0^ 



42 GEOGRAPHY AND 



course, and to have no fixed principles common to the whole tribe. The osten- 

 sible worship is that of Gautama, whose temples and priests are found in all 

 their principal villages, and have evidently, as also by their own account, been 

 borrowed from the Shams and Khaintis. They are also in the habit of deify- 

 ing any Sinh-phos whom they may chance to kill in action, during a fray with 

 some other tribe or village, and of sacrificing to them as their penates ; and in 

 every case of emergency, such as famine, pestilence, or danger, they make of- 

 ferings .to the Megh Deota, god of the elements, of clouds and stones, ('called 

 also Ningschis) sacrificing buffaloes, hogs, and cocks. The skulls of buffaloes so 

 offered up are, afterwards, hung up in their houses, in memorial of their 



piety. , ' 



<i - 



Polygamy, without restriction, is followed by the Sinh-phoSy and they 

 make no distinction between the children born to them of Asamese or foreio-n 



o 



mothers, and those of the pure Sinh-phos. They reject, with horror, the 

 idea of infanticide, under any shape or pretext. 



The custom observed in their funerals varies according to the quality of 

 the deceased, and the manner of his death. Those of the lower classes being 

 buried almost immediately, while the chiefs are generally kept in state for 

 two or more years, the body being removed to some distance during the pro- 

 gress of decomposition, after which it is placed in a coffin, and again restored 

 to the house, where it remains surrounded by the insignia of rank used dur- 

 ing life.* The body of the Gaum of GaMhid, was found by us in this state, 

 on taking possession of the stockade in June last, and had lain there more 

 than two years. 



* In the Narrative of Captain Cook's first Voyage to Otaheite will be found a remarkable coin- 

 cidence between the Funeral ceremonies of the Islanders, and those now described of the Sinh- 

 phos. 



