The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India Volume I (of IV)

R >> R.V. Russell >> The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India Volume I (of IV)

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_Parnami_.--(A follower of Prannath of Panna.) Subcaste of Dangi.

_Parsai_.--(Village priest.) Synonym for Joshi.

_Parsoli_.--(_parsa_, an axe.) A section of Ahir or Rawat in
Chhattisgarh.

_Parwar_.--A subcaste of Bania. See article Bania-Parwar. A subcaste
of Kumhar.

_Passi_.--Synonym of Pasi.

_Patadhari_.--(One occupying the seat of instruction.) A section of
celibate Manbhaos.

_Patane_.--A subcaste of Prabhu, so called on account of their living
near Patan in Gujarat.

_Patbina_.--(From _patti_, sacking, and _binna_, to weave.) Synonym
of Kumrawat. Subcaste of Jogi.

_Patel_.--(Headman of a village.) A subcaste and title of Mali. A
surname of Gaur Brahmans in Saugor and of Parsis. A surname or section
of Agharia, Mahar and Kachhi. A title of the Ahir and Bhoyar castes.

_Pathak_.--(Teacher.) A surname of Kanaujia and other classes of
Brahmans.

_Pathan_.--One of the four tribes of Muhammadans. See article
Muhammadan Religion.

_Pathari_.--(A hillman.) Synonym of Pardhan. Subcaste of Katia.

_Patharia_.--A subcaste of Katia, Kurmi and Mahar. A section of
Halba. A subcaste of Agaria, who place a stone on the mouth of the
bellows to fix them in the ground for smelting iron.

_Pathmukh_.--A subsept of the Dhurwa Gonds in Betul. They offer a
young goat to their gods and do not kill bears.

_Pathrot_, _Pathrawat_.--(One who makes and sharpens millstones and
grindstones.) Synonym of Beldar.

_Pati_.--(Lord.) An honorific title of Uriya Brahmans.

_Patkar_.--(From _pat_, widow-marriage.) A subcaste of Sunar in
Wardha. A section of Rangari.

_Patlia_.--(From _patel_.) Title of Panwar Rajput.

_Patnaik_.--A surname of Karan or Mahanti, the Uriya writer caste.

_Patra_.--(An Uriya word meaning councillor.) A subcaste of Kolta
and Chasa, and title of several Uriya castes. Also a synonym for the
Patwa caste.

_Patti_.--(A thread-seller.) Subcaste of Kaikari.

_Patwa_.--A caste. See article. In Seoni tahsil of Hoshangabad
District Patwa and Lakhera appear to be synonymous terms. A section
of Oswal Bania.

_Patwari_.--(Name of the village accountant and surveyor, who is
now a salaried Government official.) The Kayasth caste were formerly
patwaris by profession. See article.

_Patwi_.--(A dyer who colours the silk thread which weavers use to
border their cotton cloth.) Synonym of Patwa. Subcaste of Koshti. From
_pata_, a woven cloth.

_Pawanbans_.--(The children of the wind.) Synonym for Bhuiya.

_Pendhari_.--Synonym of Pindari.

_Peng_.--Subcaste of Parja.

_Penthi_.--(Sheep.) A totemistic sept of Bhulia.

_Periki_, _Perki_, _Perka_.--The Perikis are really a subcaste of
the great Balija or Balji caste, but they have a lower position and
are considered as a distinct group. About 4000 Perikis were returned
in the Central Provinces in 1911 from the Nagpur, Wardha and Chanda
Districts. They derive their names from the _perike_ or panniers
in which they carried salt and grain on bullocks and donkeys. They
were thus formerly a nomadic group, and like the Banjaras and Bhamtas
they also made gunny-bags and sacking. Most of them have now taken to
cultivation, and in Madras some Perikis have become large landholders
and claim Rajput rank. In the Central Provinces the Balijas and Naidus
deny that the Perikis have any connection with the Balija caste.

_Peta_.--(A trading Balija.) Subcaste of Balija.

_Phal Barhai_.--(A carpenter who only works on one side of the
wood.) Synonym for Chitari in the Uriya country.

_Phanse_.--(A Pardhi who hunts with traps and snares.) Subcaste
of Pardhi.

_Phansigar_.--(A strangler.) Synonym of Thug.

_Pharsi_.--(Axe.) A section of Uriya, Ahir or Gahara.

_Phopatia_.--Title of the officer of the Andh caste who summons the
caste committee.

_Phulia_, _Phulmali_.--(A flower-gardener.) Subcaste of Kachhi
and Mali.

_Phuljharia_.--(From Phuljhar zamindari in Raipur.) A territorial
subcaste of Ahir or Rawat, Ghasia and Panka.

_Phul Kunwar_.--A section of Kawar. They use the _akre_ or swallow-wort
flower for their marriage-crown.

_Phulsunga_.--A totemistic section of Gadaria. They abstain from
smelling or touching a flower called _gadha_.

_Phurasti_.--(A wanderer.) Subcaste of Kaikari.

_Pindara_.--Synonym of Pindari.

_Pindari_.--A caste. Subcaste of Mang.

_Pinjara_.--(One who cards cotton.) Synonym of Bahna.

_Pipar_.--(A tree.) A section of Khatik and Kalar.

_Pipariya_.--(From the pipal tree, or from Piparia, a common place-name
derived from the tree.) A clan of Rajputs in Saugor. A section of
Sunars in Saugor.

_Piria_.--Subcaste of Kachhi. From _piria_, the basket in which they
carry earth.

_Pit_.--Subcaste of Bhatra.

_Pitariya_.--(From _pital_, brass.) A subdivision of Pardeshi Sunars
in Nagpur. They practise hypergamy, taking wives from the Sadihe
subcaste, and giving daughters to the Srinagariye, Bangar, Mahuwe
and Jadiye subcastes.

_Pohni_.--Subcaste of Jhadi Telenga.

_Poiya_,--Subcaste of Majhwar.

_Polya_.--(One who did not take off his turban at the feast.) Title
of Hatkar.

_Pondro_.--(A tree.) One of the six subsepts of the Marai clan of
Pathari Gonds in Khairagarh.

_Ponwar_.--Synonym of Panwar Rajput.

_Portai_.--(Basket.) A subsept of the Uika clan of Gonds in Betul. They
do not kill the tiger or crocodile. A sept of Dhur Gonds.

_Potdar_.--(A money-tester.) Synonym and title of Sunar. A surname
of Karhara Brahmans in Saugor.

_Potdukh_.--(Stomach-ache.) A section of Teli in Chanda.

_Potharia_.--(One to whom a certain dirty habit is imputed.) Subcaste
of Korku.

_Potwa_.--(A worker in tasar silk.) Synonym for Darzi; a subcaste
of Darzi.

_Poyam_.--(Worshipper of eight gods.) A sept of Pardhan and of
Maria Gonds.

_Prajapati_.--Title of Kumhar.

_Pramara_.--Synonym for Panwar Rajput.

_Prannathi_.--A follower of Prannath of Panna. Synonym for Dhami.

_Pravar_.--A term for the ancestors sharing in a sacrificial
invocation, particularly that of the Horn or fire-sacrifice.

_Prayagwal_.--(From Prayag-Allahabad.) A subcaste of Brahmans who
preside at the ceremonial bathing in the Ganges at Allahabad.

_Puar_.--Synonym of Panwar Rajput.

_Pujari_.--(A worshipper.) Name for the priest in charge of a temple. A
title of Bhatra.

_Purad_.--A small mixed caste in Nagpur. They say that their ancestor
was a Brahman, who was crossing a river and lost his sacred thread,
on being carried down in a flood (_pur_). Therefore he was put out of
caste because the sacred thread must be changed before swallowing the
spittle, and he had no other thread ready. At the census the Purads
were amalgamated with Vidurs. They are shopkeepers by profession.

_Purait_.--(One who is of pure blood.) A subdivision of Jharia Rawat
(Ahir) in Chhattisgarh. A subcaste of Dhakar, Halba and Marar.

_Purania_.--(Old.) A subcaste of Kachera or Sisgar in Saugor. The
Puranias are the Muhammadan bangle-makers who originally practised
this calling. A subcaste of Barai, Basor, Nai and Sunar. A section
of Chamar and Darzi.

_Purbia_.--This term, which means eastern or coming from the east,
is used in Hoshangabad and other Districts to designate Rajputs
from Oudh and the adjoining tracts, especially retired sepoys from
the Bengal army. They appear to belong to different clans, but many
of them are Bais Rajputs. Some of the Purbias say that their king,
somewhere in northern India, heard that cows were being killed in the
Central Provinces, so he sent them to stop the practice and they came
and stopped it and settled there. In Gujarat this name appears to be
applied to Brahmans. A subcaste of Barhai and Gadaria. A section of
Nat and Sunar.

_Purkam_.--(_Purka_-pumpkin.) A sept of the Uika clan of Gonds
in Betul.

_Purohit_.--(Family priest.) A common title of Brahmans.

_Purouti_ or _Pudoti_.--(Bowels.) A sept of Gonds in Khairagarh.

_Pusam_.--(Worshipper of five gods.) A sept of Raj-Gond and Dhur Gond,
and of Baiga and Pardhan.

_Putka_.--A subcaste of Sudh, being the illegitimate issue of the
Dehri Sudhs.

_Qawwal_.--(One who speaks fluently.) Title of Mirasi.

_Rachhbandia_.--(Comb-makers.) A subcaste of Kuchhbandia (Kanjar).

_Raghunathia_.--A small group of Brahmans, so called because their
ancestors are said to have received a grant of five villages from
Raghunath Deo of Hindoli.

_Raghuvansi_.--A caste formed from a Rajput clan. See article. A
subcaste of Ahir; a section of Mali and Gond.

_Raghvi_.--Synonym of Raghuvansi.

_Rahmat_.--(Compassion.) A section of Panwar Rajput. A Muhammadan
proper name.

_Rai_ or _Raj_.--Subcaste of Darzi, Kalar, Khangar.

_Rai-bhaina_.--Subcaste of Baiga in Balaghat.

_Raipuria_.--(From Raipur.) A subcaste of Dhimars who do not wear
gold ornaments. A subcaste of Dewar in Bilaspur.

_Raj_ or _Rai_.--From Raja, a king. This term designates
the landholding division of certain tribes, as the Raj-Gonds,
the Raj-Korkus, the Raj-Khonds and the Rajbhars. The Raj-Bhats,
Raj-Dhuris and Rai-Darzis are similarly subcastes of good position
in their respective castes. Raj is also used as a synonym for Beldar,
meaning a mason.

_Raja_.--(A king.) Title of a ruling chief, and occasionally conferred
on prominent Indian gentlemen.

_Rajak_.--(A washerman.) Synonym for Dhobi.

_Rajbhar_.--(A landowning Bhar.) Synonym for Rajjhar.

_Raj-Bhat._--Subcaste of Bhat.

_Raj-Dhuri._--A subcaste of Dhuri, said to be descendants of personal
servants in Rajput families.

_Raj-Gond_.--The landholding subdivision of the Gond tribe; a section
of Chamar and Kachhi.

_Raj-Khond_.--Subcaste of Khond.

_Raj-Kunwar, Raj-Pardhan_.--A subcaste of Pardhan in Balaghat.

_Rajoria_.--(Kingly.) A section of Barhai, Dangi, Khatik and Sanadhya
Brahman.

_Raj-Pardhan_.--A subcaste of Pardhan. They are said to be also
known as Kunwar Pardhan or Gond Bhat and to be beggars and bards of
the Gonds.

_Raj-Pasi_.--Subcaste of Pasi.

_Rajput_.--(Son of a king.) A caste, representing the ancient Kshatriya
caste. See article. A subcaste of Banjara, Kadera, Kumhar and Patwa.

_Rajwaria_.--From the Rajwar caste. Subcaste of Dahait. Subdivision
of Kol in Mirzapur.

_Rakaseya_.--(From Rakas, a devil.) A section of Katia.

_Rakhotia_.--An illegitimate section of Kumhar.

_Rakhwaldar_.--(Village watchman.) Title of Ramosi.

_Raksa_.--(Demoniac.) A section of Kumhar and Kawar.

_Ramanandi_.--A class of Bairagis or religious mendicants. See
article Bairagi.

_Ramanuja_.--A class of Bairagis or religious mendicants. See article
Bairagi.

_Ramgarhia_.--(A resident of Ramgarh in Mandla.) Subcaste of Ghasia.

_Ramoshi_.--Synonym of Ramosi.

_Rana_.--A title of Sesodia Rajputs. A section of Halba and Panwar.

_Randgolak_.--A subdivision of degraded Maharashtra Brahmans, the
offspring of illicit unions or remarried widows.

_Rangari_.--(One who works in indigo (_nil_).) Synonym for Chhipa.

_Rao_.--Synonym for Bhat. A section of Chamar and Lohar. A title of
the Bhilala caste.

_Ratanpuria_.--(A resident of Ratanpur in Bilaspur.) Subcaste of
Nunia and Dewar.

_Ratha_.--(A car for carrying a god.) Honorific title of Uriya
Brahmans.

_Rathia_.--Subcaste of Kawar.

_Rathor_, _Rathaur_.--A famous Rajput clan. See article
Rajput-Rathor. A subcaste of Banjara, Bari and of Teli in Mandla,
Betul, Nimar and other Districts. A section of Ahir, Bhilala, Mochi,
Nahal and Pardhi.

_Ratna Banik_.--(Dealer in jewels.) A synonym of Sunar in Sambalpur.

_Rautadi_.--Subcaste of Bhuiya.

_Rautele_.--A subcaste of Kol. A section of Barai, Bhat, Gadaria and
of Sunar in Saugor.

_Rautia_.--A subcaste of Kol in several Districts. A subcaste of
Dahait. A subcaste of Kawar. A section of Chamar and Rawat (Ahir).

_Rawal_.--Title borne by some Rajput chieftains in Western
India. Probably a diminutive of Rao, the Marathi form of Raj or
Raja. A section of Chasa, Mali and Garpagari.

_Rawanbansi_.--Descendants of Rawan, the demon king of Ceylon. A
name applied to the Gonds generally, and now used as a subtribal
designation to distinguish them from Raj-Gonds.

_Rawanvansi_.--Name of a clan of Gosain mendicants.

_Rawat_.--A title borne by some minor Rajput chiefs. Probably a
diminutive of Rajputra, the original form of the term Rajput. An
honorific title of Gonds and Savars in Saugor and Damoh. The name by
which the Ahir caste is generally known in Chhattisgarh. A subcaste
and title of Khairwar. A title sometimes used by Sunars and Brahmans
in Bundelkhand and by Lodhis. A subcaste of Mehtar and Mali. A section
of Arakh, Banjara, Binjhwar, Dhanwar, Kawar, Khairwar, Kunbi, Nat,
Patwa, Panwar Rajput, and Sudh.

_Reddi_.--A synonym for the Kapewar or Kapu caste; a subcaste of
Kapewar and Gandli.

_Redka_.--A small labouring caste of Sambalpur. They are apparently
the result of intermarriages between some members of the Reddi or
Kapu cultivating caste of Telingana, who came to Sambalpur during
the Orissa famine of 1866, with low-class Uriya women. They still
speak Telugu among themselves, using Uriya to outsiders. Only one
curious feature of the marriage ceremony of the Redkas need be noticed
here. This is that the officiating Brahman actually places a red-hot
copper seal on the arms of the bride and bridegroom as a symbol of
sealing the marriage bond. In other respects their customs resemble
those of low-caste Uriyas.

_Rekwar_.--Subcaste of Dhimar.

_Rig-Vedi_.--Sectarian division of Brahmans.

_Rikhiasan Mahatwar_.--Subcaste of Bhuiya.

_Ritha Biknath_.--One who prepares and sells soap-nuts for washing
clothes. Subcaste of Jogi.

_Rohidasi_.--Honorific term for a Chamar. It signifies a follower
of the sect of Rohidas in Northern India. The Chamars often describe
themselves by this name instead of their caste name.

_Rohilla_.--A Pathan tribe who have settled in Rohilkhand or the
Bareilly tract of the United Provinces. They derive their name from
Roh, the designation given to the country where the Pushto language
is spoken by residents of Hindustan. The word Roh, like Koh, means
a mountain, and Rohilla therefore signifies a highlander. [484] The
Rohilla Pathans occupied Rohilkhand in the eighteenth century. Their
name first attracted attention when Warren Hastings was charged with
hiring out British troops for their suppression. The Rohillas say that
they are of Coptic origin, and that driven out of Egypt by one of the
Pharaohs they wandered westward till they arrived under that part of
the mountains of Afghanistan known as Sulaimani Koh. [485] Parties
of Rohillas visit the Central Provinces bringing woollen cloths and
dried fruits for sale. Here they formerly bore a bad character, being
accustomed to press the sale of their merchandise on the villagers on
credit at exorbitant interest; and when the time for realisation came,
to extort their money by threats of violence, or actual assault, or,
if this was not practicable, by defiling the graves of their debtors'
ancestors. These practices have now, however, been largely suppressed.

_Romya_ or _Haralya._--Subcaste of Chamar.

_Ror_.--Subcaste of Khatri.

_Rora_.--Synonym of Arora.

_Ruma_.--A resident of Basim and Gangra in Amraoti District. Subcaste
of Korku.

_Ruthia_.--A name formed from the noise _rut, rut_ made by the oil-mill
in turning. Subcaste of Teli.

_Sabara_.--Synonym for the Savar tribe. A section of Kawar and Teli.

_Sabat_.--(From _saot_, co-wife.) An honorific title of Uriya Brahmans.

_Sadaphal_.--(A fruit.) A section of Chandnahu Kurmi and Sonkar.

_Sada-Sohagal_.--A class of Fakirs or Muhammadan beggars.

_Sadhu_.--(A religious mendicant.) Synonym for Bairagis or Gosains.

_Sagar_.--Name of one of the ten orders of Gosains.

_Sagunsale_.--A group of illegitimate descent. Subcaste of Koshti.

_Sahadeve_.--A clan of Gonds worshipping six gods and paying special
reverence to the tiger.

_Sahani_.--(From _siahi_, ink.) An honorific title of Karan or
Mahanti. A subcaste of Paik.

_Sahara_.--Synonym for the Savar tribe.

_Sahasra Audichya_.--(A thousand men of the north.) A subdivision of
Gujarati Brahmans who are said to have accepted presents from Raja
Mulraj of Anhalwara Patan at a sacrifice, and hence to have suffered
some degradation in rank. Audichya probably signifies coming from Oudh.

_Sahra_.--Synonym of Savar.

_Sahu_.--(A trader.) An honorific title of Bania. A synonym for Sunar
in Sambalpur. A subdivision of Uriya Brahmans. A section of Khadra,
Kolta, Sundi and Teli.

_Sahukar_.--Title of Bania. See Sahu.

_Sain_.--Synonym for Fakir.

_Saiqalgar_.--From Arabic _saiqal_, a polisher. Synonym for Sikligar.

_Sais_.--The title by which grooms or horse-keepers are usually
known. The word Sais, Colonel Temple states, [486] is Arabic and
signifies a nobleman; it is applied to grooms as an honorific title,
in accordance with the common method of address among the lower
castes. Other honorific designations for grooms, as given by Colonel
Temple, are Bhagat or 'Saint,' and Panch, 'Arbitrator,' but neither
of these is generally used in the Central Provinces. Another name for
Saises is Thanwar, which means a person in charge of a stable or place
where a horse is kept. Grooms from Northern India are usually of the
Jaiswara division of Chamars, who take their name from the old town
of Jais in Oudh; but they drop the Chamar and give Jaiswara as their
caste. These men are thin and wiry and can run behind their horses for
long distances. The grooms indigenous to the Central Provinces are as a
rule promoted grass-cutters and are either of the Ghasia (grass-cutter)
or the Kori and Mahar (weaver) castes. They cannot usually run at
all well. It is believed that both the Jaiswaras and Mahars who work
as grooms have taken to marrying among themselves and tend to form
separate endogamous groups, because they consider themselves superior
to the remainder of the caste. A Sais will frequently refuse to tie
up a dog with a rope or lead him with one because he uses a rope for
leading his horses. This taboo is noticed by Sir B. Fuller as follows:
"Horses in India are led not by the bridle but by a thick cotton
leading-rope which is passed over the headstall, and such a rope is
carried by every Indian groom. I asked my groom one day to tie up with
his leading rope a dog that would not follow. He absolutely refused,
and I discovered that the rope was the fetish of his caste and was
formerly adored and propitiated in the course of an annual caste
festival. To touch a dog with it would have been sacrilege." [487]

_Saitwal_.--A subcaste of Jain Banias.

_Saiyad_.--One of the four Muhammadan tribes, which is supposed to
comprise the descendants of the Prophet.

_Sakadwipi_.--A tribe of Brahmans taking their name from Sakadwipa,
the country of the Sakas. The Sakas were a Central Asian tribe who
invaded India before the commencement of the Christian era, and
Sakadwipa is said to be the valley of the Kabul river.

_Sakarwal, Sikarwar_.--A clan of Rajputs whose name is said to be
derived from Fatehpur Sikri.

_Saksena_.--A subcaste of Kayasth, also called Sukhsena. A subcaste
of Bharbhunja and Kachhi.

_Saktaha_.--A synonym for Shakta, a worshipper of Devi in
Chhattisgarh. Saktaha practically means a person who eats flesh, as
opposed to a Kabirpanthi who abstains from it. A subcaste of Panka,
who are not Kabirpanthis.

_Sakum_.--A sept of Korku. (One who hides behind a teak tree.)

_Salam_.--(Worshipper of six gods.) A clan of Gond. A section of Dewar.

_Salewar_.--A name for Telugu Koshtis. A subcaste of Koshti.

_Samaiya_.--A sect of Jains.

_San_.--A subcaste of Bhatra.

_Sanadhya_.--A subcaste of Brahmans belonging to the Gaur division.

_Sanak-kul._--A section of Komti. They do not use _jaiphal_ or nutmeg.

_Sanaurhia_.--Subcaste of Brahman. Synonym for Sanadhya.

_Sanbagh_.--(A little tiger.) A section of Bhulia.

_Sand_.--(The bull.) A totemistic sept of Kawar. They do not
use bullocks for ploughing, or are supposed not to. A section of
Khangar. They do not give a present of a bull at weddings. A section
of Mali.

_Sania_.--(A grower of _san_-hemp.) Subcaste of Kachhi.

_Saniasi_.--Name for a religious mendicant. Synonym for Gosain.

_Sanjogi_.--A class of Bairagis or mendicants who marry, also called
Grihastha.

_Sankrita_.--An eponymous section of Kanaujia Brahmans.

_Sanp_.--(Snake.) A sept of Gond and Kawar.

_Santal, Saonta, Sonthal._--An important tribe of Bengal, belonging
to the Munda family. The transfer of five of the Chota Nagpur States
has brought more than 10,000 Santals into the Central Provinces. They
belong principally to the Sarguja State and a few are returned from
Udaipur State and from the Bilaspur District, but in all those tracts
they are known as Saonta and appear to have been cut off from the main
tribe for a considerable period. According to Mr. Skrefsrud the name
Santal is a corruption of Saontar and was given to the tribe by the
Bengalis because they lived in the country about Saont in Midnapur. Sir
H. Risley held that the tribe might equally well have given its name to
the locality, and there was no means of ascertaining which theory was
correct. The forms Santal and Sonthal are only used by natives who have
come into contact with Europeans. Santals call themselves '_harko_,'
men, or '_harhapan_,' man-child. [488] At the present day when a
Santal is asked to what caste he belongs he will almost invariably
reply Manjhi, which means a village headman, and is the common title
of the tribe; if further explanation is demanded, he will add Santal
Manjhi. Whether the term Santal was derived from the Saont pargana
or not, it is therefore at any rate a name conferred by the Hindus
and affords no evidence in favour of a separate origin of the tribe.

There seems good reason to hold that the Santals are only a branch
of the Kols or Mundas, who have been given a distinct designation by
their Hindu neighbours, while their customs and traditions have been
modified either by long separation from the Mundas of Chota Nagpur or
by contact with Hindu influences. Sir G. Grierson's account of the
two dialects Santali and Mundari shows that they closely resemble
each other and differ only in minor particulars. The difference is
mainly to be found in the vocabulary borrowed from Aryan neighbours,
and in the grammatical modifications occasioned by the neighbouring
Aryan forms of speech. [489] Of Mundari he says: "Aspirated letters
are used as in Santali, the semi-consonants are apparently pronounced
in the same way as in Santali; genders and numbers are the same,
the personal pronouns are the same, the inflexion of verbs is mainly
the same." [490] Some points of difference are mentioned by Sir
G. Grierson, but they appear to be of minor importance. The Mundas,
like the Santals, call themselves _hara-ko_ or men. In the vocabulary
of common words of Mundari and Santali given by Colonel Dalton [491]
a large proportion of the words are the same. Similarly in the list
of sept-names of the tribes given by Sir H. Risley [492] several
coincide. Among the 15 names of main septs of the Santals, Besra,
a hawk, Murmu nilgai, or stag, and Aind, eel, are also the names of
Munda septs. The Santal sept Hansda, a wild goose, is nearly identical
with the Munda sept Hansa, a swan; the Santal septs Kisku and Tudu
are sept-names of the Hos, a branch of the Mundas; and in one or two
other names there is a great resemblance. The principal deity of the
Santals, Marang Buru, is a Munda god. In the inheritance of property
both tribes have the same rule of the exclusion of daughters. In
his article on Ho, Sir H. Risley indeed states that the Santals,
Hos and Mundas are local branches of the same tribe.

The Saontas of Sarguja and Bilaspur appear to have been separated from
the parent tribe for some generations and to have assimilated some of
the customs of the Gonds. They have some Gond sept-names, as Markam and
Dhurwa. Those of Pendra zamindari have no traditions of their origin
beyond saying that the adjoining Kenda zamindari was their original
home. They profess to revere only the sun, fire and water. In order to
worship the Jal-deota or water-god they pour water round the fire and
then throw a little butter on the fire in his name. Mr. C.U. Wills,
Settlement Officer, records of them the following curious custom:
When a man is at the point of death or actually dead, they sometimes
set fire to the hut in which his body is lying and run away, no doubt
to save themselves from being haunted and troubled by his spirit,
to the attainment of which end so large a part of funeral ritual is
everywhere directed.

The following short account of them by Colonel Dalton may be reproduced
for reference: [493]

"The name Saont or Saonta directs us to the Santal branch of the Kols,
and, as I have already noticed, there is in Sarguja a small tribe so
called. They are the sole inhabitants of the magnificent tableland
forming the southern barrier of Sarguja, called the Mainpat or more
correctly perhaps the Manipat. They are a small tribe living scattered
over the vast area of the plateau in about a dozen hamlets, and they
are strong in the belief that they were especially created to dwell
there, or that they and the plateau somehow sprang into existence
together, and cannot be separated. I saw a number of them when I
was last in Sarguja, and from their features I should be inclined
to class them as Kols, but they have some customs and notions which
they must have derived from the Dravidian Gonds. They acknowledge
Dulha Deo as a household god, and follow the customs of the Gonds
and other southerners in their marriage ceremonies.