56 MR. R. B. BAINBRIDGE ON 



were captured by the Paharias and they became Saorias by intermarriage. Such 

 expeditions were made by armed bands. Khetaurin and Dhanukain wives were also 

 captured and their descendants are still living. The Hindus have also taken wives 

 from the Saorias. 



VII. Adoption. 



The custom of adoption is well known. The boy's father is given money according 

 to circumstances, and a bull, or ox, is given to the village for the usual feast, and the 

 selected boy is then handed over. A daughter may also be taken in the same way. 

 In the latter case, however, no money or animal is given, and the girl is only entitled 

 to a half share of the property of her parents by adoption. The balance goes to the 

 other relatives. An adopted son is entitled to the whole of the property. A man 

 may also adopt a brother : in this case he pays nothing, he merely informs the village 

 of his intention. Such a brother is not entitled to any of the ancestral property. The 

 adopted brother may marry the younger sister of his sister-in-law by adoption, but 

 not the elder sister. He may not marry the sister or daughter of his brother by adop- 

 tion. 



The custom of exchanging daughters is prevalent and is a very ancient one. The 

 Manj hi Bhuiyas intermarry with Saorias and eat with them. The Saorias do likewise. 

 Such marriages are not brought about by go-betweens according to ancient custom. 

 The Saorias assign no reason for this practice. The Bhuiyas are looked upon as of 

 the same caste, so to speak, but as to whether they broke away, or were outcasted, 

 for some transgression is not known ; and there are no traditions or stories on the 

 subject. There are no restrictions in regard to marriage from the point of view of 

 social status. For instance, the daughter of a chief may espouse the son of a rayat 

 and vice versa. In the matter of geographical position, there are no restrictions of 

 any moment, and distance is not a bar to the performance of such marriages. There 

 are no differences of belief, or religious practice, and, accordingly, there is no restriction 

 as regards marriage. Differences of occupation offer no bar to marriages. 



Infant marriage is not observed. The parties must be of an age to please them- 

 selves. In the case of a girl, the fact that she is fit for courtship, is indicated by her 

 wearing a cloth, passing from under her right arm, and tied in a knot on her left 

 shoulder, and falling over her breasts and stomach. It is not essential that the girl 

 should have menstruated. The time for wearing this cloth is fixed by the girl's mother, 

 elder sister or other female relative. There is no special ceremony attached, but the 

 cloth is worn by the girl for the first time on some festival day. Age is no restriction 

 to marriage, and girls are never married to arrows, or trees, nor are they dedicated to 

 temples. The Paharias have no temples. There is no blame or penalty attached to 

 a girl who is not lucky enough to find a husband, nor do her parents and relatives suffer 

 in any way. 



Widows are free to re-marry. Such a marriage is called bandiawoh. There are 

 no go-betweens in the proper sense of the term for such marriages. Sindur is not used, 

 but, in other respects the marriage is the same as the regular ceremony. The expendi- 



