1891.] 
W. H. P. Driver^— The Koroas. 
25 
days evidently known as Horo. To this day the members of the eastern 
branch can be distinguished by the use of H, where those of the 
western branch use the letter K. From the remains of brick and stone 
temples, it would appear that in ancient times small communities of 
Aryans used to settle amongst these aboriginal tribes, perhaps at first 
as conquerors, but afterwards on a more familiar footing, until with 
the lapse of time they became absorbed in the Kolarian population. 
Traces of mixed blood are plain enough amongst the population of this 
part of the country at the present day. 
Authentic history .—The earliest historical fact we have in connection 
with the Koroas is, that in 1818 A. D., when Sirguja and Jashpur 
were ceded to the British by Appa Sahib, the Koroas, under a chief 
named Manawar Sing, were at war with the Raja of Sirguja. Then 
in 1857 the Koroas of Sirguja went into open rebellion against the 
British Government, and one of their chiefs Dharam Sing was hanged 
after we regained the country. Again in the beginning of 1884 this 
same tribe (probably owing to scarcity) took to highway robbery and 
murder. The ring-leader on this occasion was one Katra, and he and 
three others, named Bandhan, Jitu and Ledra, were tried and hanged at 
Ranchi. Of the others implicated, two more, Dunde and Punea, were 
transported, and another Bandan received five years’ imprisonment. It 
is said that in years when the hill Koroas crops were scarce, they 
used to pay a visit to the Raja in a large body, armed with their terrible 
bows, arrows and battle-axes. The Raja in those days was only too 
glad to get rid of them by ordering a general subscription for their 
benefit. Alas ! now, gone are the days of “ the good old rule, the 
simple plan,” and the British are here to maintain law and order. 
Divisions .—The Koroas are divided into several sub-tribes, the 
Paharia or Bor-koroas, the Birinjia-koroas, the Birhor-koroas, the 
Koraku-koroas, and the Koria-mundas. All live amongst the hills and 
jungles and speak dialects of the Kolarian language. The Dand-koroas 
or Dih-koroas and the Agaria-koroas live on the low lands, and speak 
only a dialect of Hindi. 
Food .—In the way of food, Koroas of the hills can eat goats, pigs, 
fowls, cows and buffaloes, but not snakes, or frogs or lizards. Only 
Birhor-koroas can eat monkeys. They all eat various jungle products, 
and many of them know of the medicinal properties of herbs, roots &c., 
to be found in their jungles. The following are the names of a few 
such medicines, viz., Churaphal, Getlii, Bhourmali, Barkajeri, Harra- 
plial, &c. 
Religion .—Koroas employ three kinds of priests, who must, however, 
all be Koroas. The Pahan-Baiga is the head priest, the ‘ Pujar ’ is his 
D 
