second stage of development has been passed, and the language is in the same class with those of Greece, Rome, and Germany, rather than in that of the tongues in question, and of many others. To return, however, to the _Tamulian_ family, meaning thereby a branch of the great Mongolian stock, speaking, _either now or formerly_, a language more or less allied to the Tamul of the Dekhan. The first members of the class, as we proceed southwards from Behar, are certain hill-tribes of the Rajmahali Mountains--the Rajmahali mountaineers. Their Mongolian physiognomy is unequivocal;--a Mongolian physiognomy but conjoined with a dark skin. They have "broad faces, small eyes, and flattish or rather turned-up noses. Their lips are thicker than those of the inhabitants of the plain."[35] The flattened nose reminded the writer of the Negro, and the general character of the features of the Chinese or Malay; though it is added that the resemblance is in a great degree lost on closer inspection. At the same time it has been sufficiently recognized to have originated the hypothesis of a descent from one of those nations as a means of accounting for it. With a slight tincture of Brahminic Hinduism, the Rajmahali mountaineers are Pagans. _Bedo_ is one of their gods; doubtless the _Potteang_ of the Kuki, and the _Batho_ of the Bodo. _Gosaik_, too, is either the name of a god, or a holy epithet; this, also, being a mythological term current amongst many other tribes of India. Other elements in their imperfectly-known mythology deserve notice. Their priesthood contains both _Demauns_ and _Dewassis_; the latter form being the Bodo _Deoshi_. As the names are alike, so are the functions. The _Dewassi_ is an oracular seer. When he vouchsafes to give answers, his inspiration takes the form of frenzy--but he neither hurts nor speaks to any one. He makes signs for a cock, and for a hen's egg as well. The cock's head he wrenches off, and sucks the bleeding neck. The egg he eats. After this he seeks the solitude of the wood or stream; and is fed by the deity. Sometimes he has ridden a snake; sometimes put his hands in the mouth of a tiger with impunity. Trees too large to move, or too thorny to touch, he places on the roofs of houses. He sees Bedo Gosaik in visions; and, in the sacrifices therein enjoined, red paint, rice, and pigeons make a part. From the touch of women he abstains; so he does from the taste of flesh. Either would make his prophecies false. There are also certain sacrifices that the _Maungy_ (chief?) of each village makes, and in which threads of red silk play a part. One of their gods--an elemental one--is the god of rain, and the dangers of a drought are averted by praying to him. A ceremony called the _Satane_ determines the chief who takes the office of invoker.