1840.] Note on the Limboos, and other Hill Tribes. 603 



cock's head first, and next the hens, directing the streams of blood on 

 the leaf, where they intermingle. If the blood spreads into fanciful 

 shapes, or flower-like patches, it is an omen of good luck and happiness 

 to the parties, if into large blotches, it betokens evil. This ceremony 

 being ended, the friends of the parties are feasted, and when it has 

 previously been agreed on, the bride is carried home. The poverty 

 of the bridegroom, however, often renders it necessary for him to remain 

 with his wife's father for sometime, to whom he becomes as a slave, 

 until by his work he has redeemed his bride. A poor man generally 

 gets over all preliminaries, as well as the marriage ceremony, in one 

 day. It costs a richer man a week. The Limboos marry with the 

 Lepchas and also with the Moormis ; the latter, however, is objection- 

 able, but is not followed by any other inconvenience. 



Births. 



The Phedangbo is called in at births, if parents can afford him a 

 dinner ; he examines the infant carefully, and then pronounces its 

 destiny, sacrifices a fowl or kid, and invokes the blessings of the gods 

 on the young stranger. The parents name the infant on the third 

 day after birth. 



Children born out of wedlock, and the produce of Limboos and 

 Lepchas, are called " Koosaba." Boys become the property of the 

 father on his paying the mother a small sum of money, when the child 

 is named and enters his father's tribe ; girls remain with the mother, 

 and belong to her tribe. 



Deaths. 



Just as the vital spark has taken its leave of the mortal tenement, 

 it is usual among Limboos, who can procure a little powder, to fire a 

 gun; the report is supposed to give intimation of the event to the gods, 

 and to speed the soul* of the deceased to their keeping. They burn 

 the dead, selecting the summits of mountains for the purpose, and 

 afterwards collect and bury the ashes, over which they raise a square 

 tomb of stone, about four feet high, placing an upright stone on its 

 summit. 



On the upright stone is engraved a record of the quantity of largess 

 distributed at the funeral of the deceased ; this inscription is either in 



* " Hungsa," synonymous with life and breath. 



4 ii 



