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



merits, I need hardly observe that they have no public laws or 

 polity whatever, nor even any traces of that village economy which so 

 pre-eminently distinguishes Indian-Arian societies. Their habits are 

 too simple and migratory to allow of the existence of the village sys- 

 tem, with its train of hereditary functionaries and craftsmen. They 

 dwell in the forest in little communities, consisting of from 10 to 40 

 houses, which they are perpetually shifting from place to place. Each 

 of these communities is, however, under a head called Gra by them- 

 selves, Mondol by their neighbours. To the foreign Government they 

 live under their Gra is responsible for the revenue assessed which he 

 pays periodically to the Rajah's representative — the Choudri — in cow- 

 ries or rupees, the only currency. He has no scribe, nor keeps any 

 accounts, his simple explanations to the Choudri being verbal. To the 

 Choudri he is answerable, likewise, for the keeping of the peace and for 

 the arrest of criminals : but crimes of a deeper dye are almost unknown, 

 and breaches of the peace, very rare. Should a murder or robbery 

 occur the Choudri would take cognizance of it, assisted by 3 or 4 

 proximate heads and elders of villages, and report to the Rajah, from 

 whom alone in such cases, a decision could issue. With regard to his 

 own community, the head of the village has a general authority of 

 voluntary rather than coercive origin ; and which, in cases of the least 

 perplexity is shared with the heads or elders of two or three neighbour- 

 ing villages. Those who offend against the customs of the Bodo or 

 Dhimal, that is, their own customs, are admonished, fined, or excom- 

 municated, according to the degree of the offence, the village priest 

 being called in, perchance, to give a higher sanction to the award. The 

 s ame Jury-like tribunal, seems to have almost exclusive cognizance of 

 civil law, or the usages of each people in regard to inheritance, adoption, 

 divorce, &c. Marriage is rather a contract than a rite, and, as such, is 

 dissoluble at the will of either party ; and if the divorce be occasioned 

 by the wife's infidelity, the price paid for her to her parents, must be 

 refunded by them. Dower is not in use, and women, in general, are 

 deemed incapable of holding or transmitting property. All the sons 

 get equal shares, nor is there any nice distinction of sons by marriage, 

 adoption or concubinage. Adoption is common and creditable, even if 

 there be one son of wedlock : concubinage is rare and discreditable. 

 Daughters have no inheritance nor dower : but if their parents be rich 



