THE SA0R1AS OF THE RAJMAHAL HILLS. 65 



case of death by tigers, or other wild animals, the same customs are followed if the 

 body is found, if not the usual feast takes place after the lapse of a year. 



The Paharias do not employ Brahmans or Hindus as priests. In the case of a 

 Paharia suffering capital punishment, or dying in a far country, the bhauj always 

 takes place. 



The Simlong (Pakur), and Chandna (Godda) Paharias burn their dead sometimes, 

 but this is comparatively a new custom. 



It is inaccurate to say that the Demno is not buried. He is buried except when 

 he dies without relatives ; but anyone dying without relatives is left in the jungle. 



In the case of a chief a house is built over the grave, but this house is not repaired 

 and gradually disappears. 



On the horizontal stakes at the bottom of the grave bhelua, or sal leaves, are 

 laid, and the corpse is placed thereon. In some cases the whole corpse is covered with 

 leaves. 



Demnos after death become, as a rule, Jamporis. This is a devil that seeks espe- 

 cially for pregnant women and kills them. The Jampo/i is very black, with long 

 hair and enormous and terrible eyes. He kills women with a staff. He lives in palas 

 trees (Butea frondosa), simal trees (Bombax malabaricum) , and banyan trees (Ficus 

 bengalensis) . He appears at midday and midnight and sits watching from the 

 foot of his tree. 



XIV. Religion. 



The Mater have no temples. The following deities are worshipped : Ber or Bern 

 Gosain, Bilp Gosain, Ldihu Gosain, Darmdre Gosain , Jdrmdtre Gosain. These gods 

 are not represented by idols, and no special form of worship is fixed for them, nor is 

 there any special day fixed for their worship. These gods have no priests, and sacri- 

 fices are not offered to them except when the godlings of the Saoria pantheon are 

 worshipped. It may be noted that Darmdre Gosain has never been represented by 

 any symbol ; the Maler deny that they have ever fashioned a block of wood to repre- 

 sent this deity. 



Janai or Janda Gosain is quite distinct from Darmdre Gosain ,and Darmdre Gosain 

 and Ber Gosain are separate deities. Ber Gosain, Bilp Gosain and Ldihu Gosain are 

 also separate deities. It is asserted that Ldihu Gosain is the most powerful of all the 

 gods. 



It would be contrary to custom, and belief, to represent any one of these gods by 

 idols : some Saoria authorities contend that a man doing so would be outcasted. 



Ldihu, Darmdre and Jarmdtre Gosain s ' are invisible : the representations of 

 Ber Gosain and Bilp Gosain are seen in the heavens, as the sun and the moon. These 

 gods are invoked at all ceremonies. They have power to benefit cultivation and also 

 the public health. They possess much greater power than the godlings. Jdrmatre 

 and Darmdre Gosain s, although separate deities, are regarded as attributes of Ldihu 

 Gosain . 



I IMhu Gosain=t\\e Creator Darmdre Gnsai n = Divinity of truth, &c. Jarmatre Gosain = Divinity of Birth. 



