84 MR. R. B. BAINBRIDGE ON THE SAORIAS OF THE RAJMAHAL HTLLS. 



XVI. Panchayat. 

 Composed as follows : — 

 Old Custom — ■ 



1. Sinyare = Village headman. 



2. Bandari = Gorait messenger, etc. 



3. Kotware = In charge of panch arrangements. 



4. Giri = Most influential rayat. 



The dormitory system prevails among the Saorias. The marriageable girls have 

 a house to themselves and the youths have another to themselves called Kodbahd 

 add ; murs maq kodbahd, Bachelors, dwelling house ; Pel mag kodbahd, Maidens' dwell- 

 ing house. 



XVII. Houses. 



Saoria houses are always erected north and south, and bamboos and grass are 

 used in the construction. The walls are made of wattles, etc.; earth is sometimes used, 

 but old custom does not sanction this innovation. The floor of the house is depressed, 

 that is, it is lower than the level of the village site. Pujahs are not offered before 

 building a new Saoria dwelling. 



XVIII. Prohibitions Regarding Food. 



Saorias no not eat cats, ponies, vultures, kites, crows, adjutants, dogs, jackals, 

 wolves and hyenas. The flesh of leopards and tigers is used medicinally. Bears are 

 eaten. It is forbidden to kill dogs and cats, and pujahs have to be performed in 

 case a tiger or leopard is killed. The individual who kills a dog or a cat has to offer 

 rice, pochai and a fowl's egg on the western path of the village. He says, " O Ber 

 Gosain, do not allow Singni Bauri to come into the village." This is the ghost of dogs, 

 cats, leopards and tigers, etc. Singni Bauri causes sickness. 



Among the territorial divisions differences in these connections are found, but 

 these differences relate to details and not to essentials. 



I am indebted to Duleh Sardare (Chief), Surja Sardare (Chief), Samson Surja 

 Sinyare (Headman), Banroh Sinyare, Dohrah Sinyare, Kallia Munsi, Rupah Sardare 

 (Rajmahal), Keso Sardare (Rajmahal), and a host of others who have, at various 

 times, supplied me with valuable information regarding the customs and ceremonies 

 of their own people the Maler. 



