200 Major Macgregor — -Notes on the Ahas. [Dec, 



The Hazarikhowas are bounded on the north by the Bhutias and 

 Mijis ; south by the Darrang District, Assam ; east by the Kapachor- 

 Akas, and on the west by the Tenga River. 



The principal rivers in the Aka country are the Bhoroli and Maj 

 (Middle) Bhoroli, Phusung (or Bichung), Tenga, Diju, Diging and 

 Kameng (the last-named is to the north-west of the Meri-Aka country). 



The boundary line between the Darrang District and the Aka 

 country crosses the Diju about 3J miles to the north of the Mukh. This 

 boundary line was settled by the Civil Officer of Darrang with the Aka 

 Chief Mehdi in 1872. 



There are two passes into the Aka country from the plains, viz., the 

 Bhoroli and the Balakpung. To reach Mehdi's village, using the former 

 pass, the Bhoroli River has to be crossed twice, at Diju-Mukh and again 

 at Maj-Bhoroli, and the Tenga River has to be crossed once. When 

 the Balakpung pass is used, the only river of any size to be crossed is 

 the Tenga, and this stream, which is only knee deep (in the cold season), 

 is crossed near its junction with the Shooshung stream. The river 

 Tenga bifurcates at the place where it is crossed in the Balakpung, 

 Jameerigaon route, and an island is formed, which makes a capital site 

 for a camp. 



The Akas are demon worshippers, i. e., they believe in the existence 

 of various good and evil spirits, who, if not propitiated, will harm them. 

 Hunter mentions the names of three gods, Fuxu, jungle god, Feiran, 

 war god, and Situ, household god ; but I could get no definite informa- 

 tion about these three deities — in fact, an intelligent Aka, whom I in- 

 terrogated on the subject, said he had not heard of them. Once a year 

 the Akas pay a visit to the Maj-Bhoroli River, and a sacrifice consist- 

 ing of 2 mithun, 2 she-goats, 2 pigs, and 2 cocks is made to propitiate 

 " the spirit of the waters." If a person falls ill, pigs and fowls are sa- 

 crificed (and eaten by the relations and friends of the sick person ! ) and 

 invocations are made. A few simple herbs are used as medicine, and 

 for all stomachic disorders ginger is freely used. The Akas call their 

 principal deity " Karza," the day god is called " Ju " = sun, the night 

 god " Hubee " = moon, the stars " Neitzi " are minor deities. Some 

 years ago a Buddhist priest from Thibet visited the Akas. This man 

 seems to have had but a very partial and temporary success in inculcat- 

 ing the teaching of Buddha. The visits of the priest were repeated for 

 several years, but in 1870 he died. During the time that the visits 

 were made, Buddhism was perhaps dominant, but on the expiration of 

 the visits the Akas lapsed again into the old spirit worship. A stone 

 hut on the ridge to the north-west of Laby's village remains as the sole 

 memento of the Buddhist's visit. At Khowagaon, a village to the north 



