A Simple Thief and Other Santal Folk-tales

The Folk-Tales of India have been the subject of much study and research, and several interesting collections of them have been published. The folk lore of the Santals, has not received the attention which it deserved. The Santals as a people, have, to a remarkable degree, succeeded in resisting the subtle Hinduising influences to which they have long been exposed, and to which such a large number of aboriginal tribes have succumbed. They have retained their language, institutions, tribal organization and religion almost intact. Their traditions show the jealousy with which these have been guarded.

These tales were taken down in Santali at first hand, and are therefore genuine and redolent of the soil. In translating them the author himself allowed considerable latitude without in any way diverging so far from the original as to in any degree impair their value to the student of Indian Folk-lore. This volume of Santal Folk-Tales is offered as a humble contribution to the Folk-lore of India.