1877.] 
Chandrasekhara Banurji— The Kaimur Range. 
21 
sacred spots in this country. But the Kaira Des # which extended along the 
left hank of the river, was generally considered sacred, and therefore the 
region of the Kaimur Range proper. 
Productions. The timbers of the hills are on the whole poor. Where 
properly taken care of by the zemindars, such as in the glen of Koendi, 
the sal or sakna grows to a respectable size and serves for beams. But gener¬ 
ally the tree is stunted. It is difficult, however, to say whether the poverty 
is owing to reckless and continual cuttings, or to the sterility of the 
soil itself. Both causes have been at work from time immemorial. Never¬ 
theless the asan (Terminalia alata tomentosa ), the pial (Buelianania 
latifolia) , the wild jaman, the mohna, the keond, and the arjuna grow 
luxuriant in the lower valleys, while the profuse scarlet flowers of the 
Butea frondosa along the slopes of the outer hills impress one with 
the propriety of the name of Palasas given by the ancients to the coun¬ 
try now included in the Division of Bihar. The hills supply bamboos, 
and other wood which suffice for the buildings of the natives, and are 
taken down a great way off down the Son during the freshes. 
Lac-dye is extracted from the small branches of various trees, such as 
the kusum and the pipal. The white silk cocoon, which is larger than 
elsewhere, grows on many plants, principally on the asan tree (Termi¬ 
nalia alata). Of other forest produce may be mentioned bees’-wax, the hari- 
taki (myrabalan) large and small; the bahera (Terminalia Belerica) used 
both for dye and medicine, the amla or amlaki used for pickles, a' kind of 
Mimosa used as medicine in cases of diarrhoea. The catechu, cherange, a 
sort of small almond which is greatly relished by the Hindustani, the 
hagai a sort of grass extensively used for ropes, answering to the sar- 
mangu of Bengal, the kaneri, and chitti complete the list. 
The kaneri is a sort of yam resembling in appearance garlic with a 
slight rosy tinge ; a size is made of it for dressing new-woven cloth, and the 
natives say that it is exported to countries beyond India. 
* In opposition to a common belief among certain European scholars, Dr. Eajen- 
dralala Mitra, in bis great work on Orissa, urges that “ the policy of the Brahmans 
was not to excite an odium thcologicum, hut to enlist the sympathy of the people in be¬ 
half of their creed, by advancing half way and agreeing to a compromise.” As one 
instance to illustrate this theory, we may say that the belief that the left bank of 
the Son on which Buddha Gaya stands is more sacred than the right one, was adop¬ 
ted by the Brahmans from the Buddhists. The following anecdote wifi show what we 
mean : “ The death-of Baja Maddan, the Balwand Buler of the Kharwars, was approach¬ 
ing It was considered unlucky to die on the southern bank of the Son, and he was 
consequently removed to the northern bank where he remained awaiting his death”.— 
Slier ring's Aboriginal Tribes. 
