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



right shoulder, part of the breast and arm entirely free, and is allowed 

 to hang down in front ; when the women can afford it, they load their 

 limbs with zinc and bell-metal ornaments ; the men wear small zinc 

 earrings, a few finger rings, and occasionally an iron wrist bangle ; both 

 male and female tie their long hair into a knot on the crown of the 

 head. 



The religion of the Sonthals consists in prayers, sacrifices and religi- 

 ous dances, the whole of which are generally performed and attended 

 to by the votaries whilst in a state of intoxication. 



The only prayer I have heard of amongst these people is a supplica- 

 tion to an invisible and powerful spirit for protection from famine and 

 sickness ; from disease amongst their cattle ; for defence against wild 

 animals, especially the tiger ; and that their children may be defended 

 from all dangers, amongst which are enumerated the attacks of wild 

 animals, snake bites, scorpion stings and all kinds of accidents. 



This simple prayer points out in a forcible manner the condition of 

 the Sonthal and his wants ; he first prays for protection from famine ; 

 for as he is an inhabitant of the jungles and generally cut off from all 

 communication with his fellow-men, a failure of his scanty crops would 

 be ruin and starvation to him. 



Their plough cattle being the grand instruments by which their 

 crops are insured to them, and as a murrain or a total destruction of 

 these animals would leave the Sonthal in a starving state, his prayers 

 are also directed to their preservation. 



That a portion of their supplication should be directed against the 

 attacks of wild animals is not surprising, for the Sonthal being a 

 denizen of the forest as before observed, he is himself as are his cattle 

 in constant danger from the attacks of tigers, bears, leopards, and 

 wolves ; and his crops are also in danger from the ravages committed 

 by wild elephants, buffaloes, monkeys and deer, and as the Sonthal 

 never manures his land and as he generally occupies an indifferent 

 soil, a constant change in his abode is necessary, and thus in his on- 

 ward move, he constantly comes in contact with these his great 

 enemies ; the Sonthal however with a proper spirit, does not supplicate 

 without endeavouring to help himself, and no opportunity is allowed 

 to escape of destroying these animals, which is effected with bows and 

 arrows poisoned and not poisoned. 



