24 
P. A. de Roepstorff — Tiomheromhi. 
[No, I, 
Miicli fuller materials for examination exist from liis and Elliot’s re¬ 
searches into the dialects of the Changars, the Zargars of the Panjab, 
Kashmir and Hinddstan proper, and of the doubtful Khurasani Magadds, 
including sentences to illustrate grammar. It would be of value to see 
if the conclusions here arrived at would be supported or the reverse 
from an examination of them. But in any case the material at hand 
is much scantier than it might be and doubtless research would elicit 
many new forms from the dialects already represented, and beginnings 
might be made with some as yet untouched apparently by any enquirer, 
e. g., those of the Delhi JDaldls (brokers), the Kaldls (generally distillers 
and liquor-sellers) and the Lucknow Afiunchis (opium-takers). As re¬ 
gards the criminal classes and tribes, however. Dr. Leitner has shown in 
his “ Detailed Analysis of ’Ahdu’l-Ghafur'’s Dictionary^ 1880, that it is 
almost useless to look among them for philological facts. 
In conclusion I may be permitted to remark that if Dr. Leitner’s 
hope, {Linguistic Fragments, p. iii.), that the Trade Dialects will be 
found to preserve an ancient language, is to become a reality, the en¬ 
quiry must be taken up by more than one person. The range of know¬ 
ledge required is too wide, and the investigations necessary too minute 
and searching to admit of one head solving the problems presented, in a 
satisfactory manner. 
Tiomberombi. A Nicobar tale.—By F. A. de Roepstoeff; late offig. 2nd 
Assist. Supdt., Port Blair, Nicobars, Associate A. S. B. 
Both racial characteristics and the historical traditions of a people 
are commonly found embedded in their religious rites and in their popu¬ 
lar tales. This is especially true in the case of uncivilized tribes. Whilst 
pursuing my studies in the Nicobar language with the object of reducing 
it to writing I have made a point therefore of noting down the charac¬ 
teristic religious usages of the Nicobarese, and also of chronicling the 
tales in vogue amongst them which possibly embody historical events of 
a forgotten past. With regard to their sacred rites I have ready for the 
press a Statement of “ The ceremonies and customs at death, and at 
mourning for the dead, of the Nicobarese people” taken fresh from the 
lips of the devotees themselves. These ceremonies yield up their mean¬ 
ing and significance with sufficient clearness and precision ; but the case 
is very different with regard to any historical references and traditions 
which may be hidden away in the popular tales of the Nicobarese people. 
For a most singular custom prevails amongst them which one would 
suppose must effectually hinder the “ making of history ” or at any rate 
