CHAPTER VI 



THE curious belief held by the old " Ghoorka" as mentioned 

 in my last adventure reminds me of an extraordinary 

 story told me some years later by a brother officer who, 

 in the course of his inquiry into a murder case, in the Garo 

 Hill District, where he was stationed, came upon a still 

 more curious instance of native superstition which led to 

 the murder being ultimately detected. 



The story is such a strange one, that did I not know it 

 to be true, I would have had some hesitation in adding it 

 /to my collection of out-of-the-way events which it was my 

 practice to record. This one I considered of more than 

 ordinary interest, for of all the curious races of mankind 

 by whom the vast Empire of India is peopled, there are few 

 more strange or interesting than the Garos of Assam. 

 Living in the seclusion of their isolated villages, scattered 

 here and there amid the low, densely wooded hills which 

 bear their name, this strange, semi-savage tribe of demon- 

 worshippers have retained to this day many of their 

 primitive traits and superstitions. Amongst their extra- 

 ordinary traditions, and one that forms the subject of the 

 story, is the belief that if a Garo tells a falsehood he will 

 meet with a sudden and violent death. So strictly do they 

 adhere to this belief that a Garo, if required to take an oath, 

 will solemnly say, " May I be killed by a wild elephant if 

 I do not speak the truth ! " 



At the time the incident occurred there lived in one of 

 the lonely villages above-mentioned a Garo maiden remark- 

 able for her beauty and fascination. Michmi, for so this 

 village belle was named, was the daughter of a man of no 

 importance, and poor withal, even for a Garo ; but this in 

 no way detracted from the number of her admirers, which 

 included half the bachelor population of the village. 

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