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diff --git a/old/53670-8.txt b/old/53670-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 76ab337..0000000 --- a/old/53670-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5416 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Sketch of Assam, by John Butler - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: A Sketch of Assam - With some account of the Hill Tribes - -Author: John Butler - -Release Date: December 5, 2016 [EBook #53670] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A SKETCH OF ASSAM *** - - - - -Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net/ for Project -Gutenberg (The digitized holdings of the Staatsbibliothek -zu Berlin are all interested parties worldwide free of -charge for non-commercial use available.) - - - - - - - - - A - SKETCH OF ASSAM: - WITH - SOME ACCOUNT OF THE - HILL TRIBES. - - - BY AN OFFICER - IN THE HON. EAST INDIA COMPANY'S - BENGAL NATIVE INFANTRY - IN CIVIL EMPLOY. - - With Illustrations from Sketches by the Author. - - - LONDON: - SMITH, ELDER AND CO., 65, CORNHILL. - - 1847. - - - - - - - -PREFACE. - - -To those accustomed only to the comforts of civilized life, or to the -traveller who is indifferent to the beauties of scenery, the monotony, -silence, and loneliness of the vast forests of Assam, will present -few features of attraction; but as the country offers a wide field of -discovery, and so many interesting enquiries remain to be prosecuted -in regard to the numerous wild tribes by which it is inhabited, -it is hoped that the present brief outline of the condition of the -people will not prove altogether uninteresting. - -The chief object of the following pages is to make Assam better known, -to remove some prejudices which exist against it, and preserve the -memory of many remarkable scenes. The narrative of the principal -events has been compiled from official documents, with the knowledge -of Government; but the Author has expressed his own unbiassed opinions -on many interesting subjects with which he became acquainted during -a residence of some years in the Province. Much more might have been -described, but the few authenticated facts now put forth will probably -suffice, from their novelty and interest, to amuse the reader until -greater leisure and further experience enable the Author to present -a more comprehensive work. - - - - - - - - TO - - MY FATHER, - - WHOSE EARLY TUITION, URBANITY, LEARNING, AND EXAMPLE, ENCOURAGED ME - AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF LIFE TO RELY ON MY OWN EXERTIONS, - - THESE WANDERINGS AND REFLECTIONS IN A WILD, UNCIVILIZED, FOREIGN LAND, - - Are Dedicated - - WITH THE GREATEST VENERATION, - - BY HIS - - AFFECTIONATE SON. - - - - - - - -LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. - - - Garrow warrior to face Title. - Map of Assam to face page 1 - View of Gowahatty 5 - Omanund Island 6 - Queen silkworm, &c. 14 - Vampire, or fox bat, &c. 18 - Leaf insects 19 - Assamese plough 26 - Buffalo heads to face page 27 - Buffalo shooting 28 - Assamese harrow 37 - Singphoo bow and arrows, and helmet to face page 59 - Abor cane helmets 112 - Mishmee dog-skin caps 117 - Assamese gentleman, and Meree woman to face page 134 - Nagas 149 - Angamee Naga warrior 159 - Naga mode of disposing of the dead 163 - Booteah servant 189 - Booteah Rajahs 195 - Kuppah Choor Akhas 207 - Dufflahs 213 - - - - - - - -CONTENTS. - - -CHAPTER I. - - Appointed second in command of the Assam Light Infantry--Journey - to Assam, Goalparah, and Gowahatty--Trip to Seebsaugur in a - canoe--Boats and dangers--Seebsaugur and Saikwah described--The - tribes--An Assam cottage--Unwelcome intruder--Climate of Assam - page 1 - - -CHAPTER II. - - Travels and residence in North-Western Assam--Description - of Burpetah in the rains--Vampire, or fox bats--Leaf - insect--Seclusion of villages in the jungles--Country - abounds with wild animals--Number of deaths, and damage done - to crops--Native mode of killing a tiger--Conflagrations of - jungles--Danger therefrom to travellers--Cultivation of high and - low lands--Number of crops--Primitive mode of husbandry--Irrigation - by cacharies--Country inundated--Population and condition of the - people--Law on slavery 16 - - -CHAPTER III. - - Forests and grass jungle--Tigers, elephants, buffaloes, - rhinosceroses, pigs and deer--Field sports by Europeans--Native - practice of destroying animals with poisoned arrows--Effects of - poison--Wild elephants caught with a noose in Assam--Secured - in a Kheddah or enclosure at Chittagong--Net revenue of - Assam--Disbursements--Industry--Opium--Slavery--Conclusion 27 - - -ACCOUNT OF ASSAMESE TRIBES. - - The Khamtees: their subjection of Suddeah and Saikwah--Their defeat - and expulsion--Re-establishment of their authority at Suddeah and - Saikwah--Intrigues and disaffection to the British Government in - 1820--Captain Charlton placed in charge of the Khamtee chiefs at - Suddeah and Saikwah, 1834-35--Attempts of the Khamtees in 1837-38 - to subvert British authority--Their insurrection in 1839, and - attack on the post at Suddeah and repulse--Death of Lieutenant - White--Expulsion of the Khamtees from Assam--Their submission - and pardon--Character and habits of the Khamtees 39 - - The Singphoos: their country, population, chiefs and clans--Their - dislike of British powers--Their subjection in 1826--Terms - of treaty--Feud between two rival chieftains--Submission - and subsequent flight of the Duffa Gaum--Disaffection of - Tengapanee Singphoos--Tour of the political agent--Fresh - disturbances--Character of the country and people--Their religion, - customs, and condition--Capabilities for commerce--Government - experiment in the woollen trade--Boundary of Assamese and Burmese - territories 59 - - Muttucks: their origin and religion--Severely persecuted by Seba - Sing--Revolt under Luckme Sing--Get possession of the capital, - and make Luckme Sing and all his court prisoners--Ramakant Bor - Deka ascends the throne--Re-action in favour of Luckme Sing, who - is restored--Barbarous punishment inflicted on Ramakant Bor Deka, - his brother, and father--General massacre of the Muttuck chiefs - and their followers--Rebellion of the Moa Mareyas--Expulsion - of Rajah Goureenath, who solicits the assistance of the British - Government--Captain Welsh sent with one or two battalions--Replaces - Goureenath on the throne--Rajah Kumalepur invades Muttuck, but - unable to obtain permanent possession--British Government annexes - the whole of Muttuck to the district of Luckimpoor--Husbandry the - chief occupation of the Muttucks--Tea plant indigenous--Exertions - of Major Jenkins in promoting its cultivation 91 - - The Bor Abors, Abors, and Merees: their localities and - origin--Ornaments of the women--Martial spirit of the - Abors--Destitute of beards--Ignorant of reading or writing--Void - of delicacy and cleanliness in their habits--Little known of the - Abor country--Failure of Lieutenant Wilcox to ascend the Dehong - river 110 - - The Mishmees: divided into distinct clans--Their - characteristics--Attire and ornaments of the women--Mishmees - unrestricted in the number of wives--Inordinately fond of - smoking--Very superstitious--Mode of settling disputes--Cane - bridges--Feud between the Tain and Mezhoo Mishmees--Trade between - the Lamas and Mishmees--Articles of barter and of produce--Names - and number of followers of the chiefs 115 - - The Dooaneahs: their origin--Nature of the country--Expert - pioneers, but not of martial spirit--Strongly addicted to the - use of opium 126 - - The Assamese: conquered and subjected to vassalage - by the Ahooms--Mode of government--System of - collecting the revenue--Conquered by the British in - 1825--New system of taxation introduced--Abundance of - gold--Gold washing--Natural products--Diet, clothing, - &c.--Dwellings--Marriage--Betrothment--Marriage - feast and presents--Breach of promise--Servitude for - wives--Divorce--Slavery--Distribution of salt--Slavery--Ahoom - dynasty--List of the last kings of Assam--Cruel punishments 127 - - The Nagas: their general features and characteristics--Missionary - efforts by the American Baptists--Naga Government--Treatment of - strangers--Omens--Husbandry--Salt wells--Mode of warfare--Ceremony - of tattooing--Mode of revenge--Naga customs--Funeral - ceremonies--List of the Naga tribe 149 - - The Garrows: the tallest and most powerful of all the hill - tribes--Savage custom on the death of their relatives-- - Description of the Garrow women--Culture of cotton--climate 179 - - The Cosseahs: an athletic race, but indolent--Murder of - Lieuts. Beddingfield and Burlton--Chief product, potatoes 182 - - The Booteahs: extent of the Bootan hills--Population--Captain - Pemberton's description of the Booteahs--Exactions and - mal-practices of the Bootan rulers--Weapons 185 - - The Sath Booteah Rajahs of Kooreahparah Dooar in Durrung: the - mountains where located--Kalling and Booree Goorma Dooars-- - Tyranny of the Booteahs towards the Dooars--Kalling Dooar - annexed to Assam--Kooreahparah Dooar--Exactions of the Sath - Rajahs--Advantages of British Government 191 - - The Char Dooar, or Sheergawn and Rooprae Booteah Sath Rajahs: - names of the principal chiefs--Yearly amount of black mail - levied by them--Murder of Moodhoo Sykeah 199 - - The Thebingeah Booteahs: quarrel between them and the Rooprae - Booteahs of Char Dooar--At the present day not numerous, but - peaceable and inoffensive--Sum allowed them by the British - Government in lieu of black mail 202 - - The Huzaree Khawa Akhas: reside in the mountains north of - Burgong--Formerly very powerful, but now acknowledge the - supremacy of Taggee, a Kuppah Choor Akha Chief 204 - - The Kuppah Choor Akhas: always looked upon by their neighbours as - a ferocious band of banditti--Depredations by Rajah Taggee--His - incarceration by the British, and subsequent liberation--Resorts - to his former lawless practices--Massacre of the Goorkha - Sipahees--Taggee, in 1842, voluntarily surrenders to the British, - who again liberate him on his swearing allegiance--He is pensioned - with four other chiefs 206 - - The Dufflahs: divided into innumerable clans--Very uncivilized, - and formerly very troublesome--In 1836-37, consent to forego - their depredations on receiving a fixed sum from the British - Government--List of Dufflah chiefs, and the amount of pension - paid to them 212 - - - - - - - - A SKETCH OF ASSAM. - - -CHAPTER I. - - Appointed second in command of the Assam Light Infantry.--Journey - to Assam, Goalparah, and Gowahatty.--Trip to Seebsaugur in a - Canoe.--Boats and Dangers.--Seebsaugur and Saikwah described.--The - Tribes.--An Assam Cottage.--Unwelcome Intruder.--Climate of Assam. - - -In November, 1840, being then on duty at Mynpooree in Upper India, -with my regiment, in which I filled the office of Interpreter and -Quarter-Master, I had the honour of receiving from the Governor-General -of India the appointment of second in command to the Assam Light -Infantry. Regimental duty amongst our earliest military companions has -its charms, but there is not an officer in the East India Company's -service, be his attachment to his comrades and the sepoys under him -ever so strong, who does not hail with joy the day that gives him -comparative freedom, especially when that freedom is accompanied -by the proud emotions ever attendant upon the possession of higher -command. Accordingly I was much elated at the distinction that had -been conferred on me; nor were my pleasurable sensations diminished by -the circumstance of the future scenes of my service lying in a country -that I had already once visited, and regarding which I felt an uncommon -degree of interest. Bidding my friends farewell, therefore, I quitted -Mynpooree, marched to Futtyghur, and thence embarking in a native boat -upon the Ganges, proceeded to Dacca by the ordinary route, reaching -the station in the latter end of December 1840. At Dacca, engaging new -and more commodious boats, I again set out on my journey to Assam, and -entered the Burrampooter river near the military station of Jumalpore, -and arrived at Goalparah, the entrance to Assam, in nineteen days. - -The military station of Goalparah is situated on the left bank of -the Burrampooter, on the summit of an oblong hill three hundred feet -high, commanding one of the most magnificent views of the Bootan -and Himalaya Mountains, partially covered with snow, that can well -be imagined. There are (or were at the time of which I write) three -bungalows (ground floor cottages) on the small space of table land -on the hill, occupied by the officers attached to the district. From -its elevation, many are disposed to claim for the hill the enviable -title of "the Sanitarium of Assam," but however just its pretension to -salubrity may be, the same degree of credit cannot be extended beyond -this isolated spot. Many parts of the division are so inimical to life, -that the mortality both of Europeans and natives, equals, if it does -not exceed, that in any district in Assam. The noxious exhalations from -the Garrow hills and woods seem more deadly than the climate of the -Northern Dooars, of which few persons resident there can long resist -the depressing effects. Unless endowed with great stamina, life is here -frequently extinguished by jungle fever in the course of a few days. - -The town of Goalparah, consisting of about seven thousand -inhabitants, is built wholly of mats, grass, bamboos, and reeds, -at the foot of the hills, and as the adjoining country is a low, -swampy level, interspersed with slight elevations, it is subject to -annual inundations. The chief traders are Kyahs, merchants from the -western parts of India; and at no place in Assam is there a more -extensive and lucrative trade carried on in cloths of English and -Indian manufacture; rice, mustard-seed, cotton from the Garrow hills, -manjeet, and other articles. - -A three months' residence at the station of Goalparah in 1837, -rendered a prolonged stay unnecessary on the present visit. An -absence of three years had produced few changes in the condition -of the people or the appearance of the buildings, excepting in the -house I formerly occupied, which had been suffered to become a heap of -ruins. One vestige of the débris, however, gratified my self-love. A -little glass window-frame, made with my own hands, still survived the -destruction of time and the elements, and vividly recalled to memory -the difficulty I had overcome in endeavouring to admit light into my -little dwelling. Such a luxury as window glass being unknown at the -remote station, I had purchased some of the small looking-glasses which -always abound in the Indian bazaars, and, removing the quicksilver, -converted them into window panes. - -Leaving Goalparah, six days were occupied in reaching Gowahatty -by water. In Gowahatty, the metropolis of Assam, I perceived a vast -change; many buildings of brick had been erected and the foundation of -a church laid; numerous native shops evinced increasing prosperity, -and much had been accomplished towards rendering the station more -salubrious by the removal of jungle and the construction of many -beautiful roads. The best and largest bungalows at Gowahatty are -all on the banks of the Burrampooter, and the view of the river, -the islands, temples, and verdant foliage of the trees forms perhaps -one of the most picturesque scenes to be met with in India. - -The native town of Gowahatty is built entirely of bamboos, reeds, -and grass. To the south an extensive marsh almost surrounds the whole -station, and the contiguity of many old tanks, choked with jungle, -coupled with the vicinity of the hills on every quarter except the -north, renders this town, in spite of the improvements already alluded -to, one of the most insalubrious in Assam. In the cold season, from -the 1st of November to the 1st of February, the fogs at Gowahatty are -extremely dense and heavy, and last frequently until ten or eleven -o'clock in the day; but it is generally admitted that this state -of the atmosphere is by no means unfavourable to health. The rainy -months of June, July, August, and September, are here always trying -to Europeans, as the moist heat has a much more depressing influence -than the rains of the Western Provinces of India. - -Nearly two months having been passed in boats on the river, from -Futtyghur to Gowahatty, I became anxious to reach the end of my journey -by a more expeditious mode than that of tracking up against the stream -a few miles every day. I accordingly quitted my budgerow and embarked -in a canoe formed of a single tree hollowed out. It was forty-eight -feet long, and three feet wide, ten feet of the length being covered -in with a small mat roof, as an apology for a cabin. In this I felt -by no means uncomfortable, though I had only a little more room than -served to enable me to lie down at full length. - -The solitariness of my position, only enlivened by the song of eighteen -merry paddlers, pulling from morning till night, at the rate of forty -or fifty miles a day, against a rapid stream, was perhaps the worst -part of the story. The scenery, if not positively devoid of picturesque -beauty, wearied me from its monotonous character. Sand-banks, woods, -and hills, unvaried by the residence of man, or the slightest token of -civilization, constituted its leading features. Occasionally a boat -might be encountered, but, excepting from the rude salutation of the -wild crew, the screaming of wild fowl, and the loud crash of falling -banks, prostrating lofty trees in the bosom of the river, not a sound -was heard to relieve the pervading solitude. But, altogether, the -velocity of the trip, with the désagrément of limited accommodation, -was a good exchange for the comforts of a budgerow, and the tediousness -of its pace. - -Passing the healthy and pretty stations of Tezpore and Bishnath, -I arrived at the mouth of the little stream Dikhoo, in nine days, -and, mounting an elephant, rode through a dense tree and grass jungle -to Seebsaugur, distant twelve miles from the Burrampooter. It was a -bitterly raw, cold, wet day; but a blazing fire on the floor in the -snug reed and grass cottage of an acquaintance, soon erased from my -memory the inconvenience of the previous ten days' exposure. - -In the rains, the Burrampooter river resembles a sea, extending for -many miles over the country. In the dry season it will be found in many -places more than a mile wide. The current in Upper Assam, above Dibroo -Ghur, is much more rapid than the Ganges river, and far more dangerous; -from the river being strewed with immense trees, which are whirled down -the stream with awful impetuosity, threatening instant destruction -to the boat so unfortunate as to come in contact with them. For this -reason, the canoes of the country being more manageable, and even if -filled with water, too buoyant to sink, much less risk is incurred by -travelling in them than in the comfortable budgerow, or large native -boat of Western India, roofed with straw. The canoe has also another -advantage, in case of a storm, as it can in a few minutes be dragged -on shore and remain in perfect safety till the toofan has passed -over. The confinement, however, and constant reclining posture are -almost unbearable in the hot weather; and there is a painful sense of -insecurity from the streams and rivers in many parts of Assam swarming -with crocodiles. Natives, when bathing, are not unfrequently seized -by crocodiles, and I have heard that one of these amphibious monsters -has been known to seize a paddler unsuspiciously sleeping in the front -part of the boat: which is not improbable, as the sides of a canoe -are only six inches or a foot above the water. Such occurrences, -however, are too rare to justify the fears that are entertained; -but their rarity, considering the great numbers of crocodiles -on the banks, is nevertheless a marvel. In the Chawlkhawa river, -opposite Burpetah, I have seen basking in the sun on the sand banks, -as many as ten crocodiles at a time; and upon one occasion, a heap -of one hundred crocodile's eggs, each about the size of a turkey's -egg, were discovered on a sand bank, and brought to me; I found on -blowing them, that they all contained a perfectly formed crocodile, -about two inches long, which would have crept forth after a few days' -farther exposure to the sun. - -The flesh of the crocodile is like that of fish, emitting the same -odour, and partaking of the flavour of the coarsest of the finny -tribe. After skinning a small crocodile caught by a fisherman -in his net, one of my native servants made a curry of the flesh, -which is consumed by some low caste men in Assam, as well as in -Western India. The eggs of crocodiles and river turtle are esteemed -delicacies. Upon the merits of the flesh of the turtle I need not -expatiate. I have frequently endeavoured to shoot the crocodile, but -if they be not almost invulnerable, they contrive to elude capture; -for when wounded they manage to get into the river, and either escape -to recover, or die out of sight. It never was my fortune to kill and -secure more than one, which was upwards of twelve feet in length. He -was mortally stricken with one ball. - -The station of Seebsaugur merits little notice. It is a low, flat -country, subject to inundations. There are several large artificial -tanks, and one or two fine old Hindoo temples, in and about the -station. The fort of Rungpore, built of brick on the opposite side of -the Dikhoo stream, is quite in ruins; and of the old city of Rungpore, -not a hut is now in existence: all the inhabitants being now apparently -located at Seebsaugur, which, from having become the residence of -the civil officers in charge of the district, will in a few years, -in all probability, be a populous, thriving town. After a few days' -residence at Seebsaugur, I again set out in a small boat on the -Burrampooter; passing the new station of Dibroo Ghur, the residence -of the Political Agent of Upper Assam, and other gentlemen connected -with the manufacture of tea, I ascended the dangerous rapid formed by a -ridge of stones extending almost across the river, a little below the -junction of the two rivers, Dihong and Dibong, with the Burrampooter, -and in seven days from Seebsaugur, arrived at the end of my journey, -Saikwah. Here I assumed the command of three hundred men, and two -six-pounders. - -The site of Saikwah, the north-eastern frontier military post -in Upper Assam, is on the south bank of the Burrampooter; on low -ground, intersected by numerous streams and surrounded with dense -high tree-jungle, having the Bisnacorie and the Saikwah streams on -the west and east, and the Burrampooter on the north. For the comfort -of the troops, a space of about one thousand square yards has been -cleared of jungle. In the vicinity of, or a few miles distant from -Saikwah, there are some small villages inhabited by tribes denominated -Dooaneahs, Moolooks, Kesungs, Jillys, Mishmees, and Meerees who, -from their wild habits, prefer the jungles to the plains. They grow a -scanty supply of rice, kullie (a species of vetch) and Indian corn; -the whole of which is generally consumed in a few months, leaving -them to depend for the remainder of the year on leaves of the forest -kutchoos (a kind of arrow-root) and wild yams. Saikwah was selected -as a military post in 1839, immediately after the station of Suddeah -on the opposite or north bank had been surprised and burnt by the -neighbouring tribes. It is eighty miles distant from the Patkoe -mountains, separating Assam from Burmah; but it is by no means so -desirable a station for the health of the troops as the deserted -post of Suddeah, in an open plain of six miles in extent. The object, -however, of the change of locality, was to enable the Light Infantry -to afford protection to the tea-gardens in Muttuck from the sudden -aggressions of the numerous wild, fierce, border tribes. In this -respect it has answered; hitherto, few depredations having been -committed, though insurrections have been frequent. - -The trade of Saikwah consists of ivory, wax, and a little cotton; -the amount of ivory sold in the bazaar, the shopkeepers informed -me, averaged annually about six hundred pounds. A more desolate -place than Saikwah can scarcely be imagined. It is surrounded by -fierce and treacherous tribes, who occupy a most impenetrable tree -and grass jungle, and whose endeavours are perpetually directed -to the annihilation of the troops. At first, the hourly patrol's -grand rounds and alarms allowed me little rest or ease, but the -alertness of the troops in getting under arms at night to repel any -meditated attack, soon obliterated from my mind all apprehension of -surprise. The Assam Light Infantry wish for nothing better than an -opportunity of contending with the Singphoos, or indeed with any of -their treacherous neighbours (whom they hold in the utmost contempt) -in a fair battle in the open country; but in the jungles they find -it almost impossible to come in contact with their foes. - -A few days after my arrival at Saikwah sufficed to plaster my -mat-and-grass cottage with mud, and with the assistance of the -Sipahees, a chimney for a fire-place was soon constructed, with bricks -and mortar obtained from old buildings at Suddeah; then putting -in a glass window, I was enabled, in comfort and solitariness, to -pursue my usual vocations in all weathers. In this secluded retreat, -every incident, however trifling in itself, acquired an importance -which induced me to note it in my tablets. On one occasion, about -eight o'clock at night, sitting by a snug fireside, my attention was -arrested by the approach of an unwelcome visitor making his way in -at the door. Taking up a candle to ascertain who or what was forcing -ingress to my dwelling, I beheld a python, or boa-constrictor, about -six feet long, steadily advancing towards me. In my defenceless -position it may be imagined that safety depended on immediate -flight; and the monster thus speedily gained entire possession of -my habitation. It was, however, for a few minutes only, that he was -permitted to remain the undisturbed occupant of the abode; for my -servants quickly despatched the intruder with a few blows inflicted -with long poles. An apothecary, who had long been attached to the -Assam Light Infantry, assured me that pythons, or boa-constrictors, -were very numerous in our vicinity, and of an immense size, some not -being less than fifteen or eighteen feet in length. I had evidence -of the truth of the statement; a skin, fifteen feet long, being -subsequently brought me by the natives. I caused it to be tanned and -sent to England. Small serpents were often met with. On one occasion -the apothecary brought me two boa-constrictors of about four feet long, -which he had found on a table curled up amongst some bottles in the -same room where his children were sleeping. In all probability the -lives of the infants were saved by the musquitto curtains preventing -access to the bed. Boa-constrictors are exceedingly fond of rats, -and on this occasion they had evidently been in search of their prey. - -As my cottage had not the usual white cloth ceiling suspended, -insects, snakes, and vermin frequently descended from the roof into -the rooms; but by keeping the house free of baggage and well swept, -contact with them was avoided. The reader will suppose an Assam -mat-hut to be a dreary kind of residence; but I can assure him, the -logwood fire on a hearth one foot high, in the centre of the room, -with a small window cut high in the wall for the escape of the smoke, -is by no means devoid of cheerfulness. - -The general characteristic of the climate of Upper Assam is excessive -moisture. Rains fall heavily and frequently in March, April, and -May, and continue to the middle of October; and from this time till -February the atmosphere is cool and pleasant. As the bordering hills -of Assam, both on the north and south, are peopled by a variety of -tribes differing from one another in aspect, language, and customs, -I have, in later pages, briefly depicted each class; mingling personal -description with a narrative of as much of their respective histories -as circumstances have put it in my power to offer. - - -TABLE. - -Showing the number of days required for a Budgerow to proceed from -Calcutta to Suddeah, or Saikwah in Upper Assam, from October till -1st June:-- - - - No. of days. - - From Calcutta to Dacca 12 - From Dacca to Goalparah 19 - From Goalparah to Gowahatty 6 - From Gowahatty to Tezpore 6 - From Tezpore to Bishnath 3 - From Bishnath to the mouth of the Dikho river, 12 miles - distant from Seebsaugur 6 - From Dikhoo Mookh river to Dibroolghur 7 - From Dibroolghur to Suddeah or Saikwah 6 - -- - Total days 65 - - - -Excepting with a westerly wind during the rains, the navigation of the -Burrampooter river is tedious, uncertain, and dangerous, from falling -banks, floating trees, a rapid current, and no tracking ground: the -jungle extending to the edge of the river. In Assam a canoe is the -safest and most speedy mode of travelling. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER II. - - Travels and Residence in North-Western Assam.--Description - of Burpetah in the Rains.--Vampire, or Fox Bats.--Leaf - Insect.--Seclusion of Villages in the Jungles.--Country - abounds with Wild Animals.--Number of Deaths, and Damage done - to Crops.--Native mode of killing a Tiger.--Conflagrations - of Jungles.--Danger therefrom to Travellers.--Cultivation - of high and low lands.--Number of Crops.--Primitive - Mode of Husbandry.--Irrigation by Cacharies.--Country - Inundated.--Population and Condition of the People.--Law on - Slavery. - - -For the more speedy and effective administration of justice among the -people residing in the north-west quarter of the district of Kamroop, -and for the promotion of trade, the Governor-General's Agent directed -the establishment of an out-post for an assistant at Burpetah, on -the Chawl Khawa river, and I was selected to proceed for eight months -upon this duty. - -The population of Burpetah is estimated at about three thousand souls; -their huts are built without any regularity on high artificial mounds -of earth, in the centre of gardens of betel nut and plantain trees, -clumps of bamboos, cane and grass jungle, mango and other large trees, -under the shade of which, impervious to the sun, roads or channels -intersect the town in every direction. In the rainy season, these -channels, owing to the inundation of the country, are filled with water -many feet in depth. Every house, consequently, is provided with one -or more canoes, in which the inhabitants visit each other's isolated -positions; and the cattle are brought upon the little eminences at -night, and housed oftentimes under the same roof with the family, -if not in the same room. Daily may the cattle be seen swimming -across these street-streams in search of a dry spot of land on which -to graze. In this manner, for four months of each year--June, July, -August, and September--are the people surrounded by floods; but, as if -endowed with amphibious natures, they seem equally happy in or out of -the water, and pass their time on board their boats in trading with -other villages throughout Assam. When at home, they amuse themselves -during the rainy season in collecting the wood which floats down the -rivers, from the destruction of their banks alluded to in the foregoing -chapter; and in the sport of catching wild buffaloes, deer, and pigs, -which are now seen in great numbers swimming across the rivers from -the low inundated grounds to reach more elevated spots on which to -subsist: the animals in their passage, being overtaken by canoes, -are captured with the aid of ropes and spears, with little difficulty. - -At Burpetah there is a very long building supported by wooden posts -carved with emblems of Hindoo Deities, with a grass roof and mat -walls. It is called a shuster, alias temple; and is a religious -endowment, where the vedas or holy books of the Hindoos are chanted, -and offerings in kind and cash received. A grant of rent-free land, -given by the Assam king Sebsunker, in 1657 A.S. or 1735 A.D. is -attached to the temple, and a number of disciples, with two chief -priests or pontiffs, manage the affairs of the establishment. - -On the trees at Burpetah, great numbers of the Vampire or Fox-bats are -to be seen hanging by their claws with their heads downwards. They -are offensive looking objects, having a body eleven inches long, -and each wing twenty-two inches in length. I have never heard a -native assert that they suck the blood of cattle when sleeping, and -if it were the case, such a circumstance would certainly be quickly -verified; it may therefore justly be inferred, that this is a popular -error. It is said that the food of the fox-bat consists entirely of -jungle fruits; their flesh is esteemed a delicacy by many natives, -and I have frequently shot them to gratify the appetites of my own -servants. There is a strange superstition amongst the natives, that -the bones of the fox-bat, worn as an amulet or charm, will cure any -limb or part of the body affected with pain. - -One of the most curious members of the animal (query, vegetable?) world -in Assam is the Leaf insect--so called from its very close resemblance -in form, colour, and general structure (even to the fibre), to the leaf -of the tree which it inhabits. In fact, until the insect moves, it is -difficult to distinguish it from the leaf itself. The annexed drawing -will convey an idea of this singular freak of nature; many attempts at -transmitting a perfect specimen to Europe have been frustrated by the -perishable character of the insect. Spirits are entirely inefficacious -as preservatives, and camphor destroys the colour of the animal. - -In perambulating the district, I was particularly struck with the -immense extent of high grass jungle between the Burrampooter river and -the foot of the Bootan mountains. I frequently traversed a distance -of eight and ten miles through a dense grass jungle twenty feet high, -without meeting with a solitary hut or any cultivation; but suddenly, -a village and an open cultivated space of a few hundred acres would -burst upon the view and vary the monotony of the scene. This would -be followed by a dreary waste extending to the next village, often -five or six miles distant; while a solitary foot-path, forming the -only communication between the small communities thus isolated, -clearly showed that for many months in the year little intercourse, -except by water, is kept up between them. - -The country is infested with wild animals, and the footpaths are -dangerous at all times. Some slight idea may be formed of the danger -to human life from the denizens of the jungle, when I state that -in the western quarter of the district of Kamroop alone, in the -short period of six months, the police reports included twenty men -killed by wild elephants and buffaloes. The damage done to the rice -crops yearly by wild elephants and buffaloes is very considerable; -and although Government bestows a reward of two rupees eight annas, -or five shillings, for every buffalo destroyed, and five rupees -or ten shillings for every tiger's head, such is the apathy and -indifference of the natives to their own interests and preservation, -that they seldom exert themselves to earn the gratuity, until repeated -aggressions become unbearable. When wild elephants pull down their -huts, or a tiger, from previous success, becomes emboldened to enter -their little dwellings and carry off their cattle, then the village -community will turn out in a body; surrounding with nets the tiger's -lair,--a small patch of jungle in the vicinity of the village,--and -shouting and yelling, they drive the intruder into the nets, where -he falls an easy victim to the spears and bludgeons of the enraged -and injured populace. - -In January, February, March, and April, the whole country adjoining -Burpetah presents a spectacle seldom seen elsewhere: the natives set -fire to the jungle to clear the land for cultivation, and to open the -thoroughfares between the different villages, and the awful roar and -rapidity with which the flames spread cannot be conceived. A space -of many miles of grass jungle, twenty feet high, is cleared in a -few hours; and the black ashes scattered over the face of the earth -after such recent verdure, form one of the most gloomy and desolate -landscapes that can well be imagined. But so rapid is vegetation in -Assam, that a few days suffice to alter the scene: the jungle speedily -shoots up with greater strength than ever, and at the approach of -the heavy rains in June, it again attains a height of many feet. On -more occasions than one, though mounted on an elephant, I have had the -greatest difficulty to out-flank a fierce roaring fire, rapidly moving -with the wind, in a long line over the country. The elephant, of all -animals, is the most fearful of fire; and on hearing the approach -of the element he instantly takes to flight; but the rapidity with -which the flames spread renders escape most hazardous, especially -if the wind is high and right aft. The best plan to adopt if a fire -breaks out to windward, is to circle round the nearest flank with all -expedition, gaining the space burnt by the advancing flames. On foot, -escape would be almost impossible; the jungle being impenetrable except -by a narrow footpath, and this being frequently overgrown with grass, -if no open spot be near at hand, inevitable destruction must be the -fate of any unfortunate traveller to leeward of a fire. - -In Assam, excepting the fields close to the villages, the best land -is never manured. One crop of planted winter d'han or rice is cut in -November or December, every year, from generation to generation. This -land is never allowed to lie fallow; abundant rain being all that -is requisite to ensure plentiful crops: the richness of the soil -seems inexhaustible. - -The low lands liable to inundation are never manured; the jungle is -burnt down, and for three successive years two crops are annually -realized from it. In February, mustard seed is gathered in: a source -of great profit to the cultivator; and in June the spring rice, sown -broad-cast, is reaped. After the land has been thus impoverished, it -is allowed to remain fallow for three years; and fresh jungle land -is burnt and prepared in the same primitive way, and with the most -simple implements of husbandry. In other parts of Assam extensive -tracts of land are beautifully cultivated, and pretty villages are -numerously studded over the country; but, although lakes and streams -are everywhere to be met with, no attempt is made by the Assamese -tribes, excepting the Cacharries, to irrigate the land, and thus -render the crops more certain and productive. - -The Cacharries who reside at the foot of the hills are the most -useful and industrious, as well as the most athletic men in Assam, -and allowed to be the best cultivators. They irrigate their lands to -a great extent from hill streams, and consequently raise far better -crops than their neighbours. During the months of June, July, August, -and September, a great portion of Assam is inundated, and boats leaving -the innumerable streams and large rivers, paddle over the country in -every direction; indeed, in many places, particularly at Burpetah, -boats form the only means by which any communication can be kept -up. To facilitate intercourse during the dry season, roads have been -constructed, and bullock-carts introduced, similar to the hackerys -in use in the Western Provinces of India, for the conveyance of the -produce of the lands to the best markets; but the Assamese are so -wedded to their old customs, and attached to the use of slaves and -bondsmen in every capacity--as servants, porters, and cultivators, -that it has been found no easy matter to induce them to adopt a new -system, however obvious its advantages. - -A new era, however, is approaching: a law has been promulgated, -abolishing slavery in India, and as the people become more enlightened -by education and intercourse with Europeans, they will relax their -adherence to old and absurd usages and prejudices. In the district -of Kamroop above twenty thousand slaves and bondsmen may obtain -manumission by simply asking for it; and as there is no doubt they will -do so, we may anticipate, from the acquisition of freedom, a total -alteration of the habits and feelings of the Assamese. Large wastes -of land will be brought under cultivation, and thousands of families -made independent and comfortable. Assam has now been subjected to -British rule for a period of nearly twenty years, and the people have -enjoyed the fruits of their labours in peace and security: a condition -of things to which they were strangers under their own chieftains. - -The population of Assam is assumed to be about 800,000 souls; but as no -correct census has been taken, the accuracy of the estimate cannot be -determined. It may be presumed, however, that the population does not -increase to any great extent, for a state of slavery and bondage has -never been favourable to the due multiplication of the human species. - -The proprietors of slaves and bondsmen consist of the most -respectable men in Assam, and of course are strenuous supporters -of the continuation of the lucrative and nefarious traffic in their -fellow-creatures. To deprive them of their proprietary right to their -slaves it has been urged would be unjust, and offensive to their -usages; and, following the example of the West India proprietors, they -contend that the slaves being their lawful property as much as houses, -grain, or cattle, compensation should be made by Government for the -release of every man from bondage. The Indian Government, however, -has adopted a different course. It has published a regulation that -forbids the officers of all courts from allowing forcible possession -of the person or services of a slave, or his property. In future, -therefore, slave-holders will not be able to compel their slaves -to obey their orders, and as this law becomes gradually enforced, -slavery will be practically abolished; a new order of men will arise, -stimulated to more vigorous exertions by the conviction that they -will reap the benefit of their labours, and extended cultivation and -a freer exchange of commodities will infallibly ensue. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER III. - - Forests and Grass Jungle--Tigers, Elephants, Buffaloes, - Rhinosceroses, Pigs and Deer--Field Sports by Europeans--Native - practice of destroying animals with poisoned arrows--Effects of - poison--Wild Elephants caught with a noose in Assam--Secured - in a Kheddah or Enclosure at Chittagong--Net Revenue of - Assam--Disbursements--Industry--Opium--Slavery--Conclusion. - - -The enormous extent of forest, and high, dense grass jungle in Assam, -exceeds perhaps that of any other country of the same area; and, -as a consequence, the herds of wild elephants, buffaloes, deer, -rhinosceroses, and tigers, are innumerable. Almost every military -officer in civil employ in Assam, having constantly to roam about -the country, becomes, if not from choice, at least in self-defence, -a keen and skilful sportsman. Herds of one hundred buffaloes each -are frequently met with; and though I have known twenty buffaloes -shot in one day's diversion, they are so prolific, and the season of -four months for sport is so short, that no actual progress appears -to be made in the diminution of their numbers. On some occasions, -when a buffalo is wounded and unable to escape into high jungle, he -furiously charges the elephant on which the sportsman is mounted in -a howdah, and often gores the elephant, or injures the feet or legs -of the driver seated on the animal's neck, before he can be stopped -in his career; for it frequently takes ten or twelve balls to destroy -a buffalo, unless an early shot inflicts a vital wound. The elephant, -if well trained, on being charged by a buffalo, merely turns round and -presents his stern to the repeated blows of the infuriated monster: -screaming out, however, in the utmost fright until the buffalo is shot -or scared off by the firing; but a timid or badly trained elephant, -on being charged instantly seeks safety in flight, to the imminent -peril of the sportsman, should any trees happen to come in contact -with the howdah. Buffaloes, however, that have been long undisturbed, -generally stand still, and with fierce looks and raised horns receive -the first few shots in utter astonishment, and then seek shelter -in the high jungles with the utmost speed. Rhinosceroses are very -numerous in many parts of Assam, and are to be found in very high -grass jungle, near inaccessible miry swamps, which preclude pursuit, -and having thick skins, they are not easily shot. Elephants dread the -charge of a rhinosceros as much as that of a tiger, and the grunting -noise of the former animal not unfrequently scares even a well-trained -elephant from the field. If the rhinosceros succeeds in overtaking the -elephant, he bites large pieces of flesh from the elephant's sides or -legs, and with the horn on the nose not unfrequently inflicts fearful -wounds. Rhinosceroses are tamed in a few months, and may be seen at -Gowahatty grazing on the plains as harmless as cows, attended by a -single man. When tamed in Assam they may be bought of the natives for -100 or 150 rupees (10l. or 15l.); many have been sent to Calcutta, -and sold for 500 rupees, or 50l.; but the expense of boat hire to the -metropolis, provender, and servants' wages, with the risk attendant on -the journey to so distant a market, renders the speculation anything -but profitable. - -Deer shooting is a fine, healthy, exhilarating exercise for those who -are not partial to the dangerous and exciting scenes common to tiger, -rhinosceros, and buffalo shooting. It is a mistake, however, to suppose -it tame, easy sport. Deer shooting requires much practice: a steady -foot and arm in a howdah, and a quick sight are indispensable, if you -would shoot either pigs or deer while bounding rapidly over the plain. - -A most deadly poison is extracted from a kind of root denominated -Mishmee Bih (or poison) brought from the Mishmee country, on the -north-east quarter of Assam. With this the natives in Upper Assam -generally cover the tips of their arrows, and destroy elephants for -the sake of the ivory tusks. So powerful, so deadly is the effect of -the poison, that the slightest scratch or puncture of an arrow smeared -with it proves fatal: if not instantaneously, at all events in a few -hours after an elephant has been stricken. Deer and buffaloes are also -killed in the same manner. Immediately the animal falls, the wounded -part is cut out, and the flesh is then eaten by the natives, without -apprehension of any ill effects arising from the inoculation of the -body by the poison: at least I have never heard of a single instance -of a person losing his life from having eaten of the flesh of animals -killed by poisoned arrows, common as is the practice of partaking of -such food. Safety appears to be secured by excising the wounded part. - -Of all field sports in Assam, that of catching wild elephants with -the noose is the most exciting and dangerous. On a herd of wild -elephants being discovered, four tame elephants, called Koonkies, -with two men on each elephant--one sitting on the neck, and called a -Phundaet, from having to throw the noose, and the other seated on the -back, with a club, to urge the elephant into full speed--proceed to -join the herd; which generally at first sight of the tame elephants, -takes to immediate flight. A good sized wild elephant, however, being -quickly selected from the herd by the riders, by common consent, is -pursued till fairly run down, when the Phundaet throws over the wild -elephant's head a large rope noose, one end of which is attached to the -body of the tame elephant on which he is mounted, and the wild animal -is instantly pulled up and rendered helpless. The other three tame -elephants now joining, another noose is thrown over the wild elephant's -head on the other side; the ropes on both sides being extended to a -distance of ten paces. The entangled brute is then triumphantly led -off between the two tame elephants to a place of security, where, -his legs being bound with ropes to a large post in front and rear, -he is kept on low diet until he becomes tractable,--a state to which -he submits himself in an incredibly short space of time. The female -elephants may, in two months, be driven alone anywhere; but the male -elephants take four, six, and sometimes twelve months before they can -be trusted to walk alone, unhampered with ropes. When a male elephant, -with tusks, becomes entangled with the noose round his neck--which -noose, by the way, has a knot to prevent strangulation--the animal -frequently rushes down with the utmost ferocity on the tame elephants, -and with his tusks gores them in a most frightful manner. In such a -case it becomes necessary to quickly bind his legs with large ropes, -and no further resistance is then of any avail. The individuals -who throw the noose over the wild elephant's head are oftentimes -in the most imminent danger, but their agility in shifting their -position to any part of the body of the tame elephant, enables them to -elude injury. The tractability and sagacity of the tame elephant in -making every effort to secure the wild elephant by putting the ropes -round his legs, is very remarkable. Indeed, so cunning are the tame -elephants,--so intuitive is their apprehension of their duty--that -there is little difficulty in capturing the wild elephant. - -It is calculated that not less than five hundred elephants are yearly -caught in Assam and sent to Western India for sale. At Chittagong, -in the south-eastern quarter of Bengal, the mode of catching wild -elephants is very different from that adopted in Assam. Herds of -fifty elephants are there surrounded by two or three hundred men, -the jungle is filled, and a regular barricade of trees, with a trench, -formed; the elephants are thus unable to break loose; tame elephants -are then sent into the enclosure, which is called a Keddah, and the -wild elephants are quickly secured with ropes. - -The formation of these enclosures is a work of great labour and -considerable expense; but the Government are amply repaid by -the sale of about one hundred elephants annually, caught in this -manner. Chittagong elephants are considered very superior to those -caught in Assam, the former being stout, strong, short-legged beasts, -and the latter lanky and weak; but whether the prejudice be just, -may be doubted, as there are many noble elephants in Assam that -would prove most serviceable in any part of India, and the prices -they would fetch amply repay any charge incurred by Government for -an elephant-hunting establishment in Assam. - -The annual sum expended for the support of civil and military -establishments in Assam cannot, I suspect (for I have no documents -to refer to), be less than 700,000 rupees, 70,000l. And the net -revenue derived from six districts exhibited in the following table -[1] is rupees 611,268 9 7, showing that the disbursements exceed the -receipts. This is to be regretted, for disinterested individuals -conclude that Assam might be made a source of profit instead of -expense to the Government, without the smallest possible risk of the -peace of the north-eastern frontier of India not being maintained in -security. But were it otherwise, the sum yearly expended in excess of -the net revenue for the management of Assam, it must be borne in mind, -is not thrown away, for Assam forms the best frontier protection for -Bengal that could be desired; and if troops were not located in that -province, a force would be required on the north eastern frontier, -involving much heavier expense than the Local Corps of Assam. Every -endeavour, therefore, to promote the advancement and civilization -of the people of Assam must be hailed as a favourable omen of future -prosperity. - -The utter want of an industrious, enterprising spirit, and the -general degeneracy of the Assamese people, are greatly promoted by -the prevalent use of opium; they would rather consent to be deprived -of food than their accustomed dose of this deleterious drug, and so -emaciated and weakened have many become from indulging in its use, -that they are unequal to any great exertion, either mental or bodily, -until the usual stimulating dose has been imbibed. Government have -established no regulations against the growth of opium in Assam, -neither do they derive any greater revenue from its cultivation -than is yielded them by other lands. It cannot be doubted that, if -a heavy tax were levied on every acre of land producing opium, and -a high duty imposed on its sale, it would be beyond the means of the -people to purchase and consume such quantities of the drug, as is now -the practice of men, women, and even children. The consequence would -be that in a few years many would be weaned from their predilection -for the pernicious opiate, which at present is esteemed a sovereign -remedy for every evil in life. Notwithstanding the degraded state of -the Assamese population, we may yet regard Assam as a rising country; -the price of all commodities, as well as the wages of labour, having -been greatly enhanced under the British rule. - -In concluding these brief notes on Assam, justice, gratitude, and -esteem, require that the personage holding the exalted dignity of the -Governor-General's agent in Assam, Major Francis Jenkins, should be -presented to the notice of the reader. It is to him the English public -are largely indebted for forming the grand scheme of supplying his -native country with tea from Assam. It is to his able and persevering -exertions, during a ten years' sojourn, that the affairs of Assam, -both in a political and financial view, have been retrieved from -almost inextricable disorder. Before Major Jenkins arrived, very few -officers were allowed to conduct the political duties of the province; -and these gentlemen being, moreover, overwhelmed with other business, -improvements could not be contemplated: the current routine of fiscal -and criminal duties was all that two or three individuals could be -expected to superintend. This state of affairs was remedied by Major -Jenkins, who pointed out to Government the indisputable advantages that -would accrue from a more liberal policy being pursued in aiding him -with a greater number of European assistants. His representations were -acceded to; the revenue has consequently increased, and the people, -as far as their vices will permit, have thriven in peace, security, and -comfort. The British Government has relieved Assam from the barbarous -mutilations, cruel impalements, and other outrages against humanity -which its inhabitants were subject to under their ancient rulers; and -distress, anarchy, or discontent amongst our own subjects in Assam is -unknown. A few petty aggressions of savage hill tribes occasionally -occur, demanding constant vigilance and prompt suppression, but with -this exception, peace and plenty prevail throughout the valley; and -when the day arrives for Major Jenkins's departure from Assam to his -native land, that liberal, benevolent, and highly-gifted man will be -much regretted by his European assistants, and by the native population -of the province, all of whom look up to him as a protector and friend. - - -STATISTICS OF ASSAM. - -+-------+-----------+----------------------------------------------+ -| | |Governor General's Agent North East | -| | |Frontier. Military Officer. | -| | | +------------------------------------------+ -| | | |Deputy Commr. of Assam. Military Officer. | -| | | | +--------------------------------------+ -| | | | |Principal Assistants to the Governor | -| | | | |General's Agent. Military Officers. | -| | | | | +----------------------------------+ -| | | | | |Junior Assistants to the | -| | | | | |Governor General's Agent. | -| | | | | |Military Officers. | -| | | | | | +------------------------------+ -|No. of | Names of | | | | |Sub-Assistants to the | -|Dis- | Districts | | | | |Governor General's Agent. | -|tricts.| in Assam. | | | | |Uncovenanted Officers. | -| | | | | | | +--------------------------| -| | | | | | | |Native Sudder Ameens or | -| | | | | | | |Judges to try cases not | -| | | | | | | |exceeding 1000 rupees. | -| | | | | | | | +----------------------+ -| | | | | | | | |Native Moonsiffs or | -| | | | | | | | |Judges to try cases | -| | | | | | | | |under 300 rs. | -| | | | | | | | | +------------------+ -| | | | | | | | | |Net Revenue | -| | | | | | | | | |of each District | -| | | | | | | | | |in Assam. | -+-------+-----------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+------------------+ -| | | | | | | | | | Co's. | -| | | | | | | | | |Rupees. Ans. Pice.| -| 1 | Kamroop |...|...| 1| 1| 1| 1| 6| 252991 3 6 | -| 2 | Durrung |...|...| 1| 1| 1| 1| 3| 142299 1 0 | -| 3 | Nowgong |...|...| 1|...| 2| 1| 1| 103925 2 5 | -| 4 | Seebsaugur|...|...| 1|...| 2| 1| 2| 70135 10 5 | -| 5 |{Luckimpoor|...|...| 1| 1| 1| 1| 1| 14131 12 0 | -| |{Muttuck |...|...|...|...|...|...|...| 16950 0 0 | -| 6 | Goalparah |...|...| 1|...| 1| 1| 1| 10835 12 3 | -+-------+-----------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+------------------+ -| 6 | | 1| 1| 6| 3| 8| 6| 14| 611268 9 7 | -+-------+-----------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+------------------+ - - - - - - - -SOME ACCOUNT OF THE ASSAMESE TRIBES. - - Observations on the Khamtees--Surprise and - Conflagration of the Station of Suddeah by the - Khamtees, in January 1839--Singphoos--Muttucks--State - of Assam Tea Company--Bor Abors--Abors and - Merees--Mishmees--Dooaneahs--Assamese--Nagas--American Baptist - Missionaries in Assam--Garrows--Their present and eventual - condition--Cosseahs--Traits of the people of Bootan--Attachment - of the Bootan Dooars in Assam by the British Government--Defeat - of the Booteahs, in 1836--Sath Booteah Rajahs of Kooreahparah - Dooar, in Durrung--Thebingeah Booteah Rajahs--Sath Rajahs of - Char Dooar--Hazaree Khawa Akhas--Kuppah Choor Akhas--Meechees, - and Dufflahs of Now Dooar. - - - - - -KHAMTEES. - -In the reign of Rajeswur Sing, Rajah of Assam, about 1751 A.D., on -the north-eastern frontier of Assam, the Khamtees, it is traditionally -reported, emigrated from a range of mountains bordering on the sources -of the Irawaddy river to the valley of Assam, and settled a small -colony of fifteen houses in the vicinity of the Tengapanee river. But -between the years 1780 and 1794 A.D., Goureenath Sing, the reigning -Rajah of Assam, was compelled to abandon Upper Assam after repeated -battles with the rebellious Moamareahs of Muttuck, and in the anarchy -that prevailed throughout the country, the Khamtees were emboldened to -take up a more advanced position. For that purpose, being joined by -another band of 400 Khamtees with some few muskets, they fearlessly -located themselves at Suddeah; and, though nominally subordinate to -the Assam Government, they arrogantly exercised considerable power -over the people of the Suddeah and Saikwah districts: which were -exceedingly populous at that period, and had been placed under the -direct authority of an Assamese nobleman, styled Suddeah Khawa, an -Ahoom by birth. Not content with this usurpation, they proceeded to -reduce the whole of the Assamese population to the utmost verge of -degradation; considering them as slaves, only worthy to be spared -so long as they continued obedient to the will, and were useful to -their masters in cultivating the land, and contributing to their -comforts. In the height of their success, promoted by the weakness of -the Assam Government, the Khamtees commenced kidnapping the Merees, -and other inhabitants settled in the neighbourhood of the Dehong -and Debong rivers, whom the Abors looked on as their dependants and -slaves, entitled to their special protection. This treatment being less -endurable than that of the Abors, towards whom a friendly feeling had -been created by long intercourse, the Merees were induced to implore -the protection of the latter to save them from being cruelly taken -away from their homes to serve as slaves amongst a strange tribe. The -Abors, on their side, perceiving that they were about to lose the -greater portion of their slaves by the aggressions of a formidable -foe, lost no time in preparing for war; and descending from their -mountain fastnesses to the plains bordering on the Dehong river, -a furious battle was fought between them, and, it is said, two or -three hundred Khamtees. The contest terminated in the Khamtees being -defeated and dispersed with great slaughter, upwards of one hundred -men being left on the field of battle. This trial of strength and -courage with their warlike neighbours, rendered the Khamtees ever -afterwards more circumspect in their demeanour towards the Abors, -and the people subject to them. - -During the reign of Kumleswur Sing Rajah, from 1794 to 1809, -frequent battles were fought between the royal troops and Khamtees, -and generally to the discomfiture of the latter. In fact so disastrous -to the Khamtees were the results, that the whole tribe was dispersed; -many were detained prisoners, and the remainder were compelled to quit -Suddeah and return to the country whence they had issued. In 1810, -Chunderkant Rajah ascended the throne, and in the commencement of his -reign the Khamtees endeavoured to regain their lost position. Joining -the Singphoos at Suddeah, they attacked one of the forts situated at -the foot of the northern hills above Suddeah, commanded by Bihitea -Burrah and Kooch Burrah, and were successful in a night assault, having -destroyed the fortress by fire and massacred 150 soldiers. They were, -however, speedily repulsed by the Assam troops, and the whole clan -was thenceforth expelled the province. - -In 1816-17, Chunderkant Rajah was treacherously invited by the -Borax Gohain to visit Jorehath, where he was formally deposed, and -ignominiously treated: having one of his ears slit, which disqualified -him for regal dignities; and Poorunder Sing, the great grandson of -Rajeswur Sing Rajah, was duly installed in his seat. This arrangement, -however, was of short duration, for in 1818 a Burmese army of 30,000 -men invaded Assam and replaced Chunderkant on his throne. The ex-Rajah, -Poorunder Sing, on this sudden and unlooked for change of affairs, -prudently retired to Chilmary, in Bengal, - -Under the Burmese Government, the Assamese at Suddeah were placed -under a Khamtee Gohain, or chief; and when the province was conquered -in 1824-25, Captain Neufville sanctioned the innovation, bestowing -on a Khamtee chief the title of Suddeah Khawa. But the rights of -the Assam régime had devolved on the British Government, with whom -it rested to revert to the former rule wherever it might be deemed -expedient: and that without any injustice to the Khamtees, as they -had no claim whatever to the title in question. The assumption of the -title of Suddeah Khawah, by the Khamtees is variously described. It is -currently believed that Chunderkant Rajah--feeling himself insecure -on the throne whilst he had to contend with the Boora Gohain and the -ex-Rajah Poorunder Sing--invited the Khamtees to return to Suddeah, and -bestowed on one of the Khamtee chiefs the title of Suddeah Khawa; in -order, by this arrangement, to secure, through their means, a retreat -for himself, if unfortunate at a future day. But in 1820 A.D., the -Burphokun having been murdered, with the connivance, it was supposed, -of Rajah Chunderkant, the Burmese became his enemies, and returned -and dethroned him, shortly afterwards, placing on the throne Jugesur -Sing, who was the last prince of the Assam dynasty. In this interval -of anarchy, the Khamtees had re-established their influence and -power to such an extent as to overawe almost the whole of the tribes -of the frontier; and their authority at Suddeah was paramount. The -Assamese, though greatly reduced in numbers by oppression and deaths, -and from being carried off and sold into slavery by the Singphoos and -Burmese, were all now permanently under the control of the Khamtees; -but on the submission of the latter to the British Government, a -settlement was made with them, leaving the internal management of -the tribes to their own chiefs, who were exempt from taxation, but -under the obligation of performing military service to the state when -required. Revenue, however, was to be paid for the Assamese subjects -under their management, and cases of murder, wounding, arson, and -petty thefts above fifty rupees were disposed of by British officers. - -The military population of the Suddeah district, on the north bank of -the Burrampooter, was estimated at this period to be--Assamese, 691, -Khamtees, 428, men capable of bearing arms: multiply these numbers by -three, for old men, women, and children, we shall reach a census of -4476 souls. On the south bank, in the district of Saikwah, according to -the same calculation, there were,--Assamese, 616, Khamtees, 248, which, -with old men, women, and children, amounted in all to 3456 persons; -thus making the united population on the north and south banks of the -Burrampooter, in the districts of Suddeah and Saikwah, 7,932 persons. - -In the year 1829, notwithstanding the Khamtees were bound by treaty -to pay allegiance to the British Government, such was the intriguing -character of the Khamtee Suddeah Khawa Gohain, that the strongest -ground existed for believing him to be engaged in a traitorous -combination against us. He was the first person who invited the Burmese -into the country, and having a relative residing at Ava, he maintained -not only with that court, but throughout the frontier, a general -correspondence. In the absence of a European military officer, or -Political Agent at Suddeah, a native manager or Suznatee, was generally -the channel of all communications between the chiefs and the British -Government. But in the years 1834-35, Captain Charlton was placed in -charge of the Khamtee chiefs, and the Suddeah and Saikwah districts; -and by the measures he adopted to check the traffic in slaves, and -protect the Assam population from the oppressive exactions of the -Khamtees, he created the utmost dissatisfaction among the latter, -and caused them to be highly incensed. Moreover, in December 1834, -instructions were issued requiring a census of the population to -be taken; with the view of levying a capitation tax, to be renewed -every five years, in lieu of military service to the state. When -this innovation was proposed, it was urged that the state of society -among these tribes was such, that the materials for direct taxation -were not available; that the introduction of our rule would cause -too violent a shock to the habits and usages of the rude people; and -that the result, in all probability, would be a harassing rebellion, -which would retard the progress of improvement. Concurring in these -views, the Government deemed it unsafe fully to enforce the plan -of assessment. The Assamese residing within the Suddeah territory -were taxed at the rate of one rupee per head; but the Khamtee tribes -were exempted from this imposition, on condition of their performing -military service as they had hitherto done under the Assamese and -British Governments. - -Notwithstanding this concession, however, an insubordinate spirit was -immediately manifested by the tribes, and it thus became necessary -to deprive them of the muskets given them by Captain Neufville, -and to depose the Khamtee Suddeah Khawa Gohain. The loss of this -title and usurped sovereignty over the Assamese was grievously -felt by the Khamtees, and from that period their estrangement -from the British Government may fairly be dated. About this time, -also, the Khamtee Suddeah Khawa Gohain was arraigned on a charge of -slave-dealing,--an unfortunate occurrence, which rendered the Khamtee -chiefs still more indisposed to our rule. Serious apprehensions -were thenceforth entertained of an open revolt, and combination -with our enemies. Nevertheless, not to appear distrustful of their -intentions, they were invited to accompany Lieut. Charlton, in the -rainy season of 1835, in the expedition against the Duffa Gaum's force -at the stockade of Gackwah; in storming which place the Runowa, the -Tow Gohain of Derack (who was wounded in the neck), and the Captain -Gohain accompanied him, and were said to have behaved bravely, and been -present when Lieut. Charlton was wounded. It was confidently asserted, -however, that though these chiefs did accompany Lieut. Charlton when -he took the advanced stockade or guard-house, there were not more than -five or six men in it, who ran away immediately; and it is probable -that the Khamtee chiefs were aware of there being so few men, as they -afterwards completely abandoned Lieut. Charlton when he so gallantly -attacked the large stockade. Indeed, from the whole of their conduct -subsequently, there is every reason to conclude that they were in -league with the enemy, for they made no attempt to obstruct his -retreat, and said openly that they could not be expected to fight -now that a census was taking of their subjects for the purpose of -assessing them; and that they got no presents as was formerly the -custom. In the cold season of 1835, the Political Agent led another -expedition against the Duffa Gaum, and accepted the voluntary offer of -the Khamtee chiefs to accompany him: not in a well-grounded belief in -the sincerity of the proposal, but as a matter of policy, with the -view of rendering the Duffa Gaum doubtful of their intentions; and -thinking it safer to keep an eye upon them, whilst close at hand, -rather than to leave them in the rear. In these operations, all -previous suspicions of their disaffection were completely confirmed, -for in no one instance did the principal chiefs afford any support, -and they even took care not to place their contingents within fire -on the first day. Subsequently, when placed on the line of the Duffa -Gaum's retreat, they made no effort to obstruct it, otherwise the -chief would have been captured; and there is every reason to believe -that the negotiation was entirely defeated through their efforts, -in concert with others. - -The difficulty, however, of substantiating matters of this kind in -this frontier, amongst these wild tribes, is exceedingly great, for a -great deal of correspondence on such subjects is carried on by symbols -and tokens: such as pieces of buffalo flesh, short swords, muskets, -ball, powder, &c.; but at the very time the Khamtees were posted to -cut off the Duffa Gaum's retreat, one of their chiefs deserted to -him, and doubtless gave the intelligence the enemy stood in need of; -and it is currently reported that they fired on the British troops, -with whom they were co-operating, more than on the enemy. It is even -believed that the Khamtees were aware of the Duffa Gaum's irruption -from the first, and promoted it, with the view of finding us occupation -on the frontier, and thereby preventing the realization of our plans -for assessing them, as they were firmly impressed with the belief that -it was our intention to reduce them to a level with the Assamese. It -is true that they offered to pay taxes at one rupee per head, on -condition of being exempted from military service, but that they were -sincere in this offer was not credited: had the measure been enforced, -they would probably have resisted it, or moved out of our territory. - -In the beginning of 1837, a marked spirit of disaffection existed -amongst the Khamtee chiefs, and it was generally understood that -they had combined with the Abors and Mishmees to subvert our power; -and they had probably encouraged the Abors to attack us, in the -hope of making themselves of consequence and thereby recovering -their former power over the Assamese. Or it might have been with a -view of preventing the extension of taxation to themselves, which, -notwithstanding our promises to the contrary, they expected would -be enforced when necessary or convenient. In the latter end of -1837, the Khamtees made an inroad on the Mishmees, averring that -the Mishmees had taken away their slaves some years ago; but there -is no record of the existence of any real pretext for violence. On -the contrary, it appears that the Khamtees sold the subjects of the -British Government to the Mishmees. The real motive for the incursion -is supposed to have been that the Runoah and Tawah Gohains intended -proceeding to a particular spot in the Mishmee hills, with the view -of expelling a portion of that tribe and of ultimately withdrawing -themselves from the authority of the British Government, to which -they had evinced no cordial feeling of attachment. In fact, both in -1835 and 1837 it was recommended to the Government that the Khamtees -should be located elsewhere than at Suddeah, in order that unpleasant -collisions might be avoided, and our peaceable Assamese subjects be -induced more cheerfully to submit to taxation. - -The only incident that transpired worthy of notice in 1838 was that, -without any permission, the Khamtees commenced preparing some lands -for cultivation about a day's journey from Suddeah; alleging as their -reason the scarcity of good land at Suddeah. This plea was, however, -untenable: the real cause was that the paucity of the population at -Suddeah had rendered it necessary for the Government officers to make -requisitions for coolies to work on the roads, although considerably -higher wages had been paid than in other parts of the country, and -the dread of these requisitions had induced the Khamtees to think -of removing. - -Thus passed the years 1836, 37 and 38: rumours of an insurrection -being about to break out were occasionally prevalent, but it was -supposed that the Khamtees had too much good sense to league with -other lawless and disaffected tribes and hazard a rebellion, unless -supported by a large Burmese army. In the following year, however, -the deceitful calm was suddenly disturbed. About half past 2 o'clock -on the morning of the 28th January, 1839, the clouds that had long -been gathering, burst on the doomed post of Suddeah. The Khamtees, -including a few Moolooks and Singphoos and others, in number about -six hundred fighting men, divided into four parties--impressed with -their own importance and strength, and perhaps stimulated to greater -daring by opium--insidiously set fire to the houses of the officers -and huts of the soldiers and camp followers, at different points; -at the same time furiously attacking with short swords, spears, -&c., the stockade and Assam Light Infantry in their lines, and the -quarters of the artillery. Notwithstanding that the attack was totally -unlooked for, and the greatest confusion prevailed from the extensive -conflagration and uproar throughout the station--the Sipahees being -surrounded by their wives and families, and knowing that the enemy -cut up men, women, and children, indiscriminately--the panic was -of short duration. Discipline soon came into play; a few men got -together, headed by their officers, and retook the stockade in fifteen -minutes. The enemy then confined their remaining exertions to cutting -up a few helpless individuals in the bazaar; but after a few rounds -of grape and round shot from a carronade and a six-pounder which had -been fired, at the commencement of the attack, they fled from the -cantonment of Suddeah in three bodies, leaving behind them twenty-one -men killed on the spot. The loss of killed and wounded on our side, -including men, women, and children, amounted to eighty persons. The -political agent, Lieutenant-Colonel White, who had only arrived at -Suddeah a few days before the attack, placing too much confidence -in the illusive permanence of Khamtee allegiance, did not deem it -necessary to have for his protection a guard of Sipahees at his house; -and on this eventful night he had left his bungalow on the first alarm, -and was proceeding by the nearest route to the lines, when he was met -by a party of the enemy, who instantly attacked him. He fell, pierced -with nine spear wounds. It is a matter of great regret that this -officer should have lost his life from the want of proper precaution, -for, had a guard been placed at his house, there is little doubt but -that he would have fought his way in safety to the troops in the lines, -as other officers did. Being a benevolent, brave, talented officer, -his death was deeply lamented by the corps; more particularly as he was -the only European who met an untimely end on this memorable morning. - -The Khamtees, it is reported, had long endeavoured to persuade the -Singphoos to join them in their intended outbreak and massacre of our -troops, and some had assented to share in the promised plunder of the -district; but whether they hesitated from fear of the consequences, -or that the Khamtees anticipated the day of attack from a sanguine -expectation of accomplishing their design through their own prowess, -unassisted by other tribes, we had no means of ascertaining: further -than that the Singphoos, excepting a few in the neighbourhood of -Suddeah, on this occasion showed their foresight and prudence in not -being implicated in the reckless rebellion. But as the Singphoos, -immediately after the Suddeah catastrophe, attacked and burnt several -villages in the Saikwah district, it is evident they were prepared -to take advantage of the surprise of the post had our troops been -defeated or annihilated. - -The Moolooks engaged in this conspiracy were well affected to -the British Government, and at first refused to join the Khamtees -in attacking our troops; but the Moolook Gaum, or chief, having -been instantly barbarously murdered by the Khamtees for declining -to act against us, his little band was intimidated and compelled -reluctantly to follow the dreaded Khamtee leaders. A few Mishmees, -who were also at this time on a visit to Suddeah for trading purposes, -were unfortunately induced to join in the treacherous affray, and many -that were fighting for their lives were slain by the troops. Some of -the Suddeah Assamese population were likewise implicated, and punished -by the law with the severity their temerity and ingratitude deserved: -for they had received no provocation, neither had they any grievances -to resent or redress. - -In a few months the Khamtee tribe (excepting the Khamtees of Palangpan, -who were not implicated) were driven by the Assam Light Infantry beyond -the frontier; and the Assam valley was, for the third time within a -century, freed from the presence of this inimical tribe. Shortly after -the return of the troops from this expedition, however, the Khamtees -again located themselves at the foot of the Mishmee hills, close to a -pass leading into the Burkhamtee country. In 1843, the Runoah Gohain -and Tow Gohain, chief actors in the dire disaster of 1839, being -dead, their sons and many Khamtees, sent in a petition for pardon, -and for permission to return and place themselves under the protection -of the British Government. Their prayer was generously acceded to, -and a treaty was at once drawn up offering them free pardon for the -past rebellion: on condition of their coming down with their wives and -families and locating themselves at Choonpoorah, a short distance above -Suddeah, where they should be permitted to cultivate the land rent free -for five years. They were further bound to abstain from the trafficking -in slaves, and to arrange all petty disputes amongst themselves; -but all heinous offences, murder, gang robbery, serious wounding and -thefts, were to be settled by the political agent. Finally, after -ten years they were to abide by any other arrangement the British -Government might deem expedient. Previous to this settlement, and -shortly after the insurrection of 1839, a small body of Khamtees were -sent down to the district of Luckimpore, and by their own industry -cleared and brought into a beautiful state of cultivation a fine tract -of country. They, however, live most secludedly from their neighbours, -retaining their own habits and customs; and it is to be feared that a -long period of time will elapse before they amalgamate or assimilate -themselves with the Assamese population. Eventually, should the whole -body of this discontented, restless, intriguing tribe return to their -allegiance under the British Government, their past history would -not warrant the most sanguine mind to expect from them, permanently, -either a cheerful submission to our rule or a readiness to pay revenue, -without an exhibition of force. Neither can we confidently anticipate -that they will adopt peaceable, agricultural, industrious habits in the -present generation; being addicted to opium and habitual indolence, -and preferring the precarious gain derivable from bartering ivory, -gold, and impure silver, to the drudgery of regular industry. But it -is impossible to calculate on the benefits and changes that might be -effected in their feelings and character, could they be prevailed on -to have their children educated in our schools; and this scheme for -their amelioration has long been contemplated. - -In stature the Khamtees are middle sized, in countenance resembling the -Chinese more than any other tribe on the frontier, and possessing the -same kind of complexion: perhaps a shade darker. They are an active, -intelligent, shrewd, warlike looking race of men, but there is a -sinister expression, mixed with a peculiar severity, pervading their -countenances, that leaves anything but a favourable impression of the -benevolence of their dispositions. Vindictive and cruel natures would -infallibly be imputed to them by the physiognomist, and experience -has shown that this would prove a just estimate of their general -character. The chiefs of this tribe are fond of mechanical employments, -and with rude instruments most ingeniously work up iron and silver -into a variety of forms for arms, ornaments, and pipes. With a little -European instruction they would probably become skilful workmen -in this art. Their wearing apparel consists of a simple dhotee or -sheet folded round the waist and falling below the knee; this, with -a dyed blue cotton jacket extending below the waist and well fitted -to the body, gives them a smart, tidy appearance. Their long hair -is bound up in a high knot on the crown of the head, and sometimes -a white cotton cloth is used as a turban. The principal food of the -Khamtees consists of rice and vegetables; but meat, when procurable, -is never refused. They also enjoy spirituous liquors; and their creed, -Boodhism, seems to have imbued them with few prejudices debarring -them from the unrestrained indulgence of their natural inclinations. - - - - - -SINGPHOOS. - - "'Tis ours by craft and by surprise to gain:-- - 'Tis theirs to meet in arms and battle on the plain." - - Prior. - - -The Singphoo tribes occupy the country between the twenty-eighth -and twenty-ninth degrees of north latitude, bounded on the north by -the Burrampooter, on the east by the Mishmee mountains, on the south -by the Patkoe range, and on the west by the space from the mouth of -the Now Dehing river, debouching into the Burrampooter in a direct -line to Ningroo, terminating at the foot of the hills south of the -Boree Dehing river. Half of this tract, of about 1,400 square miles, -may be considered hilly, and the remainder undulating. The soil -is rich and fertile, and abundant crops of rice are easily raised -both on the high and low lands. Sugar-cane grows luxuriantly; tea is -likewise found, and every part of the country is intersected by fine -clear streams. The most productive corn tracts are the valleys of the -Teerap, Namroop, Boree Dehing, Now Dehing, Mudhoopanee, Tengapanee, -and Kurempanee. Almost the whole of this country, at the present time, -may be said to be one immense forest, but about sixty years ago, -or previous to the arrival and settlement of the Singphoos within -the Assam frontier, it was considered, from the great extent of -cultivation, a fertile, salubrious region. The Singphoo population -was estimated in 1838 at about 6000 persons; but in the absence -of a regular census, we can form no accurate estimate of their real -numbers. At the present day their communities are very small: probably -6000 persons would not be found scattered over the whole frontier north -of the Patkoe range. In the vicinity of the Tengapanee, the following -Singphoo chiefs reside:--Niphoonnong, Tangsangtau, Jowbongsang, Nidong, -Koonkie, Phoop, Oompheedor, Luttora, Ong, Keemingdoo, Niyang, Lajee, -Mannong, Nakinchong, Nisah, Koomiyunglah, Ninayong, Jooloo, Nisah -Doboon, Jowna, Wakhut. On the Now Dehing; Komonjong, Wakhut, Soanjang, -Kamchowjow. On the Mudhoo and Jengloo-Panee; Luthaon-Jowbong, Simaen, -Moolan, Jowken, Nisam, Phoinchee, Seerolasein, Mokhoh, Nidhen Lekhala, -Nizen Chowkhen. On the Boree Dhing; Kinglong, Chamsong, Ningroola, -Beesa, Lakhoom, Noobrong, Lajong, Seong, Bathamgam, Moongong, Jowkeem. - -Each of the different Singphoo tribes is governed by a chief, -designated a Gaum, whose authority over his clan is nearly despotic, -and entirely independent of the other chiefs. The general body of clans -seldom combine, except for purposes of plunder. Occasionally, however, -some chiefs, endowed with superior energy, acquire influence over the -rest; and this would appear to have been the case with the Beesa Gaum, -when the late Mr. Scott, agent to the Governor-General, entered into a -treaty with the Singphoo chiefs. At that time the Beesa Gaum was the -most intelligent and influential of the chieftains, and was publicly -recognised as the agent through whom the sentiments of the British -Government should be made known to the different tribes. In other -respects he had no controlling authority, and was regarded by his -brother chieftains as merely their equal. On the invasion of Assam -by the Burmese, the Singphoos joined the force, and partook of their -plunder; in fact, they had no alternative: their only option was to -plunder others or to be plundered. - -Prior to the conquest of Assam by the British power, the Singphoo -tribes had been accustomed to make annual incursions into the -province, for the purpose of obtaining slaves and plunder; but on -the establishment of a British force at Suddeah, this practice was -effectually restrained. From this circumstance arose their dislike -to our power, which readily disposes them to listen to any adventurer -who holds out to them the prospect of driving us out of the country; -for with the reckless and short-sighted policy of barbarians, they -never calculate the consequences of a revolt, but think that if -the British troops were defeated, and our influence annihilated, -all their desires would be accomplished. - -The Burmese having been driven from the province, in 1824-25, by our -troops, and the Singphoos completely subdued, it became necessary to -adopt measures for the establishment of our future intercourse with -the latter; and for this purpose, on the 3rd of May, 1826, a treaty -was entered into with them, granting them terms they had no reason -to expect. The following is a copy of the compact: - -"Whereas we, the Singphoo chiefs named Bam, Komjoy, Meejong, Jow, -Chowkhen, Jowrah, Chow, Chumun, Neenjun, Tangrang, Chowbal, Chumta, -Chowrah, Chowdoo, Chowkam, Koomring, &c., are under the subjection of -the British Government. We execute this agreement to Mr. David Scott, -the agent to the Governor General, and hereby engage to adhere to the -following terms, viz: 1st. Assam being under the sway of the British -Government, we and our dependent Singphoos, who were subjects of the -Assam state, acknowledge subjection to that Government. We agree not to -side with the Burmese, or any other king, nor to commit any aggressions -whatever; but we will obey the orders of the British Government. - -"2dly. Whenever a British force may march to Assam, to protect it -from foreign aggression, we will supply that force with grain, &c.; -make and repair roads for it, and execute any order that may be issued -to us; and we shall, on our doing so, be protected by that force. - -"3rd. If we abide by the terms of this agreement, no tribute shall -be paid by us; but if any Assam Paicks, of their own accord, reside -in our villages, the tax on such Paicks shall be paid to the British -Government. - -"4th. We will set at large, or cause to be liberated any Assam people -whom we may have seized, and they shall have the option to reside -wherever they please. - -"5th. If any of the Singphoos rob any of the Assam people residing -in our country, we will apprehend the former, and surrender him to -the British Government; but if we fail to do so, we will make good -the loss thus sustained by the latter. - -"6th. We will govern and protect the Singphoos under us, as heretofore, -and adjust their differences; and if any boundary dispute occur -amongst us, we will not take up arms without the knowledge of the -British Government. - -"7th. We will adhere to the terms of this agreement, and never depart -from them. This agreement shall be binding upon our brothers, sons, -nephews and relatives in such way as the Agent to the Governor-General -may deem proper. We have executed this agreement in the presence of -many. Written at Suddeah, 5th May, 1826, A.D." - -The Singphoo country remained undisturbed until the year 1830, when -the invasion of Wakim Koomjoon, from the province of Hookong, on -the Burmese side, took place, and was promptly repelled by Captain -Neufville. On this occasion, the Luttora and Tengapanee Singphoos -took part with the invader, and the Beesa Gaum with the British -authorities. The assistance of the Beesa Gaum does not appear to -have been of a very active nature, but his conduct was nevertheless -approved by the Political Agent, and rewarded by Government. He was, -however, shortly afterwards dismissed from the situation of Sunzatee, -and Zalim Sing, a Soobadar of the Assam Light Infantry, who had greatly -distinguished himself under Captain Neufville, was appointed to the -office. Bijee Nath Sing, a Soobadar of the Assam Light Infantry, -succeeded him in 1839. - -In 1835, the attack of the Duffa Gaum upon the Beesa took place. This -compelled the British Government to interfere for his protection, -and to avenge the massacre of its subjects; but although the attacking -party came from Hookong, the contest was in reality between the Khakoo -Singphoos, under the Luttoora chief (who espoused the Duffa's cause), -and the Now Dehing and Booree Dehing Singphoos, on the side of the -Beesa; for the Duffa only brought fifty muskets with him and one -hundred followers, the remainder of his force being collected within -the British boundary. - -The feud between the two rival chieftains, the Duffa and the -Beesa, arose in 1823 A.D., two years before the assumption of the -sovereignty of Assam by the British Government. A Singphoo chief of -rank, named Likhee Khandoo, who had lately come over from Hookong, -had proposed to the Beesa Gaum that the Singphoos, in conjunction, -should attack the Bursenaputty, or chief of the Muttucks. The -Beesa chief replied that he would willingly join provided the Duffa -Gaum was of the party; the latter was applied to, but refused to -engage in the enterprise; nevertheless the attack was made by the -Singphoos, but was repulsed with severe loss to them, the Muttucks -having received secret information which enabled them to prepare to -receive the assailants. The prior intelligence of the attack which the -Bursenaputty had received, was ascribed, whether justly or unjustly, -to the Duffa chief's agency. Accordingly, in a spirit of revenge, the -remaining Singphoos attacked his house, wounded his wife (who died -from the effects of her wounds), and killed some of his people. It -is not certain that the Beesa chief was present at this outrage, -but as the party went from his house, there can be little doubt -of his connivance at the transaction. After this the Duffa chief -withdrew into the district of Hookong, under Burmese control; and -although repeatedly invited by the British authorities to return and -resume his territory, he never could be prevailed on to do so. Nor -did he ever make application to obtain redress for the injuries he -had sustained from the Beesa chief prior to the conquest of Assam by -the British Government, and it was evidently never his intention to -apply. Indeed, it would have been incompatible with Singphoo notions -of honour that a chieftain should have obtained redress in this manner -without retaliating upon his enemy. With this latter view, ever since -his retreat from Assam, he had been gradually labouring to extend his -influence amongst the Singphoos, across both the Burmese and Assam -sides of the boundary line; and possessing the advantage of birth, -superior connections, and a reputation for liberality, he at length -succeeded in establishing an ascendancy paramount to that of the Beesa -chief: which had latterly declined, owing to his connection with the -British Government. The Beesa chief, and those dependent upon him, -had been compelled to give up the Assamese who returned from slavery -in Burmah--a measure extremely repugnant to the Singphoos, dependant -as they were upon the Assamese for the means of subsistence. - -Matters stood in this position up to July 1835, when the Duffa Gaum, -having obtained decided influence, planned an expedition into the -Beesa's territory, and appearing there unexpectedly, surprised and -plundered his village, murdered his wife, his son's wife, and ninety -of his people: thus retaliating in a far greater degree the injury he -had sustained. On hearing of this outrage, Lieutenant Charlton ordered -out a company, and instructed the Soobadar to inform the Duffa Gaum -that he must forthwith quit the Assam boundary, and that, on reaching -the frontier, any complaint he had to prefer against the Beesa chief -would be promptly attended to. The Duffa chief refusing to comply -with the mandate, Lieutenant Charlton was obliged to employ force -against him; but the troops under Lieutenant Charlton's command being -insufficient for the purpose, three months afterwards (in November -1835) the political agent in person moved to his assistance with two -hundred and fifty men of the Assam Light Infantry. - -The Duffa Gaum, anticipating an attack, had taken up a strong -position in the stockades on the Menaboom hills. Prior to resorting -to hostilities, every exertion was made to induce the chief to come -to terms, and a three days' truce was granted for this purpose. The -Khamtee chiefs and the Bursenaputtee of Muttuck, who accompanied the -political agent as auxiliaries on this occasion, were required to -escort the Duffa Gaum to the camp of the Political Agent as a security -that his person would be respected, and that he would be permitted to -return unmolested should no satisfactory result follow the meeting. The -Duffa Gaum, however, being still apprehensive of treachery, could -not be prevailed upon to attend the conference, until the Political -Agent consented to meet him at a spot one hundred and fifty yards -distant from his fort, with an escort of only a havildar and twelve -soldiers. The escort having been scrupulously counted, the chief at -last came out with a similar number of armed followers. His demeanour -was most abject: he and his whole escort sunk down upon their knees, -and taking a handful of the earth, he kissed it and said that the -Company was Lord and Master thereof. He then proceeded to speak of -the injuries he had sustained from the Beesa Gaum. In reply, he was -told that he had no reason to complain of the British Government, as -he had never represented the conduct of the Beesa chief to any of the -functionaries, and that it could not be expected that the Government -should take cognizance of acts which had occurred in 1823, prior to -its assumption of the sovereignty of Assam. The injuries which the -British Government had sustained from him were then recapitulated: -the murder of its subjects, the plunder of their property, and the -Duffa Gaum's stubborn persistence in retaining his position in the -face of repeated injunctions that he should withdraw from the territory -within the Assam boundary. It was further brought to his recollection -that the British Government had repeatedly offered him repossession -of his territory, provided he came in a peaceable manner, but that it -was incompatible with its dignity to allow him to attempt to extort by -force that which had been given spontaneously. He was then required, -First, to make good, by an annual instalment in money, elephants' -teeth, or gold dust, the loss of 8000 rupees that our merchants had -sustained by his treacherous attack on Beesa: furnishing security, -or a hostage, for the fulfilment of his engagement; and, Secondly, to -dismiss the auxiliary Singphoos whom he had brought from the Burmese -territory: and as a security for their not returning he was to give -up their arms. The Duffa Gaum agreed to both these propositions, -apparently in the most joyful manner, and promised faithfully to come -in the following morning; but the next day he sent a letter into camp -referring entirely to his ancient dispute with the Beesa chief, and -making no allusion whatever to the terms proposed to him. Upon this, -the British force took up a position within five hundred yards of his -stockade; but the Duffa Gaum's agent immediately came out and said, -that if the Political Agent would advance alone to a place within -one hundred and fifty yards of the fort, the chief would come out and -accompany him to camp. The Political Agent complied with the request, -remained at the appointed spot half an hour at considerable personal -risk, and called upon the Duffa Gaum to fulfil to his promise. The -answer given was, that the Duffa Gaum had no confidence in the -sincerity of the Political Agent, as Wakutchangnang had sent him a -flint, powder and ball, the evening before: which was equivalent to an -intimation that his intentions were warlike whilst proposing peace. The -Agent urged in the strongest manner that no such message had been sent; -but finding the Duffa Gaum immovable, hostilities were reluctantly -resorted to. A signal was given to the battery, and the fire commenced; -the stockade was carried, and the Duffa chief fled beyond the frontier. - -Not the slightest doubt was entertained of the individual desire of -the Duffa chief for peace; but the Khamtee chiefs, being irritated -by certain proposed innovations in 1834--such as taking a census and -taxing them--were the first, it is believed, to call in the Duffa -chief, with a view of exciting troubles and obstructing the maturity -of our plans; and thus was the negotiation marred. - -In the year 1838 public tranquillity was again disturbed by a feud -between the Peshee and Let chiefs, which compelled the British -Government to interfere and punish the former: who, contrary to -his agreement, persisted in attacking the latter. The Luttora chief -likewise violated his compact, by giving aid to the Peshee chief, -and was driven from the Company's territory. - -Though the Tengapanee Singphoos did not arrive in time to join in -a body with the Khamtee chiefs, in the attack made on the post of -Suddeah in January 1839, their disaffection was apparent in their -unprovoked attack upon, and plunder of, the villages in the Saikwah -district, when they carried off many Dooaneahs. In consequence of this -outrage, a detachment of troops visited in November 1839, the principal -villages of Inshaw, Dobom, Inban, Luttora, Koomkie, and Tang Sang Tang; -situated at the foot of the Mishmee hills, between the Kerempanee -north, and Mena Boom hills south, in the vicinity of the Tengapanee, -which takes its rise in the Mena Boom hills south. On this occasion the -whole of the chiefs were assembled, and the heinousness of their late -conduct explained: fines were imposed in proportion to their means, -and their submission and pledges required to an extent never before -obtained, besides the restitution of most of the Dooaneahs carried -away from Saikwah. The confederacy between the Singphoos and Kamtees -was broken up, and the expulsion of the Deerack Tawah Gohain effected, -with the loss of his village and a quantity of grain. - -In November 1841, considerable alarm pervaded the north-east -frontier, owing to a report that the Tippum Rajah, aided by the -Burmese and Singphoos from both sides of the border, meditated an -incursion into Assam. To remove this impression, a tour was made -by the Political Agent with a company of the Assam Light Infantry, -a body of Golundaz, and two three pounders carried on elephants, -through the greater portion of the Singphoo territory. The route -pursued was from Saikwah up the Burrampooter river to the Tengapanee; -and on passing the villages of Kinglong, Dohing Koomkee, the principal -chiefs, Neesaka of Jusha, Ong of Luttora, Labing of Dobom, Tang Sang -Tang, Koomong of Koomkee, and Samnong, son of the Wakhet chief, paid -their respects. From thence the party proceeded up the bed of the -Tengapanee, by the site of the former village of Luttora, on to Naing -and Meerappanee, and commenced the ascent over the Mena Boom hills: -a most trying undertaking for elephants, as they had to travel along -a narrow ridge in some places only a few paces wide, and entirely -composed of loose stones; the sides frequently presenting dangerous -precipices. It was in descending this ridge that the laden elephants -encountered the greatest difficulty; yet they managed to get down -without the necessity of dismounting the guns, and reached Beesa and -Ningroo in perfect safety. The Singphoos thus learned the folly of -trusting to their stockades in their fastnesses, when guns could be -brought against them by moderate exertion and ingenuity. It was hoped -that this tour would also tend to repress the feuds so constantly -arising amongst themselves; seeing that justice could be administered -even in retreats the most secluded and difficult of access. But this -expectation was not realized; for in the year 1842 the Tippum Rajah -(brother of Jegessur Sing, the last rajah of Assam, said to be now -governor of Hookong and Mogong) sent the Beesa chief six pounds of -needles, half of which were broken, to be distributed by him amongst -the Singphoos: a token or signal of alliance and preparation for -war. This intimation was followed up in January 1843 by an attack -on a party consisting of one Jemadar, one Havildar, one Naick, and -twenty Sipahees located in a small stockade at Beesa. Some previous -altercation had occurred between the Jemadar and the Beesa chief -regarding the repair of the stockade, which not having been effected, -the Jemadar had contemptuously called the Beesa chief an old cow, and -in return vengeance was vowed in intelligible terms. After holding out -for some days, three Sipahees being killed and three wounded in the -defence, the Jemadar was unfortunately induced to surrender himself -and party prisoners of war; the treacherous Singphoos having assured -him that the posts of Ningroo and Koojoo had fallen into their hands, -and our troops been totally defeated. Trusting to their mercy and -honour, he caused his men to cease firing; and oaths were freely -taken in support of promises of good and honourable treatment; but -the instant the Singphoos gained admittance into the stockade, the -Jemadar and the whole party were disarmed and bound. The next morning -the Jemadar and Havildar were led out by the Singphoos and tied up to -a tree, and fired at; after this they were hewn to pieces with a short -sword, on the same spot where one of the Singphoos had been shot by -the Jemadar when in possession of the stockade. Nine of the Sipahees -were sold into slavery, some to Hookong and Burkhamtee. Thus signally -did the Singphoos gratify their revenge, at the commencement of the -irruption or attempt to break through the line of outposts and lay -waste the whole country. - -Their second and third attacks on the Koojoo and Ningroo stockades, -defended by European officers, were completely frustrated. The Koojoo -stockade was besieged for some days, but a sally being made on the -enemy whilst the Singphoos were at dinner, they were defeated and -fled in the utmost consternation. The Ningroo stockade was likewise -at night suddenly attacked and taken by surprise, but after a short, -sharp struggle, in which several lives were lost, the Singphoos left -the stockade in greater haste than they entered it. - -The Tippum Rajah's sister was married to the late king of Ava, and -she is supposed to be in favour with the present king. It may be -owing to her influence that the Tippum Rajah is reported to be now -Governor of Hookong, to take advantage of any opportunity to invade -Assam. Scarcely a year passes without some such reports being spread -throughout the province, and there is great reason to believe that -the Singphoo insurrection of 1843 was raised at the suggestion, or at -least through the connivance of the Rajah; as many Burmese or Shans -under his jurisdiction crossed the frontier and joined the insurgents -in the hope of plundering the province. Had success attended their -first attempts, it cannot be doubted but that many more would have -soon followed their example, in the speedy removal of slaves and -property from Assam. But the real origin of the insurrection was -the occupation of the Koojoo tea garden and other tea tracts. The -constant desertion of the Dooaneah slaves and dependants, who are -the people chiefly employed in cultivation under the Singphoos, -besides the advance of civilization consequent on the establishment -of a considerable village at Jeypore with European residents, was the -source of much heart-burning. The occupation of Muttuck, formerly -under native management, must also have proved distasteful to a -savage people possessing a wild country and delighting in extensive -hunting-grounds. These circumstances, aggravated by frequent quarrels -with the Sipahees at Ningroo, the unauthorized apprehension of two Let -Singphoos by the Jemadar, and a desire of revenge for the execution, -many years ago, of Ningroola Gaum's kinsman, certainly contributed -to produce the insurrection of 1843. - -Viewing the nature of our connection with the Singphoos generally, it -must be acknowledged that the balance of advantage had been decidedly -in their favour; for while we have been called upon to fight their -battles, little or no assistance has, comparatively, been afforded us -by them. Being a rude, treacherous people, little faith can be placed -in them; neither can we expect they will be influenced or bound by -any treaties not in accordance with their own views: in fact they have -in no respect fulfilled their obligations to the British Government. - -The Singphoo country is eminently unfavourable to the operations of -regular troops, owing to its mountainous character, unrelieved by -plains or table lands, the want of roads, the extreme scarcity of -provisions, the absence of local means of transport, and above all -the unhealthiness of the climate. The Government is likewise put to -a great expense without commensurate benefit, for in such a rude and -barbarous state of society revenue cannot be collected without the -employment of military force; and this is not always adequate to -the success of hostile operations, because of its paucity and the -advantage afforded to the natives by the natural defences of the -country: of which they are not slow to avail themselves. - -In reviewing the different tribes of Assam, it may not be out of -place to offer a brief sketch of one or two of the chieftains. - -Wakut-chang-nang is the son of a Singphoo chief who submitted to -Captain Neufville in 1825, and received a present of a gun and other -articles from him, which he requited by firing upon the captain a day -or two afterwards. The ball missed Captain Neufville and went through -Lieutenant Kerr's hat without doing him any injury. Subsequent to this, -Wakut-chang-nang absconded to Hookong within the Burmese boundary, -and only returned in 1835 to the Assam territory. During his sojourn -within the Hookong territory he is stated to have committed several -murders; and with the money accumulated by crime and robbery, he has -been enabled to marry the Beesa Gaum's daughter. From his having -been the principal agent in breaking off the negotiation with the -Duffa chief, and consequently the cause of the subsequent bloodshed, -he was imprisoned during 1836-37 at Bishnath. He is now residing at -Beesa, and is considered, as heretofore, an intriguing, dangerous -character. The Beesa Gaum, having been implicated in the rebellion -of 1843, is now a state prisoner for life; he is nearly blind, -and his career may be said to have closed, as it is not probable he -will survive many years. He was supposed to be a man of good sense -and to possess considerable information regarding border politics, -but of no enlarged capacity or superior energy of character, and -totally incapable of forming those comprehensive designs which have -been attributed to him. He is not of a warlike character. Most of -his battles have been fought by others: for a Singphoo chief is not -expected to head his troops in action. Nevertheless his disposition -is sanguinary, and it is said his career has been marked by blood and -treachery in a greater degree than usual, even amongst the Singphoos. - -The Shan is the written character used by the Singphoos, and their -language is distinct from any of the neighbouring tribes: they -write on leaves and a peculiar kind of paper. As yet no European -has sufficiently studied the language to appreciate justly the -Singphoo literature, or to prepare elementary works for the -guidance of others. Nor are we aware of there being any written -works in the language either historical or theological. As civil -members of society they are anything but good subjects, from their -excessive laziness, immoderate addiction to opium, and general -uncertainty of character. They are so indolent and improvident, -that notwithstanding they have the most fertile soil in Assam, -which yields fruit with little labour, and might be made to produce -an abundant crop--notwithstanding, too, their freedom from taxation, -grain is always so extravagantly dear, that during several months in -the year the people are reduced to subsist on yams and other roots -found in the jungles. Almost the whole of the field work is performed -by the women and slaves, while the men delight in lounging about the -villages, and basking in the sun, when not engaged in hunting or war. - -The religion of the Singphoos appears to be a mixture of all the -various idolatries and superstitions of the natives with whom they -have intercourse. They seem to have no fixed principles common to the -whole tribe. Their ostensible worship is that of Guduma, whose temples -and priests are to be found in all their principal villages. They -are also in the habit of deifying any Singphoos who may chance to -be killed in action during a foray upon some other tribe or village, -and of sacrificing to them as to their penates. On emergencies, such -as famine, pestilence, or danger, they make offerings to the "Ning -Deota," God of the Elements, called also "Ningschees;" sacrificing -buffaloes, hogs, and cocks. The skulls of the buffaloes so offered -are afterwards hung up in their houses as mementos of their own piety. - -Their funeral ceremonies are simple. The poorer classes burn or bury -the body, according to the previously expressed wish of the deceased, -and invariably make to the deity an offering of a pig, fowl, or -fish, through their Deodhies or priests. On the death of a chief, -numerous ceremonies are performed: the body is detained until all -the friends of the deceased can be assembled, when buffaloes, pigs, -and deer are sacrificed, a grand feast is given, and spirituous -liquor distributed to the company. The corpse is then committed to -the earth, the priest chants a prayer for the deceased, a clay tomb -is raised over the remains, and the grave is encircled with a bamboo -fence. Sacrifices are always offered up on the death of every Singphoo, -according to the means of the surviving relatives; no matter whether -death be caused by accident or war, or in the course of nature. - -Polygamy, without restriction, prevails among the Singphoos, and they -make no distinction between the children born of Singphoo women and -those born of foreign or Assamese women. They reject with horror -the idea of infanticide, under any shape or pretext. Marriage is -only forbidden with a mother or sister: they may marry stepmothers, -brothers' widows, or any other relative. In the marriage ceremony the -bridegroom has to present the parents of the bride with a Khamtee Dhao, -or short sword, a velvet jacket, a silk Dhota, and a slave; the rich -give gold and silver, buffaloes, and as many slaves as the wealth -of the bridegroom will permit. The bridegroom has also to furnish a -marriage feast to the friends and relations of the bride; and after -the Deodhies or priests have performed a certain religious ceremony, -the bride is delivered over to the bridegroom, and the jewels, &c., -which are on her person, are returned to her parents. - -If a man commits adultery, he is obliged to pay damages according to -the demand of the injured husband, in slaves, buffaloes, dhoties, -swords, money, or beads; and if he cannot pay the damages, he pays -the penalty of his crime in confinement. No damages are demanded for -the violation of an unmarried woman or virgin; but in the event of -her being found pregnant, the ravisher has to give the parents three -slaves and one buffalo, and the issue is claimed by the man. It is -optional with himself to marry his victim, or not. Theft is punished -by exacting from the thief double the value of the property stolen. - -The Singphoos entertain strange ideas of honour and revenge. Compatibly -with their customs and rude notions of religion, a Singphoo chief -could not ever abandon, without dishonour, the application of the -lex talionis to one who had murdered his relative; although, from -circumstances of policy, or deficiency of means, he might postpone -the gratification of his vengeance to an indefinite period. A mistaken -feeling of religion, combined with private affection for the deceased, -fully accounts for this perverted state of mind. The Singphoos imagine -that the soul of the murdered individual will torment them until his -manes are appeased by the death of one of his enemies; and further, -that the anger of their deity would be roused should an opportunity of -retaliation be neglected. Nor is the retribution to be limited to the -actual perpetrator of the homicide. If death be occasioned by violence -committed, or supposed to be committed by any one, the relations are -never appeased until they have murdered one of the family to which -the murderer belonged. An innocent person is thus often murdered, -who is quite ignorant of the injury committed by his tribe or family. - -The houses of the Singphoos are generally nothing but long sheds, -roofed in with grass or bamboo leaves, and the walls composed of split -bamboo. The floor of the dwelling part is raised about four feet from -the ground; and the entrance forms an extensive porch, in which are -congregated pigs, fowls, household and agricultural implements, and -where women may generally be seen pounding rice. These buildings are -sometimes one hundred feet long, and divided into compartments allotted -to several families. Occasionally immense houses may be seen, which -are occupied by powerful chiefs; the timbers of these buildings being -of such enormous size and length as to render it a matter of surprise -that they could have been erected by mere manual labour. At the -burning of the Ningrang chief's house, when the village was surprised -by our troops in 1843, the officers remarked that the posts were of -prodigious diameter and length; and it was regretted that war rendered -it necessary to destroy such a magnificent residence. The mansion -was entered by a flight of several steps leading up to the floor, -and was divided into numerous rooms by partitions of split bamboo. - -The Singphoos have nothing approaching to what we call government: each -chief is independent, collecting no revenue, nor directing in person -any force, although he may influence the movements of others. The -Singphoos are of a tawny complexion, and a cunning expression, -with long bodies and short legs. They are implacable, cruel, and -treacherous; stealing upon and murdering with the short sword at -night those who have offended or injured them; and are ever ready to -coalesce for a foray, if there is a prospect of success. Casualties -that occur from the contentions of one tribe with another, murders -resulting from private jealousy, the difficulty of procuring food, and -exposure to the inclemency of the weather, help to keep the population -scanty all over the north-east frontier. In fact, the great cause of -the thinness of the population is the want of food, arising from the -absence of productive industry. The unsettled and lawless state of -society among the Burmese and Singphoos appears likewise to operate in -retarding the extension of trade; and this evil cannot be rectified -until these tribes are brought more completely under subjection to -the British Government. That once effected, a mart might be formed -at our extreme boundary; though the scantiness of the population in -these regions would probably for some time prevent the establishment -of a very brisk trade. - -Hookoom is distant from Suddeah about 200 miles; a miserable, desolate, -backward country intervening: in fact, almost an entire jungle -throughout. At Moonkoom there would be a larger field for commerce, -as water communication by the Irawaddy is facile. Broad cloths, &c., -could probably be conveyed thither cheaper, viâ Rangoon, than from -the Burrampooter. The same obstacles exist to opening a trade between -Assam and the provinces of Yunan, owing to the greater proximity of -Yunan to the Burmese empire. By all accounts a considerable trade -is carried on between the two countries, viâ Bamow: a Burmese town -within twenty miles of the confines of Yunan; and from the facility -of transport which the Irawaddy affords, we may infer that British -goods could be supplied at a cheaper rate, and with greater safety, -from Rangoon or from Moulmein through the Sangha, than could be -effected from Assam. The poverty of the people on this part of our -frontier is such that scarcely any one can afford to buy woollens, -excepting the chiefs, and even those persons generally receive them -as presents from the officers of Government. It would therefore be -desirable to send up articles of less value. The articles chiefly in -demand are salt, cloths, tobacco, opium, knives, needles, cups and -saucers, basons and plates. - -In 1828, by way of experiment, and to test the possibility of reviving -trade, a Government investment of woollen goods to the amount of 4000 -rupees, was sent up to Suddeah; but it actually took eight years before -the whole stock was sold off, and it would not then, probably, have -been disposed of, had not the price been reduced thirty per cent. below -prime cost. It was sold during the first and second years of its -appearance in the market, at prime cost; afterwards at a reduction of -ten, twenty, and thirty per cent. Since then, a trade, such as it is, -has been established at Suddeah by native merchants, at considerable -risk; for the Government will not undertake to give compensation -for any losses the traders may sustain, either from sudden attacks, -or in their transactions with these wild tribes. Notwithstanding the -apparently hopeless prospect of any immediate commercial intercourse -taking place between Assam and any portion of western China, there -can be no doubt that as civilization advances, the intervening tracts -will be traversed, and a lucrative trade may then connect districts -now separated by dense forests. - -It remains only to mention that, some difference of opinion existing -as to the boundary line between Assam and the Burmese territory, -it was deemed expedient to define the limits of both countries -by a special mission to the disputed point; and for this purpose, -in 1837, Dr. Bayfield was deputed to proceed from Ava and join the -Burmese Governor of Mogaum, and in the presence of Major White, -Political Agent of Upper Assam, to settle the question. Major White, -accompanied by Dr. Griffiths, Captain Hannay, and Lieut. Bigge, and -the neighbouring native chiefs, with ninety followers, accordingly -set out from Namroop Pathar, on the 19th February; and on the 25th of -the same month they reached Yaoung Sang Nullah, on the north face of -the Patkoe boundary, or range, where the Burmese governor had agreed -that the conference should take place. - -In this dreary wilderness of hills and jungle, the impossibility of -obtaining an adequate supply of provisions for ninety persons (the -commissariat being carried from the plains of Assam) presented an -insuperable obstacle to the prolonged stay of the party with Major -White. Having therefore waited till the 5th March, daily expecting -the arrival of the Burmese Governor and Dr. Bayfield; and the whole -of their provisions being consumed, with the exception of a bare -sufficiency for the wants of the party on their return, the Major was -constrained to retrace his steps to Suddeah. Captain Hannay, however, -pushed on unencumbered, in company with Dr. Griffiths (deputed for -scientific purposes to Ava), hoping to meet the Burmese Governor and -accomplish the object of the mission: which he did. - -On the 9th March, Captain Hannay and Dr. Bayfield pointed out to the -Burmese Governor of Mogaum the boundary line on the summit of the -Patkoe Mountains, and read to him an extract of the treaty between the -Rajahs of Mogaum and Assam, establishing the boundary in 1323, A.S., -or 1402, A.D. The purport of this extract was that, in the year 1145, -A.S., equivalent to 1224 of the Christian era, Sookhapah, the founder -of the Ahoom Dynasty, having taken his departure from Moonkhoom, -invaded Assam; and, taking possession of the country on the other side -of the Patkoe range, he established Khanjang, or Nunyangpanee, as the -boundary: appointing the Bor Gohain to the government of the district, -and directing that the customary tribute should be remitted to him -in Assam. This settlement continued until the year 1323, equivalent -to 1402, A.D., during the reign of Soodangpha, the eighth Rajah of -the Ahoon dynasty; when a brother of his, named Towsoolie, having -quarrelled with him, went to Moonkhoom and instigated the Rajah to -invade Assam. The attack being, however, repulsed, an accommodation -afterwards took place between the two Rajahs, and the Patkoe range of -hills was established as the boundary. On this occasion a stone image -was put up to indicate the limits; and both the Rajahs, dipping their -hands in the water, vowed personal friendship, and swore reciprocally -to respect each other's territory. This compact remained unviolated for -a period of 400 years up to the period when the Burmese invaded Assam. - - - - - -MUTTUCKS. - -The Muttucks were originally a rude tribe settled in a district called -Mooran or Muttuck, who prior to the Ahoom invasion of 1224, A.D., had -learned the doctrines of the Hindoo religion from two Gosains named -respectively Madho Deo, and Sunkur Deo. The Gosains were followers of -Krishen, and their doctrine particularly differed from that of the -other Hindoos of Assam, in their refusing to worship the images of -Doorga. The appellation of Moa Mureyas arose from its being the name -of the place where a Shuster was founded, and from which the doctrines -of the Muttucks emanated. They were allowed to exercise their religion -unmolested, until the reign of Seba Sing, between 1714 and 1744, A.D.; -when, animated by a spirit of sectarian zeal, the Queen, Phoolsuree, -inflicted a sore wound upon their religious feelings by compelling them -to worship the images of Doorga, and to put the distinguishing marks -of the followers of that deity on their foreheads. But persecution, -as usual, failed in checking this sectarian spirit; and the numbers -of the Muttucks having greatly increased in the reign of Luckmi Sing, -1769, A.D., they revolted from his authority. The immediate cause -of the first insurrection is attributable to two circumstances,--a -bigoted religious persecution, and a haughty, inconsiderate, oppressive -demeanour towards the Muttuck chiefs, and their adherents. - -Soon after the succession of Luckmi Sing to the throne of his brother, -Rajeswur Sing, Rajhan Mooran, a Muttuck chief, was commissioned to -procure a thousand elephants for Luckmi Sing, who was a great admirer -of these animals. The chief obeyed, and from time to time he presented -many elephants to the king. On one occasion, having been unusually -fortunate in capturing two hundred and fifty elephants, he took them -to the capital to show them to his Majesty; but as it was customary to -apprize the Bor Borowa of his intended visit, that the circumstance -might be previously announced to the King, he was proceeding to the -residence of that functionary, when he met the Bor Borowa's son going -on business to the King. Unfortunately he was persuaded to accompany -the young man, unmindful of the indiscretion of deviating from the -established rules of respect and courtesy to the Bor Borowa. - -On Rajhan's arrival at the palace, the King ordered his servants to -prepare to attend him during the inspection of the elephants. The Bor -Borowa being obliged to be present on all such occasions, and hearing -that Rajhan Mooran had ventured to approach the Rajah without the usual -formality of an introduction, determined to wreak his vengeance on the -insolent Muttuck. Luckmi Sing inspected the elephants, and was highly -pleased with Rajhan Mooran's promptitude and assiduity in the execution -of his orders. He warmly expressed his royal approbation of the conduct -of the chief, and, handsomely rewarding him, retired to the palace. - -The Bor Borowa now took the opportunity of sending for Rajhan Mooran -to learn his reasons for not having apprized him of his arrival before -he had sought an interview with the king. The excuse pleaded by Rajhan -Mooran was unheeded; the Bor Borowa was implacable, and directed the -infliction of a severe corporal punishment with the cane. So strictly -was this order executed, that Rajhan Mooran was cast into the road -in a lifeless state. Here he was recognised by his countrymen, and -conveyed away; and with good treatment, but not without difficulty, -he recovered. - -The undeserved insult and chastisement he had received from the Bor -Borowa, however, rankled deeply in his breast; and he lost no time, -when able to move, in proceeding to the Muttuck Gosain Ushtobhoj, [2] -to claim his intercession in obtaining redress for the insufferable -dishonour he had been subjected to. - -The Moa Mureya Gosain Ushtobhoj, commiserating the ill-treatment Rajhan -Mooran had met with, resolved, a short time afterwards, on visiting the -Rajah to obtain reparation. He accordingly set out with his Bhukuts, -or religious disciples, and meeting the Rajah's fleet on the river, -he paid his respects to the Rajah, contrary to the wishes of the Bor -Borowa Keerteerchund, Prime Minister. This conduct greatly incensed the -Bor Borowa, who immediately sent for the Gosain and treated him with -great harshness and abuse, for the temerity he had evinced in presuming -to visit the Rajah without being announced by himself. The Bhukuts who -had accompanied him to the interview were likewise ill-treated. This -indignity highly offended the Gosain, and he determined to take an -early opportunity of retaliating the outrage. With this view, he -took measures for ascertaining the number of disciples and adherents -he might rely on, and found, to his satisfaction, that the census -returned one hundred thousand persons. - -The feelings of the Muttucks being now exasperated to the highest -degree by the degradations and insults to which they were subjected by -the Assam nobles; the present appeared to them a fitting opportunity to -rise and avenge their wrongs. The Bor Deka, son of the Muttuck Gosain, -having long entertained ambitious views, encouraged Rajhan Mooran to -assemble all the Muttuck chiefs and followers willing to co-operate -with them; expressing his belief that with their united forces, -success would attend their efforts. In the mean time he remained -quiet, the better to conceal his designs, and commenced building -a large mound near Jorehath, on which he intimated his intention -to found a Shuster, to be denominated the Bor Bhatee. Each man who -was willing to join in the insurrection was enjoined to bring in one -hand a lump of earth and in the other a reed. By this device the Bor -Deka's designs passed unobserved, and a multitude of followers were -ascertained to be ripe for the approaching contest. - -Mohun Bor Jona Gohain, eldest brother of Luckmi Sing, being marked -with the smallpox, and a slit in the ear, was, by the Assamese -customs, disqualified from ascending the throne. Notwithstanding -this, however, with a view of concealing their real designs, the -Muttucks proposed to the prince to join the insurrectionary force; -promising to place him on the throne in the event of the success of -the insurrection. Tempted by the promise, the prince joined the rebels, -who immediately marched towards the capital at Rungpore, on the banks -of the Dikho river. Luckme Sing having been informed of the movement, -ordered the Assam chiefs to proceed and punish the insolent Muttucks, -and bring him the ringleaders of the insurrection. The rival forces -met near the Thowra Dole Temple, on the banks of the Dehing river, and -after a slight skirmish, in which their commander, the Doabyah Phokun, -was killed, the Assamese were defeated, and fled. Bhectorial Phokun -then succeeded to the command, and perceiving that Mohun Bor Jona -Gohain, the elder brother of the reigning king was at the head of the -rebel force, not only refused to oppose the prince and the invaders, -but went and paid homage to the Gosain. The Muttucks, thus meeting -with no opposition, marched in and took possession of the capital; -and with such promptitude that Rajah Luckme Sing and all his court were -taken prisoners. Luckme Sing was then incarcerated and harshly treated: -food scarcely sufficient for his subsistence being allowed him. The Bor -Borowa Keerteerchund was seized and put to death, with all his family, -relations, and friends; and many nobles also shared the same fate. - -Ramakant Bor Deka now took possession of the throne, and Rajhan -Mooran became Bor Borowa; while the prince, Bor Jona Gohain, who thus -traitorously acted against his family and country, was put off with -the plea that he was incapacitated to reign as king by reason of the -personal mutilation already adverted to. - -A few months after this, a reaction took place. The Assamese hearing -of the indignities their king had suffered, and that Chunder Deka, -a younger brother of the Bor Deka, had actually struck the king three -blows with a cane for sitting in his presence when he visited him in -his confinement, they determined on expelling the Muttucks from their -country, either by force or stratagem. Numerous chiefs and others -readily entered into the spirit of the conspiracy. A grand fete was to -be given at the Bihoo festival in March 1769-70 A.D.; Rajhan Mooran and -the Muttuck chiefs were to be invited; and the Assamese were to attend -with arms concealed under their dress. Mogolee Jiekee Muneeporee, -[3] Queen both of Rajeswar Sing and Luckme Sing, whom Rajhan Mooran -had taken unto himself, was to preside and be the principal agent in -the accomplishment of the project. She was to persuade Rajhan Mooran -to accompany her to the dance, and when there, she was, if possible by -some subterfuge, to obtain possession of his sword, which he constantly -wore; and if his attention could be attracted to the dance she was to -cut him down, which would be the signal for the Assamese to fall upon -and slaughter the Muttucks. This diabolical plot, from the unanimity -and secresy of the conspirators, was executed with the most perfect -success. The Queen, who had obtained considerable influence over -Rajhan Mooran, without difficulty induced him to place his sword in -her hand, that he might, as she said, more easily arrange his dress, -which she had artfully managed somewhat to displace. While in the act -of stooping down, the Queen dexterously stepped behind him, and with -one blow on the hinder part of the thigh completely disabled him. The -conspirators, anxiously expecting the signal, instantly came up and -put an end to his existence. The Assamese then fell on the remaining -unarmed Muttucks, and a dreadful massacre ensued. - -The conspirators, having successfully carried through their plot -against Rajhan Mooran and the principal Muttuck chief, proceeded -to the residence of the Bor Deka Ramakant, the usurper; his father, -brothers, women, and children, were, with all the principal parties, -captured; but Ramakant, on hearing of the death of Rajhan Mooran, -had made his escape from the capital. He was, however, seized near -Bet-barree and brought back to pay the forfeit of his ambition and -rebellion. Luckme Sing was immediately released from imprisonment -and again placed on his throne. The first order issued by the king -after his restoration, was for the extermination of the Muttucks. The -usurper Ramakant Bor Deka, and his brother Chunder Deka, as well as -the Muttuck Gosain their father, were tied to the legs of fierce, -newly caught elephants, and ignominiously dragged round the city, -assailed with mud and filth and every kind of indignity that an -infuriated, relentless mob, intoxicated with triumph, could inflict; -and to close the scene they suffered the cruel and disgraceful death -of impalement. The Muttuck chiefs and their followers were everywhere -hunted down like wild beasts, and put to death: neither men, women, -nor children were spared. In fact, such was the animosity of the -Assamese against the Muttucks, for the time, that they seemed bereft -of all feelings of mercy or compassion. Vast numbers of the Muttucks -died of hunger in the jungles, and an incalculable number perished -by the sword of the insatiate populace. - -Luckme Sing, being now under no farther apprehensions for the safety -of himself or throne, richly rewarded the actors in the late tragedy -with rank and wealth: and thus terminated the first rebellion of -the Muttucks. - -In 1784 the Moa Mareyas again rebelled, and having expelled the Rajah -Goureenath they proceeded to place two others upon the Guddee, or -throne, one named Bhurt Sing as Rajah of Rungpore or Upper Assam, the -other Surbamend (the father of Malebar Bursenaputtee, who died in 1839) -as Rajah of Mooran or Muttuck. Both these chiefs marked their rule -by establishing a mint, and some of their coins are to be met with at -the present day. Being driven from Upper Assam, the Rajah Goureenath -solicited the aid of the British Government; and his request being -acceded to, Captain Welsh was sent with one or two battalions, in 1794, -A.D. Having taken Rungpore, Goureenath was replaced on the Guddee; -but Captain Welsh did not penetrate into the Muttuck country. The -next Rajah, Kumalepur, raised two corps of Hindoostanees, armed and -disciplined in the English fashion, and ordered them to undertake the -conquest of Muttuck; but although successful in some degree, they -were unable to obtain permanent possession, owing to the harassing -mode of warfare pursued by the Bursenaputtee, who retired to his -fastnesses. However, the struggle was at length terminated by his -agreeing to pay an annual tribute in the shape of elephants, Moongah -silk, &c. It is asserted by the Assamese at Rungpore and Jorehath that, -at this period, the Bursenaputtee agreed to pay a tribute of 10,000 -rupees; but that chief positively denied this to the Political Agent, -and it is believed there is no record in existence of such a sum, or -even part of it, being paid: though the acknowledgment of the Rajah -of Assam is undeniable. As regards the Muttucks, the statements of -the people connected with the late Court of Assam, and the followers -of Doorga throughout the province, ought to be received with a great -deal of caution; for both classes are animated by a bitter spirit -of hatred, occasioned by the twofold conquest and plunder of their -capital; and the temporary triumph of a rival sectarian party still -rankles in their minds. - -It is difficult to ascertain what was the precise status of the -Bursenaputtee in the distracted reigns of Chunderkant and Poorunder -Sing. It is said that the usual tribute was paid, but this is denied by -the other party; we presume, therefore, that in these weak and divided -times the Muttucks were nearly independent. When the Burmese invaded -the country, the Bursenaputtee, at their requisition, afforded them -supplies in labour and provisions, but no aid in troops or money; -and they, therefore, made no attempt to seize his possessions. On -the conquest of Assam by the British Government, the Bursenaputtee -acknowledged its supremacy, and bound himself to obey its orders; -he further engaged to supply three hundred soldiers in time of war, -no tribute having been demanded of him. The interior management of his -territory was left in his own hands, excepting as regarded cases of -murder and other capital offences, which were to be made over for -trial to the Agent of the Governor-General or Political Agent in -Upper Assam. This arrangement had evidently in view the impressing -a rude people with a greater regard for human life, which the more -rigid investigation and sanctity of British forms of justice might be -expected to create. This state of things subsisted until January 1835, -when, under the instructions of the Agent to the Governor-General, -the obligation to supply troops was commuted into an annual payment -of 1800 rupees. No census has been taken of the population, but from -the best information it is estimated at sixty thousand or seventy -thousand persons. It yields a revenue of 20,000 rupees per annum. - -In his personal manners the late Bursenaputtee Malebur was plain and -straightforward, and accustomed to think and act for himself. In his -political character, his fidelity was much doubted a few years back, -but he was always found ready to answer every call; as evinced in -the expedition against the Duffa Guam in 1835, and the Singphoo -Luttora chief in 1838, which proved that he was faithful to his -engagement. But his communications with British officers were not -always carried on in the smoothest manner. Accustomed to act as an -independent chief for forty or fifty years, and his territory being -unoccupied by troops, either Burmese or British, he was naturally -independent and blunt in his manners; which bearing, combining with -the testiness of age and dislike of innovation natural to that period -of life, occasionally gave rise to improprieties of expression and -seeming acts of disobedience. He departed this life in January 1839, -leaving ten sons, five daughters, and three widows; and, pending the -final orders of Government, Muttuck was placed under Bhageerut Majoo -Gohain, the second son of the late chief: the Bor Gohain, or eldest -son, having waved his claim of birth in compliance with the wishes -of his father. - -On the 4th of August 1839, the Political Agent was directed to confer -on the Majoo Gohain the title of Bursenaputtee, and the management -of Lower Muttuck, on his agreeing to the conditions offered for his -acceptance. These were based on the settlement entered into with his -late father, but a new census was required to determine the amount of -tribute to be paid. These terms also withheld Upper Muttuck, until -an amicable understanding could be come to between the chiefs of -that part of the country; who, with their spiritual head, the Tiphook -Muhunt, were averse to the rule of the family of the late chief. This -party being only 1000, or 1500, out of a population of 60,000, it -seemed hard to sever them from the jurisdiction of the Bursenaputtee, -without any specific acts of oppression having been committed by the -late chief or his family. The real objection rested on religious -grounds: they are the disciples of a Gosain or priest professing -different religious tenets from those of the Bursenaputtee's family; -consequently they preferred a ruler of their own persuasion, although -they had not experienced any persecution from the late Bursenaputtee. - -In November 1839, the Political Agent arrived at Rungagora, the capital -of Muttuck, and having assembled the principal members of the late -chief's family, and head men of the district, made known to them the -resolution of Government. The Majoo Gohain Bhagerut and his brothers, -finding that Upper Muttuck was not at once to be included in the -settlement, peremptorily refused to accept of the management of the -country; the whole of Muttuck was therefore annexed to the district -of Luckimpoor, and pensions in money and land, to the amount of 7637 -rupees per annum, were granted for the support of the members of the -late chief's family. - -Thus terminated the independence of the Muttucks, a rude, fanatical, -stiff-necked people. Accustomed to a very slight assessment, tendered -to their chief in the shape of presents for settling their disputes, -and exercising a considerable share in their own government, it was -feared they would not readily submit to the heavier rate of taxation -for the purposes of good government under British rule; but these -apprehensions, it seems, were unfounded, since, for the last four -years, no resort to force has been found necessary to compel taxation, -or to further any other measures for their general welfare. - -Husbandry is the chief occupation of the Muttucks; and their district -possessing a fine fertile soil and abounding in extensive rice plains, -intersected by large tracts of tree and grass jungle, expectations -are entertained that, in the course of time, this country will prove a -prosperous and valuable acquisition; if improvements are not impeded by -the inroads of border tribes. Two corps of local Assam Light Infantry, -and a company of local Artillery are ever vigilantly occupied in -promptly suppressing combinations or insurrections raised with a view -to the acquisition of plunder and slaves from our subjects; and there -is, therefore, little fear of any organized obstruction to improvement. - -The tea plant is indigenous in Muttuck, and the Assam Tea Company -have cultivated many gardens, greatly to the benefit of Upper Assam; -and if the company steadily prosecute the speculation, thousands of -labourers will, in the course of time, resort thither for employment, -and become permanent settlers. Tea, it is believed, may be grown -in sufficient quantity to supply the English market, and afford a -handsome remuneration to the speculators. An inconsiderate expenditure -of capital placed the Assam Tea Company in great jeopardy, and at -one time it was feared the scheme would be abandoned. The number of -managers and assistants appointed by the Assam Company to carry on -their affairs, and superintend their tea gardens on large salaries, -was quite unnecessary: one or two experienced European superintendents -to direct the native establishment would have answered every purpose. A -vast number of Coolies (or labourers) were induced to proceed to Upper -Assam, on high wages, to cultivate the gardens; but bad arrangements -having been made to supply them with proper wholesome food, many were -seized with sickness. On their arrival at the tea-plantations, in the -midst of high and dense tree jungle, numbers absconded, and others met -an untimely end. The rice served out to the Coolies from the Assam -Tea Company's store rooms, was so bad as not to be fit to be given -to elephants, much less to human beings. The loss of these labourers, -who had been conveyed to Upper Assam at a great expense, deprived the -company of the means of cultivating so great an extent of country as -would otherwise have been ensured; for the scanty population of Upper -Assam offered no means of replacing the deficiency of hands. Another -importation of labourers seems desirable, to facilitate and accomplish -an undertaking formed under most auspicious circumstances. Nor was -the improvidence of the Company in respect to labourers the only -instance of their mismanagement. Although the Company must have -known that they had no real use or necessity for a steamer, a huge -vessel was nevertheless purchased, and frequently sent up and down -the Burrampooter river from Calcutta; carrying little else than a -few thousand rupees for the payment of their establishment in Upper -Assam, which might have been transmitted through native bankers, -and have saved the Company a most lavish and unprofitable expenditure -of capital. - -It is generally understood that too little attention had been paid -to the advice of Major Jenkins, the Governor-General's Agent; or -more vigilant supervision, better economy, and greater success might -not unreasonably have been expected. The cultivation of tea in Assam, -with a view of supplying the English market, was, it must be admitted, -first contemplated by Major Jenkins; and for his exertions in having -been the main cause of the Assam plant being proved to be the genuine -tea of China, the Agricultural Society of Calcutta presented him with -a gold medal; but the Assam tea was first discovered by Mr. Bruce in -1826, A.D. - -The tea of Assam is now becoming better known in the English market, -and its quality more generally appreciated; and as the chief -difficulties have been surmounted, every well-wisher of England -and India must hope the directors will, in future, pursue a more -scrutinizing and economical course: extending the cultivation of tea, -and thereby, while enhancing the profits derivable from the concern, -contribute to render England independent of China as far as tea is -concerned. If Assam tea can be grown equal to the produce of China, -there is little doubt but that, at the rate of one and sixpence the -pound, a remunerating profit will accrue to the Company: a handsome, -but not a too ample compensation for an enterprise involving such -highly important considerations. - - - - - -BOR ABORS, ABORS [4] AND MEREES. - -The first of these three classes reside on the loftiest and most -remote mountains north of the valley of Assam. The second class -on a lower range, and the third at the foot of, or on the plains -immediately leading up to, the hills. Several parties of Abors visited -me frequently at Saikwah to barter a few fowls, eggs, ginger, chillies, -yams, &c., for salt, and other necessaries of life. They appear to -be descendants of the Tartar race; and are large, uncouth, athletic, -fierce-looking, dirty fellows. The hair of the women is cut short, -like that of the men: in a circle round the crown of the head it is two -inches long, but the hair in front and behind, below the upper circle, -is only about half an inch long. The ears of the men and women are -perforated, the aperture, one inch in diameter, being distended by a -piece of wood, worn as an ornament; and the necks of the Abor women are -loaded with innumerable glass bead necklaces of all colours. Their arms -are likewise adorned, from the wrist to the elbow with brass rings; -the legs are exposed from the knee downwards, the calf of the leg -being bandaged with cane rings to the ankle. The Abors are feared and -respected by all the neighbouring tribes for their martial spirit; -nevertheless they are in great dread of the highland or Bor Abors, -who are said to be as brave as they are savage. Like all the hill -tribes of Assam, the Abors are void of beards: invariably plucking -them, and leaving only scanty moustaches. They can neither read -nor write, and their language sounds extremely harsh. The dress of -the Abor chiefs consists of Thibetian woollen cloaks, and a simple -piece of cotton cloth, about a foot square, which is passed between -the legs and suspended by a string round the waist: but not so -effectually as to screen their persons from exposure every time they -sit down. Of delicacy, however, the Abors are as void as they are of -cleanliness. They wear three kinds of helmets, one of plain cane, -and others trimmed with an edging of bear's skin, or covered with -a thick yellow skin of a species of deer. A more formidable looking -covering for the head could scarcely be worn. - -In December, 1835, an Abor chief, with two hundred followers, -descended from the hills, and begged permission to locate on the -Dehing, within a day's journey of Suddeah. The Political Agent -asked the chief whether he was aware that the land in that quarter -was within the Company's jurisdiction, and that settlers necessarily -became subject to our police administration? He replied he was aware of -that, and would readily give up any of his people guilty of criminal -offences, but demurred to the introduction of our police officers for -the apprehension of offenders. He was then asked whether he and his -people would agree to pay taxes? His answer was that they had never -been accustomed to do so, and could not submit to it. - -From various reports, the Abors are deemed a very rude, barbarous -people, but of open manners and warlike habits; their bluntness of -expression is more manly and pleasing than the base servility and -sycophancy of the Assamese. As they have been accustomed to levy -contributions from the inhabitants of Seesee, and other districts in -Assam, they would be dangerous neighbours, if located in the immediate -vicinity of the Suddeah people. - -Not acceding to the terms on which we were disposed to acquiesce -in their application, the Abors returned to their hills. Scarcity -of the means of subsistence was, it is supposed, the cause of their -visit; and they evidently meditated replacing the Merees, who formerly -laboured for the Abors on the Dehong quarter, but have since emigrated -to Upper and Lower Assam, to escape the exactions of that tribe. - -It appears that the Abors are not allowed to emigrate to Assam; -for in 1844 two young men having eloped with two damsels to Saikwah, -and the latter claiming protection from the British authorities, an -inquiry was made as to the cause of their deserting their own country; -when one freely confessed that her father had given her in marriage -to an old man, but preferring a young Abor, she had determined on -living with him in the Company's territory and disobeying her father's -commands. The other stated that she had been given in marriage to a -young man, who died, and she was retained for his younger brother, -a mere boy; but not being disposed to wait until he had reached -the age of puberty, she had fallen in love with an Abor youth, and -trusted they might be permitted to pass their days in peace in the -forests adjoining Saikwah. If their prayer was not granted, the girls -affirmed, in the most earnest manner, that they should be tortured and -sold to another tribe; while their young husbands would be cast into -the Dehong river with their hands bound, to suffer death by drowning. - -To the present day, little is known of the Abor country, Europeans -never having been permitted to penetrate any very great distance into -the interior. The eminent astronomer and adventurous traveller, -Lieutenant Wilcox, in 1827, endeavoured to ascend the Dehong -river, with the view of proving that this stream was the celebrated -Sampoo river; but after a few days' journey he met with insuperable -difficulties, from the rapidity of the current, the closeness of -the country, and the absolute prohibition of the Abors against -his proceeding farther. Since that period, no strenuous endeavours -have been made to acquire further information regarding these rude -barbarians. The Merees speak the Abor language, and a friendly -intercourse exists between the tribes; though the Merees have ceased -to bear the yoke of slavery or be subordinate to the Abors. Their -chief occupation is husbandry, and they are generally considered a -quiet and tolerably industrious race. - - - - - -MISHMEES. - -The Mishmee tribe reside in the hills on the north-east extremity of -the valley of Assam. They are divided into several distinct clans. The -Dibong Mishmees are called Chool Kutta or Crop-haired, and the others -are known by the appellation of Tains and Mezhoos. They are a very -wild, roaming race of people, constantly engaged in petty wars amongst -themselves and their neighbours, the Abors and Singphoos, when the -most remorseless reprisals and massacres are committed. They have -no written language, and appear to belong to the Tartar race. They -are of diminutive stature, but stout, active, and hardy; very dirty -in their persons, and little encumbered with clothing. The chiefs -wear the coarse red coloured woollens of Thibet, and the dress of the -lower orders is extremely scanty. The women, however, are more decently -attired; wearing a striped or coloured petticoat, or cloth folded round -the waist, extending to the knees, and a kind of jacket or bodice, -with a profusion of necklaces of several pounds weight, composed of -porcelain, glass, and pieces of cornelian. The hair is bound up in -a knot on the crown of the head, with a thin band of silver passing -round the forehead. The lobe of the ears is hideously distended to -an inch in diameter, to admit of the silver ear-ring being inserted: -this mutilation of the ear evidently having been gradually effected -from early youth. The Mishmees are not restricted in their number of -wives; each man taking as many as he can afford to support. A curious -custom is said to prevail as a preventive to the constant bickerings -and jealousies natural to this system; each wife either has a separate -house or store room, or she lives with her relations. - -The Mishmees, women and children, as well as men, are inordinately -fond of smoking; and use a roughly-made Singphoo bamboo pipe, or a -brass China-made bowl, with a bamboo tube. A bag made of monkey's -skin is suspended from a belt for the express purpose of carrying -the tobacco pipe, flint and steel, with a leather case containing -tinder. The men wear a long, straight sword, of China manufacture, -ornamented with a tuft of coloured hair; and a lance, manufactured -by themselves, is constantly carried. They also use the cross-bow and -poisoned arrows. Their head dresses are composed of dog skin, fastened -under the chin by strings. Like all savages, they are superstitious; -invoking an unknown spirit supposed to reside in the inaccessible -mountains or dense forests; and on being afflicted by famine, sickness, -or other misfortunes, they invariably sacrifice fowls and pigs, that -the evil may be removed, and the wrath of the invisible spirit appeased -by their offerings and submission. We are led to believe that the -authority of the chiefs, though respected, is not absolute: they are -obliged to abide by the decisions of the people, duly assembled for the -purpose of settling disputes and arranging the amount of amercements -to be imposed for offences committed. For all heinous crimes remission -is said to be procurable by the liquidation of a fine; but adultery, -if the husband be not privy to the offence, is punished by death, -which is inflicted by the people purposely assembled for the trial. - -The Mishmees, like the Abors, are most skilful in the construction -of cane bridges; which they throw across rivers of eighty yards -breadth. Three large cane ropes are sufficient to pass a person over in -safety; but the transit, to any but a Mishmee, would be impracticable: -for few would hazard the risk of falling into a rapid river below, -or of being suspended midway on these ropes, unable to retire or -advance. Accidents, however, rarely occur, and the Mishmees cross -over their rivers in this manner without difficulty or apprehension. - -In the year 1836, it was said that the Mezhoo and Tain, or Digaroo -Mishmees had a serious quarrel about a marriage: for though at enmity -often times with each other, and speaking a different dialect, they -have not been debarred from intermarrying. Blows having been exchanged, -the Mezhoo chief Rooling determined on speedily overcoming his enemies -by an overwhelming force, and for this purpose he invited the Lamas -to come to his assistance; which they did, and entered the Mishmee -country with a force of seventy men, armed with matchlocks. The Tain -Mishmees were totally defeated by the Lamas and Mezhoo Mishmees, -and lost about twenty men. After this success, the Lamas returned to -their own country about September 1836, and from that day we have had -no similar invasion of this portion of Assam in favour of the Mezhoo -Mishmees. No precise information is obtainable as to where these -hostile operations occurred; but the conflict evidently took place -several days' journey in advance of the villages visited by Lieutenant -Wilcox in 1826-27, and by Dr. Griffiths in 1836-37. However, such was -the heart-burning or feud between the Tains and the Mezhoos in 1836-37, -that the late Dr. Griffiths, in his visit to the Mishmee country, could -not by promises or bribes induce the Tains to furnish him with guides, -even to the nearest village of the Mezhoos, or there can be little -doubt that he would have succeeded in making good his way into the -Lama country. In justification of their conduct, the Tains remarked, -"If we give you guides, who is to protect us from the vengeance of -the Mezhoos when you are gone? and who is to insure us from a second -invasion of the Lamas?" - -The Mishmee tribes were formerly obedient to the Assam Governors, -the Suddeah Khawa Gohains: if they were not totally dependent, they -at least gave small presents as tokens of submission, and attended -to the orders of the Khamtees and Singphoos. In 1835, for example, -the Duffa Gaum received considerable assistance from gangs of Mishmees -sent down to erect his stockades. If under any pretence, therefore, the -Thibetians, being a branch of the Chinese empire, should be permitted -to establish their supremacy over the hill tribes in allegiance to -the British Government in this quarter of the valley, our interests -would be affected; but in the present rude state of society in this -region there is little to be apprehended on this score. An immense, -desolate, almost impassable tract, intervenes, so as to render -ingress or egress from Assam to Thibet impracticable, excepting at -certain seasons of the year. Traversing such a country, when the -route follows the course of rivers, must naturally be difficult in -the extreme. The hills are invariably characterized by excessive -steepness, and as the greater portion of the route winds round them -at some height above their bases, marching is excessively fatiguing, -difficult, and dangerous. In many places a false step would be attended -with fatal consequences: precipices must be crossed at a height of -a hundred feet above the foaming bed of a river, the only support -of the traveller being derived from the roots and stumps of trees -and shrubs, and the angular character of the face of the rock. The -paths are of the very worst description; always excessively narrow -and overgrown by jungle in all directions. In very steep places the -descent is often assisted by hanging canes, which afford good support, -but no attempt is ever made to clear the paths of any obstruction: -in fact, the natives seem to think the more difficult they are, -the greater is their security against foreign invasions. - -Notwithstanding these impediments to a free intercourse, some little -trade, it is supposed, is carried on between the Mishmees and Lamas; -the Mishmees exchanging their Bih (poison), Gathewan (an odoriferous -root), Manjeet (madder), and Teetah (a bitter root, greatly esteemed -for its medicinal qualities) for Lama cattle, brass pipes, gongs, -and copper vessels; and if a friendly feeling of confidence could be -established between the people of the plains of Assam and the Lamas, -it is impossible to calculate to what extent the commerce between -the two nations might attain. Once every year in the cold weather, -that is between November and March, the Mishmees visit Suddeah for -the purpose of bartering the only export produce of their country: -namely, bih, teetah, manjeet, gathewan, gongs, brass pipes, and copper -vessels; in exchange for which they invariably take, in preference -to English merchandize, cows, buffaloes, and a quantity of small, -coloured beads. Their cultivation is scanty: apparently not sufficient -to supply their wants, and is, moreover, carried on in a very rude -way. The ground selected as most favourable for cultivation lies -on the slopes of hills, or on the more level patches occasionally -bordering rivers. Some villages produce a good sort of hill rice, but -their chief cultivation is ghoom dhan (or Indian corn), konee dhan, -and two or three other inferior grains. The villages situated at low -elevations produce excellent yams and aloos of several kinds. They -are not acquainted with wheat, barley, &c., nor have they taken -the trouble to grow potatoes, but that esculent is obtainable at -Suddeah in great abundance. Of opium, a small quantity is cultivated, -chiefly for sale to the Singphoos; though many of the natives are great -opium-eaters. A small quantity of inferior cotton is also cultivated -for the manufacture of their own clothing, and tobacco is in great -request among them; they are likewise very fond of spirituous liquors. - -We have no authentic data whereby to judge of the amount of the -population, but from the following rough census of the followers of -a few chiefs, it would not appear to be extensive. - - - +--------+------------------------+-------------------+ - |No. of | Names of the different | No. of followers. | - |Chiefs. | Chiefs. | | - +--------+------------------------+-------------------+ - | 1 | Jengsha | 50 | - | 2 | Japan | 80 | - | 3 | Deeling and Yeu | 80 | - | 4 | Galooms | 80 | - | 5 | Khoshas | 100 | - | 6 | Primsong | 70 | - +--------+------------------------+-------------------+ - | | | 460 | - +--------+------------------------+-------------------+ - - -The number of villages among which the above population is distributed, -is seven; but there are two other villages, Muresas and Roolings, -close to Khoshas. By far the greater number of villages appear to -be located near the banks of the Lohit; one only has been observed -on the Lung. The villages of Jengsha, Japan, Deeling, and Yeu, -consist of several houses each; neither, however, exceeding ten -in number. Ghalooms, Khoshas, and Primsong, consist each of a -single house, capable of containing from eighty to one hundred and -sixty persons. These comprehensive residences are divided by bamboo -partitions into twenty or more rooms, all opening into a passage, in -which the skulls of animals killed during the possessors' lifetime are -duly arranged. The houses are all built on raised platforms, and the -roofs are formed of the leaf of the arrow-root plant, or the leaves of -cane, which are found in great abundance in all the forests. Khosha's -house is one hundred and sixty feet in length; each room possessing -a fire hearth; but as there are no chimneys, or any outlet for the -smoke, excepting the door, a Mishmee dwelling is scarcely endurable. - -Of Mishmee habits and customs little is known; feuds and -misunderstandings having hitherto obstructed a freedom of intercourse -indispensable to the acquirement of correct information. Several -European officers have visited the Mishmee country for a few days, -and have been desirous of proceeding by this route over the mountains -north into the Lama country, or Thibet; to ascertain whether the -celebrated Sampoo river flows into the Burrampooter from this quarter, -or debouches into the Dehong, below Suddeah, or takes its course, as -has been surmised, through China. This interesting inquiry, however, -has not yet been solved; though little or no doubt appears to exist -that the Sampoo joins the Burrampooter at one of these points. The -British Government have hitherto, from prudential motives, abstained -from giving offence to or exciting the jealousy of the Chinese, -by permitting any of our officers to attempt to enter Thibet from -the extreme north-eastern quarter of the valley of Assam. This is a -sacrifice of geographical knowledge to policy; for there can be no -question that a scientific traveller would obtain much information -respecting the character of the country, and bring us acquainted with -a people at present unknown to the civilized world. - - - - - -DOOANEAHS. - -The Dooaneahs are descendants of Burmese or Singphoo fathers, -from Assamese women, captured in predatory irruptions and kept as -slaves. Assamese males, also carried off into slavery, are, from -the loss of caste by their connection with the Singphoos, and the -adoption of Singphoo habits, denominated Dooaneahs. They are a very -hardy race, and inhabit the densest jungles; cultivating scarcely -sufficient rice and opium for their maintenance, and subsisting, when -their stock of grain is expended, on yams, kutchoos, and other roots of -the forests. Without the aid of the Dooaneahs, no military detachment -could move to many parts of the frontier, for none are so expert as -pioneers. With the Dhao, or Singphoo short sword, they will cut a -footpath through the densest jungles in the most expeditious manner, -thus enabling our troops to move almost in any direction. They are not -endowed with a martial spirit, and it is said they will not stand the -fire of musketry; but if properly trained and disciplined, their fears -might be surmounted. Their addiction, however, to opium is so great, -that no permanent reliance could ever be placed in them as soldiers, -in any emergency; and being utterly despised by their former masters, -the Singphoos (from whose thraldom they have only lately escaped) -it would seem inexpedient to place them in situations of trust, -where the possibility of betrayal or defeat could be anticipated. The -loss of their services as slaves, in cultivating the land, is deeply -felt by the Singphoos; but these latter have not yet known the full -extent of their inconvenience. In course of time few Dooaneah slaves -will remain attached to the Singphoos; who must consequently either -resort to manual labour themselves, or starve, or leave the province: -which, by the way, would be the greatest boon we could desire, for -the safety and improvement of our peaceable subjects. - - - - - -ASSAMESE. - -The province of Assam was invaded about 1224 A.D., by a band of Ahoom -or Shan adventurers; who conquered the country, parcelled out its -territory, and subjected the population to a vassalage approximating to -that in force under the feudal system of Europe. By this arrangement -the whole body of cultivators were divided into different portions, -called Khels, varying from one thousand to five thousand cultivators -each. They were governed by officers of various grades: those called -Borahs, possessing authority over twenty ghoots or sixty paicks; -Sykeahs, over one hundred ghoots or three hundred paicks; and Huzarees, -over one thousand; with one superior officer denominated a Kheldar, -who was generally a nobleman, or person connected with the royal -family. But in recent times this arrangement has been modified, -and Borahs, Sykeahs, and Hazarees have exercised authority over a -much smaller number of persons. The Kheldars collected the revenue -and exercised jurisdiction in petty criminal offences. Owing to the -backward state of society in Assam, and its almost utter destitution -of commerce and manufactures, the revenue was seldom paid in money, -but mostly in personal labour: all public buildings, roads, bridges, -&c., were constructed out of the funds of labour at the command -of the Government; and the services of all public functionaries, -clerical, medical, military, and judicial, were paid in the same -manner. To facilitate this arrangement, the community were divided -into threes, (or in some parts of Assam fours) each division being -called a ghote; and if one of the three served the state throughout -the year, the other two were excused the payment of money, revenue, -or produce. From artisans and manufacturers, who were subjected to -a higher taxation than other classes, money was taken occasionally; -but more frequently the tax was levied in produce. - -Under the Ahoom Government the monopoly of office was at first confined -to the Ahooms, or original conquerors of the soil; but in the reign -of Rodroo Sing, 1695, A.D., when the Assamese natives of the soil -had become proselytes to the Hindoo religion, they were admitted to a -share in the public employ. When the British Government conquered the -country in 1825, this system of revenue, founded upon personal labour, -was still in existence; but a money rate of taxation under the form -of a poll-tax was introduced as far as circumstances would allow, -the rates being fixed with reference to the customs of the ancient -government. The two poorahs of land allowed to each cultivator were -deemed equivalent to two English acres: the land could not be taken -from him as long as he paid his revenue, but it was nevertheless -considered the property of the state and could not be disposed of -by the tenant. Almost the whole of the land in Assam is now taxed -according to its quality, at so much per poorah or acre, but in some -places any quantity of land may be cultivated by paying a certain sum -per plough. The poll tax is likewise collected where the population -is unsettled and scanty. - -The religious wants of the people were provided for by the Assam rulers -apportioning a certain number of paicks or cultivators to each Shuster -or temple, for the support of which one-half of their revenue was -assigned: the other half was appropriated by Government. Independently -of this, grants of land were made to various religious persons, under -the title of Debootur (service of the Gods), Dhurmooter (religious -purposes), and Bramooter, for the support of the Brahmins (or priests); -and a remission of half the usual rate of taxation was allowed when -the claims of the parties were fairly established. - -Assam is noted for the abundance of gold found in many of its rivers; -and as the manner of acquiring it by washing the sands may not -be generally known, and is a subject of considerable importance, -a description may not be uninteresting to the reader. In the first -place, the gold washer, taught by experience, chooses a favourable -site; a wooden trough, six feet long by one and a half broad and two -inches and a half deep, is then placed on pegs driven into the sand: -one end of the trough being raised to throw it into an inclined or -sloping position. This effected, a shifting bamboo sieve, made to -fit the trough, is placed upon it; two men with baskets then strew a -plentiful coat of sand and gravel from the river on the sieve, through -which the gold washer quickly washes the sand by pouring water on it, -and shaking the sieve to hasten the descent of the water into the -trough. By this means the heavier particles sink and the lighter are -carried off by the stream, that continues to flow from the square or -upper end of the trough to the circular end, from which it escapes -by an aperture purposely bored. The coarse gravel on the sieve is -frequently removed, and a fresh supply is continually heaped up, -until the sand in the bottom of the trough containing the gold is -about an inch thick. The sieve is then removed, and placed at one -end of the trough, and a quantity of water being poured through -the sieve, it falls on the sand like a shower of rain, till all -the light particles are carried off by the stream flowing down the -trough. By this process the heavier particles only remain, and these -are gold dust and iron. The gold dust being now distinctly visible, -is subjected to a further washing, and then dexterously floated on -to leaves; after which it is transferred to a glazed earthen vessel, -and again washed with the hand. The gold washer now daubs his hands -with lime, and having applied some quicksilver and water, again washes -the sand with his hands, which causes a scum to rise on the surface; -this being cleared off, after repeated washings, the gold is found -adhering to the quicksilver, when it is taken from shell to shell -till every particle of sand is removed. The quicksilver and gold dust -are then placed in a shell on a charcoal fire, and with the aid of -a bamboo blow-pipe the ore is speedily melted; a little water being -then applied, the gold is separated and forms a ball at the bottom -of the shell. It is considered a good return if three persons at one -trough can obtain four annas weight of gold (worth three rupees) in -twelve days: giving the labourer one anna four pice per diem. At one -time there was a numerous body of gold washers employed in collecting -gold from many of the rivers in Upper and Central Assam; and the rivers -were, in some instances, let by Government to persons wishing to enjoy -the sole monopoly of bringing gold into the market. The profit on the -gold dust must have been very considerable, seeing that it realized -from twelve to fifteen rupees per tolah, and was produced in large -quantities. But, like many other monopolies, this was found open to -abuse: the people were oppressed for the benefit of the manufacturers, -and the Government deemed it expedient to discontinue it as a source -of revenue; thus leaving one of the most valuable products of the -province neglected. Gold, in consequence, is becoming scarce; and we -hope, therefore, that the evil will work its own cure, by stimulating -the gold washers to resume their ancient lucrative vocation. - -In many parts of the province, coal of a good quality, is found; and -indeed the soil of Assam generally may be considered extremely rich: it -abounds in valuable products, such as rice, sugar-cane, moongah silk, -pepper, mustard-seed, and cotton. But the bounty of nature is marred -by the indolence and apathy of man: the cultivator seldom looks beyond -his immediate wants, and makes no attempt to improve his condition. In -fact, in agricultural, commercial, and manufacturing industry, this -country may be considered at least a century behind Bengal; and there -seems little prospect of improvement, excepting by the introduction of -a more active and industrious people, who might stimulate the natives -to increased exertions. An inveterate indulgence in the use of opium -by the population at large, is the curse of the country: depressing -the industry and withering the physical energies of the people, -by limiting their desires to the gratification of the wants of the day. - -The greater portion of the Assamese are Hindoos; but they are very -lax in their observance of the rites of the Hindoo religion, and in -the few ceremonies which they do perform, deviate considerably from -the strict tenets enjoined by that creed. In their domestic habits -they are simple in the extreme; their poverty and ignorance limiting -their desires within the narrowest compass. A slight cotton covering -thrown over the shoulders, and a dhoti or sheet tied round the waist, -reaching to the knees, forms the chief clothing of the poor: shoes -are never worn. A little oil, rice, vegetables (such as greens and -chillies), seasoned with the smallest quantity of salt, and sometimes -a few small fish, compose the humble fare of the poor peasant. These -necessaries are procurable for about three shillings per mensem, -and as the wages of a day labourer or coolie are from one and a half -to two annas per diem, or about two rupees per mensem, he has still -one shilling to spare. - -This spare diet has, of course, its influence upon the stature and -bulk of the Assamese; who are, consequently, slender, effeminate, and -indolent. Their complexion is not uniform; numbers being very fair, -and as many excessively dark. Their morals are exceedingly depraved, -and their manners servile and contemptible. Nor are the women one -whit superior to the men; and although they are far from possessing -attractive persons, they are utter slaves to the worst licentiousness. - -The dwellings of the Assamese are of the meanest description -imaginable: there are no stone or brick houses [5] in the country; -a simple hut, ten feet by twenty, divided into a couple of rooms -for sleeping and sitting in, or not uncommonly one solitary room, -form the only accommodation a man, wife, and family possess. The hut -is about ten feet high, with a grass roof, and the walls are made -of reeds plastered outside, and sometimes inside also, with mud and -cow-dung. A small platform of bamboos, two feet high, serves as a -bedstead; and a seetulpattee, or grass mat, constitutes the amount -of bedding, without any other covering than the clothes that are worn -during the day. Many Assamese, however, prefer the bare ground, with a -simple mat as a bed. The earth floor is daily plastered with mud and -cow-dung: the cow being held sacred amongst the Hindoos, its ordure -has, it is considered, the peculiar property of not only cleansing, -but purifying their habitations. Its use certainly gives their huts -a tidy appearance, and worms and insects are not so troublesome as -they would otherwise be. - -These frail buildings require yearly repairs, but the peasants -are put to no expense for them, except in bringing posts, reeds, -and grass from the jungle. Assamese families of respectability and -wealth live in larger houses of the same character of architecture; -but instead of one hut, they erect several close together, in the -form of a square, each hut opening into the quadrangular court-yard, -which is entered by a portico or receiving room for visitors. - -In the estimation of the Assamese, marriage is one of the most -important duties of life; not only for the additional comfort, -assistance, and respectability it confers on the man, but because he -considers he has not fulfilled the divine will if he has failed to take -unto himself a wife--and sometimes a plurality of wives. Polygamy is -prevalent throughout the province, and is only limited in extent by the -means of each man to provide for the support of his wives. If a man -marries only one or two wives, he probably has on his establishment -three or four concubines; and his life is therefore embittered and -harassed by perpetual family quarrels. It is the custom in Assam for -parents to make early arrangements for the marriage of their sons; -and having selected the daughter of any particular family of the -same caste, a regular agreement is entered into for the amount of -the dower to be paid to the parents of the girl, even when she is -but a mere child. The first ceremony of betrothing the girl is called -Tamul pankatta, or partaking of the betel nut and leaf of the betel -vine; which takes place when the damsel may be about four years of -age. The parents of the youth proceed to the house of the family with -whom they wish to form a matrimonial alliance, make their proposal, -and produce a present of the following articles:-- - - - Rs. Ans. Pice. - - Betel nut and betel leaf 1 0 0 - Two bhars (or baskets) of milk 0 8 0 - Fish 0 4 0 - Treacle 0 4 0 - Plantains 0 4 0 - Chura (parched rice) 0 4 0 - ----------- - Total rupees 2 8 0 - - -If the above present be accepted, then, to all intents and purposes, -the agreement is ratified between the parties, and is considered as -solemnly and legally binding as are the parchment instruments which -regulate these contracts in England. The next ceremony performed in -furtherance of the union of the young people is called Nowae toolun -(or attaining the period of puberty), when the girl being about ten -or eleven years of age, the youth's parents proceed to her house -again with another present composed of the following articles:-- - - - R. Ans. Pice. - -Oil 1 0 0 -Red vermilion, for the distinguishing mark of the - tutelary deity on the forehead 0 2 0 -Betel nut and betel leaf 0 4 0 -Pitter goorie (rice flour) 0 4 0 -Akho rice parched in the husk, (dhan) 0 4 0 - ------------ - Total rupees 1 14 0 - - -About six months or a year after this offering, the third ceremony -takes place, and is called "Kharoo munee puredheen" (or putting -the bracelets and necklaces on the bride). The expense incurred on -these occasions corresponds with the means of the bridegroom and -his parents. To show the nature of the presents made, we subjoin the -following list:-- - - - Rs. Ans. Pice. - - Bracelets 20 0 0 - Ear-rings 12 0 0 - Necklaces of several strings, of - various sizes and colours 5 0 0 - Madulee, a silver charm ornament - suspended from the neck 1 8 0 - Four silver finger-rings, 4 annas each 1 0 0 - One piece of Mongah silk cloth, - five cubits long 1 8 0 - Betel nut and betel leaf 2 0 0 - Twelve bhars (or baskets) of treacle, - rice, curds, pittagoorie kutcha - (ground rice) chandagoorie puckah - (baked rice flour): each basket valued - at four annas each 3 0 0 - ------------ - Total rupees 46 0 0 - - -The fourth and last ceremony is Shadee (or marriage), when a great -feast is given at the damsel's house by her parents to the friends -of both families. The presents consist of:-- - - - Rs. Ans. Pice. - - Fish, rice, diel, oil, salt, greens, - and chillies 3 0 0 - Betel nut and betel leaf 1 0 0 - One piece of Moongah silk 1 8 0 - One Burkopper cotton cloth, for the - girl's father or brother 1 0 0 - Gao dhun, dower or price of the girl, - paid to her parents in ready cash 9 0 0 - ------------ - Total rupees 15 8 0 - - -The bridegroom is kept awake all night by feasting, dancing, -and singing; and in the morning, all having broken their fast, -the bridegroom accompanies his bride to his own dwelling in a -regular procession. Drums, cymbals, and gongs take the lead; the -bride follows either in a palkee, or mounted on a pony; or, if very -poor, she walks in the midst of her female acquaintances, covered -from head to foot with a white cotton cloth or veil thrown loosely -over her; and the bridegroom and his friends bring up the rear. On -arrival at the bridegroom's house, his friends partake of a repast, -and return to their homes in the course of the afternoon. The young -couple then take up their abode, generally in a newly erected house -adjoining their parents' dwelling. The whole expense of the marriage -conducted on this scale amounts to sixty-five rupees fourteen annas; -but only the better orders disburse such a sum. If the parties are -in very affluent circumstances, however, many hundreds of rupees are -expended. The poorer class, from inability to incur further outlay, -are not unfrequently married at the second ceremony of Nowae toolun -for four or five rupees, including every expense. - -Should the parents of the girl, contrary to the marriage contract or -betrothment, give their daughter to another person, it is incumbent -on them to refund the value of the presents they may have received -on different occasions for a number of years previously. Yet in few -countries, probably, will the number of violated contracts or promises -of marriages be found to exceed those of Assam. The litigation and -ill-will consequent on these ill-advised agreements is incalculable, -and the complaints under this head in the civil courts are innumerable. - -There is a remarkable similarity between one of the customs in Assam -and that practised by the Patriarchs of old. Jacob served Laban as a -servant or bondsman many years to obtain in marriage Leah and Rachel, -who were sisters; and he was not allowed to marry the younger before -the elder. So in Assam a man may marry two sisters, but he must -marry the elder before the younger. It is not uncommon, when a man -is poverty stricken, to engage to live and work for several years -for the father of the girl he wishes to marry. He is then called a -Chapunea, a kind of bondsman, and is entitled to receive bhat kupper, -food and clothing, but no wages; and at the expiration of the period -of servitude, if the girl does not dislike him, the marriage takes -place. The man is looked on in the family as a khanu damad (or -son-in-law), and is treated kindly. If the girl's father be very -wealthy, and he has no sons, he will sometimes select, from some -equally respectable family, a husband for his daughter, and bring -him up in his own house. The youth so selected is likewise called a -Chapunea, and inherits the whole of his father-in-law's property. If -a woman's husband dies, though she may be only eighteen or twenty -years of age, she can never marry again. She is considered a Baree, -or widow for life; but very few women--if any--so circumstanced lead a -life of celibacy: they prefer submitting to be selected as companions, -and are then contemptuously designated batuloo (refuse or offal). And -this condition of existence among the lower orders is almost as common -as marriage; for the becoming a man's Dhemuna stree (alias mistress -or companion) involves no expense for bhar bhete (marriage present) -or gaodhun (dower), and is therefore more convenient. The offspring -of this connection inherit all the rights of legitimate issue, and -are not the less respected in society; there is, therefore, no bar to -the loose and immoral habits so prevalent among the poorer classes in -Assam. The indulgence of these is further facilitated by the ease with -which the marriage-tie may be dissevered. No reference is necessary to -either the temporal or ecclesiastical courts: dissolution is simply -effected by the husband, if displeased with his wife or doubtful of -her fidelity. On these occasions he merely assembles his friends, -and in their presence addresses his wife in these words:--"Henceforth -I look on you as my mother and sister;" and tearing a betel leaf into -two pieces the marriage is dissolved, and the man and woman are free to -select fresh partners. The divorce is equally complete if the husband -distributes a little salt to each member of the assembly of friends, -making the same speech to the wife. The Cacharies, a simple-minded, -honest, and industrious tribe of Assamese, cut off a branch of the -kuddum tree before a select body of friends, when the husband declares -he has divorced his wife, and the ceremony is completed. - -The funeral obsequies of the Assamese are performed agreeably -to Hindoo usages. The body is burnt as soon as possible after -death. Jogees, Weavers, and Cacharies bury their dead in the same -manner as Moossulmans. A curious practice prevails amongst the -Assamese of giving salt to their friends assembled to bear witness -to many of the common occurrences of life. If a man adopts a son, -he distributes salt to his friends in token of a person having been -appointed to succeed to his property. If he buys a piece of land or -purchases a slave, or if a dispute is settled by arbitrators, salt is -in like manner distributed amongst a few friends who testify to the -fairness of the transaction; and amongst themselves these agreements -or settlements are as binding as laws could make them. - -When an Assamese has been excommunicated by the priests for any civil -offence, the expiation of his crime and his restoration to society -are effected by the payment of a fine, called chundrayen, amounting to -four rupees: dhurmdund (twelve annas), feeding the Punchayet or jury, -(one rupee) at most about six rupees. If the offender be very poor, -one rupee ten annas will suffice to pay for "purachit" (absolution); -which is granted by the priest. - -By the ancient Assam laws, slavery existed in a variety of forms. All -born of a free slave by a free father, as well as those of pure -slave parentage, were considered slaves. Free women married to slaves -became, with their offspring, slaves. The king had the power to grant -to his nobles and spiritual advisers portions of the free population -as slaves, which the owner could dispose of in any manner he thought -proper: they were designated Bohoteahs. Prisoners of war were often -granted to individuals as slaves; and criminals who had a sentence of -death passed upon them had it commuted to slavery, and were assigned -to certain masters. The free people were at liberty to mortgage -themselves for debts; remaining in bondage for a number of years or -until the sum borrowed was paid off; and as the debtor was seldom in -a situation to liquidate his obligation, he continued a slave to his -creditor for the remainder of his life. In each district the value -of slaves varied considerably. - - - +---------+----------+----------+----------+----------+ - |Name of | Value of | Value of | Value of | Value of | - |District.| Men. | Boys. | Women. | Girls. | - +---------+----------+----------+----------+----------+ - | | Rs. | Rs. Rs. | Rs. | Rs. Rs. | - | | | | | | - |Kamroop | 40 | 15 to 20 | 20 | 12 to 20 | - | | | | | | - |Durrung | 20 | 10 to 15 | 15 | 8 to 12 | - | | | | | | - |Nowgong | 20 | 10 to 15 | 15 | 8 to 12 | - +---------+----------+----------+----------+----------+ - - -The above is the estimated value of good castes, such as Kuletahs, -Kewuts, Kooches. The price of the lower castes, denominated Joges, -Doomes, Cachares, Boreahs, and Burahees, was one-third less. - -In the present brief review of Assam it would be foreign to our object -to attempt to describe the events of each reign; we confine ourselves, -therefore, to a short list of the last kings of Assam. (See opposite -page.) - -The downfall of the Ahoom kings of Assam may be attributed to their -becoming proselytes to the Hindoo religion in the reign of Jeydhoj -Singh, A.D. 1654; to the religious persecutions of the Muttucks in -the reign of Seeb Singh; to family dissensions and disputes, and the -cruel treatment of Mohun Burjona Gohain. Rodur Singh left five sons, -Seb Singh, Prumutta Singh, Mohun Burjona Gohain, - - - LIST OF THE LAST KINGS OF ASSAM. - -1681, A.D., Gudhadhur Singh. ------------------------------------------+ -1695, ,, Bodur Singh. | -1714, ,, Seeb Singh. | -1744, ,, Prumutta Singh. | -1751, ,, Rajeswur Singh. ----------------------+ | -1769, ,, Luckme Singh. | | -1780, ,, Gowree Nath Singh. +---------+----------+ +-------+-------+ -1795, ,, Kumuleswur Singh. |Rutneswur Soro junna| |Lechae Namropea| -1810, ,, Chunderkant Singh. |Gohain. | |Rajah. | -1817, ,, Poorunder Singh. +---------+----------+ +------+--------+ -1818, ,, Chunderkant Singh reinstated | | - on the throne by the Burmese. +-------+------+ +------+------+ -1821, ,, Jogessur Singh placed on the |Byey Bur Juona| |Acodh Gohain.| - throne by the Burmese. |Gohain. | +------+------+ -1824-25 ,, Assam conquered by the +-------+------+ | - British troops, and the Burmese | +-----+----+ - army expelled the province. +-------+------+ |Kudumdigla| -1833 ,, Poorunder Singh made Rajah |Beignath Singh| |Gohain. | - of Upper Assam, April +-------+------+ +----+-----+ - 12th, 1833, and deposed by the British | | - Government, Aug. 1835, A.D. +-------+-------+ +----------------+ - |Poorunder Singh| | | - +-------+-------+ +--------+-------+ +------+-----+ - | |Kumuleswur Singh| |Chunder Kant| - +-------+------+ +----------------+ +----+-------+ - |Kumeswur Singh| | - +--------------+ +-------+-------+ - |Ghun Seam Singh| - +---------------+ - - -Rajeswur Singh, and Luckme Singh. The third son, Mohun Burjona -Gohain, being marked with the small-pox, was incapacitated to -reign; and his younger brother, Rajeswur Singh, superseded him. By -the evil machinations of the Bor Borowa, Rajeswur Singh was led to -believe his brother, Mohun Burjona Gohain, was plotting against his -government; and for the effectual suppression of this conspiracy, -his brother was expelled the capital in the most ignominious manner, -his ears having been slit and one of his eyes plucked out. It was, -doubtless, as we have already remarked, from this severity that the -prince Mohun Burjona Gohain, in the succeeding reign of his younger -brother, Luckme Singh, was induced to rebel against his sovereign, -and to join the Muttucks, hoping thereby to avenge his wrongs and -gain the throne; but though temporary success attended the Muttuck -insurrection, the Prince failed in realizing his ambitious projects, -and hastened the extinction of the power of the Ahoom dynasty. - -In no part of the world, perhaps, have such sanguinary customs and laws -prevailed as in Assam, under the Ahoom kings. Many of their punishments -were revolting to humanity. Criminals were whipped, put in the pillory, -impaled; their limbs amputated, the nose, ears, and lips mutilated; -the hair was torn out by the roots, eyes were plucked out of the -sockets, and sometimes offenders were ground between wooden rollers, -sawn asunder, or tortured with red-hot irons. A variety of other -cruelties were practised with a relentlessness that but too vividly -marked the barbarity of the rulers of those days, and rendered it a -matter of sincere congratulation that a merciful providence shortened -the period of their sovereignty, and placed the country in the hands -of the British Government, in 1824-25. - - - - - -NAGAS. - -The south-eastern hills of Assam are the abode of many tribes of -Nagas. They are a very uncivilized race, with dark complexions, -athletic sinewy frames, hideously wild and ugly visages: their faces -and bodies being tattooed in a most frightful manner by pricking -the juice of the bela nut into the skin in a variety of fantastic -figures. They are reckless of human life; treacherously murdering -their neighbours often without provocation, or at best for a trivial -cause of offence. The greater number of the Nagas are supposed to -be in a very destitute state, living almost without clothing of any -kind. Their poverty renders them remarkably free from any prejudices -in respect of diet: they will eat cows, dogs, cats, vermin, and even -reptiles, and are very fond of intoxicating liquors. - -Amongst a people so thoroughly primitive, and so independent of -religious prepossessions, we might reasonably expect missionary -zeal would be most successful; for the last eight years, however, -two or three American Baptist missionaries have in vain endeavoured -to awake in them a sense of the saving virtues of Christianity. For a -considerable period the residence of the missionaries was at Suddeah; -where their labours, I believe, were unattended by any conversions -either of Assamese or Singphoos. On the station being deserted by the -troops for Saikwah, in 1839, the missionaries turned their attention -more particularly towards the Nagas; they took up their residence on -the Boree Dehing river, at Jeypore, established a school, and were -indefatigable in endeavouring to gain some correct knowledge of the -savage tribes in their vicinity. A few years' experience here proved -the futility of their plans. Instead of wandering amongst the savage -tribes scattered over an immense extent of country, in unhealthy, -dense jungles, it would have been prudent and politic to have afforded -instruction in the first instance to the populous villages in the -plains. One or more natives have been baptized at Jeypore, agreeably to -the rites of the Baptist persuasion, by immersion in the Boree Dehing -river, and this is the sum total of the missionary success. This has, -it is understood, induced them to change their abode to Seebsauger and -Nowgong, where they seem to think there is a greater chance of their -succeeding. The missionaries have a printing press, and many elementary -books of instruction in Assamese and English have been printed by them -for the use of the natives. Their exemplary conduct and exertions -merit the utmost commendation, and it is to be deplored that their -well-intentioned labours should not be crowned by felicitous results. - -To this day little is known either of the country inhabited by -the Nagas, or of their habits and customs. Several officers have -penetrated a considerable distance into the hills occupied by the -Nagas; but always with marked and necessary caution, attended by a -military guard. Greater intercourse between the highland Nagas and the -people of the plains were much to be wished; but it is doubtful if -any advantage would accrue to the British Government from extending -its sway southward, over immense tracts of unprofitable wastes or -dense jungles thinly inhabited. - - - - -Naga Government. - -Under the ancient Assam Government some of the tribes may have been -more dependent upon the Government than they are now, but the Naga -territory was never considered an integral portion of the sovereignty -of Assam. It is customary with the Naga tribe to offer trifling -presents to the British authorities, as a mark of submission, and -something is given in return, in token of amicable feeling; but the -Nagas have never been considered subject to our regular jurisdiction, -and nothing in the shape of an assessment has ever been imposed -upon them. - -It is very difficult to arrive at anything like a correct understanding -of the nature of the feuds between neighbouring tribes; for the Nagas -have no written language, and their dialects vary considerably in -different parts of the country. No general government exists over the -whole tribe: they are divided into innumerable clans, independent -of each other, and possessing no power beyond the limits of their -respective territories. Each tribe seems ever jealous of its neighbour; -and cruel hostilities, ending in the most tragical manner--even -to the extermination of a tribe and the total destruction of its -cattle, stores, and property--are often the result of their mutual -animosity. The form of the Naga government is democratical; each clan -seems to be ruled by a president and two subordinates or deputies, who -form the executive. The president is called Khonbao, and the deputies -Sundekae and Khonsae: the one prime minister, and the latter a chief -over twenty houses. The chief magistrate or arbitrator, the Khonbao, -decides all disputes of a civil or criminal nature, and it is optional -with him either to direct or enforce his orders with his own sword; -but in all this he is merely the organ or agent of the people, for the -decisions are the results of the consultations of the whole Raj, or -populace, who discuss all matters of importance in the open Moorung, -or hall of justice, to be found in every Naga village. The Khonbao, -Sundekae, and Khonsae, on these occasions, summon all the community -to attend and assist with their counsel in disposing of any affairs -of moment: such as a war to be undertaken against a foe, or in -furtherance of revenge; or the punishment of crimes committed by any -of the members of the tribe in opposition to their established polity. - -The dignity of Khonbao is hereditary: the eldest son of the incumbent -invariably succeeding to the title and authority. No junior brother -can assume the rank, under any pretensions founded on greater ability, -personal appearance, or reputation of valour. In the event of the -Khonbao leaving no progeny, his wife succeeds to his title and -authority; and the deputy Khonbao, Sundekae and Khonsae in council -enforce her commands, and report everything to her connected with -the welfare of the community. - -No hospitality is shown to a stranger visiting the Naga country, unless -he visits the Khonbao in the first instance: he is unable, even under -the greatest distress, to obtain shelter or provision elsewhere. On the -arrival of an embassy it is conducted to the residence of the Khonbao, -who gives audience immediately, and returns a reply by the messengers -on his own responsibility, if the object of the visit is of no great -importance. But, on the other hand, should the embassy be for the -purpose of obtaining redress of wrongs committed by the clan of the -Khonbao, the embassy is retained and entertained hospitably till the -Sundekae, Khonsae, and principal elders of the people can be assembled -in the moorung; when the grievance is stated and inquiries made, -each member stating openly and candidly his opinion on the matter -at issue. The Khonbao propounds what is, in his opinion, expedient -and best for the public good; but if there appears any irregularity, -the people express their disapprobation to the Khonbao, and he is -constrained to abide by the will of the community, to give orders to -the embassy, and allow its departure to the place whence it came. In -this manner all affairs and discussions are regulated amongst the -Nagas. Any attempt to travel through their country, unaccompanied -by a person acquainted with the roads, villages, and Naga language, -would be the height of folly; as the traveller would not be supplied -with water, food, or fire, neither would any shelter be afforded him, -and his life would be in imminent danger. - - - - -Omens. - -The superstition of the Nagas is strikingly exhibited in the great -attention paid by them to all signs of good and evil, before they -attempt the execution of any project: whether it be to prepare the -land to receive the seed, to proceed on hunting or fishing excursions, -or to enter upon any war expedition. On these occasions the Khonbao, -Sundekae, and Khonsae, assemble the people, and a grand consultation -is held between the chief ruler and the elders of the village, -in order to divine the most auspicious moment, and to ascertain -whether the affair under consideration will turn out favourably or -otherwise. To aid the deliberation, new-laid eggs are procured, which -they address in these terms:--"Oh eggs, you are enjoined to speak -the truth and not to mislead us by false representations." The eggs -are then perforated and roasted on a fire, and the yolk is minutely -examined: if it appears entire, the omen is considered good; if broken, -the reverse, and auspicious for their enemies. In this conclusion the -senate are likewise confirmed by a peculiar appearance of the white of -the egg. Another simple mode of divining the propriety or expediency of -carrying out certain plans is by burning the Bujjal bamboo. Should it -crackle and fall out of the fire on the left side, it is a good omen; -should it fly out on the right, the event is accepted as a warning -of failure and disaster. By these simple and strange proceedings are -the acts of these people guided. - - - - -Husbandry. - -In their agricultural operations, the implements of the Nagas are -simple and rude in the extreme; but bullocks and buffaloes are used -as in Assam. At the commencement of the season, the Khonbao having -assembled the people after the usual ceremonies of consulting the -omens, the land is apportioned out to each clan, the jungle is cleared, -and sowing commences. Konee dhan, a small grain, and Indian corn, -or goom dhan, is sown in January and gathered in about June, when -the Behoo is celebrated with great festivities; resembling the old -English custom of harvest-home. After the goom dhan and konee dhan -is cut, ahoo dhan is sown; and after this crop, kuchoos, a kind of -root resembling the arrow root, are planted; so that in the course -of the year three crops are raised from the same land. This is done -for three successive years; when, the land being impoverished, new -land is broken up for the same period, until the usual time of fallow -admits of the old land being again resumed. Yet, with all the means of -avoiding famine, blessed with a fertile soil and a wonderful rapidity -of vegetation, so improvident are these savages, that in a few months -the whole produce of the land is consumed, and they are compelled to -subsist on roots and leaves of the forests till the return of harvest. - - - - -Salt Wells. - -In different parts of the Naga territory many salt wells exist, and -being worked by some of the tribes an immense quantity of salt is -produced. This is sold or bartered to the people of Assam for rice, -and by this means, doubtless, the miseries attendant on a scanty -supply of food are greatly lessened. We have no means of judging -of the extent of the salt trade between the Assamese and Nagas, -but the commerce might doubtless be increased by greater vigilance, -to the mutual advantage of both parties. - - - - -Preparations for War. - -When the Nagas purpose taking vengeance on a neighbouring tribe, -the Khonbao assembles the elders of the village; and, in accordance -with established customs, the omens being consulted and proving -propitious, a plan to cut up their enemies by surprise is decided -on. Each man provides himself with a spear, sword, bamboo choong, -a hollow joint of the bamboo filled with water, and a small basket -of rice; and, the party being formed, set out in the day towards the -frontier of the enemy who is to be attacked. At night they cross -over and occupy a favourable position in ambush, surrounding the -enemy's village. There they take their repast, and when the cock first -crows on the following morning, they rush, with great shouting, into -the village, and cut up every body they meet with; sparing neither -old infirm men, nor helpless women, nor children: even the cows, -pigs, and poultry of the foe are slaughtered. Sometimes the victors -remain on the spot two or three days, but generally return to their -own village on the same day; taking with them the heads, hands, -and feet of those they have massacred: these they parade about from -house to house, accompanied with drums and gongs, throwing liquor and -rice on the heads, and uttering all manner of incantations: saying, -"Call your father, mother, and relations to come here and join you -in eating rice and drinking spirits, when we will kill them with the -same sword." They then sing, dance, and perform all manner of anticks; -pierce and mangle the heads of their enemies, and again with curses -enjoin them to summon their whole race to suffer the same ignominious -treatment. In the massacre, one of the Nagas may have, perhaps, -particularly distinguished himself by evincing great ferocity in -cutting off more heads than any of his party; which circumstance he -fails not to bring to the notice of his assembled friends. Stalking -out before them he challenges them to mark his deeds, and with many -songs of boisterous mirth and audacious boasting, he drags the heads -of his enemies about in the most contemptuous manner, proclaiming -his own triumph somewhat after this fashion:-- - -"In the world I am the most powerful and courageous; there is none -equal to me. I am the greatest of all men. No one" (pointing to the -skulls of his enemies) "can perform such deeds. Like to the clouds that -thunder and hurl down fire-balls into the water to the destruction of -the fish,--like to the tiger who leaps out to seize the deer,--like to -the hawk who pounces down on the chickens and carries them off, do I -cut up every one, and carry off their heads; and with these weapons" -(dashing them together, to produce a clashing noise) "I have killed -such and such persons: yes, I have killed them. You know my name. The -greatest beast of the forest, the elephant, I first destroy, and after -that all other animals too insignificant to mention. Such a hero am I, -there is no one equal to me," &c. &c. - -The same scene is enacted for three or four successive days; when -the heads being hacked and sufficiently danced about to satiate Naga -revenge, they are suspended from the branches of Nahor trees. After -this, the ceremony of tattooing the body is performed, and a most -severe operation it is. The burnt ashes of a pot are pricked into the -skin with the thorns of the cane: a great quantity of blood exudes, -and the body swells to a great size. Being previously thrown into -a state of stupid intoxication, the patient is left to welter in the -dirt and blood for three days, unconscious of his condition. After this -operation, the young sprouts of the Bhat-teeta tree being well pounded, -are smeared over the wounds, and in the course of twenty-five days -the patient is able to resume his avocations; upon which a number of -pigs and fowls are killed, and a great feast is given; the heads of -the enemies being brought down from the trees and strewed out upon -a platform before the populace in the court, or Raj Moorung. For a -whole month from the day of the massacre, the Nagas daily sing the -war song quoted above, and dance and manifest the greatest excitement -and delight. - -All villages are not entitled to the honour of retaining the heads -of their enemies; they must be kept in the village of the Khonbao. - -In some Naga villages it is the custom, for a man who has committed -murder in cutting off the head of a foreigner, to be joined by ten or a -dozen Nagas in submitting to the operation of tattooing; which in such -cases is an indispensable ceremony. The tattooing is pricked round the -calves of the legs in ten or twelve rings or circles interspersed with -dots; the thighs, the breast, the neck, the fingers, the back of the -hand, the arms, the forehead, and nose, the vicinity of the eyes and -the ears being similarly decorated. The poorest Naga peasant deems -it an honour to have his body thus embellished with stripes, figures, -and dots; and the omission of the ceremony would entail on him eternal -disgrace and censure. Indeed, the tattooing determines the character -and consequence of the individual; for by certain marks on one arm -it is apparent that he has killed a man; when both arms and body -are scarred he is known to have murdered two individuals; and when -the face and eye-sockets are indelibly impressed with the tattoo, -he stands proclaimed the assassin of three of his fellow-creatures, -and is thenceforth esteemed a valiant warrior. - -On the question being once put to the Nagas whether they would like -to become the subjects of the Company, they promptly replied,--"No: we -could not then cut off the heads of men and attain renown as warriors, -bearing the honourable marks of our valour on our bodies and faces." - -If a Naga happens to be suddenly surprised, and cut off by the -inhabitants of a neighbouring village, his corpse is quickly taken -up by his friends and placed on a platform in the jungles near -the road. At the expiration of three or four days they perform some -ceremonies, and wait till a favourable opportunity occurs for avenging -his death. The purpose is never relinquished, though its execution -may unavoidably be tardy: by day and night they lie in ambush in the -jungle, or on the plains near the roads, till they can pounce upon -some unwary individual of the enemy. His murder is then communicated -to his friends in a singular way. Forty or fifty Nagas, armed with -wooden clubs, strike a large hollow piece of wood called a tomkhong, -from which a loud, terrific sound proceeds, which gives token to the -enemy that one of their tribe has died in acquittance of the debt -of revenge. To such an extent does this vindictive spirit prevail, -that the Nagas will wait for two or three generations devising plans -for decapitating a member of a tribe who has murdered one of their -clan; and when the opportunity of vengeance offers, they are sure to -take advantage of it, regardless of the personal innocence of the man -whom they select as the victim of their fury. The death of the victim -is hailed with dance and song, and the liveliest demonstrations of -joy: even the old men, women, and children seem in raptures at the -announcement of the joyful tidings that their tribe has succeeded in -taking revenge. - - - - -Naga Customs from Childhood until Marriage. - -Ten days after the birth of a child the hair of the infant is shorn -off, and the parents perform several ceremonies, inviting all their -friends to a grand feast, on which occasion the child is named. On -proceeding to field work the mother ties the child to her back, and -whilst at work the infant is placed on the ground. When the child is -about a year old it is left at home in the village, and the parents -pursue their avocations unattended by their little charge. At the -age of five or six years, some of the Nagas wear a lungtee (a small -piece of cloth) round the waist. On attaining the age of nine or ten -years the boy is called a Moorungea, and from that time no longer -resides with his parents, but, with all the youths of the village, -takes up his abode at the Moorung, a large building set apart for -this especial purpose. The parents, however, still continue to -provide him with food, and he is obedient to their will, assisting -them in cultivating their fields. He carries a sword and spear, -and wears the Naga habiliments. At fifteen or sixteen years of age -he begins to be dissatisfied with his existence in the Moorung, and -makes arrangements for taking a wife; generally selecting a cousin, -the daughter of his mother's brother. On these occasions the parents -collect as much rice and liquor, and as many cows and buffaloes, as -their means will admit. The girls all live together, like the boys, -in a separate Moorung or house allotted for them; sometimes they -reside in a house in which a corpse is kept, probably from the greater -sanctity such an inmate would confer on their habitation. The youth is -not restricted from visiting the damsel of his choice, and he adopts -a well understood stratagem to ascertain her sentiments regarding -himself. Whilst he is talking to her companion, he carelessly puts down -his pipe, and narrowly watches her actions. If the damsel entertains -any regard for him she instantly takes up his pipe and smokes it; -from that moment the youth is satisfied of his conquest, and hastens -to communicate the result to his parents, who arrange matters with -the girl's relatives. Presents of ornaments are sent for the girl, -which she immediately wears; and an offering of liquor and tumbool -pan (or betel nut leaf) to chew, being accepted by her parents, -the marriage is decided on. After this, cows, buffaloes, rice, and -liquor are forwarded to the house of the intended bride, and all her -relations and friends are invited to a grand feast. An old Deodhunee -(or priestess) accompanies the youth to the party with a basket of -ginger, and the youth then addresses the chosen damsel, thus:--"This -day I take you to be my wife. I will not desert you, neither will I -take another; eat this ginger in pledge thereof--henceforth we are -husband and wife." The woman on this eats a bit of the ginger, and -then the youth sits down; whereupon the girl, in the same strain, -taking up a piece of ginger, says--"I am your wife, and you are -my husband, and I will obey you as such. I will not take another -husband, for we are husband and wife; in token of which you will -eat this ginger." The marriage ceremony being thus concluded, the -youth, after partaking of the feast, returns home to his parents, -and in the evening his wife joins him with baskets of food for her -husband's parents and his brothers' wives. She thenceforth resides -with her husband. From that day the husband ceases to abide at the -Moorung, and after the lapse of two or three days, according to the -village roll, takes his tour of guard duty at the Moorung. From the -day of his marriage he commences the preparation of a separate house, -upon the completion of which, in a few months, he quits the parental -roof. Some Nagas will, however, continue to cultivate the land, -and share the produce of their labour with those of their parents; -but on the birth of a child the families separate. - -Amongst the Nagas, marriage is contracted with near relatives, such as -cousins, in preference to other women. A widow, having no children, -cannot marry a stranger, but must marry her late husband's brother; -and if he happens to be a mere boy, she will still live with him -as his wife; nor can the boy take another damsel: he must marry his -brother's widow. The custom is one of great antiquity, and apparently -cannot be infringed. If the widow has one or two children she cannot -marry again, but must remain in her own house. No Naga marries more -than one wife, and if she dies he is at liberty to marry again. - -The crimes of adultery and seduction are treated with the utmost -severity: the offenders are brought before the Khonbao and the people -assembled to investigate the offence; on proof of which, the Khonbao, -or his Ticklah, decapitates the man in a conspicuous part of the -road, between two or three villages; or he is tied with cane cords -to a tree and there crucified. In some clans it is the practice to -deprive both the seducer and seduced of their lives; in others, the -former is placed in a basket, his hands and feet tied together, and he -is rolled many times from the summit of a hill until life be extinct. - - - - -Funeral Ceremonies. - -The Nagas consider sudden death as particularly unfortunate: even if -a person dies after one or two months' sickness, the period is still -deemed too short to be lucky; and his corpse is instantly removed -and placed in the jungles on a platform four or five feet high, -where it is left to decay. For three or four days after a death, -the relatives do not leave the village; neither do other villagers -resort to the village in which death has occurred during the same -period. If a person dies who has been afflicted with a long illness, -a platform is raised within his house, and the corpse being folded in -clothes is placed thereon. By night and day the corpse is watched with -great care, and as soon as it begins to decompose, large quantities of -spirituous liquor are thrown over it; and whatever the deceased was -in the habit of eating and drinking in his lifetime (such as rice, -vegetables, and liquor) is placed once a month on the ground before -the body. The virtues of the deceased are frequently rehearsed; -the heirs and relatives throw themselves on the earth, and make -great lamentations for many months after the death has occurred. At -the expiration of the period of mourning, a great feast of liquor, -rice, buffaloes' and cows' flesh is prepared by the survivors; and -an immense number of people, armed with their swords and spears, -and dressed in the most fantastical garb, as if preparing for a war -expedition, are assembled to partake of it. They commence the festival -by repeating the name of the deceased, singing many kinds of songs, -dancing and cursing the deity or spirit in these words: "If to-day we -could see you, we would with these swords and spears kill you. Yes, -we would eat your flesh! yes, we would drink your blood! yes, we -would burn your bones in the fire! You have slain our relative. Where -have you fled to? Why did you kill our friend? Show yourself now, -and we shall see what your strength is. Come quickly,--to-day, and we -shall see you with our eyes, and with our swords cut you in pieces, -and eat you raw. Let us see how sharp your sword is, and with it we -will kill you. Look at our spears, see how sharp they are: with them -we will spear you. Whither now art thou fled? Than thou, spirit, who -destroyest our friends in our absence, we have no greater enemy. Where -are you now?--whither hast thou fled?" - -With these and similar speeches and songs, they clash their swords and -weapons together, dance, and eat and drink throughout the night. On the -following day the corpse is folded up in a cloth and placed on a new -platform four or five feet high; and the whole of his weapons, swords, -spears, panjees choonga (hollow bamboo joint, for holding water), -rice-dish,--in fact everything used by the deceased in his lifetime, -is now arranged round his bier, which is held sacred: no one would -dare to touch a single thing thus consecrated. After this ceremony is -concluded, the whole of the party disperse to their respective homes. - -On the death of the Namsungea Khonbao, who, it is said, was one hundred -and twenty years of age, his corpse was removed in December 1843, -and according to an ancient custom, a tusk elephant was purchased from -the Muttuck Bur Gohain, and killed, with three hundred buffaloes and -pigs; when the Nagas enjoyed a magnificent feast. The usual practice -of reviling the deity, while singing and dancing, was kept up with -uncommon fervor, and the bacchanalian scene has perhaps seldom been -exceeded. The heads of the slaughtered animals were suspended round -the platform within a large enclosure, and the corpse was strewed -over with an abundant supply of all kinds of forest flowers. - -Theft is held in great abhorrence amongst the Nagas, and is -consequently so rare that they leave everything exposed in the open -fields. If any person is detected in committing the offence no mercy -is shown: the Khonbao pronounces sentence of decapitation without a -moment's hesitation. The Nagas are remarkable for simplicity, candour, -and integrity; even the comparatively small vice of lying, to which the -natives of British India are so seriously and universally addicted, -is unknown among them, and will probably continue so until they have -been corrupted by their more enlightened neighbours, the Assamese, -or by the advance of civilization, refined arts, and manners. The -Nagas have no names for the days of the week, and know not their -own ages. Summer and winter are the only divisions of the year they -recognise, distinguishing them as dry and wet seasons of six months' -each. Time is counted by the moon, or by the number of crops they can -recollect reaping. They believe in a God or Spirit called Rungkuttuck -Rung, who created the earth and all things, but they have no hope of -future rewards, nor any fear of punishment hereafter; neither do they -believe in a future state of existence. - -For the above information we are indebted to Bhog Chund, who is the -son of a West Countryman of the Khetree caste, by an Assamese mother, -and having lived many years amongst the Nagas, is thoroughly acquainted -with them. He is now a resident and industrious cultivator in the -plains. He reads and writes Assamese, and is a most straightforward -character. He would be an invaluable companion and guide in travelling -through the Naga territory. - -I do not vouch for the correctness of the list of the Naga tribe -inserted in a later page, but in the absence of more authentic -details, it may be deemed worthy of consideration. The present account -of the tribes is confined to the Nagas of Upper Assam; but it is -supposed that very similar customs and habits prevail amongst those -of central Assam. The Nagas bordering immediately on the plains are, -for the most part, amicably disposed towards the British Government; -and those on the Patkoe range have shown a desire for our protection -against the marauding Singphoos. The Nagas residing on the hills most -remote from the valley are said to be fine, stout, athletic men, -of fair complexions; and unencumbered with the smallest strip of -covering in the shape of clothing for any part of the body. - -In 1842-43, the Namsangea, Bordoareah, and Borkhoormah Nagas invited -a party of the Khetree to visit them as friends, but when they got -them into their power they treacherously massacred twenty-four -persons. Thageng, one of the Khetree party, being only wounded, -fled and communicated the catastrophe to his tribe, who at the -sight of his wounds prepared for revenge; and in a short time they -were successful against the Nagas. The Khetrees, being ignorant of -the Assamese language, were unable to pass through the territory of -their enemies to report their grievances to the British authorities -at Jeypoor. They accordingly went to Tomkhoomana, and lying in ambush, -surprised and cut off the heads of twelve men of the Borkhoormah tribe, -in revenge for the murdered of their own tribe. Upon this the civil -authorities proceeded to the village of the Khetrees to endeavour -to put a stop to these atrocious assassinations, but unfortunately -the Namsangea and Bordoareah Nagas, contrary to strict injunctions, -persisted in following in the wake of the British embassy of peace. The -Khetrees perceiving the advance of their enemies, placed in the road a -small basket of ginger kuchoos and a spear, as a token of submission -to the British Government, but loudly protested from the summit of -their hills against a visit being made to their village; dreading, -as they did, the vengeance of the Namsangea and Bordoareah Nagas. The -interpreter, Bhog Chund, who accompanied the party, entreated the -Khetrees to remain quiet in their village, and to listen to terms of -peace; but they indignantly rejected the offer, and threw down stones, -and discharged a volley of spears, upon the advancing embassy. This -being returned by a few rounds of musketry in self-defence, the -Khetrees fled from their village to the neighbouring inaccessible -hill fastnesses. The Namsangea and Bordoareah Nagas perceiving this, -instantly rushed into the deserted village, slaughtered all the cows, -pigs, and fowls, and burnt every house to the ground. After this -untoward event a retreat was necessary, for the Khetrees came upon the -party, throwing down stones and spears from their hills. A Sepahee -having loitered in the rear, was speared to death, and his head and -hands cut off and triumphantly stuck up on bamboos: the head in the -village of Najoo, and the hands in Khoekting. After some difficulty -the little detachment was extricated from its perilous position, -and retreated in safety. Shortly after this lamentable affair, -a larger military detachment was sent out; but to the present time -an amicable settlement has been impracticable. Almost immediately -after the last expedition, the Khetrees cut off the heads of eight -men of the village of Bulatin; from which we may infer that their -animosity continues unappeased, and that there is little hope of these -savages being speedily brought to a sense of the advantages attending -a reconciliation. Our intercession might be effectual for a time; -but it is more than probable that it would be incompatible with a -Naga's sense of honour to forego his greatest delight--revenge. - -From the figured statement obtained from native authority, it would -appear that there are one hundred and four Naga villages in Upper -Assam, containing eleven thousand and ninety-five houses, with a -population of forty-eight thousand five hundred and eighty-eight -persons; but this estimate is probably erroneous. We shall perhaps be -nearer the truth, if, assuming the number of houses to be correctly -stated, we allow three persons for every dwelling: this gives a census -of thirty-three thousand two hundred and eighty-five souls--a closer -approximation to the apparent population. - - -LIST OF THE NAGA TRIBE. - ----------+------------------+-------+--------+------------------ -No. of |Names of Villages.|No. of |No. of | Remarks. -Villages.| |Houses.|Persons.| ----------+------------------+-------+--------+------------------ - 1 | Bur Dovar | 250 | 1000 | - 2 | Namsang | 160 | 520 | - 3 | Kea Mae | 140 | 500 | - 4 | Poolung | 120 | 420 | Three villages of - 5 | Panee Dooar | 160 | 520 | this name - 6 | Choongpon | 140 | 500 | - 7 | Khamgin | 120 | 420 | - 8 | Kokil | 100 | 400 | - 9 | Gophcha | 70 | 280 | - 10 | Topee | 50 | 200 | - 11 | Hungkal | 80 | 320 | - 12 | Dadum | 250 | 1000 | - 13 | Nerung | 200 | 800 | - 14 | Bako | 300 | 1200 | - 15 | Kekhyah | 200 | 800 | - 16 | Nahoah | 180 | 720 | - 17 | Nahoo | 220 | 880 | - 18 | Khoncha | 50 | 200 | - 19 | Lootong | 50 | 200 | - 20 | Kotong | 70 | 280 | - 21 | Nokphan | 80 | 167 | - 22 | Choupcha | 120 | 480 | - 23 | Choupnon | 180 | 567 | - 24 | Runow | 200 | 800 | - 25 | Rucha | 60 | 140 | - 26 | Changnee | 220 | 880 | - 27 | Changeha | 160 | 567 | - 28 | Pokum | 80 | 167 | - 29 | Loknean | 80 | 167 | - 30 | Changnoege | 360 | 1340 | - 31 | Changcha | 120 | 480 | - 32 | Mangnoe | 120 | 480 | - 33 | Mangcha | 60 | 167 | - 34 | Picktoo | 80 | 320 | - 35 | Pickta | 55 | 220 | - 36 | Nakma | 70 | 200 | - 37 | Moolong | 90 | 263 | - 38 | Bhetur Namsang | 120 | 480 | Entirely naked - 39 | Now Gawn | 160 | 540 | - 40 | Kangchang | 100 | 415 | - 41 | Dekahnoe Moong | 140 | 520 | - 42 | Borachaemoong | 150 | 540 | - 43 | Chamcha | 60 | 180 | - 44 | Achuringea | 70 | 220 | - 45 | Toormoong | 120 | 480 | - 46 | Jamee | 100 | 400 | - 47 | Moloo Thopea | 500 | 4000 | - 48 | Akhoea | 270 | 2020 | - 49 | Pocho | 120 | 480 | - 50 | Bor Langee | 150 | 550 | - 51 | Soro Langee | 100 | 400 | - 52 | Bhuga Langee | 120 | 480 | - 53 | Chenajow | 150 | 560 | - 54 | Boora Gaea | 150 | 550 | - 55 | Bur Dorea | 150 | 540 | - 56 | Kula Barea | 200 | 800 | - 57 | Soroo Durea1 | 20 | 470 | ----------+------------------+-------+--------+------------------ - - -Nagas east of the Namsang River subject to the Political Agent, -Upper Assam. - ----------+------------------+-------+--------+------------------ -No. of |Names of Villages.|No. of |No. of | Remarks. -Villages.| |Houses.|Persons.| ----------+------------------+-------+--------+------------------ - 1 | Khetree Gawn | 110 | 440 | - 2 | Khena | 80 | 180 | - 3 | Bottin | 60 | 120 | - 4 | Namcha | 70 | 140 | - 5 | Mooktong | 90 | 240 | - 6 | Hakhoom | 80 | 280 | - 7 | Konagaun | 150 | 550 | - 8 | Khatung | 40 | 190 | - 9 | Jankung | 60 | 420 | - 10 | Ken Noean | 50 | 200 | - 11 | Naktung | 60 | 240 | - 12 | Lalrung | 60 | 240 | - 13 | Koonum | 80 | 330 | - 14 | Kootung | 70 | 340 | - 15 | Mooaloo | 120 | 480 | - 16 | Moacha | 80 | 320 | - 17 | Tejhon | 80 | 280 | - 18 | Chomjoo | 90 | 320 | - 19 | Somcha | 60 | 240 | - 20 | Kambao | 100 | 400 | - 21 | Langchang | 100 | 400 | - 22 | Sooroomungchang | 60 | 240 | - 23 | Noanangchang | 50 | 200 | - 24 | Tikhak | 50 | 200 | - 25 | Gudie | 60 | 240 | - 26 | Manbao | 110 | 440 | - 27 | Eahung | 110 | 400 | - 28 | Mookkhoop | 110 | 400 | - 29 | Mookpe | 120 | 480 | - 30 | Mookcha | 90 | 360 | - 31 | Loongke | 100 | 400 | - 32 | Namnie | 220 | 880 | On or near the - 33 | Namcha | 130 | 520 | Patkoe range. - 34 | Keme, No. 1 | 120 | 440 | ditto. - 35 | Keme, No. 2 | 120 | 480 | ditto. - 36 | Kintoonie | 100 | 400 | ditto. - 37 | Mookrung | 120 | 480 | - 38 | Joopee | 50 | 200 | - 39 | Doedam | 70 | 280 | - 40 | Noakhoorma | 50 | 200 | - 41 | Chobang | 50 | 200 | - 42 | Chilim | 40 | 160 | - 43 | Bachowuk | 50 | 200 | - 44 | Moung | 60 | 240 | - 45 | Hadoot | 80 | 260 | - 46 | Kaeah | 90 | 300 | - 47 | Kaejou | 110 | 440 | - +-------+--------+ - Total | 3,000 | 15,398 | - Total of Statement No. 1 | 8,095 | 33,190 | - +-------+--------+ - Grand Total |11,095 | 48,588 | - +-------+--------+ - - - - - -GARROWS. - -Of all the hill tribes bordering on the Assam valley, north or south, -the Garrows near Goalparah, though not lofty in stature, are endowed -with the most powerful herculean frames. The expression of their -countenances is savage, and their complexion exceedingly black. In -conversation they are loud, and remarkable for asperity. Passing -through Lookee Dooar to the Jeypore stockade, at the foot of the Garrow -hills, I met with many Garrows who reside on the low hills bordering -Assam, and learned that they were frequently in great danger from the -highland Garrows; who, feeling secure in their mountain fastnesses, -made occasional incursions into the territory of the former, and -committed acts of violence upon the British subjects located in -the plains. - -A savage custom exists amongst the Garrows, of commemorating the death -of their relatives by massacring our inoffensive subjects whenever -they can do so with impunity; whether in open day, in ambush, or -by a sudden night attack in overwhelming numbers. In this respect -they resemble other tribes of which we have already treated. At -their festive meetings it is said the Garrows are guilty of great -excesses in imbibing spirituous liquors. A dried excavated gourd, -which does duty for a bottle, and holds about one quart and a half, is -filled with an intoxicating liquor distilled from rice: this, at their -jovial parties, is presented to each person, whose nose being seized, -the gourd is applied to the mouth till the individual is perfectly -satiated, or falls prostrate in a fit of intoxication. After this, -the toper is immersed in a pool of water, or the river, that the -temperature of the body may be cooled. In the choice of food few -things come amiss to a Garrow palate. For example, a dog fed with -rice and then roasted alive, is esteemed one of the most exquisite -dainties. Every description of meat is consumed, even when perfectly -putrid. Singularly enough, however, milk is considered unwholesome, -and is never drank. - -The Garrow women are remarkably coarse and ugly, with very dark -complexions. They wear scarcely any articles of cloth covering, but, -in common with most savages, they are particularly fond of showy -ornaments. Their necks are adorned with a profusion of coloured -glass beads; and if the lobe of the ear can only be distended to -the shoulders by the weight of ear-rings, they consider that they -have succeeded in rendering themselves peculiarly attractive. The -Garrows to this day are independent of our rule, and are, therefore, -free from any tax on their cultivation. - -An immense quantity of cotton is grown on their hills. This, until -1843, was subject to a tax paid by the purchaser to Government, -at the market, where the Garrows bring down their cotton for sale; -but, owing to the mal-practices of the native collectors appointed to -receive the customs, little profit accrued to Government after the -expenses of the establishment had been paid. For the encouragement -of trade and a freer intercourse with our people, the customs have -lately been entirely abolished; but it is supposed that a plan -for the assessment of the whole of the Garrow cultivation will, -if possible, shortly be adopted. The climate of the Garrow hills, -however, offers a serious obstacle to this measure; for, according -to our present information, no European constitution could endure a -lengthened residence amongst them; and without the constant presence -of a British officer, armed with authority to arrange their affairs, -neither the advancement of civilization, nor the realization of a -revenue sufficient to defray the expense of retaining and settling the -country, could be accomplished. It is supposed that a lac of rupees, -or ten thousand pounds sterling, might annually be raised from the -land; but our knowledge of the country and the resources of the people -is so limited, that this estimate cannot be relied on. Moreover, -from the known aversion of the Garrows to any sort of taxation, -the undertaking can only be rendered successful by the presence of a -large body of British troops; to whom the sword, spear, and poisoned -arrows of the savages could offer but little effectual resistance. - - - - - -COSSEAHS. - -This tribe, although near neighbours of the Garrows, are unlike them in -personal appearance. They are an athletic race, but by no means fond of -more occupation than will suffice to give them a bare subsistence. This -gained, their lives are passed in fishing, bird catching, and hunting, -merely by way of pastime. Like all savages, they are untrustworthy. - -In the year 1829 at Nuncklow, Lieutenants Beddingfield and Burlton -were, by the Cosseah Rajah's order, barbarously massacred. A regular -war ensued; consequent on which Rajah Teeruth Singh was deprived of -the district of Bur Dooar, and the Rajah of Pantam having joined -the Cosseahs, his district was also sequestrated. At this period, -no protecting force being at hand, the Garrows joined the Cosseahs -and invaded the districts of Bur Dooar and Pantam, accompanied by the -people, who were compelled to join the insurrection. The movement, -however, was quickly suppressed by military detachments. Since then -the Cosseahs have been vigilantly watched by the Sylhet Light Infantry, -stationed at Chirrapoonjie. - -In the Cosseah hills a large supply of potatoes is annually raised -and sold in the Gowahatty market, realizing to the Cosseahs no -inconsiderable profit. The effect of this traffic being to promote a -more frequent intercourse with the people of the plains, it is hoped -that in course of time the Cosseahs may learn the value of peaceable -commercial pursuits, and become a prosperous and civilized race. - - - - - -BOOTEAHS. - -The hills of Bootan, about two hundred and twenty miles long by -ninety broad, form the northern boundary of Assam. The population of -the country, including the Dooars, is assumed at 145,200 souls, the -Bootan hills 79,200, and the Dooars or low lands at 66,000; but this -calculation, made by the late Captain Pemberton, has been proved to -be greatly in excess of the truth, as regards the population of the -Dooars. In 1842 a census was taken of five Dooars: namely, Ghurkola, -Banska, Chapagorie, Chapakhamar, and Bijnee, in the Kamroop district; -when it appeared there were about 10,000 inhabitants, and the net -revenue of the tracts amounted to 17,544 rupees 7 ans. 4 pice, -or 1,754l. 8s. 11d. It may, therefore, justly be inferred that -the population of the whole of the Dooars would not exceed 40,000 -souls. Captain Pemberton, the British Envoy deputed to Bootan in 1838, -describes the Booteah to be "in disposition naturally excellent; -he possesses an equanimity of temper almost bordering on apathy, -and he is seldom sufficiently roused to give vent to his feelings in -any exclamations of pleasure or surprise; on the other hand, they are -indolent to an extreme degree, totally wanting in energy, illiterate, -immoral, and victims of the most unqualified superstition. The -punishment of the most heinous offences may be evaded by the payment -of a fine, which for murder varies from eighty to two hundred Deba -rupees, or 40 to 100 Company's rupees, or from 4l. to 10l." - -Polyandry, or plurality of husbands, prevails throughout Thibet -and the northern parts of Bootan; and on the death of the head of a -family his property becomes escheated to the Deba or Dhurma Rajahs, -without the slightest reference to the distress entailed on the -afflicted survivors. "The highest officers of state in Bootan are -shameless beggars, liars of the first magnitude, whose most solemnly -pledged words are violated without the slightest hesitation; who enter -into engagements which they have not the most distant intention of -fulfilling; who play the bully and sycophant with equal readiness, and -are apparently totally void of gratitude, exhibiting in their conduct -a rare compound of official pride and presumption with the low cunning -of needy mediocrity; and yet preserving, at the same time, a mild -deportment, and speaking generally in a remarkably low tone of voice." - -Amongst the officers of the Deba or Dhurma Rajahs of Bootan, not one -appears to have been entitled to the confidence of the Envoy. The -habits of all classes are most disgustingly filthy, and in the mode of -preparing their food little attention is paid to cleanliness, and still -less to the quality of the meat they consume. On festive occasions they -imbibe large draughts of the liquor called chong, which is procured by -fermentation from rice. "The diet of the great body of the people is -restricted to the refuse of wretched crops of unripe wheat and barley, -and their food consists generally of cakes made from these grains very -imperfectly ground; but the food of the Government officers and priests -consists of the flesh of goats, swine, cattle, and rice, imported -from the Dooars." The Dooars are large tracts of country leading up to -the passes into the Bootan mountains. In January, 1842, they were all -appropriated by our Government as a permanent measure; in consequence -of the non-payment of tribute by the Booteahs, their "repeated acts -of aggression in the murder and seizure of British subjects, and -likewise for assisting to organize bands of robbers and sharing in the -profits of their plunder." Whether the Bootan hills will furnish a -sufficient support for their scanty population seems problematical; -and if pressed by hunger it is not improbable the Booteahs will -rush down and ravage the fertile plains of Assam. The measure was, -however, indispensably necessary to prevent the frequent recurrence of -oppression and systematic plunder of the people located at the foot -of the Bootan mountains. The extensive territory denominated Dooars -has always belonged to the Assam kings, and the Booteahs invariably -paid tribute for the same. Their exactions and malpractices having -imposed on the Government the necessity of depriving the Booteahs of -a charge they were unworthy of retaining, this cannot be viewed as -a harsh proceeding: it was most reluctantly adopted, and only when -it became evident that the finest land in Assam had been converted -into a desolate waste, overgrown with jungle and nearly depopulated, -owing to the arbitrary severity of the Bootan rulers. - -In December, 1842, a friendly meeting took place at Banska Dooar -between the highest officers of the Bootan Government and the -Governor-General's Agent. The Booteahs were attended by about two -hundred followers; and during their few days' stay their complaints -were fully entertained, and will probably be satisfied by the grant -of a small annual sum as compensation for the loss they have sustained -in the annexation of the Dooars to Assam. - -During the interview the Booteahs were plentifully supplied with -swine, the most acceptable gifts that can be offered to a Booteah; -and an officer who was present on the occasion assured me that -the incessant squeaking of the pigs, when roasting alive by these -heartless barbarians, was most distressing, and the sight of the -culinary process excessively disgusting. As soon as the animals had -been partially roasted they were cut up, and, without any further -preparation, re-toasted and speedily consumed. - -The Booteah is a large, athletic man, of a dark complexion, with -an unpleasant, heavy, but cunning countenance. Compared with other -hill tribes in their neighbourhood, they are deficient in spirit and -bravery. For example, in March 1836, A.D., a party of seventy-five -Assam Sebundy Sipahees proceeded against six hundred Booteahs, who -were posted in five masses, with a few men extended between each, -at Soobunkatta, in Banska Dooar. When the Dewangerie Rajah was -requested to retire with his troops; they answered the requisition -with shouts of defiance and a simultaneous advance. Lieut. Matthews, -perceiving the critical situation in which his little band was placed, -instantly advanced to the contest, and, firing a volley and then -gallantly charging with the bayonet, caused the immediate dispersion -of the whole force, leaving on the field twenty-five killed and fifty -wounded. The Dewangerie Rajah himself was closely pursued, and only -escaped through the swiftness of the elephant on which he was mounted; -his tent, baggage, robes of state, and standards, fell into the hands -of the victorious Sebundies. - -This trial of strength with our disciplined troops has taught the -Booteahs to pay more respect to our power; and they are not likely to -have recourse to arms again, unless greatly distressed for provisions, -or urged by vain arrogance to imagine that a show of resistance may -conduce to our resigning the Dooars to their rule. - - - - - -SATH BOOTEAH RAJAHS OF KOOREAHPARAH DOOAH, IN DURRUNG. - -Having given a brief outline of the Booteahs of Banska Dooar in -Kamroop, we propose now to detail a few authenticated facts and -incidents connected with the remaining tribes noted above; who are -located in the northern mountains between the Bur Nuddee west and -the Kochoojan east, bordering on the Luckimpore district, north of -the Burrampooter river. - -And first commencing from the Bur Nuddee west, we find the Kalling and -Booree Goorma Dooars belonged, for eight months in the year, to the -Booteahs subject to the Tongso Pilo, under the Deba and Dhurma Rajahs -of Bootan; during which time they levied upon the people contributions, -or black mail, in the shape of rice, Erea cloths, and cattle. During -the remaining portion of the year, from the 15th of June to the 15th of -October, the people of the Dooars reverted to the jurisdiction of the -British Government; and for the protection granted to them they paid an -annual revenue, at a certain rate per plough. A hearth tax was likewise -realized. But this double rule was attended with the most disastrous -results. No man under the tyrannical Booteah Government dared evince -signs of affluence, or even of comfort: the people were compelled, -for their self-preservation, to dress in the miserable garb of the -lowest Hindoo peasantry; for the mere suspicion of a person being -possessed of any wealth, entailed on him the strictest espionage, -and not unfrequently the seizure of the whole of his property. Not -satisfied with this, if the slightest idea were entertained that there -was money or other valuable property concealed (for it is the custom of -the Assamese to bury their wealth underground), torture was resorted -to without the slightest compunction, until the unfortunate sufferer -confessed to having a hoard, and surrendered the little savings of -a whole life to his merciless persecutors. - -Such was the condition of the inhabitants of the Dooars till 1838: -hundreds annually retreated to the Pergunnahs (districts) of Assam -under British rule, to enjoy the fruit of their labours in peace and -safety. The beautiful, fertile Dooars were then rapidly reverting -to a barren wilderness: fearful exactions and cruel oppressions -rendering the existence of the few remaining communities precarious and -unendurable; until an unlooked for incident occurred to deliver the -people from the thraldom of their demi-savage rulers. Gumbhur Wuzeer -having long been suspected by the Booteahs of disaffection towards -them, and of possessing great wealth, the Tongso Pilo of Bootan, -through the Soobah Rajah, gave orders for his destruction; and in -December, 1838, he was barbarously murdered. The whole of his property, -amounting to 50,000 rupees, was confiscated, and his wives, children, -and adherents, in all twelve persons, were carried away into the hills. - -This outrage justly aroused the British Government to redress the -grievances of a long oppressed people. The Dooar was immediately -attached to Assam; and the Booteahs have never, to this day, sought -pecuniary compensation for the loss of their territory. The son of -the late Gumbheer Wuzeer was permitted to return to Assam in 1844, -and resume the fiscal charge of his father's villages; and ere long, -probably, the Booteahs of this tract will see the folly of their past -conduct, and be glad to accept such compensation as the Government -may be disposed to make them for the privation of their power to -levy black mail from the people. The annual tribute realized from -Kalling Dooar previous to its annexation, amounted to 390 rupees, -and was collected in the following articles:-- - - - Rupees. - - 5 ponies valued at 60 rupees each 300 - 5 tolas weight of gold, at 12 rupees per tola 60 - 4 pods of musk, at 3 rupees each 12 - 4 cows' tails, at 1 rupee 4 - 4 blankets at 3 rupees each 12 - 4 daggers, at 8 annas each 2 - --- - Total rs. 390 - - -From Booree Gooma Dooar the tribute of 232 rs. 10 ans. 8 pice was -also paid in kind, viz:-- - - - Rupees. - - 3 ponies, at 6 rupees each 180 - 3 tolas of gold 36 - 2 pods of musk 6 - 2 cows' tails 2 - 2 blankets 6 - 2 daggers 1 - Bags 1 - - -At the present day the net revenue of Kalling Dooar amounts to 2080 -rs. 0 ans. 4 pice, with a population of 1634 persons. Booree Gooma -Dooar is estimated to contain 7785 souls, with a net revenue of 5348 -rs. 5 ans. 3 pice. - -Proceeding eastwards from Booree Gooma Dooar, the next Dooar, called -Kooreahparah, is under the Sath Booteah Rajahs of Naregooma, subject -to the Towung Rajah, who is a tributary of the Deba and Dhurma Rajahs -of Lassah. - -The country of Towung being in Kumpa or Thibet, quite distinct from -Bootan, south of the Sampoo river, it appears that a portion of the -Thibet territory, or more properly the Chinese and British frontiers, -are actually in immediate contact in the Kooreahparah Dooar, about -twenty miles from the Burrampooter river. This Dooar, as we have said, -was governed by these chiefs eight months in every year. During this -period, the seven Rajahs paid periodical visits to the Dooar, and let -loose many hundreds of their followers to range throughout the Dooars, -and quarter themselves gratuitously upon the people: changing from -house to house until they had consumed all the food the poor Ryots had -to give them. The Sath Rajahs had usually a caravan of large herds of -ponies, mules, &c., as far as Umerathal, one march from Oodalgorie. On -their arrival there, the inhabitants of the Dooar were compelled to -take care of the cattle, and be in constant attendance on the Rajahs, -furnishing them with supplies of rice, cloths, spirits, pigs, &c.; -and at the approach of the hot months, the ponies, mules, and donkeys -were laden with the whole of the collections levied from the people -of the Dooar, and the chiefs retreated to the mountains at Nareegooma. - -Such was the annual visitation to which the people were subjected the -moment the four months of British rule expired. A gradual decrease of -the population of the Dooar was the natural result of this tyranny; but -the grasping oppression of the Booteahs underwent no diminution. They -made no remission on account of the decay of the population: the same -amount of collections was still drawn from the remaining Ryots. The -country became overgrown with jungle, and the malaria of these plains -was so injurious to the constitutions of Bengalees or Europeans, that -the tract could not be visited with impunity for above a few weeks -in the year. The fevers were most fatal, and life was frequently -extinguished in four or five days. Thieves, highway robbers, and -murderers here sought and found a safe asylum under the shadow of -Booteah rule, by administering to the rapacity of the chiefs. They -surrendered a portion of their ill-gotten wealth in the shape of -fines for the protection given them, in opposition to treaties and -the laws of civilized nations. - -Such was the state of affairs, when, to the unspeakable delight of -the inhabitants, the Dooar was attached by the British Government in -1839. A police thannah was established at Oodalgorie, British law was -enforced, marauders and disturbers of society were quickly suppressed, -and at the present day a prosperous population has again sprung up; -only too thankful that they can enjoy the produce of the land in -peace and safety, under a powerful Government capable of protecting -them from the aggressions and exactions of the wild mountaineers. The -contributions taken in kind from each house by the Booteahs consisted -of five pieces of Moonjah silk, sar cloth, one piece of Erea cloth, -one gumcha or handkerchief, Moonjah thread, and metal bracelets, -worth altogether about one rupee and a half. Such, at least, was -the estimate made by the late Mr. David Scott, the Agent to the -Governor-General. But there can be no doubt that the Booteahs were -in the habit of exacting as much as possible from the most wealthy in -the Dooar, though from the poorest peasant they might have collected -their black mail upon some settled principle. In this manner the sum -annually collected would vary; but we have reason to believe that 5,499 -rs. 15 ans. was the average sum levied on the Ryots in the shape of -contributions in kind, and 411 rs. 13 ans. in black mail or ready cash. - -The Booteahs, it is affirmed, yearly brought down presents of -various articles, such as salt, blankets, &c., which they gave to -the Ryots. These presents were valued at 966 rs. 15 ans., which being -deducted from the supposed amount of the value of the contributions -above noticed, the Sath Rajahs, it would appear, received 4944 rs. 13 -ans. Upon this data, in 1844, a permanent settlement was made with -these chiefs. They agreed to resign all claim or title to collect -black mail in the said Dooar for the future, on condition of receiving -5000 rs. from the British Government as compensation for the sacrifice -they made. The tribute paid in kind from this Dooar, previous to its -attachment in 1839, amounted to 397 rs. 8 ans., namely:-- - - - Rs. Ans. - - 4 ponies at 60 rs. each 240 0 - 5 pucka tolahs of gold 60 0 - 4 kucha tolahs 40 0 - 3 pods of musk 9 0 - Cows' tails 3 0 - 9 blankets 27 0 - Bags 2 8 - 3 red striped Erea cloths 3 0 - Honey 3 12 - Contingencies for the care of the ponies 7 8 - - -The principal persons who subscribed to the treaty of February, 1844, -at Tezpore, were Sanjiee, chief of the Sath Rajahs, Sering, Tangjing, -Changdundoo, and two Bramee agents from the Towung Rajah. The latter -had no credentials empowering them to execute any deed or to agree -to any particular terms; but, as the Towung Rajah had never deigned -to reply to the communications hitherto made to him, the apparent -informality was deemed of no consequence; and, from the very liberal -terms proposed, no difficulty was experienced in effecting so desirable -a settlement. - -The population of the Dooar is estimated to be 22,577 persons, and -the net revenue 12,455 rs. 7 ans. - - - - - -CHAR DOOAR, OR SHEERGAWN AND ROOPRAE BOOTEAH SATH RAJAHS. - -The appellation of Sath Rajahs, or Seven Chiefs, appears to be commonly -in vogue amongst the Booteahs; but we have yet to learn the origin of -its adoption, as the number of chiefs, both in the Kooreahparah and -Char Dooars, is by no means confined to seven. The Sath Rajahs of the -Char Dooar levied black mail from the people precisely in the same -manner as their brethren in the Kooreahparah Dooar. The principal -chiefs are the Durjee Rajah Tangpoor, Jyphoo, Dakpah, Sankandoo -Sangjaa of Roopre, Chang Wangdundoo, son of the late Rajah Tangjung -of Sheergawn. They reside at Sheergawn and Rooprae, about three days' -journey from Dymara pass, by which they descend into Char Dooar. They -are quite distinct from the Booteahs of Kooreahparah Dooar, and do -not admit that they are subordinate to the Towung Rajah. - -These chiefs, until 1839, yearly realised 2526 rs. 7 ans. black mail, -exclusive of 416 rs. 8 ans. which was deducted for collecting the -contributions from the Ryots in the shape of food, clothing, &c.; but -in April, 1839, Moodhoo Sykeah, the Patyhery of Ooorung, having been -barbarously murdered by some Booteahs of the above-named clan, they -were from that date a proscribed tribe, and prevented from deriving -any benefit from the Dooar in collecting black mail. Refusing to give -up the murderers, all access to the Dooars was strictly denied them, -and they were justly regarded as unworthy of any consideration. They -frequently denied having any authority over the murderers, pleaded -the hardship of the whole body being made to suffer for the faults -of a few individuals, and expressed their extreme regret at having -incurred the displeasure of the British Government. - -Moodhoo Sykeah's fate is supposed to have arisen from his attachment -to the British Government, and the energy displayed by him in causing -the land to be measured, to effect a regular assessment thereof, -in lieu of a plough and capitation tax. Such an arrangement was -particularly repugnant to the Booteahs, as they imagined it would -interfere with the Ryots paying them their black mail; they therefore -took vengeance on the promoters of this measure, and Moodhoo Sykeah -was cruelly cut to pieces in his own house by Booteahs partaking of -his hospitality. Gumbheer Wuzeer had been similarly treated the year -before, under suspicion of too great an attachment to the British -Government, and a desire to carry out their views. In 1844 the chiefs -were permitted to visit Tezpore, and in consideration of the contrition -evinced by them, and the uncertainty as to whether the murderers were -still in existence, and really belonged to that tribe, Government was -pleased to overlook the past, and again to receive them into favour. In -lieu of all right or title to collect black mail, compensation to -the amount of 1740 rupees per annum was settled upon them. - - - - - -THEBINGEAH BOOTEAHS. - -Of all the tribes of Booteahs inhabiting the interior or most northern -mountains, the Thebingeahs appear to be the most easterly. About forty -years ago a quarrel arose between them and the Rooprae Booteahs of -Char Dooar, regarding the right to collect contributions or black mail -from certain Bohoteahs, or slaves. Being defeated, the Thebingeahs were -for eleven years denied all access to the plains by their unrelenting -foes. Previous to this feud, the former had the right to collect the -whole of the Booteah dues from Majbat; but after this, their black -mail was appropriated by their opponents. - -Having, about twenty-nine years ago, partially made up matters -with their enemies, the Rooprae Booteahs, the Thebingeahs again -visited Assam, and have since that time made collections in Majbat in -conjunction with them. Formerly, as they aver, they were the channel -through which the Char Dooar Booteahs sent tribute to Towung. Before -the quarrel, their route to Assam lay through the Char Dooar Booteahs' -country; but since then it has been abandoned, and they now enter by -that of Kooreahparah Dooar. At the present day their numbers are very -small, and they appear to be a peaceable, inoffensive race. - -The town of Tibbung is stated to be sixteen days' journey from the -plains of Assam. For the first twelve days the route lies through the -country belonging to the Kooreahparah Booteahs. The next march brings -the Thebingeah Booteahs to their own frontier village of Sangtie. The -Thebingeahs are tributary to the Towung Rajah, who is subordinate -to the Deba and Dhurma Rajahs of Lassah. In speaking of Lassah, they -make the distance from their country much greater than there is reason -to believe it to be. They aver that in going to Lassah they cross a -great river (probably the Sampoo) which is the Lohit or Burrampooter, -that traverses the whole valley of Assam. Towung is said to be twenty -days' journey from Tibbung, in a westerly direction. From the little -information we have hitherto been able to gather, it is evident -the Thebingeah Booteahs were once a powerful tribe; but feuds and -exterminating wars with other neighbouring tribes have reduced them -to an insignificant state. The British Government generously bestows -on this clan 141 rs. 13 ans. 6 pice per annum, in lieu of the black -mail they formerly extorted from the Ryots of the village of Majbat -in Char Dooar. - - - - - -HUZAREE KHAWA AKHAS. - -These tribes reside eastward of the Rooprae and Sheergawn Booteahs, -in the mountains north of Burgong, called the Jumara Guyah hills, -distant from Burgong, viâ the Dymarahhat or market, about six difficult -marches. The whole of the Akha tribe is reported to consist of two -hundred families; the Kuppah Choor Akhas, of sixty or seventy families; -and the Meeches (who are also, like the Kuppah Choor Akhas, a tribe of -Akhas residing far in the interior, north of the whole) are estimated -at three or four hundred families. The whole are armed with bows and -arrows, and long swords, but they have no fire-arms of any kind. The -Huzaree Khawa Akhas were formerly the most formidable of the two clans, -but through the energy and daring of Kuppah Choor Akha chief, Taggee, -they have been obliged to acknowledge him supreme. His will at the -present day may be said to be paramount; for though his contemporary -chiefs profess to look on him as their friend and equal they fear -to incur his resentment, and submit to his dictation with concealed -feelings of dissatisfaction. - -Previous to the massacre of a detachment of the 1st Assam Light -Infantry at Baleeparah, the Huzaree Khawa Akhas had always collected -Pocha or black mail to the yearly amount of 175 rupees; but after the -above catastrophe they were looked on as outlaws, and were denied all -intercourse with the people of the plains. In February, 1844, however, -the following chiefs of this tribe were summoned to Tezpore, and an -annual sum of 148 rupees was settled upon them; on the condition of -their abstaining from committing further depredations on our subjects -or joining with other disaffected tribes:-- - - - Rs. - - Nizam Rajah 60 - Changja 32 - Changtoang 32 - Kebelon 24 - --- - Rs. 148 - - - - - -KUPPAH CHOOR AKHAS. - -From all the information obtainable regarding this tribe, they appear -to have been always looked upon by their neighbours, the Booteahs and -Dufflahs, as a ferocious band of Dacoits or banditti, living entirely -upon plunder, and never scrupling to shed blood for the successful -prosecution of any unprovoked aggressions, whether on the Booteahs, -Dufflahs, or British subjects. In this light the late Mr. David Scott, -Agent to the Governor-General, on his first visit to the Char Dooar, -regarded this clan. Considering that they had no right or title to -collect pocha, or black mail, he verbally directed that they should be -treated as enemies, and not allowed to enter the British territory: -if they attempted it, the guards were to fire upon them. This was -absolutely necessary; as the Taggee Rajah, just prior to our conquest -of Assam, and during the Burmese government, had frequently committed -serious depredations on the people; and on one occasion he ransacked -several villages, and attacked the estate of Pond Borowa of Char Dooar, -who was barbarously murdered with twenty-five of his followers. In -1829, the Taggee Rajah and his Kuppah Choor Akhas had a quarrel with -the Akhas of Somgsong Rajah. Many lives were lost in the prosecution -of this feud, and the Taggee Rajah was at last obliged to take refuge -at Burgong, in Char Dooar. Brijnath Hazaree had the courage instantly -to apprehend him at Gorahgong; and, putting him in irons, sent him -down to Mr. D. Scott, then at Gowahatty. Here he was incarcerated -in the common gaol for four years; at the expiration of which period -(in 1832-33) Mr. Robertson, the then Agent to the Governor-General, -directed his release and allowed him to return to his native hills, in -the hope that this act of clemency would secure his future fidelity -and attachment to the British Government. But Mr. Robertson was -deceived. No sooner did this child of the forest and the mountain -find himself again at liberty, than, regardless of his engagements, -he immediately collected together a few of his old followers, and, by -the mere influence of his savage character, he soon rendered himself -independent of the Towung Rajah, and took tribute from the Rooprae and -Sheergawn Booteahs. He then resorted to his former lawless practices -of rapine and destruction; declaring that, now he was released from -the Gowahatty gaol, he would not rest until he had sacrificed every -man who had aided in apprehending him. Such was the terror his name -inspired, that the slightest report of his approach alarmed the -inhabitants of the plains, and they deserted their villages in the -utmost consternation. It was well known that no quarter was given -or mercy shown by the freebooter: men, women, and children were -indiscriminately butchered; neither life nor property was respected; -and safety was only attainable by timely flight. - -At one time it was the practice in Assam to locate small bodies of -troops in stockades along the frontier, north and south of the valley -at the foot of the hills; or in the immediate vicinity of hostile -tribes, so as to overawe them and prevent predatory incursions into -our plains for the capture of slaves and plunder. These posts, being -far distant from the support of the head quarters of the respective -regiments, and away from the immediate control of European officers, -discipline and vigilance were perhaps too little regarded; and the -consequence was, that detachments were not unfrequently surprised and -massacred in the most savage manner. In 1835, there was a stockade -at Baleeparah in Char Dooar, garrisoned by one havildar, one naick, -and six sipahees of the 1st Assam Light Infantry. About 10 o'clock -A.M. of the 3rd of February of the same year, the Kuppah Choor and -Akha chiefs, Taggee, Nizam, and Somgsong, accompanied by a few daring -followers, proceeded to the stockade: the havildar, unsuspicious -of any treachery, went outside to converse with the Taggee Rajah, -and told him that he must not enter the stockade. After a short -conversation the Taggee Rajah--as a signal understood by the Akhas, -drew his sword and inflicted a wound on the havildar's left leg. Nazim -Rajah then cut down the Naick with his own hand, and the whole of -the Akhas instantly rushed on the havildar, entered the stockade, -and murdered every person they could seize; slaughtering in all -sixteen persons: the havildar, naick and four sipahees, and the -wives and families of the Goorkha sipahees. Two sipahees of the guard -happened to be bathing in a tank close by at the time of the attack, -and saved their lives by running into the jungles. After the massacre, -the Taggee Rajah set fire to all the houses inside the stockade, and -retired with his followers to the fastnesses in the neighbouring hills. - -Intelligence of this disaster reaching the civil authorities, a -proclamation was immediately issued, offering a reward of five hundred -rupees to any person who would bring the Taggee Rajah, dead or alive, -and two hundred rupees for any information that would lead to his -apprehension. This proclamation, however, was in 1837-38 modified by -the express order of the Honourable Court of Directors, who intimated -that the proceeding was most exceptionable, and that rewards should -only be given for the apprehension of offenders, and not for slaying -them. From that day until 1842, the whole tribe of Akhas and Kuppah -Choor Akhas were treated as outlaws. Our outposts were strengthened, -and all British subjects prohibited from furnishing them with grain -or any other necessaries of life. - -In 1842, the Taggee Rajah, of his own free will, came down from the -hills and surrendered himself to the British Government. The excuse -pleaded by him for the massacre of the guard was the tyranny and -insolence of the sipahees towards his tribe; but it does not appear -that the sipahees had any quarrel with the Akhas or Kuppah Choor Akhas, -and it is therefore reasonable to conclude that the latter destroyed -the guard because they were posted there to prevent depredations on -the plains. Notwithstanding the crimes committed by the Taggee Rajah, -Government directed his release, on his swearing future allegiance on -his own behalf and that of his tribe. This was a matter of necessity: -there were no means at hand of summarily punishing the outrage that -had been committed, and the influence of the Rajah was requisite -to curb the future irregularities of his people. As an inducement -to him to restrain a rapacious banditti from future aggressions, -a pension of twenty rupees per mensem was bestowed upon him for -life. The Taggee Rajah, it might have been supposed, returned to -his native hills somewhat appeased and gratified; but here again the -British authorities were erroneous in their calculations. Incapable of -comprehending our motives, and distrustful of our purposes, the Rajah, -for two years, never resorted to the station of Tezpore to receive -his pension. In 1844, however, an interview with himself and other -chiefs took place, and an amicable and satisfactory arrangement was -made. The Taggee Rajah received his pension of 240 rupees per annum -granted in 1842; Nechoo received 24 rupees; Sankhandoo, 32 rupees; -Seerkoolee, 32 rupees; Sorsoo, 32 rupees: in all five chiefs, their -pensions amounting to 360 rupees per annum. - -Thus terminated a desultory, harassing war of twenty years with -one of the most restless tribes on the frontier. The manner in -which the forbearance of these savages has been purchased will, -we are persuaded, not be misconstrued into fear or weakness, but be -productive of future peace and security and a freer intercourse with -the people of the plains. - - - - - -DUFFLAHS. - -The Dufflah tribes are divided into innumerable petty clans, and reside -in Char Dooar, Now Dooar, and Chuh Dooar. They are a very uncivilized -race of beings, and formerly were extremely troublesome: committing -atrocities, attacking and kidnapping the people of the plains, and -extorting a large amount of black mail in kind annually. To enumerate -the several petty robberies, disturbances, and murders committed at -different times by these wild mountaineers, would, at the present day, -be neither interesting nor profitable: it will suffice to remark that -the people are all disunited, living under independent chiefs with -separate interests, and have never leagued together in large bodies to -ravage the plains for plunder or the capture of slaves. No union seems -to prevail amongst them as with the Singphoos, Abors, and Khamtees; -their irruptions and depredations, therefore, are always on a small -scale. Almost every clan seems suspicious of its neighbour, and the -sanguinary feuds amongst themselves are frequent. Of their religion, -manners, customs, and habits, we regret to say little is known, and -that little of a character not to be relied on: the same may be said -of our information respecting the Akha tribes. - -In 1836-37, an agreement was entered into with the Dufflahs to forego -their extortions on receiving from the British Government a fixed sum -in lieu of all demands. Unlike the Booteahs, who cannot live in the -plains, the Dufflahs seem disposed to adopt agricultural habits; and -considerable numbers have deserted their hills and located themselves -in the plains, paying revenue for the land they cultivate at the -same rate as our Ryots. From these symptoms of industry, we are led -to hope that in the course of time others will follow their example, -and descend from their hills to enjoy the protection of the British -Government; when their condition will be greatly ameliorated. - -In Char Dooar there are no less than one hundred and eighty Dufflah -chiefs, belonging to twelve distinct clans, who receive 1,020 -rupees per annum in lieu of the black mail formerly extorted from -the Ryots. In the Now Dooar, there are nine dooars (passes or tracts -of country leading into the northern hills) occupied by fifty-eight -Dufflah chiefs, who receive compensation or a pension from Government -of 1,523 rupees 9 ans. annually in lieu of black mail; making a grand -total for both Dooars of 2,543 rupees 9 ans. 8 pice. It remains only -to notice the amount supposed to have been collected as black mail by -the Dufflahs from the people in Now Dooar previous to the year 1836-37, -when a pecuniary compensation was given to the Dufflahs in lieu of this -objectionable exaction. The contributions levied as black mail were -nearly all given in kind. On the arrival of the Dufflahs once a year, -from their mountains in the Now Dooar, it was their custom to take from -the Sahoorea Ryots Government free pykes (or men), from each house:-- - - - Rs. Ans. Pice. - - 1 seer of salt, valued at 0 4 0 - 5 seers of rice 0 1 0 - Ready cash 0 1 0 - ----------- - 0 6 0 - - -and if the ready money of one anna was not paid, a Moonga, -or Erea Gumcha, or handkerchief valued at three annas was taken -instead. On their return to the hills, another cess or contribution, -amounting to 7 rs. 10 ans. was levied from each village or community, -fixed originally at twenty houses; and whether they had decreased -or increased in numbers the Dufflahs neither reduced nor augmented -their demand. The articles taken from each village consisted on this -occasion generally of-- - - - Rs. Ans. Pice. - - 1 Erea cloth, valued at 3 0 0 - 1 Moonga Gumcha handkerchief 0 4 0 - 1 cow 2 8 0 - Cash, as a present 1 0 0 - Rice, 1 bhar 0 4 0 - 1 duck 0 2 0 - 1 seer of salt 0 4 0 - 1 seer of oil 0 4 0 - ----------- - 7 10 0 - - -Besides the Sahoorea, or free population, there were four villages -(Baghmarra, Bihalle, Sakomata, Bakola) wholly inhabited by Cacharees, -who were denominated Bohoteahs, or slaves; being free men bestowed -originally by the Assam kings for a particular purpose or service. This -caste or tribe the Dufflahs especially considered as their slaves, -from whom they claimed the right to collect two-thirds of the produce -of their labours. Each Bohoteah received from the British Government -two poorahs of land, and one rupee only was taken from him as revenue, -or capitation tax; being two rupees less than that paid by the -Government Pykes. The remission of two rupees granted in his favour, -was to enable him to meet the demands of the Dufflahs against him, -in addition to the following amount of black mail, viz:-- - - - Rs. Ans. Pice. - - 1 Erea small cloth 1 0 0 - 1 Moonga gumcha 0 4 0 - 1 chunam (or lime box) 0 8 0 - 1 kuttaree, or knife 0 2 0 - 1 jappee hat or umbrella 0 4 0 - 1 bhar of rice 0 4 0 - 1 duck 0 2 0 - 1 seer of salt 0 4 0 - 1 seer of oil 0 4 0 - ----------- - 3 0 0 - - -From this it would appear that the Bohoteahs paid to the Dufflahs -five rupees each in produce; while the free population was assessed -at the rate of about eight rupees per village of twenty houses, which -would average about six annas four pice per house. From the free and -slave population united, as far as we have means for determining, -the sum realized in kind from the inhabitants of the whole Dooar, -amounted to 2,503 rs. 10 ans. 6 pice; so that in reality the Dufflahs -have gained by the money substituted for black mail. - -In the palmy days of the Ahoom Government it is not certain that this -system existed; but on the Ahoom Rajahs becoming proselytes to the -Hindoo creed, they and their followers degenerated; and being unable -to check by force of arms, the inroads of the numerous hill tribes -both on the north and south frontiers of the valley--a space of 400 -miles, accessible by innumerable passes--they readily permitted the -tribes to levy black mail once a year on certain portions of land -called Dooars. Thus were continual hostilities averted, and the Ahoom -Rajahs had leisure to pay attention to their own affairs. Intestine -commotion, however, worked the destruction which foreign aggression -was restrained from accomplishing. - - -CHAR DOOAR DUFFLAHS. - ---------+--------+----------------------------------+---------------- -No. of | No. | | -Chiefs | of | | Amount of -in each | Khels | Name of Khel or Clan. | Pension. -Khel or | or | | -Clan. | Clans. | | ---------+--------+----------------------------------+---------------- - | | | Rs. Ans. Pice. - 23 | 1 | Phering Ooela | 97 8 5 - 20 | 2 | Oopur Takoolea | 108 5 2 - 21 | 3 | Nam Takoolea | 196 14 1 - 21 | 4 | Rapo Oolea | 76 11 4 - 46 | 5 | Paee Olea | 234 12 2 - 7 | 6 | Oopur Taolea | 17 1 11 - 2 | 7 | Nam Taolea | 3 10 7 - 3 | 8 | Chana Oolea | 23 6 7 - 37 | 9 | Oopur Tabungolea | 106 2 9 - | 10 | Purbutea village, Mekla Gaum, | - | | Deka and Bur Gaum extinct | 4 8 4 - ,, | 11 | Jeynath Hya Babang Gaum, of | - | | Kuchla Barru, extinct | 0 8 3 - ,, | 12 | Names of chiefs unknown, extinct | 150 0 0 ---------+ | +---------------- -180 | | Total |1020 0 0 ---------+--------+----------------------------------+---------------- - - -DUFFLAHS OF NOW DOOAR. - ---------+-------------+--------+------------------------+---------------- -No. of | Name of | No. of | Name of Chiefs | Amount of -Dooars. | Dooars. | Chiefs | | Pension ---------+-------------+--------+------------------------+---------------- - | | | | Rs. Ans. Pice. - 1 | Bihalee | | | - | Dooar. | 1 | Tamoo Gaum | - | | 2 | Tetae | - | | 3 | Ruma | - | | 4 | Nerbow | - | | 5 | Tumes | - | | 6 | Emakolee Gaumnee | - | | 7 | Hollee Gaum | - | | 8 | Hathemorea Huraporah | 58 9 7 - 2 | Gong | | | - | Dooar. | 1 | Bhoot Gaum | - | | 2 | Ruma and Gamoo | - | | 3 | Akho Chalee Gaumnee | - | | 4 | Changdur Gaum | - | | 5 | Rao | - | | 6 | Nizboo and Burkmal | - | | 7 | Rungoa and his son } | 82 2 8 - | | | Byragee } | - 3 | Bagmara | | | - | Dooar. | 1 | Gopee Gaum | - | | 2 | Papoong and Kadoo | - | | 3 | Sedae Gaum | - | | 4 | Teeta Gaum | - | | 5 | Lalloo | - | | 6 | Kowa | - | | 7 | Baboo | - | | 8 | Madoo and Paree | 29 5 11 - 4 | Sakhoo Mata | | | - | Dooar. | 1 | Deka Gaum, Bogle, | - | | | and Rumgka | - | | 2 | Chale Gaema, Gotoa | - | | | Gaum | - | | 3 | Kena Gaum | 262 8 5 - 5 | Chooteah | | | - | Dooar. | 1 | Babung Gaum | - | | 2 | Bengala Gaum | - | | 3 | Bengakoe Gaum | - | | 4 | Chengolee Gaum | - | | 5 | Hanoo Gaum | - | | 6 | Tadung Gaum | - | | 7 | Hanoo Gaum | - | | 8 | Peroo Gaum | - | | 9 | Durpur Gaum | - | | 10 | Taggee for Talee | - | | 11 | Teloa Gaum | - | | 12 | Tamar | - | | 13 | Durrung | 234 0 3 - 6 | Kuchlahbaree| | | - | Dooar. | 1 | Phedula, Bhedo } | - | | | Jey, Nizae Bulae } | - | | | Jey Gaums } | - | | 2 | Ladoom | - | | 3 | Onee | - | | 4 | Rungoma | - | | 5 | Tajur | 66 1 3 - 7 | Chandhur | | | - | Dooar. | 1 | Jeyram Gaum | - | | 2 | Ketula Haree | - | | 3 | Bogee Gaum | - | | 4 | Hetoo Gaumnee | 137 12 8 - 8 | Gurea Dooar.| 1 | Beroo Gaum, Seram | - | | | Nirboo Keah Gaum | - | | 2 | Dhunae Darkeh | 46 11 10 - 9 | Bakula | | | - | Dooar. | 1 | Neema Gaum | - | | 2 | Gobind Gaum | - | | 3 | Peroo Gaum | - | | 4 | Tama, Jagura, Nerum | - | | | Lekejoo Luchoo, | - | | | Begora, Oozeer, | - | | | and others | - | | 5 | Chengalee and others | - | | 6 | Khakung Gaum | - | | 7 | Halee | - | | 8 | Chedar | 606 5 1 - | | | Total paid to Now | - | | | Dooar, Dufflah | - | | | Chiefs |1523 9 8 - | | | Total paid to Char | - | | | Dooar Dufflah | - | | | Chiefs |1020 0 0 - | +--------+ +---------------- - | | 58 | Total |2543 9 8 - | +--------+ +---------------- - - - - - - - -NOTES - - -[1] Page 38. - -[2] The name of the Moa Mareya Muttuck Gosain is Nahor; he is called -Ushtobhoj, the eight handed priest, or an incarnation of the Deity: -a title which he assumed in order to receive greater adoration from -the people. He established his claim to the title by a device or -deception. Making three men stand behind him, from under a covering -they presented their hands in front of his body, and these, with -his own, made his credulous disciples believe he really had eight -hands. Having also some defect in his legs, he was known by the -appellation of the Lame Moa Mareya Priest Nahor. - -[3] This princess was the daughter of the Munepore Rajah; she was -first married to Rajeswur Sing, and afterwards to his brother, Luckme -Sing. The Muneepories are called Mogolies, and a tank, temple and -an estate is to this day called the Mogolie Princess's Pokhuree and -Khat. In the Assam annals, she is called Koorung Neyune. - -[4] Abor is derived from the Assamese word boree, friendly; aboree, -unfriendly. Thus we understand the term Abor Nagas, Abor Dufflahs, -independent or hostile tribes; and this designation seems common to -all rude tribes in Assam. - -[5] In many parts of Assam there are many fine temples and old forts -built of stone and bricks; but, the art of making such firm and durable -bricks as were used in former days seems now to be entirely lost. - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Sketch of Assam, by John Butler - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A SKETCH OF ASSAM *** - -***** This file should be named 53670-8.txt or 53670-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/3/6/7/53670/ - -Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net/ for Project -Gutenberg (The digitized holdings of the Staatsbibliothek -zu Berlin are all interested parties worldwide free of -charge for non-commercial use available.) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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