632 Notes on Northern Cachar. [No. 7. 



cure, and I do not think it would take much trouble to wean 

 them from their present system both of pathology and reli- 

 gion. 



The Kookies believe in a future state, the term of which they do 

 not however fix, although they do not fancy another state beyond it. 

 They have no actual idea of the soul, but believe that the departed 

 assume their old forms again, and inhabit a world of shades, which 

 they always describe as lying to the north. Their religion is into- 

 lerant, that is, they admit no one but themselves into their heaven, 

 maintaining that for professors of other religions there must be 

 other heavens somewhere else. Their idea of supreme felicity is 

 the congregation of all the good of the tribe after death in a happy 

 land, where rice grows almost without cultivation, and where the 

 jungles abound in game. The ghost of every animal slain by a 

 Kookie in the chase, or slaughtered at home for the purposes of 

 hospitality, becomes in this state attached to him, and are his pro- 

 perty, so likewise every enemy slain in the field by his own hands 

 becomes his slave. The evil doers in this life form a separate com- 

 munity in the world of shades, and are made hewers of wood and 

 drawers of water to the good. Peace is not a concomitant of this 

 heaven, war and the chase being the leading occupation and amuse- 

 ment, which shows that this people cannot form a notion of happi- 

 ness without the association of these fierce excitements, however, 

 inconsistent their adoption may be, for in the next world, death is 

 supposed to be unknown. This is an outline of their faith, but it 

 has already begun to be shaken, and they themselves laugh at many 

 parts of it. 



They profess the greatest willingness to be taught the principles 

 of the Christian religion, and openly say, " We will become Chris- 

 tians if you will teach us." Dr. Oliffe* spoke to several of them 

 when he visited Cachar on the subject, and they professed a great 

 wish to have a missionary sent among them. 



Several isolated instances of conversion to Muhammadamsm have 



already occurred among them, and all those who have been placed 



much in communication with Hindus, show a great tendency to 



adopt their customs, without even the inducement of invitation ; 



* Roman Catholic Bishop of Dacca. 



