Page:Adam's reports on vernacular education in Bengal and Behar, submitted to Government in 1835, 1836 and 1838.djvu/394

cruel. They are in no case nomades, many live by the produce of the bow and arrow, but in general they cultivate the soil. To attempt to teach the English language indiscriminately to these savage tribes appears one of the wildest flights of benevolence. To teach them Hindi, or whatever may be the language of the contiguous district or province, is somewhat more rational. But the most judicious course appears to have been adopted, apparently on Bishop Heber’s recommendation, with the Surgeemaree school for the Garrows who were taught in the first place their own language in the Bengali character; then, if practicable, the Bengali language; and lastly, in the case only of the more intelligent boys, the English language. With respect to all the tribes bordering on Bengal, their own language in the Bengali character seems to be the proper medium of instruction; with respect to all the tribes bordering on Orissa, their own language in the Ooria character; and with respect to all the tribes in Central and Western India, their own languages in the Nagari, Marathi, or Guzerathi character; in short, in every case their own language with the modification in respect of written character which convenience and utility may dictate. Having fixed upon a language and character, the next, step would be to prepare some easy elementary but instructive books adapted to the comprehension of persons in a very low grade of civilization, but capable of raising them a grade higher. This would not present so great difficulties as might at first be supposed. I have understood that materials already exist for a dictionary of the language of the Rajmahal tribes, whose friendly disposition would suggest that a beginning should be made with them, and whose language when known would probably afford facilities for the acquisition of the dialects of some of the other hill-tribes. The means of communication also are by no means wanting. These tribes in general maintain regular communications with the more civilized races of the plains for the purpose of disposing of their own surplus produce and of purchasing articles which they need and do not themselves produce. In this way they acquire some knowledge of Bengali, Hindi, Ooria, &c.; and Hindus, Musalmans, Oorias, &c., mix with them and acquire a knowledge of their dialects. In my communications with Santhals, I employed as an interpreter a Bengali trader of this description, who had for many years trafficked with them and who appeared to possess a very good colloquial knowledge of the Santhali dialect. With the aid of these persons the necessary books might be prepared; and the same persons, or others who would be found to quality themselves, might be employed to go amongst them as teachers, and by means of the system of public examinations and rewards to teachers and scholars, modified as circumstances might suggest, the love and desire of knowledge would take root in their minds, and its elevating and restraining influences be witnessed in their habits and pursuits.