1849.] valley of Asam audits mountain confines. 203 



accurately ascertaining ; nor are we capable of forming a correct esti- 

 mate of the probable number of the people by whom it is used. 



The inhabitants of this tract of country, occupying as they do the 

 lesser elevations of the Cis-Himalayan range, are generally speaking, 

 agricultural. Their physical appearance exhibits a few shades of dis- 

 tinction noticeable between them and the tribes of the Sub-Himalayas. 

 They are smaller, less muscular, and the hue of their skin possesses a 

 deeper isabelline tint, from which latter circumstance probably they 

 derive their appellation, the term Changlo, signifying black. 



The alphabetic symbols used by the Changlos are identically the 

 same as those used by the Bhotias. There is also a very close simila- 

 rity in the idiom and genius of the two languages. 



Of Nouns. 

 Nouns have two numbers. There is no distinct termination expres- 

 sive of the Plural : this number is generally formed by the addition of 

 the adjectives nam, and thamche, signifying all, to which the signs of 

 the cases are added in declension as in the singular number. 

 Cases are formed by the following particles used as affixes. 

 Nominative. -» 

 Accusative. J ~~ 



Genitive, i, or yi, or ga. 



Dative, ga. 



Ablative, gai. 



Instrumental, gyi. 



Locative, nang. 



According to the above scheme, the noun Phai, a house, may be 

 thus declined : — 



Singular. Plural. 



Nom. Phai, a house. Norn. Phai thamche, houses. 



Gen. Phaiyi, of a house. Gen. Phai thamche yi, of houses. 



Dat. Phaiga, to a house. Dat. Phai thamche ga, to houses. 



Abl. Phai-gai,//'om a house. Abl. Phai thamche gai, from houses, 



Ace. Phai, house. Ace. Phai thamche, houses. 



Instr. Phai-gyi, with or by a Instr. Phai thamche gzi, with or 



house. by houses. 



Loc. Phai nang, in a house. Loc. Phai thamche nang, in houses. 



The genitive sign is almost wholly excluded in common conversation. 



