1865.] Notes of a tour in the Tributary Mehais. 9 
building there. It is very prettily situated, and the gurh ow a little 
hill in the centre of the valley has a commanding position, but I fear 
it is not a healthy site, from the number of enlarged spleens and cases 
of skin-disease I observed amongst the people. There are many fine 
old village sites in Nuagurh, now occupied by impoverished squatters, 
mostly Oraons from Chota-Nagpore. 
The old inhabitants have died off or removed to more civilized and 
securer regions further south. The shabby huts of the squatters hud- 
died together under the shade of the grand old trees, the monuments 
ef the more civilized race that preceded them, look as much out of 
place as mud cabins in a street of palaces. The Rajah and other 
zemindars give these new settlers, when they first come, three years of 
absolute immunity from demands of every kind. In the fourth year 
they are called on to pay a light assessment. It is difficult to describe 
on what principle it is imposed, but in old settled villages of Oraons 
it does not amount, including rent and contribution, to more thar 
Rs. 1-8 per house or family. The soil in this part of Gangpore ap- 
pears very fertile, and there is still available much of the slightly 
swampy, rich looking land, that. gives the best crops of rice. TI find 
“ Sirosha’”’ now in flower, growing in great luxuriance. It is sold here 
at one maund for the rupee. 
The Coles are evidently a good pioneering race, fond of new clear- 
ings and the luxuriant and easily raised crops of the virgin soil, and _ 
have constitutions that thrive on malaria; so it is perhaps in the best 
interest of humanity and cause of civilization that they be kept mov- 
ing by continued Aryan propulsion. Ever armed with bow, arrows 
and pole-axe, they are prepared to do battle with the beasts of the 
forest, holding even the king of the forest, the “ Bun Rajah,” that is 
the tiger, in little fear. Mixed up with them are numbers of the 
Kherria tribe, who are as yet a mystery to me, and I will say nothing 
more about them till I learn more. Jam assured that they have no 
affinity with either Moondahs or Oraons, 7. e. with those who are 
generally called Coles. 
Borgaon, near the Mahabeer hill on the borders of Bamra, is the 
largest village Gangpore possesses on this side. It contains 160 houses— 
20 of Brahmins, 20 of ‘ Telis,’ oil-pressers, 22 of various Hindu 
Ooriah castes, and the remainder Oraons and Kherriahs, The two 
2 
