or Kafirs of Hindu-Khuh, is the fact, that being undoubtedly
of the Hindu race, which their language attests, and inhabiting
a high and cold country, they have the sanguine or
xanthous complexion of the northern Europeans.
Mr. Elphinstone was informed that the name of Siah-
Pôsh, or Seeaposh, black-vested, belonged to only one
division of the Kafirs, whiln the others, are called Speën
Caufirs or White Infidels. This, was denied by the informants
of B urnes. The epithets relate only to their
dress, for the whole nation, as Mr. Elphinstone says, are
remarkable for the fairness and beauty of their complexion.*
The Hindu informant of Bumes said they we're a race of
exquisite beauty, with arched eye-brows and fair complexions^.
A native seen by B urnes in Kabhî was a remarkably
handsome young man, tall, with regular Grecian
features, blue eyes and fair complexion. Two other boys,
eight and nine years old, who camé with him, had ruddy
complexions, hazel eyes, and auburn hair. They, also had
less beauty and high cheek-bones.; but they were still
handsome and remarkably intelligent. None, ofJ these
individuals, nor two others whom B urnes saw, had : any
resemblance to Affghhns, or even to Kashmirians. “ They
looked a distinct race, as the most .superficial observer
would have remarked.”-!
* Elphinstone, page 619.
t This account of the Siah-Pôsh is extracted from the only ^pcounts, published,
which are,—1. Elphinstorie’s Appendix 0 ^ on Caufaurikah.” te -!<Ö i'
Account of Caubul. 2. A Memoir on the Siah-Pôsh Kafirs, with specimens of
their language and costume, by Sir Alexander Bumes, in the Journal of the
Asiatic Society of Bengal, for April, 1838. ; 3. A communication o f Ritter’s to
th e Berlin Geographical Society for May, 1839, entitled, « Einige^Ethnographische
Mittheilungen, über die Siah-Pôsh von Alexander Barnes,” printed in
the “ Monatsbericht über die Verhandlungen der Gesellschaftfiir Erdkunde.”
In this last paper are some remarks by Professor Bopp, on the specimens: of
the’ Siah-Pôsh language.
Se c t io n VI.—Aboriginal Races in the Mountainous Coun-
■ ' tries td the Bastioard' of Bhutan,—Tribes of Ahorns^
Garros, Cachars, Gossyahs, Cdssays or Manipürs, Miris,
Abors, Mishntis, Kangtis, Bor-Kangtis, Singphos, Mu-
amarias, Nagas or KuM*tS?
In ascending t’hë'htbu^sé- of the great river Brahmaputra,
we find immediately beyond the eastern limits of Bengal and
of Bhutan,'mountainous tracts bordering on the valley of
the BrahmapfitraV which are.inhabitedJby a variety of tribes
ili various degrees'1 of bhrbufism. "So many different tribes
are Crowded together within a smalPiphce- as-to lead to the
idea, that sömebf them may^è the remains of races driven
fifth this quarter, and that^fiètcMutry may be the receptacle
,and place bfirefuge of manyriations"exiled from India. This
is mërèlf a conjecture. I shall now describe the^pincipal
races ^inhabiting -thë: öióüntainous countries bordering on
the Bféhmapfitra and bëyónd thè- ëftstern boundary of Pro-;
pfer Hindustan. In ibe^prirts we come intb^nlSlcfwith
thn Indo-ChiheMïnations; to which stock’manyof thèrfribes
ëvidénfly'are related. ,
Natives of Assam.—The règiomso termed joins Bengahat
its north-eastern corner and étretches in an easterly direction
to an undefined •‘extent. * Assam may be considered as the
designation-of thevalleydhrough w lM thfe'vast river Brah-
mapfitra ta k ^ it^ d u rs e from the-efihf,* passing through the
Himfilayan chain to'the Bay of Bengal, < Its average breadth
is computed at seventy miles, but the upper valley is much
broader. The valley is supposed tö-ibe thfe^hhndred and
fifty miles in Tehgth. It'is divided into three»:provinces,
Gamrfip on the west, Assam Proper in the centre^ and
Sodiya at the eastern extremity. On the north Assam >iS
bounded by the mountainous regions of ; Bhutan, Auka,
Duffala and Miri, arid on the south by the Garro mountains
which rise towards the east and change the name of Garro
for that of Naga. These are names of some importance in
ethnography. The animal and vegetable productions of
Assam are similar to those of Bengal.