﻿OF TIFRA. 189 



They have no idea of heaven or hell, the reward 

 of good, or the punishment of bad actions ; but they 

 profess a belief, that when a person dies, a certain 

 spirit comes and seizes his soul, which he carries away ; 

 and that whatever the spirit promises to give at the 

 instant when the body dies, will be found and enjoyed 

 by the dead ; but that, if any one should take up the 

 corse and carry it off, he would not find the treasure. 



The food of this people consists of elephants, 

 hogs, deer, and other animals ; of which, if they find 

 the carcasses or limbs in the forests, they dry and 

 cat them occasionally. 



When they have resolved on war, they send spies 

 before hostilities are begun, to learn the stations and 

 strength of the enemy, and the condition of the roads; 

 after which they march in the night ; and two or three 

 hours before daylight, make a sudden assault with 

 swords, lances, and arrows. If their enemies are com- 

 pelled to abandon their station, the assailants in- 

 stantly put to death all the males and females who are 

 left behind, and strip the houses of all their furniture ; 

 but, should theiradversaries, having gained intelligence 

 of the intended assault, be resolute enough to meet 

 them in battle, and should ihey find themselves over- 

 matched, they speedily retreat and quietly return to 

 their own habitations. If at any time they see a star 

 very near the moon, they say, * to-night we shall un- 

 * doubtedly be attacked by some enemy;" and they 

 pass that night under arms with extreme vigilance. 

 They often lie in ambush in a forest near the path 

 where their foes are used to pass and repass, waiting for 

 the enemy with different sorts of weapons, and killing 

 every man or woman who happens to pass by. In 

 this situation, if a leech, or a worm-, or a snake should 

 bite one of them, he beais the pain in perfect silence; 



