190 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [Aug. 



The following papers, the reading of which had been postponed at 

 the last Meeting, were read : — 



I. Notes on the Kheriahs, an aboriginal race living in the hill tracts 

 ' of Mctnbhum, by V. Ball Esq., B. A. 



In the special Ethnological number* of the Society's journal, 

 Colonel Dalton gives an account of the Kheriahs. He says that 

 they are most nearly allied to the Juangas or Putoons, both 

 forming branches of the Moondah family.f They are quite distinct 

 from the Korewahs, another branch of the same family. A few 

 colonies of this last mentioned race are, I believe, to be found in 

 Manbhum. 



The position of the Kheriahs having thus been established on the 

 best authority, it is unnecessary for me to allude to it further ; my 

 simple object being, in connection with my note on the stone imple- 

 ments of Singhbhum, to draw attention to a race who owe to their 

 Arian conquerors what little traces of civilization are observable 

 amongst them. I have had singular opportunities of seeing the 

 Kheriahs in their homes, in the recesses of the jungle, where they live 

 shut out and hidden from the surrounding world. 



If we are disposed to regard these people as savages, their Sonthal 

 and Bhumij neighbours do not treat them much better, ban mdnus 

 being a term commonly applied to them. 



The Kheriahs shew a marked dislike for civilization, constantly 

 leaving places where they have any reason for supposing that they 

 are overlooked. 



Their houses, generally not more than two or three together, are 

 situated on the sides or tops of the highest hills : they stand in small 

 clearances ; a wretched crop of bajera being sown between the fallen 

 and charred trunks of trees. 



Close to the south boundary of Manbhum, there are a succession 

 of hill ranges, of which Dulma (3047ft.), the rival of Parisnath, is th< 



* Page 155. 



f In Vol. XI., p. 203 of the Journal, Lieut. Tickell described a race called 

 Bendkars of Keonjur. They did not know of any relationship existing between 

 themselves and the Kheriahs, but they are, in many respects, a similar race, 

 living in the same kind of houses, on hill tops, and deriving their principal 

 subsistence from the same roots and fruits. 



