[4] Assamese, jakái.—[Ed.] [↑]
[5] This is what Bengali distillers call bākhar. It is usually purchased by them from hill-men.—[Ed.] [↑]
[6] Possession, manufacture, and sale of phatiká is prohibited by law.—[Ed.] [↑]
[7] Eranda; Ricinus communis.—[Ed.] [↑]
SECTION III
Laws and Customs
Internal Organisation. From such information as is available at the present day it a seems fairly clear that the internal and tribal organisation of the Kachári (Bara) race rested in early days, very largely at least, on a totemistic basis, although it is only here and there that any real regard for the totems can still be said to survive. In primitive days these subdivisions, all at one time strictly endogamous,[1] were probably very numerous. But in the case of many of these sub-tribes all trace of their distinct existence would seem to have passed away; and no restrictions on the intermarriage of members of such sub-tribes as still survive are any longer recognised. Among septs or sub-tribes whose names still to some extent hold the field may be placed the following:—
1. Swarga-ároi (Swarga = heaven). The heaven-folk. This sub-tribe is said to be the highest of all; none of its members ever worked as cultivators, for as a rule all deoris, ojhas, and others who took a leading part in religious ceremonials, were chosen from this subdivision; and the offerings made by worshippers were held to be sufficient for their maintenance.
2. Basumati-ároi (Basumati = earth). The earth-folk. This clan has a certain privilege not possessed by any other, i.e., its members can bury their dead without in any way purchasing ground for the grave or for the erection of the funeral pyre.