The Bhumij (128,287) are in Dhalbum, Man bhum, and Orissa, and, under the name of Churn., were forinerly known for their daring exploits.
The Birhor, a very small tribe, who claim alliance with the Kharwar. They used to practise cannibalism ; a Birhor whose end was approach ing, would invite his relatives to come and feast cm his body.
The Kaur claim descent from the Kaurava race. The Korwa are a very wild tribe of Kol, but agricultural.
The Oraon, and those of the Oraon tribe called Dhangar, are a merry, light-hearted people, very ' fond of dancing, but given to excm in eatiug and drinking.
The Santal are most numerous in Manbhum, Singbhum, and Chutia Nagpur.
The I3humi form the majority of the population in all tho estates of the 31anblium district to the sonth of tho Kassai river. As they approach the confines of Chutia Nagnir, they appear to be called indifferently Mundah or Ilhumil, and they intermarry. More to tho east, the Bhumij have greatly assimilated to tho Bengali ; many have acquired estates and influence as Sirdar the hereditary guardians of the passes. They
tenaciously cling to their national songs and dances. Bhumij are to bo found in Mohurbunj and Keonjur, and it is this branch of the Mundah race which has spread farthest in an e,astern direction. The Bhumi of the lower part of Sing bhum and Manbhum are tolerably civilised. All the wild tribes of Central India worship relatives immediately af ter death ; and the Bhunjia, Bhumij, and Kol tribes or clans practise the ceremony whereby the soul of a man just deceased is attracted or conjured into some tangible thing, which is brought back into tho house soon after the funeral, apparently that the soul may thence forth be worshipped as a household spirit. Traces of this superstition may be found all the world over. It is practised by Hindus ; Herodotus and Homer show its antiquity. Captain Burton mentions it in Africa.— Cent. Ind. Pror. Com. Rep. pp. 5-9 ; Dalton, pp. 147-156 ; Campbell, p. 33 ; Aitcheson; B. As. SOc. Jo. 1866; Bengal Census Report.