অসমীয়া ব্যাকৰণ আৰু যাত speech disappeared and the Aryan vernaculars developed into the Apabhramsas. From these the Partic languages of India including Assamese Were derived. In Assam the Apabhranga was more western than | eastern. The reason seems to be that the Assamese people were more closely connected with the western than eastern people. In all probability Magadhi elements first found their way into Assam with the Aryan invaders of Kosala-Bideha under their King Videgha-Mathava. Later the Vaisnava writers of Assam, notably Sri Sankar Deva, adopted the language of Bideha in the Assamese sacred books as the most fashionable and cultured language of the time. During the Vaisnavic renaissance the Eastern Hindi language which was derived from Magadhi Prakrt took a firm root in Assam. The intermingling of the Kosala-Bidehas with the Assamese in later times also helped this fusion. Hence it is that Assamese is a mixture of Sauraseni and Magadhi Apabhramsas | 5. The Tibeto-Burman and Taic olement The rich and fertile valley of the Brahmaputra appears to have attracted different tribes from the surrounding hills and plains at different times; and it is very probable that a race-war raged in pre-historic times. Later in the period of the Mahabharata this country, known as Kamarup. was inhabited by Kiratas and Chins. What became of these people nobody can say. When, however, the systematic history began the Chutias in the east and the Kacharis in the west were found holding sWay over the whole of this country. They are both Tibetan tribes and belong to the Bodo group which includes also Garos, Meches, Rabhas, lungs, Hajangs, Hojais and Dimasas. The Shan people, calling themselves Ahoms, under the leadership of Chukafa, crossed the Patkai range at the extreme south- east corner of this valley in 1228 A.D. and entered Assam. For several hun- dred years they were in conflict with the Chutias and Kacharis and it was only about 1540 that they finally overthrey, the latter and established their rule as far as the mouth of the Kallang. About this time the Koch Kings of Cooch-Behar pushed themselves castward and came in contact with the | Ahoms. At the present time in the Upper portion of this valley are found Chutias, Khamtis, Phatials, Duanias, Sinphos, Mismis, Chulikatas, Abors, Miris, Daflas, Akas and Nagas and in the lower portion Kacharis, Bhutanese, Meches, Khassis, Lalungs, Mikirs, Hojais and Rabhas, The Singphos, Khamtis, Phakials and Duanias made their appearance in Assam only in recent years. About the other tribes nothing definite is nown. | Linguistically Khamti, Phakal, Duania and Ahom belong to the Tai group, singpho, Mismi, Abor, Miri, Daila, Aka and Bhutanese to the Tibetan group, Naga, Mikir and probably Khass to the kuki-Chin group and Chutia, Kachari, Mech, Lalung, Rabha and Garo to the Bodo group. According to some philologists the Khassi language is a member of the Sub-Himalayan group of Turanian family.
