Kamrup and introduced some degree of improvement,. I can not pretend to say; but as soon as the Koch became noted in tradition or history, we find that they had adopted a priesthood called Kolita or Kolta. These possessed some learning and books in the Bengalese language. They no doubt had some science and continued long to be the only spiritual guides of the Koch and indeed in some places still retain by far the chief authority over that people. In Assam there are several religious instructors (Gurus) of this class who have 10 or 12,000 pupils totally devoted to their service; and an insult offered to one of them, by the late king of that country hurled him from the throne of his ancestors, on which he never again would have sat, had not the strong arm of the Company been held out in his favour. It is not therefore wonderful that in the account of Assam published in the Second Vol. of the Asiatic Reseacrhes, the people of that country are said to be Assamians and Koltanians, the former the temporal lords, the latter the spiritual guides, and then perhaps still more powerful than even now, as at that time the princes were infidels (osur). What tenets the Kolitas, while independent of the Brahmans professed, I have not been able to learn but that they were not orthodox there can be little doubt as in the Yogini Tantra, the Koch Hajo, the chief of the followers of the Kolitas, is plainly called a Mlechchho or barbarian.
At this time however the nation had in general betaken themselves to the plough and the Kolitas could
