1891.] 
W. H. P. Driver —The Sobors. 
33 
“ Visva-Mittra ” tlie son of Gadhi, king of Kanauj. From this legend 
it might be inferred that the Brahmans employed an army of Savaras, 
(whom they imported from the south) as mercenary soldiers to fight on 
their side against the Rajputs of Kanauj. These Savara soldiers would 
naturally leave their wives behind, and this would account for their 
almost total extinction, and for the necessity for their young men to pro¬ 
cure wives from other tribes. The Cheros and Kharwars with whom 
the Savaras were associated are still very numerous and prolific in 
Mirzapur, Sirguja, Palamu and other neighbouring districts. 
Geographical Distribution .—In Sambalpur, Orissa and Ganjam the 
Savaras are found in various stages of civilisation and adopting various 
languages and customs according to their surroundings. In Ganjam 
they speak a mixture of the Kolarian and Dravidian languages and are 
known as Sonds, Sowras, Jara Savaras, Luda-Savaras, Arisa-Savaras and 
Tekkati-Savaras. In the Native States of Orissa and in parts of 
Sambalpur they speak dialects of Uriya and are divided into the fol¬ 
lowing sub-tribes, viz .,— 
Divisions .—Sowras or Saondas, very hinduised cultivators. Taalas, 
very hinduised cultivators. Bentkars, hinduised, and weavers by 
trade. Ludhas, hinduised, and blacksmiths and ironsmiths by trade. 
Kella-Sobors or Potor-pinda-Sobor, the men are musicians and the 
women dancing-girls. It is said that in former times their women only 
wore leaves. 
Sub-division of Sobors .—The purest representatives of the race call 
themselves Sobors, and speak a dialect of the Kolarian language which 
could be understood in Cliutiya Nagpur. These people are only to be 
found in the most jungly parts of the Native States of Orissa and 
Sambalpur, and a few are also found in Gangpur one of the southern 
tributary states of Chutiya Nagpur, and the following notes only refer 
to these Sobors. 
They are divided into three sub-tribes, viz .,— 
1. Pardhea or Jara-Sobors are cultivators and shikaris. They, 
are sometimes known as ‘ Kurus.’ They eat pigs, fowls, goats, fish &c., 
but not cows, buffaloes, tigers, lizards &c. 
2. Potkota-Sobors, boat and string-makers and cultivators. They 
can eat the same animals as the Pardheas and also buffaloes, but cows 
are forbidden. 
3. Bassu-Sobors are chiefly cultivators. They can eat the same 
as the Pardheas and also sliell-fish. 
These sub-tribes cannot intermarry or eat together, but they dance, 
drink and otherwise fraternize quite freely. 
E 
