﻿XII. 



ON THE MANNERS, RELIGION, AND LAPPS 



OF THE CUCIS, OR MOUNTAINEERS^ 



OF 7IPRA. 



Communicated., in Persian, by John Rawlins, Esq. 



THE inhabitants of the mountainous districts to 

 the east of Bengal give the name of Patiyan to 

 the Being who created the universe; but they be- 

 lieve that a deity exists in every tree, that the sun 

 and moon are Gods, and that whenever they worship 

 those subordinate divinities, Patiyan is pleased. 



If any one among them put another to death, the 

 chief of the tribe, or other persons who bear no 

 relation to the deceased, have no concern in punish- 

 ing the murderer; but, if the murdered person has 

 a brother, or other heir, he may take blood ; nor has 

 any man .whatever a right to prevent or oppose such 

 retaliation. 



When a man is detected in the commission of theft 

 or other atrocious offence, the chieftain causes a recom- 

 pense to be given to the complainant, and reconciles 

 both parties ; but the chief himself receives a custom- 

 ary fine: and each party gives a feast of pork, or 

 other meat, to the people of his respective tribe. 



In ancient times it was not a custom among them to 

 cut off the heads of the women whom they found 

 in the habitations of their enemies ,* but it happened 



