708 Account of the Origin, fyc. of the [July, 



consulting the destined bride. Grown up women may select a husband 

 for themselves, and another, if the first die. A girl's marriage costs the 

 mother 10 rupees — a boy's 5 rupees. This sum is expended in a feast 

 with sacrifice, which completes the ceremony. Few remain unmarried, 

 or live long. I saw no grey hairs. Girls, who are frail, can always 

 marry their lover. Under such rule, polygamy, concubinage and adul- 

 tery are not tolerated. The last subjects to a ruinous fine, which if not 

 paid, the offender becomes a slave. No one can marry out of his own 

 tribe. If he do, he is fined. Sutties are unknown, and widows always 

 having property can pick out a new husband at discretion. The dead 

 are kept two days, during which the family mourn, and the kindred and 

 friends assemble and feast, dance and sing. The body is then burned 

 by a river's side, and each person having bathed, returns to his usual 

 occupation. A funeral costs 10 rupees, as several pigs must be sacri- 

 ficed to the manes. This tribe has no letters ; but a sort of priesthood 

 called Deoshi, who marry and work like other people. Their office is 

 not hereditary, and every body employs what Deoshi he pleases, but 

 some one always assists at every sacrifice and gets a share. The Kocch 

 sacrifice to the sun, moon and stars, to the gods of rivers, hills and 

 woods, and every year, at harvest home, they offer fruits and a fowl to 

 deceased parents, though they believe not in a future state. (?) The chief 

 gods are Rishi and his wife Jago. After the rains the whole tribe make 

 a grand sacrifice to these gods, and occasionally also, in cases of distress. 

 There are no images. The gods get the blood of sacrifices ; their vota- 

 ries, the meat. Disputes are settled among themselves by juries of 

 Elders, the women being excluded here, however despotic at home. If 

 a man incurs a fine, he cannot pay with purse, he must with person, 

 becoming a bondman, on food and raiment only, unless his wife can and 

 will redeem him. 



Climate. — The climate of north Bengal or Kocch (including the coun- 

 try of the people so called, and of the Bodo and Dhimals) is too well 

 known to require any particular notice. It is much less healthful than 

 that of north Bihar, being infested with low-fevers, which are either 

 propagated from the wilds north and east of it, or, more probably, gene- 

 rated on the spot by excessive moisture and vegetation in the very ex- 

 tensive tracts of waste, still unhappily to be found every where east of 

 the Kosi river. "West of that river, or in the ancient Mithila, and 



