1838.] History of Cooch Behdr. 7 



for an upstart, and was overrun by various rude tribes, Koch, Mech, 

 Garo, Kachhari, Rabha, Hajong, Tripura, Bhot, and Nepcha, who 

 neither spoke the language of Bengal, nor had adopted the religion of 

 the brahraans, although numerous fugitives had taken refuge from the 

 violence of Sultan Jalaluddin, as mentioned in my account of Dinaj- 

 pur, and had diffused some degree of instruction, or at least had 

 preserved the little improvement that had been made in former dynasties. 



The new raja seems to have been much guided by his minister the 

 brahman, assumed a Hindu title Nilodhwoj, and placed himself under 

 the tuition of the sacred order. For this purpose a colony of brahmans 

 were introduced from Maithilo, and from thence we may perhaps infer 

 the country of the minister. There is no trace of any earlier colony of 

 brahmans in Kamrup than this from Maithilo, and the great merits of 

 the prince were rewarded by elevating his tribe called Khyen to the 

 dignity of the pure Hindu. It is, indeed, contended by Rajbongsis, 

 that Nilodhwoj was of their caste, and that the Khyen were only his 

 servants, begotten by Rajbongsis on prostitutes of the Khyotriyo tribe* 

 but it seems highly improbable that the raja would procure the dignity of 

 pure birth for the illegitimate offspring of his servants, while his own 

 family remained in the impure tribe of Rajbongsi, the origin of which 

 seems to me of a later date. 



The raja having settled his government built a city called Komotapur, 

 and his successors took the title of Komoteswor or lords of Komota, 

 while the title of Komoteswari, or lady of Komota, was bestowed on 

 the family deity, a female spirit, as usual, delighting in blood. 



As each raja of this family claimed his right to govern on the autho- 

 rity of some miracle, it was discovered by Chokrodhwoj, the second 

 prince, that Bhogodatto had received from Sib an amulet (hoboj) 

 which rendered him invulnerable, and which he usually wore on his arm 

 In the hurry of preparation for battle, this amulet had been left behind, 

 on the day when Bhogodatto was killed, and lay concealed near Has- 

 tinapur until the time of Chokrodhwoj, when this prince was informed 

 in a dream how the amulet might be found, and that it was to be wor- 

 shipped as representing Komotesivori, as it is to this day. 



During this dynasty the office of chief minister (Patro) seems to 

 have been hereditary as well as the regal dignity, and the brahman and 

 his descendants occupied a fortress contiguous to the walls of the city ; 

 but the government does not seem to have been very secure, as not only 

 the royal palace and the residence of the minister, but several houses of 

 inferior personages seem to have been fortified, although situated within 

 the immense works by which the city was surrounded. 



