1839.] Nm on the Mechis. 625 



above respects the erratic habits of the Mechis resemble those of the 

 Thawas especially ere that race commenced, as lately, to form perma- 

 nent villages in the open Turai; and are identical with those of the 

 Dimals. 



The religion of the Mechis, in so far as they have any, is the Shivaite 

 form of Hindooism, but it goes no further than to the occasional 

 sacrifice — when they can afford a merry-making — of goats, buffaloes, 

 pigs, and fowls at a clay image of Kali, when they drink spirits and a 

 fermented liquor made from Murwa to excess, and indulge in much 

 licentiousness. The influence of the Brahmins is not recognised; they 

 have no guroos, nor priests, nor temples ; do not perform the shradh ; 

 and bury the dead in any convenient part of the jungle, confining the 

 obsequies to a feast among the relations of the deceased, and placing 

 spirits and prepared food over the grave ; tombs are never raised over 

 the graves, nor have the small communities any common burying 

 ground. 



There is no distinction of castes among them. In the Nipal Turai 

 the population of which is composed of the most varied assemblage of 

 would-be Hindoos, and almost destitute of real ones, the Mechis are 

 admitted within the pale, and water is taken from their hands by 

 persons of caste, although they eat fowls, buffaloes, the cow — when 

 beyond the Nipalese limits — and the carrion of all animals except 

 that of the elephant, which animal is held in high respect by them, 

 although not venerated, so far as I can learn. The carrion eating and 

 other impure but cherished practises of the Mechis are not followed to 

 the fullest extent in Nipal, where Hindooism is at a high premium, 

 and breaches of the Hindoo law by all pretenders to that faith are 

 punished with much severity. In Sikim and Bootan, however, the 

 Mechis indulge their natural habits, and are as omnivorous a race of 

 human beings as any in the world. 



Marriages are contracted in youth or adolescence at convenience, 

 the men purchasing their wives at prices varying from 10 to 60 



; Rupees, according to the beauty of the female and the means of the 

 male. When an accepted husband has not the means of paying for 

 his wife in money he joins her family party, working for the parents 



j until he has fairly earned his bride according to previous contract ; 

 like the poorer classes elsewhere in India, a man can seldom afford to 



I have more than one wife at a time, there is no restriction however on 



( this head. 



The women share equally with the men in all the labors of the field, 



i and manage household affairs exclusively ; they likewise attend at the 



I periodical fairs (Hauths) selling, buying, and bartering the various 



