|
The Oraons
The
Oraons
are Dravidian-speaking, short-stature, narrow headed
and broad-nosed people living mostly in the Ranchi and Palamu districts. They
are divided into several clans or gotras. There are many
resemblances between the Oraons and Mundas. The Oraons are much less conservative
and exclusive than Mundas. Oraon youths have their hair tied in a knot behind
and a small mirror stuck in it and ornaments in their ears. The headman of their
village is called the Mahto and the official who presides over their spiritual
affairs is the Pahan.
The Oraons employ methods of cultivation which are much advanced
compared with those of other tribes in Bihar. Their most important social
institution is the Dhumkuria or the boy's youth dormitory, an institution which
has put them on the ethnographic map of the world.
The Bhumij Kols
The Bhumij Kols who occupy parts of the two Singhbhum districts
west and south of the Kasari river, are ethnically related to the Mundas and
resemble them in physical appearance. Dark brown in complexion, they have thick
noses and lips, broad chests, well developed hands and are short in stature.
Since they claim to be Hindus and employ Brahman priests they are accepted as
such, but their exact position in the Hindu caste hierarchy is not well defined.
They do not appear to have fully assimilated the essential elements of Hinduism
and completely jettisoned their tribal religion. Many among them still worship
their own village deities. Their totemic exogamous clans are fast being
forgotten and they have adopted the surname of 'Singh'. Their agricultural
technique is not so advanced.
The Cheros
The Cheros who have Dravidian physiognomy and vary in colour, at
one time ruled over the Gangetic provinces and claim to be Rajputs. They are
divided into two sections; Barahazar and Tarahazar. The former rank as the
higher and include most descendants to the former ruling families in Palamu. The
social status of the Cheros was very high even in the Mughal period and they
were given the rank of Mansabdars in Akbar's court. Their children were
invested with the sacred thread by a Brahman priest at the time of marriage.
Agriculture is their original occupation. Nowadays they keep shop, do carting,
work on roads or in coal mines and collect tasar, lac and catechu. They are on
the whole, a proud race and have never forgotten that they were once a great people
and that their descents are honourable ones. They are also found in the villages of
Rohtas and in the Morang region.
Kharias
The vast majority of the Kharias are found in the Ranchi and
Singhbhum districts. The hill Kharias practice a crude type of shifting
cultivation and hunt with bows and arrows, sticks and with spears. The Birhors
are mostly found in the districts of Hazaribagh and usually live in huts made of
twigs and leaves but during the rains in semi-permanent settlements. They
sustain themselves by gathering wild forest produce, including honey and beewax,
by hunting deer and other animals and by catching birds and monkeys.
Pahariyas
The Sauria Pahariyas live in the inaccessible hilly region and
are confined to Godda, Rajmahal and Pakur sub divisions. They do not posses
any totemic clans. The Mal Pahariyas, a Hinduized section of Pahariya tribe, employ
advanced methods of cultivation, invariably using plough and bullocks to till
the small tablelands of the plateau on which they raise quite substantial dry
crops.
|
