Now-a-days they call themselves Dhangars or members of the Dhangar caste. [In the dialect of Hindi spoken in Chota Nagpore, an unmarried Oraon is called a "Dhangar." This term has now acquired the secondary meaning of "labourer" or "servant."] They have adopted the Hindu law of inheritance and follow some of of the Hindu rules regarding the partaking of pakki and kachchi food. They now worship the Hindu goddess Bhagavati by presenting to her offerings under an old tree called the Than. But they still retain their old aboriginal (and, therefore, non-Aryan) custom of not enlisting the services of a Brahmana-priest for performing their religious rites and other ceremonies. They have, however, adopted the Hindu custom of performing the sradh ceremony for their deceased.

Then again, it would appear from Appendices B and C that some members of the aboriginal Bhuiya (or Musahar) tribe of the district of Gaya in South Bihār migrated from that part of the country and went to and settled in quest of work in the district of Champaran in North Bihar. They call themselves Mahto (or Dhangar). They now lead a settled life and earn their livelihood by working as labourers. But some of them have got cultivation of their own. They have adopted the Hindu law of inheritance. They now worship the Hindu gods Mahāvira (or Hanumāna) Bhagavati, Mahadeo and others. They have, however, retained their old tribal (and, therefore, non-Aryan) custom not engaging a Brahmaṇa-priest for performing their religious rites and other ceremonies. But they have no priests of their own. Like the Hindus, they perform the sradh ceremony for their deceased and, after branding an ox, let it loose. They follow the Hindu jus convivi and cooked only by a member of the higher Hindu castes but do not eat viands touched by any one of the lower castes such as the Doms, the Chāmārs, and the Dusadhs, or by a Musalman or a Christian.

partake of food

APPENDIX A,

Enquiries made at Rāmnagar from Banhan Dhangar, aged 60 years; Santoo Dhangar, aged 50 years, Baja Dhāngara, aged 30 years, of Champapur, P. S. Ramnagar, on 10th July 1921. These men call themselves Dhangars. They are of Oraon caste. They cannot name any sub-divisions.

They cannot marry any relations. They cannot give any idea of the degrees of relationship which prohibit marriage. They cannot marry two sisters.

There is no prohibition of marriages among people of the same caste, provided no relationship is known to exist among them.

They have migrated from Chota Nagpur, and cannot name any common ancestor. They can give no idea of the time of

their migration.

They do not belong to any wandering tribe, but had a settled life.

They do not admit any outsiders into their caste.

Infant marriages are not allowed. They are married after they have attained the age of puberty. Sexual license before marriage is not permitted.

Polygamy or polyandry is not permitted if the wife or the husband is alive. But they have the divorce system after which the husband or the wife is at liberty to marry anybody he or she likes.

No special ceremonies are observed in marriages. Sometimes, the bridegrooms go to the brides' house; sometimes, the brides go to the bridegrooms' house, for marriages. There is no fixed custom regarding this. Sindoor is applied by the bridegroom to the head of the bride; and after this, the bride gives a sindoorlip on the forehead of the bridegroom. The marriage is thus complete. The application of sindoor is the binding portion of the ceremony,

The re-marriage of widows is permitted. The widow is not obliged or expected to marry her husband's elder or younger brother. No particular form of ceremonies is observed in remarriages; but the application of sindoor is compulsory.

Divorce is in practice for misconduct only. No particular ceremonies are performed for this. Only the married couple separate.

These people follow the Hindu law of inheritance. Unmarried sons get double the share of married sons.

son gets more than the others as jethangsa.

The eldest

They have no particular religion. They worship only one goddess named Bhagwati, Mayee. No idol is made or worshipped. Offerings are given in a selected place, preferably under an old tree, called "Than."

They do not engage any Brahman or priest for religious or ceremonial purposes. Dead bodies are generally burnt. But from the time of paddy-sowing to the time of harvest, they are not burnt, but are buried in the belief that the paddy crops will be destroyed if they are burnt during this period.

Srādh ceremony is performed. There is no fixed period for purification. It varies from 5 to 15 days.

They are mostly labourers; but some have got their own cultivation. There are no rich men among them.

They do not habitually prostitute their married or unmarried

women.

They abstain from eating monkeys, beef, jackals, dogs, crocodiles, snakes, lizards and the leavings of other people's food.

They have no objection to eating pakki foods from the hands of people of the higher Hindu castes; but they do not eat kachi foods from the hands of any one outside their own caste. Drinking and smoking are permissible only among people of their own castes.

They speak the Oraon language among themselves. But with others they speak Hindi.

(Sd.) S. P. MUKERJEE,

District Census Officer.

APPENDIX B.

Enquiries made at Shikarpur from Ramjiwan Mahto, aged 59 years, Soman Mahto, aged 80 years, Ramkishun Mahto, aged 60 years, of Shikarpur, P. S. Shikarpur on the 28th June 1921.

These people call themselves Dhangar, Mahto. They really belong to Bhuyān caste.

They have got the following sub-classes :

(1) Mohitwar.

(2) Ulaia.

(3) Kutaroo.

(4) Gyari.

(5) Dondwar.

(6) Harwar.

There is a 7th sub-class, which is called Bagochhia. The members of this sub-class are the same as Mushars.

They cannot marry any one outside the above six sub-castes. They do not intermarry or interdine with the Mushars. Intermarriages among the members of the same sub-caste are also prohibited.

There can be no marriage between persons who are descended from the common stock in the male line. Intermarriages may take place between males and females, who have no common ancestors within the above 3 generations, subject to the reservations pointed out above.

These people have come from Gaya, but cannot trace their origin. They are said to be descended from one Rikhi Mooni.

They had a settled life. They do not admit outsiders to their own caste.

Infant marriages is not prohibited, though marriages take place when they are grown-up persons. Sexual license before marriage is neither recognized nor tolerated.

Polygamy is permitted, even if the wife is alive. Polyandry is permitted if the husbands die or separate. No woman can have two husbands at one and the same times. In case of polyandry, it is not necessary that all the husbands should be brothers.

Rich men send their sons with the bariat to the house of the brides for marriage. Poor men bring the girls to their houses.

clothes of the bridegroom After this, all the members

On the 1st day of marriage, the and the bride are knotted together. go out to the fields and dig earth and bring it home and place it under a Kalash (pitcher) which is placed on a bedi. On the next day, the nails of the bridegroom and bride are cut and sindoor is applied by the bridegroom to the head of the bride. A hāzām (barber) is employed in the ceremony. No Brahman or priest is engaged. The essential and binding portion of the ceremony is the application of the sindoor.

Widow's re-marriage is permitted, but only with a widower. In rare cases, a widow can marry a bachelor. The widow is not expected or obliged to re-marry her husband's elder or younger brother. There is no other restriction except that stated above. No particular ceremony is performed at such marriages.

Divorce is permitted on the ground of misconduct or quarrel. No particular ceremonies are observed. Husbands take their