1848.] in the vicinity of Svddy ah, Upper Assam. 463 



and so many streams fall into that which passes the holy spot, that 

 even those who have visited the place, and ought to have a knowledge 

 of the landmarks, are frequently puzzled, that an idea prevails, that the 

 goddess, or titular deity of the Temple, is to be found and propitiated 

 only when it pleases herself. I believe indeed that in more than one 

 instance, pilgrims have returned ungratified ; and Byragees and others 

 from "Western India, in attempting to find the Temple alone, have perished 

 from hunger, or become a prey to the tigers, which are numerous. 



According to the accounts of my learned Hindoo friends, the worship 

 at the eastern Kamykhya is the Yoni, but more properly the Linga of 

 Siva, in conjunction with the Yoni. Siva has also been propitiated in 

 his character of the destroyer, and it is well known that human sacri- 

 fices have been made there within the present century. I have not been 

 able, however, to ascertain the date of the last sacrifice, and whether it 

 existed up to the invasion of the Burmese, but I have been told as a 

 positive fact, that the particular class of people from amongst whom the 

 victims for such sacrifice were taken, are still in existence, and one 

 family is now living in Suddyah. However, I have not made any par- 

 ticular inquiries regarding so barbarous a rite, and will merely observe 

 that orthodox Hindoos do not admit the necessity for human sacrifice 

 at the Eastern Kamykhya,* and account for its introduction, by the 

 barbarity and ignorance of the people. My own opinion is also in 

 favor of this, and the probability that it was so introduced by the 

 Ahoms in their early ignorance of Hindooism, or that some wily and 

 bigotted brahman, may have made it a price for the liberty of proselyt- 

 ism to his creed, the sects of which in Assam, the Ahoms, following 

 their advent into the country, had long persecuted. 



That Hindu Buddhism and Brahminical Hindooism both existed 

 from a very remote period in Assam, I think we need not doubt, as well 

 as, that the latter came down to a very Jate date ; of which indeed, 

 there can be no better proof than the fact of its influence having led to 

 the conversion of the Bhuddistical Tai race who had become the rulers 

 of the country. f 



* Kamykhya should be more properly written Kam lehchha, from Kama and 

 Ichchha. 



t According 1 to Hiouan Ihsang*, Buddhism had made no progress in Assam up to the 

 middle of the seventh century. The Tibetan accounts which make Assam the scene of 

 Sakya's death, are now well ascertained to be in this respect erroneous. — Eds. 



