The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-06-18

tvenot 10 mention that having in view application
to other respondents of different nations it follows
that the blanks in one paper might be filed up in
another" The vocabulary Ia followed by grammar
simple enough, like the language Of which 1t treats
Then what may be strictly called the Eth
biological Essay occupied with the history, religion,
manners, and customs of the people. The group of
tribes under consideration Is composed of three
bers the Kocchs, Bodies, and Dhimal OFT Kocch,,
however, only remnant retains its primitive
stamp; the mass of the tribe has been absorbed
among the Mussuman and Hindoo population
Strange to say the higher grades of the
verts were admitted to the eminent status of Raj
put, or kshatriya fact which to be we'll
tanned, and which forms remarka BILE exception to all
that history tells us of the excusveness of Hindooism
This TRANSMISSION have taken place about two
centuries ago. The tribe has had its days of power
Under HALO who hourished in the fifteenth aud six
teenth centuries the Raj kingdom, extended from
tude and it not till 1878 that this territory was
absorbed by the companys gigantic power These peo-
pie nave been described by Buchanan and as they are
fast losing their distinctive Characterization their con-
dition is not half interesting that Of their
neghbors. The Bodo and the Dhimal two races,
inhabitng scattered spots within the geographical
limits just mentioned, the Dhimal being confined to
the most westerly portion this wide range of country
Though they would seem to possess tho land in COM
mon and to share it very amcably yet they live in
separate villages and there Is ntermarrage between
the two tribes Their condition is in many respects
much the that they may be spoken Of collective
y tribe; yet the language of each is as distinct
as English is from either All writer's have agreed in
giving tolerably favorable picture of the aboriginal
tribes in North Eastern india but Mr. Hodgsons esti
mate Of the Bodo aud Dhimal is far more iattering
than all and one would be disposed to think he had
been msled, were 1t not that he has been in actual
intact with them for several years The condition of
these people is semi nomadc they cultivate the SOIL
yet remain in spot but short time, seldom exceed
ing four, six years Their religion distinguish
ed as MIR. H. says, "ke their and customs, by
the absence of everything that is shocking ridiculous
merable. Nr. II. gives list of them occupying some
pages octavo but they all very amable gods there
being no malignant powers, and as in such
would expect, no inhuman proptiatory rtes-suttee
and infanticide abhorred among them 1t is true
that their dvinities apt to resent neglect but
very trivial sacrifice is sufficient to restore them to
good humor Few nations are less priest-ridden than
the simple Bodo and Dhimal The sacred office is here
ditary; neither does it require any very formidable
to enter it, and for all that Mr. H. says to the
trary, the whole mummery might be picked up at a
are soon paid; their perquisites being wonderfully
reasonable The priest is obliged to work for his bread
like an honest man, and all he gets for his spiritual
counsel Is share of every animal offered up and three
days work per annum from every male in his flock.
He takes unto himself WIFE like any body else, and If
he gets tired of assassnatng cocks and pigs he may
throw of tho canonical Dress f he had any, and
take to the dbble blhook MIR Hodgson thinks this
n very good specimen Of natural religion" Tom Car
shams.
These two tribes may be said to live much better
than their rice eating low land neighbors They de-
fish, flesh and foul in all their varieties except
booes and cats. . Chez" the delight of Hindus and
Mussumans, and the quientessence of all the abomina
biiia they know not by and oil with which
all the Caucasian Indians anoint themselves till they
stink again. is only used by the Bodo and Dhmal for
food and that but sparingy. They distil spirits
but make fermented liquor from rice millet which
Mr. Hodgson appears to have found tolerable Triple
They also use tobacco whether they smoke, chew or
snuff is not said but are innocent Of opium hemp
The manners of the Bodo and Dhimal described
pleasing medium between the sophisticated rough
ness of their highland neghbors and the artificial
smoothness of the plains. There is not bit of the
bringing rascality Of the Bengal about Them they
frank and good humored and what is best of all use
their wives and daughters well, treating them with
confidence and kindness The position of women
among Of their Northeastern tribes is a fact
gratifying as 1t Is curious. Among the Kocchs just
me toned above the women alone entitled to hold
property This state on the authority of DR.. Blu
chanan.
"To sunupr says Mr. II. ''the character of the Bodo
and Dhina Is full of amable qualities and almost
entirely free from such unamable. They
intelligent, docile honest and truthful In deed and
word Industrious in their way Of life but apt to
be mutable and idle, when first placed in novel stua-
with logged obstinacv' which last character remind
ed me Of the North American Indians. Perhaps you
will suppose have got through the whole list Of their
virtues, but have not come to the climax. In the
last page but one of his book, Mr. ii. says -: Among
all mankind, women wine aud power, the great
tempters the great leaders astray Now the Bodo and
Dhmals rise decidedly superior to the first temptation
not unduy ensaved to the second and entire
y exempted from the third" What can you
want.
am sorry to be obliged to say that these exemplary
barbarians have very ugly Mongu mugs Add to this,
that they are outrageously dirty and you will only
have another illustration Of the truth, that perfect
men scarce. DOWN EAST.