 none of the vile traits of common Hindoostanee life, ever offend the ear. 



The language of their songs is poetical and pleasing ; it would not 

 however bear translation. Ideas which in the English idiom would be 

 dull and stupid, and words which would be common place, in the 

 smooth mellifluous accents of their dialect sound interesting, and often 

 beautiful. A few of their songs I have copied and translated at the 

 end of the vocabulary, &c. 



Their dances are almost similar to those of the Dhangurs, Santals, 

 and other jungle people. The men and musicians are generally in the 

 centre of a large circle composed of women, locked with their arms 

 round each other ; the circle is headed by the eldest matrons, and 

 brought up by the smallest girls, a space being left between, they 

 chassez backwards and forwards, keeping exact time, and going slow- 

 ly round the men in the centre. Sometimes another large circle of 

 men forms outside them, but all step with the greatest exactness to 

 the tune, and the effect is most singular and pleasing. The " Magh 

 Purub" dance, when they go scampering through the villages four or 

 six abreast, and in close column, is very like our " Gallope," and when 

 the performers are well dressed, I have seldom seen any thing prettier. 

 Marriage Ceremonies. 



When a young man has seen a girl who pleases him, he goes home 

 and calls together four or six respectable men of his acquaintance, 



