1879.] S. E. Peal — A peculiarity of the river names in Asam. 261 



tion, as in Tan-chii, Tso-chu. (the Sonkosh) 01* "Wang-chii, Har-cM 

 Par-chii &c. 



It is often difficult to spell Turanian words correctly and Tsi, which, 

 gives great trouble, is as common in those languages as it is rare in the 

 Aryan groups. The river Tsik, tributary L. B. Namrup and Dihing, 

 I find spelt by us as Chik, Chick, Seek, Tuseek, Ta-sheek, Cheek, and 

 Tee-chick, and it is usually spelt Nam-chik, while on the spot it is clearly 

 pronounced Tsik. 



Sanpu. and Singphii also would be as correctly rendered by Tsanpii 

 and Tsingpho. 



The difference between Di and Ti is often hardly perceptible, and at 

 times nil, as Tirap, Dirap and Dihrap. 



It may appear to some that the second half of the name, if Ti is 

 removed, is unpronounceable or difficult to realize as a distinct word, but 

 such are common in these hill dialects. The western branch of the upper 

 Irawadi is called by us Milee kha, but should be Mli ; and in Mbong, 

 Ez'n, ngrai, there is no vowel or even pause between the first two con- 

 sonants. 



As the names of rivers are probably the last to change in any age 

 or country, being frequently retained long after the originating language 

 is extinct, as in America, the subject is of special interest where Aryan 

 and non-Aryan races have evidently overlapped in times past, and might 

 well repay systematic investigation. The following is a contribution, to 

 which I would invite additions. It will be seen that the position is often 

 not given. This is the second list compiled, and in the original one when 

 the names were first collected the sites were not recorded. 



LIST OP RIVER NAMES. 



Di-a 



near Diwangiri 





Di-alung 



L. B.* Kalang 





Di-bong 



N. E. Asam 



Up. Asam 



Di-buru 



N. Lakhimpur 



Up. Asam 



Di-bru 



there are 3 Dibriis 





Di-bru 



original name of the Kalang 



C. Asam 



Di-bii or Tiphu. 



near Samaguting 



Naga hills 



Di-b&g 



near Phungmai or Shuemai kha 



Shan States 



Di-bi 



R. B. Dinoi 



Up. Barma 



Di-blai 





E. Bihar 



Diflii 



L. B. Brahmaputra, Mikir hills 



C. Asam 



Di-g 



L. B. Chenab, Lahore 



N. W. P. 



* L. B. left bank, R. B, right bank, trib. tributary, &c. 



