Traditions and Institutions of the Santals

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Late Rev. L.O. Skrefsrud published The Traditions and Institutions of the Santhals, for the first time in 1887. The present edition has been updated, freshly translated from the original Santali and re-edited by the author with a number of explanatory footnotes and some additional matter. The author's translation is absolutely literal, in order to enable the reader, as far as possible, to understand the Santal mentality and way of expression.

P. O. Bodding was a Norwegian missionary, linguist and folklorist. He spent 44 years in India mainly in Eastern Indian in the Santhal Parganas-district.

It having proved impossible to get this translation published before the author's death the manuscript was left in the care of Professor O. Solberg, who had repeatedly rendered invaluable assistance in bringing out other important works of his and who has since then published his SANTAL RIDDLES and his WITCHCRAFT AMONG THE SANTALS, Oslo 1940. At his request I have undertaken to act as editor of the translation, and I am happy to be able to do this last service to a deceased friend.

Fifty years ago, in 1887, the late Rev. L. O. Skrefsrud published The Traditions and Institutions of the Santhals, Horkoren Mare Hapramko reak Katha, as a guide for the Santals, especially in the customary matters dealt with in the book, and also on account of its ethnological value. It was re-edited by me, in 1916 and 1929, only with a short preface and a few pages of fresh matter, added at the end, at the request of certain Santals. What here follows is a translation with a number of explanatory footnotes and some additional matter. As only a very few would be able to use the work in the original Santali, and as it is of considerable ethnological interest, I have repeatedly been asked to translate it. My translation is absolutely literal, in order to enable the reader, as far as possible, to understand the Santal mentality and way of expression.