10 
W. H. P. Driver —The Khariyas. 
[No. 1, 
district in the parganas of Pa'ilkot, Pirn, Kesclpur, and Sasid, and they 
also extend into the neighbouring native states of Gangpur, Jaspur, and 
Raigarh, some few being also found in the Northern portions of the 
Sambhalpur district. A few people bearing this name are said to exist 
in a most savage condition in small communities in the Man’bhiim 
and Sing’bhum Districts; but no one has yet ascertained if these people 
speak the Khariya language. 
History .—The Khariyas of Pa'ilkot and Biru do not know any thing 
whatever about the Singbhum Khariyas, and state that they came ori¬ 
ginally from the North, by way of Roidas (Rohtas), Patna, Khariya- 
ghat (in Tori pargana), and Lohardaga. This story is, I think, got 
from the Uraons; for another tradition says they came from the South. 
Their earliest traditions refer back to the days of Then matuk Munda 
who was the father of Bhel hhadar and grandfather of Madrd. They 
were evidently from the earliest times a good deal mixed up with 
Mundas, whom they look upon as elder brothers. 
Divisions .—They are divided into the following sub-tribes viz. : 
Dudli-Khariya, Ber’ga-Khariya, Dhel’kf-Khariya, Khariya-Munda, Perai- 
Munda, and Khariya-Uraon. The Dudh-Khariyas rank first. They 
may drink with the others, but are forbidden to eat or marry with 
them. They will not eat animals that have died of disease. They can 
eat the buffalo, but not the cow. The others can eat cows, and the 
Perai-Mundas are said to eat cattle that have died of disease. 
Religion .—The religion of the Khariyas consists of the worship of 
the elements in the Sun and Air, the Hills and the Rivers, and also the 
spirits of their ancestors. They also propitiate various evil spirits, of 
whom they are in constant dread, and they have priests called pahams 
or Baigas who go through the ceremonies of offering up sacrifices. 
The Bdham or Baigd is generally himself a Khariya, but in villages 
with a largely mixed population the priest may belong to any other 
Kolarian tribe. No Hindu or Musulman can hold this office. The sacri¬ 
fices may consist of goats, pigs, fowls or buffaloes. 
Marriage ceremonies .—The marriage ceremony consists chiefly of 
eating, drinking, and dancing. The bride is taken to the house of 
her future father-in-law, where she and her intended are anointed. 
The bride and bridegroom are carried about by their friends, while 
the rest of the party are dancing, and the songs (in which the names 
of the happy pair are introduced) are specially composed for such occa¬ 
sions. The festivities are kept up all night, and the next morning the 
whole party adjourns to the nearest tank or river, where they all bathe 
and wash their clothes, the bride and bridegroom being carried there by 
their friends ; they are, however, allowed to walk home. Marriages are 
