The races in the Bengal, Behar, Chntia Nagpur, and Orissa provinces in their mental and phy sical characteristics are widely dissimilar. The _Bengali of Bengal proper lives amid a network of rivers and morasses. lie presents a weak and i puny appearance, but he able to endure an amount of exposure to which a native of the Upper Provinces of Hindustan would soon fall a victim. In active pursuits, the Bengali is timid and slothful, but in intellect he is subtle and sharp-witted ; and these qualities, combined with a industry and a fondness for sedentary work, have enabled the race to obtain employ ment in all the offices of the Indian Government, and to rise to some of the highest judicial posts in the land.
On the south-west of Bengal are the Uriya people of Orissa. They are even more timid than the Bengali race. They are conservative to a degree, are wanting in enterprise, contented to follow the practices of their forefathers, and evincing a thorough dislike of all modern improve ments. They are the most bigoted and priest ridden race in British India.
On the north-west is the province of Behar. It is occupied by a hardier and more manly race, who speak Hindi, the language of Upper India, and are usually called ° led the Hindustani. They are more decidedly Aryan than any other of the races found in Bengal. Even the semi-aboriginal tribes of Behar are of a better build and of a nobler mien than similar tribes in Lower Bengal.
Besides these three distinct nationalities, the of Bengal contains several tribes who have been but partially subjected to Aryan in fluence, and have hardly as yet come within the pale of civilisation. They are evidently of prior arrivals in the districts which they now occupy, but wave after wave of immigration has poured into India in bygone ages, and no one can say who were the real first corners. These tribes are found in masses throughout the province, and, though much mixed up together, they retain their customs and habits distinct. Besides these, there are within each nationality numerous tribes and castes of various origin and race, and in various degrees of civilisation. Amongst them, the Aryan Brahman, who traces his lineage back to the time when Kanouj was dominant, and the half-civilised Koch or Poliya of Dinajpur. These are probably the representatives of two perfectly different stocks; but even where no distinction of race can lie traced, there are frequently found tribal subdivisions with ethnical peculiarities of their own.
The number of separate tribes and castes in the Bengal Province probably do not fall short of one thousand. If their respective subdivisions and septa or clans be taken into account, they would probably amount to many thousands. The aboriginal tribes alone are very numerous ; while those for whom, though llinduized to a certain extent, an aboriginal origin may bo claimed would swell the number by a very largo amount.
The Babhan (1,031,501) are a fine, manly race, who claim to be Sawaria Brahmans. They adopt from the Rajputs the honorific terms singh and rai, and take those of tewari, rnisr, and panre from the Brahmans.
Baisnab (568,032) is not a race, but a Vaish nava sect in Bengal, where the letter v ' is changed into a b ;' and they are also called Boistab. The sect claim to be followers of the tenets of Chait anya. They are reformers, admit with initiatory rites all corners into their number ; they have no separate caste distinctions, but have Brahmans as gurus. They abstain from animal food and from intoxicating liquors. Many are married, and the lives of those who are single are generally said to be immoral. The doctrines of Chaitanya enjoined the living heart worship of Vishnu (Bhagat or Bhakte), and the putting aside of symbols and ceremonies. Much of the finest portion of the poetical literature of Bengal almost wholly originated with the Baisnab sect.
The Baori (481,493) take the heron as the emblem of their tribe, and must not be eaten by them. The dog is sacred to them.
The Bhar afford an illustration of the vicissi tudes of nations. At present are largely swine herds, but before the arrival of the Aryans they were rulers over the country from Rhotas to Rewah. The Bharata of the Puranas are supposed to have been Bhar, and the Amethia and Purihar Rajputs are said to be Bhar. The goddesses at Patna and Gya are supposed to have been erected by this race. Many stone forts remain in the country formerly ruled by the Bhar, and are said to have been their handiwork. The Bhar, the Cheru, and the Pasi have given their daughters iu marriage to Rajputs.
Birhor (1539) are said to have, till lately, been given to cannibalism. A Birhor whose end was approaching would invite his clan to assemble to feast on his body.