620 Notes on Northern Cachar. [No. 7 



until it is made to reach enormous dimensions, the outer flesh and 

 skin of the lobe being sufficiently stretched out to admit of a brass 

 or silver ring, four or five inches in circumference, being inserted 

 within the hole. The ear is also turned rouud, so as to make the 

 earring lie at right angles to the side of the head, and through the 

 ear and ring are again attached other ornaments hanging down 

 from it. 



There is no regular system of government among the old Kookies, 

 and they have no hereditary chiefs, as is the case with the new ones. 



A head-man called the Grhalim is appointed by themselves over 

 each village ; but he is much more of a priest than a potentate, and 

 his temporal power is much limited. Internal administration among 

 them always takes a provisional form. When any party considers 

 himself aggrieved, he makes an appeal to the elders, or the most 

 powerful house-holders in the village, by inviting them to dinner, and 

 plying them with victuals and wine. These personages having lis- 

 tened to the grievance form a council, and summon the defendant, 

 who cannot resist their process, and attends. If found guilty he 

 is fined according to the nature of his crime, one fourth of the 

 sum being retained by the council as a personal remuneration, and 

 the remainder being made over to the plaintiff as compensation. 

 Of course this iniquitous system of redressing wrongs, would not 

 stand good, if an appeal were made to our courts, but such is the 

 attachment of the people to their own institutions that no such 

 appeals are made. It is lucky that the establishment of our law, 

 has left to this council little more than jurisdiction over domestic 

 crimes and immoralities ; thefts, assaults, and all the more heinous 

 offences being tried before the magistrate. The council, however, 

 is convened in cases of adultery, seduction, evil speaking, &c. and 

 doubtless still makes good profits. 



Very vague notions of religion indeed are prevalent among these 

 people. All earthly evils are ascribed to the anger of gods, or the 

 pleasure of demons, petitions being made and sacrifices offered up 

 to both to propitiate them. They believe in a futurity of rewards 

 and punishments in acknowledgment of the good or evil actions of 

 this life, but cannot grasp the idea of eternity. 



Marriage among them appears to be as much a religious as a civil 

 ceremony, the Ghalim being the officiating priest. The young 



