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it on all sides. But since 1825, when it was annexed to the British territories, as a consequence of the Burmese war, it has gradually been rising from the misery into which it had sunk and the progress of improvement has been of late years an accelerating one.

the poor Assamese, who had been scattered abroad in all directions, soon began to flock back to their native land, and industry was renewed. But Mr. Scott was left with the assistance necessary for carrying his benevolent principles into action. He was obliged to depend upon native agency; and his offi Our readers can scarcely need to be inform-cers were in many cases unworthy of his coned that Assam occupies the entire valley fidence, and beyond his effectual controul. of the Brumbapoottra from Goalpara in N. Oppression and injustice, therefore, were lat. 26. 10. and E. long. 90. 30. to Sudiva in dealt to the people; and the pleasing hopes N. lat. 27. 50, and E. long. 95. 45. It stretches with which they had returned to their native from Goalpara with the river in a north-east soil were bitterly disappointed. The agriculdirection, and is enclosed on either side by ture, trade, and revenues of the country all hills-the lower ranges connected with the languished. By degrees, however, Assistants Himalya mountains on the north, and the Gar- were granted him from the Army; and before row, Khassia, and Jyntea ridges on the south. he died, the tide of prosperity had again begun This long strip of well watered, fertile coun- to flow. The system of government in Assam try is divided into three portions; namely, is now entirely changed. Not only are the Lower Assam, Upper Assam, and the Sudiya Assistants gentlemen selected from the Army, country. Lower Assam extends from Goal- but the Commissioner himself belongs to the para on the south-west extremity, to the junc- same branch of the public service: and thus, tion of the Dhunsiri river with the Brumha-without increase of expense, a full and efficipootra above the town of Bishanath; Upper ent body of judicial and revenue officers has Assam extends from the Dhunsiri to the plains been obtained, to the great advantage of the of Sudiya; and this last is described by Lieut. people. Wilcox, as a spacious level plain terminating the valley of Assam, intersected by a number

The political relations of Goverment with

of rivers, and surrounded by mountains cover-all the tribes in Assam and its vicinity are ed with forest. The first two divisions for-intrusted to Major White as Political Agent, merly constituted the kingdom of Assam Pro-who generally resides in Upper Assam, and per; and the last was occupied by various has an Assistant at Sudiya. tribes who acknowledged the Assamese supre- The administration of civil and criminal macy. At present, Lower Assam is entirely under British rule; Upper Assam has been justice, and the care of the revenue, in the committed to the charge of the Native Raja part of Assam which is retained strictly under Poorunder Singh, who has no right to the Commissioner, and six Assistants, (three SeBritish rule, are intrusted to Capt. Jenkins as country but what the English Government have given him, and who is required to pay an nior, and three Junior,) who are placed under annual tribute of 50,000 rupees, of much the his authority. The Commissioner generally same value as the new Furruckabadad coin-resides at Gowhattee, the capital of Lower age. Sudiya, from the political importance of the different subordinate stations in that diviAssam, but likewise holds regular Sessions at its position, on the frontiers in the direction of Burmah and China, is retained under the im- sion of the province. His Assistants are placmediate superintendence of the British autho-ed sometimes singly, and sometimes two together, in different places of importance in the district. The several divisions under

rities.

the SIX Purgunnas, which it is intended should be formed into one district, and called Kamroop; Noagong; and Doorung, which is also styled Central Assam.

At the close of the Burmese war the whole their charge are Coalpara, which embraces of the north-east frontier, including Cooch the Garrow Hauts, Garrow Mehals, HydraBehar, Bijnee, Assam, with all its wild depen-chokey, Behar, and Bijnee; Gowahattee and dencies, Sylhet, Cachar and Munipore, was committed to the care of the late Mr. David Scott, who had singly to settle the new relations between the British Government and the multitude of strange and uncivilized tribes scattered through such a compass of country, When Assam was first taken possession of and also to undertake the entire administra- by the English, the revenue system of the tion, revenue and judicial, of those portions country was adopted, as in Arracan. A capiwhich were not left in independence, and did tation tax of three rupees was levied upon not fall within any previously established every cultivator, who in consideration of this jurisdiction of the British territories. The received two poras, or about six bigas of land natural consequence was, that he was over- for his cultivation, which he had a right to as whelmed with labours which no human long as he paid his tax, but could not dispose strength or ability could overtake. His in-of-because the soil was held to be the procomparable temper, and the generous policy perty of the state. On mechanics and manufache was left to pursue in his arrangements, tures a higher tax was levied, which in some won the affection and confidence of the people cases amounted to six rupees. As the levying in a most wonderful manner. Even to the of these taxes was intrusted to native collecpresent day no Assamese can pronounce his tors, who were under little controul, the peoname without blessings, and scarcely without ple were subjected to exaction and oppression tears. As a natural result of this impression, which disheartened and nearly ruined them.

As a natural consequence, the revenue itself who are all under the direction of one supesuffered, and was inadequate to the expense rior, or khelder, as he is called; who is geneof protecting the country and administering rally a nobleman, or connection of the royal its affairs. The system, however, has been family. The kheldar remits the revenue to changed, although we are not informed in the public treasury. what manner, and from the excellent arrangements of Captain Bogle and his colleagues, Each kheldar has likewise both a civil and the people are now pursuing their labours in criminal jurisdiction. He decides civil suits peace and security, with a fair return for their to the amount of 20 rupees and in petty criindustry. One feature of the revenue system minal cases he may punish by fine to the we have been told, is an entire exemption from amount of 20 Rupees, or by corporal punishtransit duties and Custom-house chokeys. ment as far as twenty ratans. The awards of The population is daily increasing; and con- the kheldars are subject to the revision of dissequently cultivation is again restoring the trict courts, of which there are four. These face of the country to a civilized appear- Courts have likewise a jurisdiction of their ance, and trade is flourishing and extending. own in causes amounting to 100 rupees. Goalpara is rapidly rising in importance as The Raja presides in person in a Sudder a mart exchanging the produce of the whole Court, held in Joraut his capital, in which surrounding country, both subject to the Bri- all serious offences are tried, and civil tish Government and independent of it; and suits of importance are decided; and to Gowahattee has grown to a populous and which there is an appeal from the inferior well laid out town, from being little more than Courts. a cluster of huts. The revenue has also increased, and has begun, we believe, to furnish To maintain his state and authority, the some surplus over the expenditure. Raja keeps up a sort of rabble soldiery of Upper Assam, which is the ancient seat of about 500 men, who are armed with musroyalty, was given up to the Raja Poorunder quets, and trained after European fashion Singh in 1833, as already mentioned, but for by native Commissioned officers from Hindoostan. It is easy to suppose they may what reason it is impossible to divine; unless it were a selfish haste to escape the trouble be ready instruments of mischief. of raising a ruined province again to prosperity. The Raja had no claim to such a proIn reading the narratives which have been motion, unless he derives one from having had published of the surveys made of Assam, and a principal hand in ruining the country by looking over the maps constructed from them, his previous usurpation. The people had no it is lamentable to remark how completely the desire to be left to the tender mercies of such face of the country is overspread with jungle, a man. And the British can derive no benefit either of grass or forest, but especially the from the measure, but will, in all probability latter. Yet the soil of the whole country, and reap annoyance and some danger from it, be- of Upper Assam in particular, is exceedingly cause they have awakened anew the Raja's rich; and from its diverisfied elevation it is ambition for rule, and have put in his hands adapted to the cultivation of every variety of the means of filling his own people with dis- crop. Rice, sugar-cane, pepper, mustard seed, content towards himself and the paramount cotton, and moozah silk are the cheif articles power which sets him up and protects him, of produce at present but even in raising and of engendering hostilities amongst the independent or protected mountain tribes in his neighbourhood, by his attempts to bring them fully under his dominion.

The population of Upper Assam is estimated at rather more than 200,000; and when the country was given up, the revenue had risen to between 80,000 and 100,000 rupees, and was increasing with the increasing security and comfort of the people. The Raja, it is understood, has realized a revinue of full 100,000 rupees; and, as before mentioned of stipulated tribute to the English Government is 50,00 rupees.

The whole internal administration of the country is in the Raja's hands; and he has restored the ancient system. The revenue is raised by a capitation tax, such as we have previously described. The ryuts are divided into different bodies, denominated khels, which may embrace from 500 to 2,000 of them; and over each khel is a set of officers designated Boras, Sykecas, and Hazarees,

these, the natives are indolent and apathetic! and without some new stimulus to their industry, it is not likely to be extended to other objects. Under the administration of the Raja no such stimulus is to be expected. He is said to be oppressive, and to be already driving numbers of the sufficiently small population from his territories by his oppression. He has likewise commenced a monopoly of trade on his own account, and insists upon sellers selling only to him whatever he wants, and purchasers buying only from him whatever sort of commodities he has to dispose of. This system cannot last long; and the sooner Government break it up by resuming their grant to the Raja, the better will it be both for their own interests and those of the people.

It is, however, to the country about Sudiya, that attention has of late been chiefly directed: and we are happy to have it in our power to lay before our readers much interesting information respecting it, which, we believe, has not yet been submitted to the public.

SUDIYA. -We stated above that the whole Through a great part of its course through country was divided into three portions, Lower Upper Assam, the Brumbapoottra is divided Assam, Upper Assam, and Sudiya, with the ed into two branches. The southern having neighbouring country. Lower Assam, ex- the largest body of water, which, encomtending on both banks of the Brumhapoottra pass a large island called Mojaolee, formely from Goalpara to Bishanath, is retained under well inhabited and cultivated, but now a wilthe full controul and government of the Bri-derness. The Dikho falls in the southern tish authorities; Upper Assam, extending in branch of the great river about twenty miles the same way in the line of the river on it below the upper extremity of the island, after south bank, from Bishanath to the point at having run a short course from the hills in which the Dikho, having Rungpore on its the south east and about the same place it is banks, falls into the Brumbapoottra, and some also joined by the Deesunz, which has a longer what higher on the north bank, has been made course and comes from a quarter more directover to the Rajah Poorunder Sing, on condi- ly east. The intervening slip of country betion of his paying an annual tribute of 50,000 tween the Dikho and the Deesung bears nurupees; whilst, Sudiya and the adjoining merous traces of former inhabitants, but is country, making up the entire remainder of now entirely overrun with deep grass and the great valley of the Brumhapoottra, until it forest jungle. The bed of the Brumhapoottra is closed in by lofty mountains, between the above the island of Mojaolee is intersected 96th and 97th degree of cast longitude, is by numerous smaller islands; and, after kept under the immediate superintendence of ascending it a little way, we find it joined the British authorities. Of the first two divi- by another considerable river on the south sions we have already given some account; bank. This is the Booree Deehing, which and we shall now proceed to describe the last. rises amongst the mountains to the south east The Brumhapoottra, in this higher part of of the vulgar Brumhakoond mentioned above its course, is also called the Lohit. In as- and flows from east to west, giving off a branch cending it we still pursue a north-easterly di-called the Noa Deeing which taking a northrection, inclining considerably more to the north than before, until we reach the longitude of 95 30 east; after which its direction is nearly due east, as far as the point at which it emerges from the mountains at the distance of another degree of longitude. At this point its channel takes the form of a rocky pool, which is popularly called the Brumhakoond, and is held in estimation as a place of pilgrimage; although the unquiet state of the country for many years before it came under British authority as latterly prevented the general resort of devotees to it. The proper Brumhakoond, however, which is described in the Hindoo shastras, is at the source of the river; and it is at present a question undetermined, whether it is at the source of that branch of the river of which we are now speaking, or of another branch which is believed to rise in the same mountains, but to take a different direction, and form a part at least of the Dihong, which joins the Brumhapoottra from the north, about twenty miles below Sadiya. The origin of both this rivers is supposed to be in a lofty mountainous range, covered with eternal snow, somewhere near the parallel of 29 north latitude, and about 97 20 east longitude; and the Irrawaddy is believed to have its source in the same neighbourhood.

erly direction falls into the Brumhapoottra nearly opposite to the town of Sudiya, and bringing on the rest of its waters to the west until they are naturally intercepted by the Brumhapoottra as it flows to the south west. Its two branches, therefore, the Noa Deeling and the Booree Deehing enclose a large division of the plains adjoining Sudiya, which is bounded by the Noa Deeling on the east, by the Booree Deehing on the south, by the Brumhapoottra on the north, and converges on the west to the point at which the Booree Deehing joins the Brumhapoottra. This portion of the plains, again, is intersected in a sort of diagonal manner by a river or nulla called the Debooroo, which falls into the Brumhapoottra, about twenty miles above the junction of the Booree Deehing. The country from the Booree Deehing to the mouth of the Dehooroo is entirely covered with grass and forest jungle. A line drawn southward from the mouth of the Dehooroo till it meets the Booree Deehing forms the western boundary of a tract of land which has also the Booree Deehing for its southern, and the Brumhapoottra for its northern boundary, and on the east is bounded by a line drawn southward from a point on the south bank of the Brumhapoottra, opposite to the Koondeel nulla on which the The whole of the plain of Sudiya and the town of Sudiya is situated, to meet the Booneighbouring districts which we are now de-ree Deehing. This extensive tract is inhabitscribing, appears from the maps, to stretched by the people called Mootuks, or Maomeabout 120 miles in length, and from 40 to 60 miles in breadth and the larger portion of it lies to the south of the Brumhapoottra. It is intersected by numerous streams tributary to that river, which generally form the boundaries of the different districts into which it is divided, and which it is important, therefore, we should notice.

*We refer to the large and beautiful maps published in sheets in England from the latest surveys sent from India, which are on sale at Mr. Thacker's Library.

reeas, or Moraees; by whom, however, it is but very partially occupied. Their principal town, at which the chief or Bur-seena-puthee resides, is Runga Gora, on the Debooro; and it is chiefly on the course of this river that the population is found. The people themselves we shall describe afterwards.

We have thus described the whole country from the Dikho eastward as far as Sadiya. lying on the south bank of the Brumhapootra Further to the south of this tract are only the

wild unsettled tribes of the hills. We shall pied by several tribes of the Abors of whom the now pass to the north bank of the great river, most powerful, the Bor Abors, inhabit the and travel in the same way from the west east-northern and more lofty ranges. ward. On the north bank, the district of See- The Dihong forms the western boundary of see, belonging to Upper Assam, which is in a the district of Sudiya proper; which is bound-state of great desolation from the continualed likewise by the Brumhapoottra on the south ravages to which it was exposed before the and is closed in on the north, and east by the country came under British rule. From the mountain ranges which at the same time tertermination of the Seesee district to the point minate the great plain of the Brumhapoottra. at which the hills first approach the river, the The town of Sudiya itself stands on a small country is a perfectly uncultivated wilder-stream, the Koondeel nulla or panee, about six ness: from that point to the junction of the miles from its junction with the great river. Dihong and the Brumhapoottra, the country About twenty miles to the eastward of Sudiya is very thinly inhabited by the Meerees, a is Sonapoor, formerly a strong frontier post of rude tribe totally differing from the Assa- the Assam Government, beyond which the mese, who have a few villages on the banks Brumbapoottra ceases to be navigable, except of the river, the greatest of which is Motongg, to the canoes of the country. The Sudiya diswhere the chief or Gaum has his residence. trict has a rich alluvial soil, low and well waHe has renewed his allegiance to Assam tered, which is exceedingly well adapted for through the British Government, and sought the growth of rice and similar crops, and furprotection, both for his own tribe, and for the nishes two harvests annually; but the inhabiAbors who live in the hills to the north of tants profit but little by its advantages, for them. only a small portion of it is brought into culThe Dihong falls into the Brumbapoottrativation. Continued peace and security, with near Sitlanee Mookh, nearly in 95 2 E. L. the continual influx of new settlers, will doubtand 7 45 N. L. and is an object of the greatest less soon work a great change in this reinterest, because of the large quantity of water which it brings down, and the uncertainty which hangs over its origin. It comes imme. diately from the north but the difficult state of its channel which is full of rapids with great masses of rock not in situ but brought down by the torrents from the mountains, and the impossibility of travelling on its banks, have hitherto prevented its being surveyed by European officers, beyond a few miles from its junction with the Brumbapoottra. Its volume of water is three times as great as that of the Brumbapoottra at Sudiya and was ascer-the district of Sudiya; but during the civil tained by Captain Bedford in December, 1825, to amount to 56,564 cubic feet in a second. It cannot be supposed, therefore, that all this water is supplied by a river of no longer course than that of the Sudiya river: and no one who reads the elaborate Appendix to Lieut. Wilcox's able and interesting Memoir in the seventeenth volume of the Asiatic Society's Researches, on the subject, will find much difficulty in believing, that the Dihong derives by much the greater part of its waters from the Sanpo of Tibet, although it brings likewise the sacred stream from the true Brumbakoond.

spect.

The district of Sudiya was properly subject and tributary to Assam, and indeed peopled by Assamese. Its present inhabitants, however, are chiefly refugees of the Khamptees and Mooluks, who were driven from their own abodes to the south east by Singphos from a still greater distance in the same direction, about fifty years ago. These refugees at first obtained permission from the Assam Government to settle in the plains on the south bank of the Brumhapoottra, immediately opposite

wars, on the flight of Raja Goreenath, they passed over into Sudiya, took forcible possession of it, and reduced the Assamese inhabitants to slavery. Having thus placed themselves in opposition to the Assam Government they naturally took part with their enemies and invaders, the Burmese and their allies. They are subject to a Khamptee chief who assumes the old Assamese title of the Sudiya Khava Gohein. He has fully submitted to the British authority.

To complete our survey, we have now only to notice the plains which lie on the south bank of the Brumhapoottra, oppostte the district of Sudiya, from the termination of the Mooluke territory to the mountainous ranges on the east and the south. These plains are intersected by two rivers, the Noa Dihong, mentioned before, which strikes off from the Boo

Just as the Dihong is about to fall into the Brumhapootra, which it does in few streams, it is joined by the Dihong, a considerable river also descending from the mountains to the north, but from a more easterly direction. Its supply of water, which is not included in that of the Dihong abovementioned, is about two-ree Dihing about thirty miles south of the thirds of that of the Brumhapoottra at Sudiya Brumbapoottra, into which it falls a little to which Capt. Bedford estimated at 19,058 cu- the eastward of Sudiya, and the Theinga pabic feet in a second. The Dihong has been nee, which terminates nearly at the same place surveyed only a very short distance from its after a short course almost from east to west, mouth, for the same causes which have pre- from the neighbouring mountains. On the vented the survey of the Dihong: but there is latter river the chief part of the population of no reason to imagine that its course is of great the district is found. The people were once proextent. The triangular piece of low country per Assamese subjects, but these were disposbetween the Dihong and the Dihong is a per-sessed by the tribes from the neighouring hills fect wilderness, without inhabitants; but the who descended to the fertile plains which they high lands to the north of it are thinly occu- 'now occupy. They are chiefly Singphos and

Kakoos. They were a most dreadful scourge to the kingdom of Assam, into which they made continual incursions with fire and sword, not only plundering all the property that fell in their way but carrying off the inhabitants, whom they either sold as slaves to the other Singphos, Khamptees, and Shaums of the more distant mountains, or kept in the same condition to cultivate their fields. Many of these unhappy captives were restored to liberty and home by the British troops when the Burmans were driven from the country.

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part of Mr. Scott's policy, in settling the relations of the British Government with this and some others of the rude tribes, to require them. to furnish a military contigent for the protection of the state, to whom musquets and accoutrements were allowed by the SupremeGovernment. But this part of his system has not answered well; for it has put superior arms into the hands of a wild people, addicted to plunder, who can easily find opportunities of abusing them in a country so little open to inspection and controul. It seems desirable, therefore, that such contingent should be THE TRIBES NEAR SUDIYA.-The first tribe dispensed with, and the defence of the counwe mentioned in our survey of the country try be intrusted to the regular troops. The beyond Upper Assam, was that of the Moo-country of the But-senaputhee, resembles tuks or Maomareeas, who inhabit the coun- the rest of Assam. try on the south bank of the Brumhapoottra, waste, and over-run with grass and forest; At present it is lying from the mouth of the Debooroo to a point but it has every advantage for agricultural nearly opposite the town of Sudiya. Their prosperity. The inhabitants occupy but a number is said to be about sixty thousand. very small tract on the banks of the DeThey profess to be Hindoos, and worship- booro, and profit but little by their natural pers of Vishnoo exclusively but they hold advantage. We must look to the continutheir religion so loosely, and are so neg- ance of external and eternal peace, and the ligent or ignorant both of its tenets and progress of colonization, as the means of bringobservances, that the people of Hindoo- ing their country to the state of productivesthan who have visited the country, will ness for which it is fitted. No revenue or triscarcely acknowledge them as Hindoos. bute we believe, is derived by the Supreme They were formerly subject to Assam, but Government from this tribe; although in prothrew off their allegiance between fifty or portion as the benefits of the protection and sixty years ago, and established a sort of de- passification bestowed by it become apparent, mocracy, as some of their neighbours have and the resources of the country increase, it likewise done. They have a chief, however, will be nothing more than equitable that they styled the Bur-seenaputhee, or Commander- should contribute towards the expenses of the in-Chief, as we should interpret it, who draws state. We have seen a notice of the Moama an inconsiderable revenue from presents on raeeas as a distinct people from the Mootuks, occasions of settling disputes, taxation upon but inhabiting a different section of the same new settlers, and labour contributed by the country, and being equally under the autho people. The tribe were much dreaded by rity of the Bur-scenaputhee, and holding the the Assamess as a warlike people, and they same relations with the British Government; suffered greatly from their predatory incur- but whether this view be correct, or the two sions. Many of them who had been reduced names are properly applied to the same peoto slavery by the Maomareeas, were restored ple, we cannot tell. to liberty when the British Government took possession of the country. At present the Burseenaputhee and his people are in perfect submission to the British authority. The ininternal administration, however, is left almost entirely in the hands of the Bur-seenaputhee; but, in order to introduce a sense of the value of human life, they have been required to give information of every case of murder, or of any capital offence, to the Political Agent, Captain White, or his Assistant, by whom it is fully investigated, and decided " It was also a

We take this opportunity of correcting a serious error we com mitted in our first article on Assam. It was there stated, that the political relations of Government with all the tribes in Assam and its vicinity, were instrusted to Major White as Political Agent; and that the Commissioner, Captain Jenkins, had in charge merely the administration of civil and criminal justice, and the care of the revenue in that part of Assam which remains strictly under British rule. Now the fact is, that the Commissioner is the paramount authority in Assam through its whole extent; and to him the proceedings of the Political Agent of Upper Assam and Sudiya are submitted for his sanction. This was originally our own view of the case, as it is consistent with the usual arrangements of Government: but we were misled by a statement not sufficiently guarded as to prevent mistake, which we found in one of the letters from which the greater part of our information on Assam has been derived. We trust it is perfectly unnecessary to assure the gentlemen whose

functions we have unwittingly confounded that our mistake was altogether unintentional.

The next tribe we mentioned was that of the Meere; who thinly inhabit the country on the north bank of the Brumhapoottra, below the junction with it of the Dihong. This tribe

seems to be but an off-shot from others of the same name, who live in the mountains to the north intermingled with the Abors; and is said to have been the oppressive assumptive the cause of their settling where they are now of the Abors who held them to be little better than their slaves, and reduced them to the lowest kind of servitude. Their number is small, but increasing. They acknowledge the authority of a chief or Gaum, and they are recognized and protected by the British authorities in the same manner as the other tribes. They are in a very rude state, and have no sort of affinity with the inhabitants of Assam proper. Their customs are much the same as those of the Abors.

The appellation of Abors is given to a num ber of small tribes of one origin, and the same language and customs, who are not however united by a common government. They occupy the mountains immediately to the north and north west of the plain of Sudiya. The term Abor, as Lieut. Wilcox observes, is that

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