This anthropological study considers the Santal people who live in the area north-east of the mouth of the Ganges. It looks at dancing, music and poetry; folk-tales; myths and clan organization; festivals; birth and initiation; marriage; death; and the impact of Christian missions.

A pioneering anthropological study of one of the largest tribal people of India, the Santals, who live in the north-east area of the mouth of the Ganges. The author explores every aspect of their culture, from their perception of themselves, to the intricacies of their art, both, verbal and visual, and covers their history, their relationship with other ethnic groups, their customs and beliefs and the impact of the Christian missions on their way of life.