38 Dr Hamilton's Account of the 



which, as the natives repose the utmost confidence in this 

 science, is perhaps a sign that these animals are not very de- 

 structive. The magical power, attributed to their Diyaris by 

 the Muggs, by the silly Bengalese, has been extended to the 

 whole tribe, and towards the Megna, a Mugg is beheld with 

 a mixture of abhorrence and fear, from his eating without the 

 observance of cast, and from his supposed power in the black 

 art ; so that he is considered nearly as bad as a Christian. 



The national religion of the Muggs, is the same with that 

 of Arakan, (Rakhain), that is to say, they follow the sect of 

 Maha Muni among the Bouddhists. The chief priest assumes 

 the same title, Paun-do-gri, with the spiritual guide of the 

 king of Ava. He informed me that they have two orders of 

 priesthood, the Samana, and Moshang ; the latter of whom 

 are superior in point of dignity, and by the Bengalese are 

 called Raulims. The priests, like those of Ava, use a yellow 

 dress, and seem very numerous in proportion to their follow- 

 ers ; but do not appear to be so much respected by the laity, 

 as the priests of Ava are. Some of the laity assume the 

 yellow dress for a time, and give themselves up to study ; 

 but the books which I saw such using, were in the Bengalese 

 character, and except a few words, they understood no other 

 language. 



The name Chakma or Sagma, given to this people by the 

 Bengalese, is evidently a corruption from Saksah, the name 

 they give to themselves ; while, in the dialect of Ava, or Aree, 

 as they call it, they are termed Saek. They seem to be the 

 remains of the first colony from Arakan, that occupied Tri- 

 pura on the conquest of that country from the Muhamme- 

 dans. Many of them still remain in Arakan or Roang, hav- 

 ing probably retired there, when the Moslem power was re- 

 stored in Tripura, and these are distinguished from the con- 

 quered portion by the name Sak-mi, and speak the language 

 of Rakhain alone. The Bengalese they call Koar. The men 

 have adopted the Bengalese dress ; but the women retain that 

 of Arakan and Ava ; and both entirely resemble in person and 

 features the natives of these cities. Like the other rude tribes 

 in the vicinity, they eat every thing, and have no objection to 



