The people themselves say, that these practices are peculiar
to their race, and not learnt from the Hindu invaders of their plateau;
but I am inclined to think that some, at least, of the operations have a
strong savour of the Tantric black magic about them, though practiced by
people who are often entirely ignorant of any Hindu language.
These remarks must he supplemented by a short sketch of Kol ideas of
worship. They have nothing that I have either seen or heard of in the
shape of an image, but their periodical offerings are made to a number
of elemental spirits, and they assign a genie to every rock or tree in
the country, whom they do not consider altogether malignant, but who, if
not duly "fed" or propitiated, may become so.
The Singbonga (lit., sun or light spirit) is the chief; Buru Bonga
(spirit of the hills), and the Ikhir Bonga (spirit of the deep), come
next. After these come the Darha, of which each family has its own, and
they may be considered in the same light as Lares and Penates. But
every threshing, flour and oil mill, has its spirit, who must be duly
fed, else evil result may be expected.
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