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



fermented liquor made of rice or millet, which the former call Jo, the 

 latter, Yii. It is not unpleasant, and I should think was very harmless. 

 Its taste is a bitterish subacid, and it is extremely like the Ajimana of 

 the Newars of Nepal. Brewing and not distilling, seems to be a cha- 

 racteristic of nearly all the Tamulian races, all of whom drink and make 

 beer — and none of them, spirits. The Bodo and Dhimal process of 

 making this fermented liquor is very simple : the grain is boiled : the 

 root of a plant called Agaichito is mixed with it : it is left to ferment 

 for two days in a nearly dry state : water is then added, quant, suff. ; 

 the whole stands for 3 or 4 days, and the liquor is ready. The Agai- 

 chito plant is grown at home : its root, which serves for balm, is called 

 Emon. I have never seen it. Besides this beer — of which both peo- 

 ple use much— they likewise freely use tobacco ; but never opium nor 

 hemp in any of the numerous preparations of both ; nor distilled waters 

 of any kind ; and upon the whole, I see no reason to brand them with 

 the name of drunkards, though they certainly love a merry cup in 

 honour of the gods at the high festivals of their religion. Among my 

 own servants the Bodo have never been seen drunk : the Moslems and 

 Hindus, several times excessively so. 



Manners. — The manners of the Bodo and Dhimals are, I think, a 

 pleasing medium between the unsophisticated roughness of their high- 

 land neighbours, and the very artificial smoothness of their neigh- 

 bours of the plains, They are very shy at first; but when you 

 know them they are cheerful without boisterousness and inquisitive 

 without intrusion. Man's conduct to woman is always one of the best 

 tests of his manners : now the Bodo and Dhimals use their wives and 

 daughters well ; treating them with confidence and kindness. They 

 are free from all out-door work whatever ; and they are consulted by 

 their husbands as their safest advisers in all domestic concerns, and 

 in all others that women are supposed likely to understand. When a 

 Bodo or Dhimal meets his parent or one of the elders of the communi- 

 ty, he drops his joined hands to the earth, and then raises them to his 

 forehead ; and if he be abroad he says ' father, I am on my way,' — to 

 which the parent or senior answers, * may it be well with you.' There 

 is little visiting save that which is inseparable from the frequent religi- 

 ous feasts and festivals, already sufficiently described, nor are amuse- 

 ments or pastimes for young or old common. Indeed, children or 



