96 
Burman, Kolarian, and Dravidian. Without entermg upon 
the question of the correctness of this classification, or the 
ethnic connexions of its several members, we shall find it suffi- 
ciently convenient for our purpose. 
The tribes comprising tke first group are found in their 
most primitive condition scattered along the foot-hills of the 
Himalayas, from Nepal eastward to the farther extremity of 
Assam, thence along the range forming the eastern and 
southern border of that province back to the valley of the 
Ganges. Some tribes of the same stock are also found, in 
the lowlands on either side of the Brahmaputra; but they 
have to so great a degree exchanged their ancient customs for 
those of the Hindus, that they offer fewer points of interest 
for our present inquiry than their kindred in the jungles upon 
the hills. 
Following the route just indicated, we find on the northern 
border of Nepal the Kirantis, the Limbus, and some other tribes 
of inferior importance. Passing across Sikhim and Bhutan, 
whose inhabitants, the Lepchas and Bhutias, have adopted 
Buddhism, we come to the Akas, and, next in order, to the 
Dophlas, the Miris, and the Abors, which last tribe has settle- 
ments as far east as the Dibong, a northern tributary of the 
Brahmaputra. The Dibong serves also as an ethnic boundary, 
the tribes already named to the west of it showing a decided 
affinity to the Thibetans, and those beyond the stream ex- 
Iibiting a closer likeness to tribes in Burmah. Between the 
Dibong and the Digaru are the Chulikata, or Crop-haired 
Mishmis. Next to these, on the north-eastern border of 
Assam, is another tribe, also called Mishmis, but differing in 
many respects from the one last mentioned. South of the 
Mishmis, partly within and partly beyond the eastern boundary 
of the province, are the Khamtis and the Singphos. Now 
turning westward, and still keeping within the mountain dis- 
trict, we come first to the numerous tribes of Nagas spreading 
westward to about the 95rd deg. of E.long. On their western 
border are the Mikirs and the Kukis. Continuing in the same 
direction across the Kapili river, we meet, first, the Syntengs 
or Jaintias; next, the Khasias; and last of all, at the end of 
the range, the Garos. At the foot of the Garo hills are the 
Pani-Koch, a tribe partly converted to Hinduism. ‘The tribes 
of the lowlands might be left out of view altogether, were it 
not that their conversion has not been so radical as to quite 
efface their primitive superstitions. The most important of 
these tribes are the Ahams, the Chutias, the Koch, and the 
Kacharis. They are scattered here and there over the entire 
valley, and are reckoned as inferior castes of Hindus. 
