Koch

Koch, a widespread people of North-East India and Assam, now mostly Hiuduised, speaking Bengali and Assamese. Two main divisions, Bania (Pani) and Tintikya, with a great many sub-groups, and collective population of 1,590,000, of whom about 10,000 in the Garo Hills still preserve their primitive speech and customs intact. By Dalton they are regarded as a branch of the great Bhuiya family, whom he classes as Dravidians, while others connect them with the aboriginal Negrito element. They often present a decidedly Negroid type, with thick lips, curly beard, marked prognathism, and almost black complexion.