1847.] Periplus of the Erythrean Sea, fyc. 35 



the people of the plains, were in the habit of bartering their goods in this 

 manner. A similar practice, though arising apparently from a different 

 cause, occurs in Malabar. Speaking of the tribe called Nayaree in that 

 country, Col. Welsh states : " They crawl to the road side or to a cer- 

 tain distance from a habitation, deposit something, such as a bundle of 

 twigs, some wild berries or a honey- comb, set up a loud and hideous 

 shriek or scream, and then retire to a sufficient distance to watch the 

 result, when the nearest person either converses with them at a distance 

 on the exchange, or at once deposits what may serve their purpose, and 

 get out of the way to enable them to approach, and carry off their supplies 

 without personal contact."* The Garos and Kookis bringdown to the 

 plains large basket loads of cotton, which they exchange for rice, dry- 

 fish, betel-nut, salt, goats, poultry, ornaments, &c. Speaking of the 

 former people and the places where they carry on traffic, Dr. Buchanan 

 remarks : " They repair once a week during the dry season, more parti- 

 cularly in December, January, and February. Almost the only article 

 which they bring for sale is cotton in the seed, for the conduct of the 

 Bengalees has totally put a stop to the collection of A gal-wood. On 

 the Garos arriving at the market the Zemindar in the first place takes a 

 part of the cotton as his share (Phul) ; the remainder is exchanged for 

 salt, kine, hogs, goats, dogs, cats, fowls, ducks, fish, dry and fresh, tor- 

 toises, rice and extract of sugar-cane for eating : for tobacoo and betel- 

 nut for chewing, &c." The Khassias bring to the mart on the borders of 

 their country, cotton, iron ore, honey, wax, oranges, ivory, and cassia, and 

 sell or exchange them for spirits, rice, tobacco, fish, &c. They and all the 

 other hill tribes on the eastern frontier of Bengal, carry down their goods 

 in large conical-shaped baskets, or hampers, called tapas by the Khas- 

 sias. This kind of basket is made of ratan or bamboo, and is supported 

 upon the back by means of a broad band which encircles the forehead. 

 Men and women carry heavy loads of goods to the plains in this manner. 

 The account, which is given of the Sesatee coming to an established mart 

 on the borders of Thina accompanied by their wives and children, and 

 carrying heavy burdens in mats, so closely resembles the description which 

 is given of the hill people of Assam and their mode of conducting traffic as 

 to leave no doubt, I think, that the Sesatae are one of these tribes, — napa- 



yiyovrat crvu yvvaiQv ku\ tskvois fia<ra£ovTGS (popria fi(yd\a iv Taprr6uaiS t kfxapTTfXi-. 

 * Welsh's Military Reminiscenses, Vol. II. p. 111. 



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