iv parison of this class of Asamese words with the cor- responding terms in the original languages of the Chutias, Kacharis Kooches and other tribes by which Asam has been peopled, would probably throw much light on the origin of the language in present use. It is remarkable that the Ahoms, who overspread and conquered the country, and who now constitute a large proportion of the population, should have been able to produce no alteration in the language of the original inhabitants; scarcely a single term in present use being traceable to the ancient Ahom. This language, which was closely allied to the Shyan and Siamese, is now understood only by a few Ahom priests, who still preserve their old religion. The Asamese is often regarded as merely a corrupt form of the Bengali, by persons who become acquaint- ed with that language previous to their arrival in Asam. Finding so large a proportion of words common to Bengali and Asamese, and not considering that this similarity necessarily results from the derivation of these languages from Sanskrit, the common parent of both, it has been hastily concluded that the Asamese is but an uncouth jargon, formed by the incorporation of Bengali with the various dialects of the country. The opinion that the present language of Bengal is the parent of Asamese, is irreconcilable with facts. It is well known that there had been no influx of Ben- galis into this province, prior to the Mohammedan in- vasion; at which time the language was established
