1849.] Kocchy Bodo and Dhimal people. 733 



community. The influence of the evil-eye is sought to be neutralised 

 by offerings of parched millet and eggs to Khoja Kajah and Mansha 

 Rajah — Dii minores, who find no place in my catalogue, ample as it is. 

 Moish madai, I am told, likewise claims a place in the Bodo Panthe- 

 on, and a distinguished place too, as the protector of this forest-dwell- 

 ing people, from beasts of prey, and especially the tiger. 



Priesthood. — The priesthood of the Bodo and Dhimals is entire- 

 ly the same, even to the nomenclature, which with both people 

 expresses the three sorts of clergy by the terms Deoshi, Dhami and 

 Ojha. The Dhami (seniores priores !) is the district priest. The 

 Deoshi, the village priest, and the Ojha, the village exorcist. The 

 Deoshi has under him one servitor called Phantwal. There is a 

 Deoshi in nearly every village. Over a small circle of villages one 

 Dhami presides and possesses a vaguely defined but universally recog- 

 nised control over the Deoshis of his district. The general consti- 

 tution and functions of the clerical body have already been fully ex- 

 plained. Priests are subject to no peculiar restraints, nor marked by 

 any external sign of diverse dress or other. The connexion between 

 pastor and flock is full of liberty for the latter, who collectively can 

 eject their priest if they disapprove of him, or individually can desert 

 him for another if they please. He marries and cultivates like his flock, 

 and all that he can claim from them for his services is, first, a share of 

 every animal sacrificed by him, and second, three days' help from each 

 of his flock (the grown males), per annum towards the clearing and 

 cultivation of the land he holds on the same terms with them, and 

 which have been already explained. Whoever thinks fit to learn the 

 forms of offering, sacrifice and accompanying invocation, can be a 

 priest ; and if he get tired of the profession, he can throw it up when 

 he will. Ojhas stand not on the same footing with Dhamis and Deo- 

 shis : they are remunerated solely by fees : but into either office — 

 priests or exorcists — the form of induction is similar, consisting merely 

 of an introduction by the priests or exorcists of the neophyte to 

 the gods, the first time he officiates. One Dhami and two De'oshis 

 usually induct a Deoshi — three Ojhas, an Ojha : and the formula is 

 literally that of an introduction — ' this is so and so, who proposes, O 

 ye gods ! to dedicate himself to your service : mark how he performs 

 the rites, and, if correctly, accept them at his hands.' 



