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MAY, 1885.)
ABORIGINAL TRIBES OF INDIA.
THE RELIGION OF THE ABORIGINAL TRIBES OF INDIA. BY PROFESSOR J. AVERY, OF BOWLOIN COLLEGE, BRUNSWICK, MAINE,
UNITED STATES. TF an apology were needed for bringing to of religion-until we shall have measured and 1 the attention of students of religion the deposited in its proper place in the building crude notions of savage tribes regarding their every variety of religious belief, no matter how relations to the unseen world, and the often crude it may seem, or how near the bottom of revolting practices which have sprung there- the social scale its professors may stand. If from, this would not be founded solely upon we feel any diffidence, therefore, in presenting the claim which they rightly make upon a sketch of the religious beliefs and practices of Christian philanthropy, but as well on their the aboriginal tribes of India, it is not on the scientific interest and value. If we have score of the subject possessing no intrinsie observed aright the course of thought at the interest, but rather because of the present lack present time, there is a growing disposition to of materials in some parts of the field and our study attentively all the systems of religion consequent inability to present the theme with which at one time or another have been devised the fulness of illustration desirable. And here or accepted by men, with the view to discover
we desire to express our great indebtedness to their origin, and the laws which have governed Colonel Dalton's invaluable work, the Ethnology their development. There is a tendency also of Bengal, without which many facts stated in to withdraw the study of religion from the the following pages would have been beyond exclusive dominion of sentiment, and to apply our reach. Before proceeding with our inquiries, to it the same rigid canons of criticism which it will be useful if we state the location of the have been used 80 succecafully in other fields tribes to whom we shall repeatedly refer; for, of inquiry. There has been a time when the though British power has existed in India for Christian Church viewed everything called nearly two centuries, it has only been within a religion ontside its own fold much as the very recent period that we have been able to Greeks looked at the world beyond the confines get trustworthy information concerning the of their peninsula, and lumped together alien aboriginal population; and even now that beliefs of every variety and merit under the information is largely confined to a few persons, general title of heathenism; but, happily, a whom official duties or missionary efforts have more appreciative spirit now prevails, and we brought into close relations with it. It has are coming to see that there is much in other been usual to divide these primitive races into systems of belief which deserves our admiration. three groups-vis., Tibeto-Burman, Kolarian, The study of religions has a scientific as well as and Dravidian. Without entering upon the a practical aim, and scholars have employed in question of the correctness of this classification, it the inductive method of investigation with or the ethnic connexion of its several members, such a degree of success, that we may feel we shall find it sufficiently convenient for our assured that the foundations are being laid for purpose.
science of religion. Indeed, some writers I The tribes comprising the first group are found talk as if such a science were already construct in their most primitive condition scattered ed, but we are constrained to believe that along the foot-hills of the Himalayas, from this use of language is premature. So vast is Nepál eastward to the farther extremity of the field of inquiry, so important is it that Assam, thence along the range forming the every part of its surface be explored and care- eastern and southern border of that province fully mapped out, and so recently have scien- back to the valley of the Ganges. Some tribes tific methods been employed in its survey, that of the same stock are also found in the lowinvestigators in this domain may well at present lands on either side of the Brahmaputra; but be content with modest claims for their study. they have to so great a degree exchanged their It cannot be denied, then, that we shall not ancient customs for those of the Hindus, that have a complete science of religions-much less they offer fewer points of interest for our
• Read before the Victoria Institute.
