706 Account of the Origin, etc. of the [July, 



very metropolis of Hinduism (Bihar, Oude, Benares) but for 15 to 16 

 centuries* (sixth B. C. to eleventh A. D ) to contest with it the palm of 

 superiority. The Yogini Tantra very properly denominates the Kocch, 

 Mlecchas or aborigines, the fact being imprinted in unquestionable charac- 

 ters on their non-arian physiognomy, and also on the language and cus- 

 toms of their unconverted brethren. They are called Kavachf in the 

 Tantra just named, Hasa by the Kacharis or Bodos of Assam, Kamal by 

 the Dhimals, and Kocch by the Mecch or Bodos of the Me'chi, as well as 

 by themselves, where not perplexed with Brahmanical devises. Bucha- 

 nan, who was furnished with every appliance for satisfactory research, 

 and whose sagacity was not unworthy of his opportunities, estimated 

 the numbers of the Kocch people twenty-five years ago, at 350,000 

 nearly. I am not aware that any good census has since been taken, and 

 I have failed to obtain a general estimate : but from much inquiry, 

 aided by Major Jenkins, Dr. Campbell and Permanand Acharj, I con- 

 clude that Buchanan missed a great many of them under the disguise 

 of Islaam, that cultivation has vastly increased since his time, that the 

 Kocch abound throughout the northern part of Rungpur, Piirnea, Di- 

 najpiir, Mymansing and in all Kamrup and Darang, as far as the Dhansri 

 river, and that their numbers cannot be less than 800,000 souls — possibly 

 even a million or million and quarter. In Assam they are divided into 

 Kamthali and Madai or Shara, and Kolita or Kholta, and in Rungpur,&c. 

 into Bajbansi and Kocch — those of the Moslem faith every where drop- 

 ping their ethnographic designation. Their first priests were Deoshi, .J 

 their next Kolita or Kholta, and their last, the Brahmans or Mullahs. 

 Buchanan vouches that their primitive or proper language (as still used 

 by the unadulterated remnant of the race) has no affinity with the Pra- 

 krits, and I can attest the entire conformity of the physiognomy of all„ 



* Sal<ya was probably born in 545 B. C. and died in 465, and that his creed was 

 still flourishing in the eleventh century A. D. is proved by the then solemn repair of 

 the great temple at Gaya. The persecution however was hot in the ninth. 



f This is identical with Kocch, the difference being merely that of the Sanscrit 

 and Prakrit forms of the same word. 



% Observe that this is the name of the extant Bodo and Dhimal priesthood, one 

 of numerous proofs demonstrative of the affinity of all the three people. 



