1849.] Kocch, Bodo and Bhimdl peop le. 717 



ducks. They have no need, therefore, of separate herdsmen, unless it 

 were swine herds, and these might be very useful in feeding their large 

 store of pigs in the forest. But they have no such vocation among 

 them, each family tending its own stock of animals, which is entirely 

 consumed by that family, and no part thereof sold, though the proxi- 

 mate hill-men would gladly purchase pigs from them. But they love 

 not trade nor barter further than is needful, and their need is confined 

 to obtaining (besides rice) a few earthen and metalic culinary utensils, 

 still fewer agricultural implements of iron, and some simple ornaments 

 for their women — all which are readily obtained at the Kocch marts in 

 exchange for the surplus cotton and oil seed of their efficient agriculture. 

 Each man builds and furnishes his own house, makes the wooden imple- 

 ments he requires, and is his own barber, or his neighbour for him, and he 

 for his neighbour. He uses no leather and he makes basketry for himself 

 and family, whilst his wife spins, weaves and dyes the clothes of the fami- 

 ly, and brews the beer which all members of it freely consume. Thus, 

 all manufactures are domestic, and all arts. The Bodo and Dhimals are 

 generally averse from taking service with, or doing work for strangers, 

 whether as soldiers, menials, or carriers, though there are a few soldiers 

 and servants at Dorjiling belonging to the Bodo race, who conduct them- 

 selves well in their respective capacities. Among their own communities 

 there are neither servants nor slaves, nor aliens of any kind ; and 

 whilst their circumstances tend to perpetuate equality of means, neither 

 their traditions, their religion nor their usages sanction any artificial 

 distinctions of rank. Though they have no idea of a common tie of 

 blood, yet there are no diverse septs, clans or tribes, among them, nor 

 yet any castes ; so that all Bodo and all Dhimals are equal — absolute- 

 ly so in right or law — wonderfully so in fact. Nor is this equality 

 the dead level of abject want. On the contrary, the Bodo and Dhi- 

 mals are exceedingly well-fed, and very comfortably clothed and housed, 

 and so soon as you know them — for they are very shy of strangers — 

 their voices, looks, and conduct all proclaim the absence of that grovel- 

 ling fear, and cunning which so shock one in one's intercourse with the 

 people of Bengal, and the mass of whom are much worse fed, and dis- 

 tinctly worse clothed and housed, than either Bodo or Dhimals. 



Laws. — It having been already stated, that these people are, and 

 have been, for ages, in condition of subjects of foreign Govern- 



