MSS EUR HODGSON/77 Lepcha texts on tradition and culture, moral teaching and vocabulary, verb patterns and paradigms
		Written texts concerning Lepcha legends, tradition and culture; the texts included are: Story of Lord Ta-she sung, text of Samti nyet-ring cho (moral teaching of the Lepchas written in Nagari script and in the Lepcha language), text of Rum-fat mung-zuk shang (offerings to evil spirits), note on Lepcha vocabulary, verb patterns and paradigms, text of Rong-kup-nun nam-rel rum-fat (book of annual Lepcha offerings), text of E-ka-dosi sa mun-lom (the prayer related to Ekadoshi or Avalokiteshwara), text of Phyuk-bu Pa-ke sa nam-thar (the story or legend of the wealthy man (phyuk-bu) known as Pa-ke), text of Rum-mit king-tsum dar-mit (the goddess of destiny), text of Ling-se cho-kit (the story of Ling-se cho-kit) ( Lepcha tradition and culture, Lepcha language and vocabulary).
		1[vol.77 fol(s)1-39] Story book concerning Lord Tashe (Tasyething), original Lepcha name: Ta-she sung Nepali hand-made paper, fine condition, fair writing, (f. 40 blank).
				Lepcha Hindi
				Story of Lord Ta-she or Tasyething (a version of the stories concerning the life of Padmasambhava, similar to the Tibetan Padma bka'-thang or Mani-bka'-bum) and considered the central text in Lepcha literature (written in Lepcha with Hindi translation).
				It describes the legendary and miraculous life of Lord Ta-she including important events, extraordinary powers, wisdom and blessings, taming of evil or demonic spirits, views on life and death. Nepali title description in Nagari and its Roman transliteration reading "lāpcyāharukā pustaka tasyethiṅko lāpcā boli ra madhyesiā boli". For other copies with only Lepcha script and language, see [vol 80/04 fol.65-145] , with Lepcha language, Nagari transcription and Nepali translation, see [vol 78/03 fol.156-315] and with an incomplete summary in Nepali, see [vol 78/01 fol.48-53] .
		2[vol.77 fol(s)41-64] Lepcha book of Samti netring or Samti netring chho 1846 Machine-made paper, deteriorated, fair writing, copied around 1846.
				Lepcha
				Story related to the advent of Tasyething (Urgyen Pema or Padmasambhava), Takbothing and conflicts and rivalry between the traditions of Lepcha Muns or Bonthings and Tibetan Buddhists in Sikkim. In general, the main theme of the text seems to be similar to the popular biography of Padmasambhava, i.e. conflicts between pre-Buddhist Bon shamans and Tantrik Buddhists led by Padmasambhava. However, the text has been totally localised in terms of geography, history and society. The book is described to be a section of the Dungrap of Sikkim and the term Dungrap must have linkage with the Tibetan word gDung-rabs (a historical or genealogical account).
				The text includes legends related to spiritual predictions about the foundation and the fall of the Tibetan ruling dynasty in Sikkim.
				Mention of Thikung Adek, Thikung Api (probably powerful local shaman rulers of Sikkim who were leading the local pre-Buddhist force) and six other eminent Bonthings, probably commissioners. Local stories related to cultural connections and rivalry existing between Lepcha and Tibetan Buddhist ruling class in Sikkim. Policy of racial discrimination implemented against Lepcha people by the Tibetan rulers of Sikkim. Also includes moral teachings and philosophy.
				Written in Nagari transcription, including nine sections each ending with the phrase 'samtinyet or samtinyetring pla huns abrol kakyon non'; Nepali title reading "llāpchyākā samti netring chho" (folio 64 verso) broadly, the text belongs to the Thog-dra group of Lepcha scriptures. In his listing of 1957, René de Nebesky-Wojkowitz has not included this section probably because it is copied in Nagari script by a native Nepali (MSS. Eur C147, L176/57). A recently published book on Lepcha manuscripts describes this as an "unidentified Nepali text"[Plaisier_2003: 245].
		3[vol.77 fol(s)65-76b] Lepcha book of offerings to evil spirits and gods (devāpujā and devābujhāune or devāmanchāune), original Lepcha title: Rum-fat mung zuk shang sa cho Nepali hand-made paper, fine condition, fair writing.
				Lepcha Nepali
				Way of pleasing gods and demi-gods by the priest known as Bon or Bonthing by offering food and animal or bird sacrifices for traditional healing from different types of disease, pain and suffering. The prayer, worship and offerings described seem very similar to the traditions of the Nepali dhāmi-jhānkri; incomplete Nepali translation; Nepali title description in Nagari and English transliteration; for cross reference to Lepcha-only text, see [vol 80/05 fol.147-185] .
		4[vol.77 fol(s)77-80b] Some Lepcha-Nepali vocabulary, verb forms and paradigms Nepali hand-made paper, fine condition, fair writing.
				Lepcha Nepali
				Paradigms of selected verbs in the Lepcha language compared with Nepali.
		5[vol.77 fol(s)88b-81b] List and description of annual Lepcha religious offerings (devapujā), original Lepcha title: Rong-kup nun nam-rel rum-fat Nepali hand-made paper, fine condition, fair writing, (folios bound in reverse order to that of the text itself).
				Lepcha Nepali Bengali
				List of different Lepchadevapujas performed in a year with descriptions of the procedure, Lepcha original and Nepali translation, text is not complete; one page (f. 88b) consists of a mixture of Bengali and Lepcha words and sentences.
		6[vol.77 fol(s)89-136b] Lepcha book on worship of Ekadoshi (Chenresig = ekādaśamukha), original Lepcha title: Eka-do-shi sa mun-lom Machine-made paper, deteriorating, fair writing.
				Lepcha
				Book on Lepcha religion, customs and manners dealing with prayer and worship of Ekadasi or Ekadoshi (in Tibetan Chenresig, in Sanskrit Avalokiteshwara or ekādaśamukha); the text describes the life of a righteous king named Bir-ba-ho (virabāhu ?) and his queen, and explains the tradition of the Sikkimese cult of Ekadoshi or Ekadashi. During the worship of Ekadashi, it is customary that people fast and pray for two whole days and one whole night. In Sikkim, people observe this ritual once a year. The text further explains the importance of chanting or following the Ekadashi prayer and also reveals the negative impacts on those who abandon it. It also explains the existence of different religious traditions such as Hinduism and Buddhism and and puts special emphasis on mutual tolerance between them. Nepali title description with English transliteration. In a broader sense, this is another text belonging to the Thok-dra group of Lepcha scriptures which deal with death and the after-life.
		7[vol.77 fol(s)137-154] Book of the tale of the life of Phyuk-bu Pake (corrupted as 'Jutpeka' or 'Peke'), original Lepcha title: Phyuk-bu Pa-ke sa nam-thar Nepali hand-made paper, deteriorated and conserved, rough writing, couple of folios blank.
				Lepcha
				Traditional beliefs, religion, customs and manners including concepts of virtue and vice, based on tales of the life of a phyuk-bu (wealthy man) named Pake; belongs to the de-luk (hell or death) category of Lepcha scriptures. The text describes the God of Death and the punishments he inflects on humans for different kinds of sins and can be classified more broadly as part of the Thog-dra (texts recited at the time of death or at a funeral); for a Nepali translation, see [vol 79/04 fol.95-151] .
		8[vol.77 fol(s)155-161] Book of the Goddess of Destiny, original Lepcha title: Rum-mit king-tsum dar-mit Nepali hand-made paper, deteriorated and conserved, rough writing.
				Lepcha
				Lepcha book on religion, customs and manners, stories or traditional beliefs based on the Book of the Goddess of Destiny. Contains moral instructions particularly to women (including traditional female religious duties as well as immoral acts or sins committed by women and the punishments they attract). For a cross reference to an additional copy with a Nepali translation, see [vol 78/01 fol.54verso-78] .
		9[vol.77 fol(s)162-272] Story Book of Lingse, original Lepcha title: Ling-se cho-kit (in Tibetan gLing-bza' Chos-skyid) (2 copies) Machine-made paper, fine condition, fair writing, (folios are folded as in Newari thyāshaphū with text on inside or outside of each fold), blank between folios 269 and 272.
				Lepcha
				Lepcha book on ethics and moral teaching, religion and customs compiled in the form of a story of a woman named Lingse, a king and his queen. The story describes how Lingse desperately wanted to become a nun but was forced to lead a lay life with her husband. Lingse fell ill and ultimately died on account of the frustration of not having been able to devote herself to religion. Having judged the worth of her previous life, God sent her back to human life again so that she would have an opportunity to devote herself to religion as she wished. This seems to be the Lepcha version of the Tibetan religious text known as gLing-bza' chos-skyid. Nepali title description with English transliteration; this text is also broadly accepted as part of the Thok-dra group of traditional prayer books related to funeral rites and life after death.
				ff. 162-236: Copy 1 of Ling-se chokit story.
				ff. 237-272: Copy 2 of Ling-se chokit story.