Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 1.djvu/92

MOONDAHS.

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THE account given of the Coles of Chota Nagpore includes the Moonda tribe, who inhabit the same district, and are in many cases to be found in the same villages. But the Moondahs are of a more slothful disposition than the energetic and laborious Oraon Cole.

The Maharajahs of Chota Nagpore were originally of the Moonda tribe, but endeavour to conceal their descent from an impure race by a vague tradition of miraculous origin. They have succeeded in forcing themselves into alliance with Rajpoot families, and are now considered of first-rate blood.