Vol. IX, No. 10.] The Twelve Bhiiiyas of Bengal. 447 
[N.S.] 
Jaintia which in the Ain is spelt Jesa (Jarrert, 11,139). Per- 
haps, this may help to explain Abul Fazl’s impossible northern 
boundary, viz., ya daryd-i-shor, the ocean. Perhaps what he 
meant, or his informants meant, was daryd-i-surma, 1.e. 
river Soorma.’’ (J.A.S B., 1904, pp. 62-63.) 
We might ask our philologists whether any other meaning 
could be found for the word Bhati than that proposed by Abul 
Fazl, ‘‘a low-lying country, because it lies lower than Bengal 
(?),°? or the one proposed by Dowson: ‘‘ Bhati=down the 
stream.’’ (Exuiotr, VI, 72.) What moved Wilford, a good 
linguist, to speak of ‘* the twelve Bhiiyas, or Bhattis or princt- 
palities of Bengal’’? Cf. supra. 
he dignity of the Barah Bhiliyas appears to have had its 
roots in a very ancient institution, the origin of which we must 
leave to others to investigate. The following points deserve 
attention :— 
are enumerated, twelve persons are always mentioned, but the 
actual names vary, just as in the case of the Muhammadan 
Panch Pir different saints are counted by different people. It 
seems to have been the practice in this part of India for Kings 
to appoint twelve advisers or governors. Nar Narayan had 
twelve ministers of state; twelve chiefs or dolois administered 
the hilly portions of the Raja of Jaintia’s dominions, and there 
were twelve State Councillors in Nepal.’’ 
-) Before the ceremony, twelve Lords of Arakan were 
crowned Kings (pp. 204, col. 1; 212), and eight days were 
spent in festivities after the coronation of each. On the day 
of the Emperor’s coronation, these twelve vassal kings walked 
before him in procession and stood around his throne (p. 215, 
ol. 2). 
1 Horrible to relate! The ‘‘ Emperor ’’ of Arakan fearing to be over- 
tains. 
ay were carried at night to a deep hollow between two at te plain 
