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THMI.

　The Thmis have formerly been considered to speak the same dialect as the Sunwrs. During the preparatory operations of this Survey the two dialects were confounded in Darjeeling, and separate returns were only made from Sikkim. The number of speakers in that district was estimated at 100. At the last Census of 1901, Sunwr and Thmi were classed together in Assam. The Thmi figures for other districts were as follows:-

　It will be seen that the number of speakers outside Nepal is small. It is therefore no wonder that it has been impossible to get more than an incomplete list of words for the purposes of this Survey. The list is not sufficient for giving a detailed description of the principal features of Thmi grammar. It shows, however, that Thmi is quite distinct from Sunwr. It is much influenced by Aryan dialects, and has adopted Aryan numerals above 'two.' On the whole, however, it seems to be a dialect of the same kind as Dhml, Ykh, Limbu, etc.

　The remarks on the Thmi dialect which follow are entirely based on the list mentioned above, which has been forwarded from Darjeeling.

　Nouns.-The prefixes chi in chi-ng, nose; chi-le, tongue; ch in ch-l, moon; in -go, mouth; u-m, wife; -ni, sun, do not appear to add anything to the meaning. The prefix ch in ch-l corresponds to the z in Tibetan zla-ma, moon. Similarly chi-le, tongue, should be compared with Tibetan lche, Sharpa che-lak.

　Gender.-The male gender can be indicated by adding qualifying words such as pp, boke, drhe, etc.; thus, pp sy, bull; boke churi, a he goat; drhe rki, a male deer. Pp should be compared with Pahr bb which is used in the same way. The female gender can, similarly, be distinguished by adding mm, m, or mi; thus, m- m sy, cow; kuchu-m and kuchu-mi, bitch. In other cases the gender is distinguished by using different words, or else it is left unmarked.

　Number.-There are two numbers, the singular and the plural. The plural can be distinguished by adding suffixes such as haru and pli; thus, -p haru, fathers; chmai pli, daughters.

　Case.-The subject of intransitive verbs and the object are not distinguished by means of any suffix. The object can, however, be put in the dative, which is formed by adding one of the suffixes kai or li; thus, to-ko ch-kai rehunu, his son beat, I have beaten his son.

　The subject of transitive verbs is put in the case of the agent, which is also used as an instrumental. It is formed by adding i or e; thus, dh-i sy-mish jahu-du, him- by cows-buffaloes grazes, he is grazing cattle; to-kai shk-pa-e chhiho, him ropes-with bind.