A History of Assam c17.4

c17.4

There is practically no difference between the inhabitants of the Khāsi, and those of the Jaintia, hills. They are both of the same physical type, and they speak the same language—Khāsi—which is remarkable as being the only surviving dialect in India, excluding Burma, of the Mon-Khmer family of languages. As stated elsewhere, dialects of this linguistic family are believed to have been spoken by the earliest Mongolian invaders of India, and at one time they were probably current over a considerable area. The evidence of philology, therefore, suggests the hypothesis that the Khāsis and Syntengs are a remnant of the first Mongolian overflow into India, who established themselves in their present habitat at a very remote period and who, owing to their isolated position, maintained their independence, while their congeners in the plains below were submerged in subsequent streams of immigration from the same direction. It may be suggested that they drifted to their present home in more recent times, just as the Mikirs, Kukis and other tribes have moved considerable distances within the short