INDIA 



197 



dwells in the Khasia Hills of Southern Assam, numbers about 140,000. Their voices are clear 

 and distinct, and their cries, as they call to one another across long distances from hill-top 

 to hill-top, can be heard far away echoing among the valleys. They are a well-built race, 

 some of the men and women being perfect marvels of muscular development; as a rule, too, 

 they are courageous, and can fight well behind a stockade. Their women are fond of dress 

 and finery. According to Lieutenant Steel, K.A., who contributed 'a paper on these people to 

 Tfie Journal of the Anthropological Institute (Vol. VII., p. 305), they have grand dances in the 



Photo by Messrs. Frith cfc Co.] 



NATIVE PRINCES OF ORISSA. 



[litigate. 



month of March in honour of the new moon. They assemble in certain places, when a ring 

 is formed, the girls standing two and two in the centre, facing outwards, in no particular 

 order; they then move slowly round from left to right, the whole mass of them in twos, 

 with a sideling step, such as soldiers make in " closing " right or left, with eyes fixed on the 

 ground. The young bachelors run round the outside of the ring, waving fans made of 

 feathers; outside them again come the ring of spectators, old married men and women, with 

 children too young to be married. Rude music is played the whole time, and the spirit of 



