Memoirs of the Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal. Studies in Santal Medicine and Connected Folklore Part III - How the Santals Live

The great wealth and accuracy of details of the beliefs and practices of the Santals given in the three parts are unique and the Rev. [...] It is said that when the Santals in former times followed a similar mode of cultivation they simply sowed the seed (especially bajra) at the top of the cleared hill-side the spreading being left to the water of the rains flowing down ; in some cases a branch of a Thorn-tree (Zizyphus Jujuba Lam.) is said to have been pressed into a flat shape and dragged over the ground to spread the seed. [...] It will be remembered that when on the look-out for a site for the new village one of the main deciding factors is the suitability of the ground for the establishment of rice-fields. [...] When in use the man in charge puts the karha down into the earth that is to be removed like one would put in a spade ; when the bullocks drag the karha along with the earth the man holds the handle firmly to prevent the karha from turning over. [...] According to shape this is called barigla k. (Bengal ploughhandle) resembling the candi pati k. that is nailed to the front side of the rear part of the plough the top of the handle being pared so as to bend backwards; another shape is the Or bola k. a handle that is fixed on the rear side of the plough so far down that the isi goes through a hole cut in it (this is also called pend latlea k.)