Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c9.s1.41

c9.s1.41

Smith makes only one other significant point in favour of the Tibetan origin of the Licchavis. This is their system of exposure of the dead for which he finds Tibetan parallels. The argument is quite inconclusive as it may equally well be used in favour of their Persian origin. Furthermore, four different ways of disposing of the dead, one of which was exposure, were known to the Vedic people.² Exposure was also so widespread among ancient and primitive peoples that no valid inferences can be drawn from it. From these arguments it is extremely difficult to associate the Licchavis with the Tibetans.