1851.] Notes upon a tour through the Rajmahal Hills. 591 



disgraces, every Sonthal village of any note, I here found a board armed 

 with sharp nails, on to which the worshippers are tied, the nails pierc- 

 ing their backs, and in this state are swung round as in the Churruk 

 or swing poojah of the Bengalis, and from whom I imagine the Son- 

 thai has borrowed the rite and its attendant festival. I also observed 

 a horizontal gymnastic bar used by the athletes of the village during 

 the same festival. 



4th February, 1851. — Direction south, ten miles to Burio Bazaar, 

 a fine Sonthal village a mile from the banks of the Morel, or Morung 

 Nullah. 



At starting, got upon Mr. Pontet's Rajmahal road which runs most- 

 ly through fine timber forest, with extensive Sonthal clearings and 

 numerous villages. 



At the fourth mile passed between basaltic hills beautifully wooded 

 to the summits. 



At the seventh mile, is an old ruined mud fortification, it is a square, 

 composed of an outer mound of earth measuring a mile and half in 

 circumference ; the excavation for the erection of which forms a wet 

 ditch, filled with water, enclosing an inner Fort higher than the neigh- 

 bouring ground and contains a few brick walls and the remnants of a 

 Hindu temple, which has been completely lifted from its foundations 

 by an enormous Banian tree, that has enveloped the whole building, 

 unroofed it and destroyed the walls ; masses of detached masonry sus- 

 pended in the tree is all that remains of the building. 



Both the outer and inner Forts are overrun with jungle, palm-trees, 

 fine forest trees, bamboos, grass and marsh weeds, amongst them I saw 

 the beautiful Jacana upheld by his long and delicate claws hurrying 

 across the floating reeds and grasses. 



This Fort was, it is asserted, built by a Khetri Rajah of Munheearee, 

 but when or for what purpose is no longer remembered. 



From Burio, it is Mr. Pontet's intention to cut a road over the hills, 

 to the east of the valley, so as to connect Rajmahal, which is only four- 

 teen miles east of Burio, with the valley. This road should engage 

 the attention of the Post Master General at Calcutta, for when once 

 this road is opened, all necessity for conveying the Daks during the 

 rainy season round by Sikreegullee, Peerpointee and Colgong by water, 

 for which purpose three boats with their crews are kept up, will be at 



