P. Wagner —Kolarian Riddles » [Extra No. 
Some Kolarian riddles current among the Mundaris in Ghota Nagpur , 
Bengal.—By Rev. Paul Wagner, G.K.L. Mission , Purulia. 
[Read November 2nd, 1904 ] 
Since the time when Tickell first described the Ho dialect (J.A.S.B. 
3840, Part II p. 997), the investigation into the Kolarian languages has 
made slow, but steady progress. The grammatical structure of some 
of the languages generally called “ Kolarian ” has been elaborated, as 
that of the Santali, Mundari and Asur languages. As the Kolarian 
languages were all unwritten the literature of course is very limited 
still. It consists in its greatest part of translations of the Bible, and 
the rest of it consists of tracts and some school-books. That certainly 
adds to a great extent to the knowledge of those languages, but much 
more has to be done yet. 
It is astonishing how little these languages have been influenced 
by others. The Mundari language, for instance, is spoken now nearly 
as it was spoken centuries ago. The few foreign (Hindi and Bengali 
and a few other) words which are found here and there, are satisfactorily 
explained by the wanderings of this tribe. They came on their way 
into contact with other nations and adopted a few words and phrases 
and perhaps even some ideas from them. But on the whole that 
increase is very little, and when we hear a Mundari speaking to-day, 
we may be sure he speaks the language of his forefathers, and expres¬ 
ses his feelings and his ideas, as they did. One would certainly fail to 
understand these people, if one does not try to learn directly from 
them. 
Most certainly they want education, and education alone can 
eusure that they are not absorbed by other natives. They have up to 
date kept separate from others and that shows that they have a right 
to exist, and so we have, when teaching them, at the same time to learn 
from them. Only thus they can develop, otherwise they will certainly 
degenerate. Who can deny that education very often has proved a 
curse instead of a blessing, and just in such measure as the teacher did 
not understand the pupil F The way of education is not the same for 
all, and education can further only if it leads to organic growth, if it 
develops : otherwise it will be a strange element and will only be a 
means of destroying the good which really exists; instead of a naturally 
grown plant, forced flowers will be produced, which have no long life 
and are destitute of the natural fragrance. 
