1846.] on the Kuladyne River: — Arracan, 63 



hereditary ; whilst in those villages within the British territory, it being 

 necessary that the village chief should be acquainted with the Burmese 

 language for the purpose of transacting Government business, an indi- 

 vidual on account of such qualification is often raised to that dignity ; 

 and thus in some villages there exist two Toungmengs, the one hereditary, 

 the other elected. The religious system of the Khumis appears to be 

 very vague ; it consists of the worship of numerous Ndts, or spirits, and 

 indeed of every thing that strikes their fancy. They worship the earth 

 as the author and giver of all they possess ; the sun also, in its noon- 

 day height, as the pledge of safety from their foes — for the attacks of 

 these mountain tribes are never made except during the night; no 

 single night passes over their head that is not replete with terror. They 

 reverence also the spirits of the dead ; these, they say, at times flit over 

 their ancient haunts, at others wing their way like birds over mountain 

 and vale. The spirits of the good they think ever happy, those of the 

 wicked miserable. Each house likewise has suspended from its walls the 

 skulls of the animals it may have killed for food ; to these likewise they 

 pay a simple adoration, by placing before each individual a handful of its 

 wonted food, as an acknowledgement of the sustenance it has afforded 

 them in its time. The skulls also of the animals slaughtered by their 

 fathers are in like manner preserved as much in remembrance of those 

 deceased relatives as a monument of their wealth ; frequently will a 

 chief point to them with pride, and tell you how many mountain 

 bulls his father could spear for a marriage feast. Their religion may be 

 said to consist of nothing but the worship of spirits ; to every object that 

 strikes their fancy, they accord a spirit of its own. Each peak in their 

 native hills, they hold to be the mountain watch-tower of a god. No- 

 thing could illustrate this better than the accompanying translation of 

 part of a Khiimis' prayer. Previous to an undertaking or expedition he 

 lets loose a fowl as an offering to the spirits, and utters the following : 

 "Oh ! spirit of the day-sun ; Oh ! spirit of the rock-ledged gate* ; Oh ! 



* These are two very singular wall-like ridges of sandstone, running across the 

 Kuladyne, about twenty miles the one above the other. They are not rocks like those 

 of Colgong on the Ganges ; but ridges perpendicular on each side, and only a few feet 

 in width ; the river has forced itself a passage through the centre. The tradition is that 

 when the spirits found their domains invaded by a new faith from the plains, they en- 

 deavoured to raise a barrier; this was forced : a second attempt in like manner failed, 

 and in despair they have given up the idea of a third 



