550 Notes upon a Tour through the Rdjmahal Hills. [No. 7. 



attacked by it, it assumes a much more mild form and is accompanied 

 by ague. 



The soil in and around the hills differs widely in different localities ; 

 the large central valley and spots outside the hills possess a fine black 

 soil, known as the Regur or cotton soil, it is the same soil that is found 

 in the Dekkan, Bundlekund and in the Saugor and Nerbuddah Terri- 

 tories ; I have seen the soil in all the above mentioned localities, where 

 it is always found associated with the same rocks as appear in the 

 Rajmahal hills, viz. Basalt and Laterite. Besides the cotton soil, light 

 colored loams, clayey soils, gravelly and sandy soils also appear. 



As on entering the hills the Sonthal is the first class of native that is 

 met with, I proceed to describe him, his manners, and some of his most 

 remarkable customs. 



The Sonthal or lowlander is a short well made and active man, 

 quiet, inoffensive and cheerful ; he has the thick lips, high cheek-bones 

 and spread nose of the Bheel, Kole, and other hill tribes of southern 

 and central India ; he is beardless or nearly so ; he is moreover an intel- 

 ligent, obliging, but timid, creature, very cowardly towards mankind, 

 but brave when confronted with wild animals ; the Sonthal is an indus- 

 trious cultivator of the soil, and as he is unfettered with caste, he enjoys 

 existence in a far greater degree than does his neighbour the priest- 

 ridden and caste-crushed Hindu. 



The Sonthal eats his buffalo-beef, his kids, poultry, pork, or pigeons, 

 enjoys a hearty carouse enlivened with the spirit " Pachui" and dances 

 with his wives and comrades to express his joy and thankfulness ; and 

 when the more substantial good things of life such as meat and poultry 

 are scarce, he does not refuse to eat snakes, ants, frogs and field-rats. 



The cow is also eaten by the Sonthal as well as all other animals, 

 whether slain, or those that have died a natural death, or that have 

 been shot or torn by wild animals. 



The women are fat and short and although not pretty according to 

 our European idea of beauty, have a very pleasing expression of coun- 

 tenance, with none of the affected or mock modesty of the Hindu. 



The Sonthal is a larger and taller man than the hill-man, and gener- 

 ally stands five feet six inches in height, and weighs about eight stone. 



With the exception of the larger villages in the central valley where 

 all the land is highly cultivated, the Sonthal villages are generally 



