Assam is a state of exceptional interest.
The only routes between Assam and the rest of Asia which are practicable for migration on a large scale, lie on its north-west and north-east confines. The Aryans, and many later invaders, such as Greeks, Pathans, Huns and the Mughals, entered India from the north west while from the north-east, through Assam, have immigrants from the great Mongolian race in Western China. Many of these immigrants passed on into Bengal, but in that province they have as a rule, merged in the earlier population. Their influence is seen in the modified Physical type of the present inhabitants who are classified as Mongolo-Dravidians, but there very few who possess the distinctive Mongolian physiognomy or who speak Mongolian dialects. In Assam, on the other hand, although in the plains large sections of the population, like that of Bengal, are of mixed origin, there are also numerous tribes who are almost pure Mongolians, and the examination of their affinities, in respect of physique, language, religion and social customs, with other branches of the same family forms one of the most interesting lines of enquiry open to Ethonologists, Their religion indeed has more than a local importance as in it is probably to be found the clue to the strange Tantrik developments, both of Hinduism, and of Buddhism. The Kamakhya temple which is in Gauhati is a centre of the Saktism Hindus, and the state is framed as a land of magic and witch-craft.
The only routes between Assam and the rest of Asia which are practicable for migration on a large scale, lie on its north-west and north-east confines. The Aryans, and many later invaders, such as Greeks, Pathans, Huns and the Mughals, entered India from the north west while from the north-east, through Assam, have immigrants from the great Mongolian race in Western China. Many of these immigrants passed on into Bengal, but in that province they have as a rule, merged in the earlier population. Their influence is seen in the modified Physical type of the present inhabitants who are classified as Mongolo-Dravidians, but there very few who possess the distinctive Mongolian physiognomy or who speak Mongolian dialects. In Assam, on the other hand, although in the plains large sections of the population, like that of Bengal, are of mixed origin, there are also numerous tribes who are almost pure Mongolians, and the examination of their affinities, in respect of physique, language, religion and social customs, with other branches of the same family forms one of the most interesting lines of enquiry open to Ethonologists, Their religion indeed has more than a local importance as in it is probably to be found the clue to the strange Tantrik developments, both of Hinduism, and of Buddhism. The Kamakhya temple which is in Gauhati is a centre of the Saktism Hindus, and the state is framed as a land of magic and witch-craft.
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