Indische Palaographie von circa 350 a. Chr. – circa 1300 p. Chr. c48.s6.6.8

c48.s6.6.8

This course appears to have been correct, as the larger community of the Binjhiā is a Brāhmanised cultivating caste, speaking Oṛiyā, and settled in the south of the Ranci district, whilst the Birjiā are residents of the uncleared forest, where they live from hand to mouth by the cultivation of small patches, eked out by hunting wild animals and collecting fruit etc. They are held to belong to the Ägariā, or iron-smelting tribe whose customs they follow. The Juāng, or Patuā, are perhaps the most primitive of all their group. They inhabit the recesses of the Orissa hills, and it is remarkable to find the caste amongst the indentured labourers in Assam. Both language and customs indicate their close relationship with the Khariā and Muṇḍā. They worship the forest and village gods, but are said to be acquiring some appreciation of Brāhmanic deities. They keep village priests, but the important offices are performed by the elders of the tribe. The latter, probably because it is so small, is not subdivided, but forms a single endogamous community. The practice of clothing themselves with leaves, which has been picturesquely described by Dalton and other visitors to their haunts, is said to be yielding to the taste for cotton wrappers, even amongst the women, who have hitherto alleged divine warrant for the leaf-apron.