1844 ] Notes on the Kassia Hills, and People. 619 



thousands can they attach any name. Many of the villages however 

 seem to derive their appellations from such erections, as may be seen 

 from the number commencing with man, which signifies a stone; e. g. 

 mausmai, the stone of the oath, mau-inlu, the stone of salt, mau-flong, 

 the grassy stone, maumlu, the upturned stone, and a score more ; 

 mausmai, the oath stone, suggests that these pillars were also erected 

 in memory of notable compacts. On asking Umang, a faithful and 

 intelligent servant, the origin of the name, his answer was a striking 

 illustration of many passages in the Old Testament. " There was war," 

 said he, " between Cherra and mausmai, and when they made peace 

 and swore to it, they erected a stone as a witness ;" (Sakhi ke waste, 

 was his expression). Genesis XXXI. 45, " and Jacob took a stone and 

 set it up for a pillar." Genesis XXXI. 47, " and Laban called it Jegar- 

 sahadutha : but Jacob called it Galeed [both signifying the heap of wit' 

 ness}. Genesis XXXI. 51, "and Laban said to Jacob, Behold this 

 heap, and behold this pillar which I have cast betwixt me and thee. 

 This heap is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not pass 

 over this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass over this heap and 

 this pillar to me to do me harm, &c." 



See also Joshua XXIV. 26. The name of maumlu, the salt-stone, 

 is probably of kindred meaning, as the act of eating salt from a sword 

 point is said to be the Kasia form of adjuration. 



These large stones are also frequently formed into bridges for the 

 passage of brooks, and most picturesque they often are ; there is at 

 Nurteng a bridge of this kind, consisting of one stone thirty feet in 

 length. 



It is stated by Pemberton, that Kai is the real name of the people, 

 and Kasia the title bestowed on them by the Bengallees. But the truth 

 is the reverse of this. ' Kasi' is the only name which they acknowledge 

 as that of their country and race. The same language, with no sub- 

 stantial difference, appears to prevail in all their villages, though there 

 are considerable differences of accent, &c. especially between the hill 

 and valleymen. It abounds in nasal sounds, and is spoken with a pe- 

 culiar jerking tone, which has a singular effect to a stranger. In the 

 Coptic language, it is said (Edin. Cabinet Library, Egypt, page 377) 

 " genders and cases are expressed by prefixed syllables, and not by 

 terminations like the languages of Greece and Rome." This is exactly 



4 p 



