________________
Oct. 4, 1872.]
HO MONUMENTS IN SINGHBHUM.
291
STONE MONUMENTS IN THE DISTRICT OF SINGHBHUM-CHOTÁ NAGPUR.
BY V. BALL, B. A., GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA. TN Mr. Fergusson's Rude Stone Monuments which, according to Col. Dalton, cannot have 1 there is no allusion to the practice of certain been inhabited by the Hos for centuries. of the Chota Nagpur Kols to erect monu- There are few parts of the Koleban, where ments to their deceased friends. It would appear an extensive view of several villages can be that the brief accounts of the custom hitherto obtained, which do not include several groups published have escaped notice.
of upright monumental stones. These groups Referring to the geographical distribution of may include any number, from a single stone Dolmens, Mr. Fergusson has written-" They do upwards, and there is no restriction to odd numnot exist in the valley of the Ganges or any of bers, as is said to be the case in the Khasia Hills. its tributaries." This is not strictly accurate, as The stones selected for erection are generally the tributaries of the Ganges which drain Chota more or less rectangular or cylindrical in form, Nagpuro pass through a country in parts of but sometimes they are of very fantastic shapes. which both ancient and modern Dolmens or These latter, however, it is important to observe, tables, and Menhirs abound.
are not due to either freak or design upon the The following notes and accompanying sketches part of the people. They are the natural forms were made a few years ago in the district of of the flags which they assume in their exposed Singhbhum. The facts described will, I trust, positions in the rivers. Beyond being prized prove sufficient to draw attention to the rude from the beds by means of crowbars, they are stone monuments of that district.
not, as a rule, touched with any tools. I have The Chota Nagpur division, as is well known often come across the spots in the river sections to those interested in Indian Ethnology, is the whence stones for this purpose and also larger present home of numerous aboriginal races, ones intended for dolmens or tables had been nearly, if not quite all of which have been raised. The geological formation in the Kolehan assigned by Col. Dalton to positions under the consists partly of slates and schists, which suptwo great family groups of Kols, known as ply an abundance of flags suited to the purpose. Mundas and Orâions.
When these rocks contain an appretiable quanVarious customs with regard to the final dis- tity of carbonate of lime, the chemical action posal of the dead are practised by these different of the water produces honey-combed surfaces races; but it is with Mündâs, and among them and more or less irregular outlines. a particular race only—the Hos, that we have In portions of the country not now occupied to do at present.
by the Hos, where the rocks are granitic, and The Hos with a few exceptions are now to be flag-like masses of rock can seldom be obtained, found only in a portion of Singhbhum known as the ancient monuments are more massive in the Kolehan, or Hodesum as it was called by Col. shape and of smaller size. I cannot help thinkTickell. There they live shut out from all Aryaning that the geological formation may have had influences, observing a most rigid conservatism something to do in determining the selection of with regard to the traditional customs of their the Kolehan as the final resting place of the race. race. Notable among these customs, as being The rivers, where the stones are raised, are not one that must force itself on the attention of any unfrequently several miles distant from the traveller in the district, is the erection of stone | villages near which the Menhirs and Dolmens tablets and slabs (Menhirs and Dolmens) over are erected. The transport of the stones is the graves and to the memory of the deceased. effected in the following manner. Partly accordAlthough it is only in the Kolehan that these ing to the estimation in which the deceased monuments are erected at the present day, they was held, partly according to the amount of are to be found scattered throughout Chota Nag- refreshments-chiefly rice-beer--which the surpur and to some extent in the Orissa tributary viving members of the deceased's family are premehals; in some cases in localities upwards of pared to stand, a greater or less number of men one hundred miles distant from the Kolehan, and assemble and proceed to the spot where the stone
* The Damada and Kondi, &c. which join the Hagli. The Subanrika pursues an independent course to the sea.
