310 Aborigines of the North East Frontier. [No. 4. 



the other hand, in the great Tai family we have a not less striking in- 

 tance of the preservation of a language in almost its original integrity 

 and purity, through many centuries, and in despite of a vast territorial 

 diffusion ; for, from Bankok to Sadiya, along the Meinam, Salwen, 

 Irawadi, and Kyendwen rivers, up to the sources of the Irawadi, through 

 14 degrees of latitude, there is but one language, notwithstanding the 

 diversity of Governments under which the speakers of it live. 



" The Mithan and Tablung Nagas (see table) reside on the hills east 

 and north of Sibsagor. The Kharis descend upon the plains near Jor- 

 hat. They are superior much to the other Nagas. The Jabokas and 

 Banferas are the neighbours of the Mithans, with nearly similar tongues. 

 The Angamis occupy the southern end of the Naga country. The 

 Chiitia is the language of one of the old tribes of Assam, now nearly 

 extinct. The Ahorn also is nearly extinct as a spoken tongue. The 

 present Ahoms of Assam, descendants of the conquerors, still form one 

 of the largest portions of its population. But their language, as well 

 as their religion, has been relinquished for those of the Hindus. Their 

 ancient creed had little resemblance to Buddhism or to Brahmanism. 

 The Khamtis retain their tongue but have lost their creed. They have 

 accepted Buddhism from the Burmas, from whom they have likewise 

 borrowed many new words. 



" In answer to your queries I can but say, at present, that I highly 

 appreciate the importance of a standard for the Indo-Chinese tongues. 

 But which language has the best claim to be constituted such I do not 

 know. I should be inclined, however, to assume the Burmese, which is 

 at least half brother to the Tibetan. This would bring the Tibetan, 

 the Lhopa or Bhutanese, the Burmese, the Singhpho, the Naga, &c> 

 into a kind of family union. The Siamese Shyan, or, as the people 

 themselves call it, the Tai, cannot be brought into the same category. 

 It has little or no affinity with the neighbouring dialects, and may re- 

 present another whole class of languages not yet ascertained. It is pro- 

 bably allied to the Chinese and is in importance not inferior" to the 

 Burmese.' ' 



I am, &c. 



B. H. Hodgson, 



