Indian Antiquary Vol 16

SR No.: 032508
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: John Faithfull Fleet, Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 408
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 18 MB

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224
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(JULY, 1887.
greatest breadth measuring 75 kos; between the latter being used in making tents and Gauhati and Kargårv. The distance of Ava, the screens. Capital of Khata, from Karg&ny is 15 marches, The natural supply of salt, for which there is a five of which consist of wild hills difficult to cross, great demand, is unfortunately, very limited. The and the rest for the most part of a regular mass manufacture of an inferior quality, having a bitter of jungle.
taste, is carried on at the foot of the hills, and Of the several tributaries of the river Brah- one of a still worse kind and yet more bitter taste mapatra, which take their rise in the hill ranges is procured from the plantains. in the Southern Gol, the largest, called the Wood of aloes, found in abundance where the Dhanukh, discharges itself into it near Lakha- Nanaks (or Nagle) live, is exchanged by them with warh and the land between them, about 50 kos the Asamis for salt. The Nanaks are a wild in length, forms a fertile and richly cultivated race, wanting in all the decent clothing of civili. delta, which boasts of a salubrious climate. At zation, and quite comfortable and contented in the extreme limit of this pleasant district there the dress which is the gift of Mother Nature is a large forest inhabited by wild elephants, in herself. They live on the flesh of dogs, cats, which,--and in the other forests in the vicinity- Berpente, mice, ante, locusts, and whatever else altogether 500 to 600 elephants could be caught comes easily within their reach. Wood of aloes of every year.
a greater specific gravity than water, and musk. The tract bordering the river Dhanukh to deer are indigenous in the mountains of Námrûp. wards Kargány, extremely fertile and specially Sadiya and Lakhögarh. remarkable for its flora, ha a length of about 50 The Northern Gol is a very flourishing tract, kos from Samlagarh to the Capital. Here natu- producing black pepper and cereals in larger ral gardens, consisting of plants bearing flowers quantities than the Southern; but the latter, of various tints and hues, feast the eyes, and being full of impenetrable masses of jungle and trees laden with golden fruits allure the organ of mountains difficult of access, has been preferred taste and adorn the dwellings of the cultivators by the chiefs for their capital. living in the district. An embankment, skirted The plain intervening between the Brahmawith bamboos and other plants on both sides has patra and the hill-ranges the Northern Gol, and been raised between Semlagarh and the capital, measuring 15 kos at the narrowest and 45 at the and serves for passage during the rains, when the broadest part, is cold and snowy. district is flooded far and wide.
The people who dwell in this circle are healthy,
well-built, and formidable in appearance. Their III.-Principal Products.
complexion is fair, though somewhat inclined to The principal products are the mango, orange, redness, like that of the men of cold climates; their jack-fruit, citron, lime, plantain, pineapple ; pa- features resemble those of the people of the hilly niydld (Flacourtia catafracta P), which belongs tracts called Trang, lying towards the fortress to the myrobalan species, and the taste of which of Jamdhar, and Gauhati ; and the only way of resembles that of the plum; cocoa-palm; black distinguishing between them is by their use of pepper and other spices; three varieties of the hereditary terms or titles, which are peculiar to sugarcane-the red, the black, and the white, all each tribe. of them very sweet and grateful to the palate; Musk.deer and ponies are found in the moun. ginger of a fibreless tissue; and plenty of nagar. tains. Gold and silver are got from the sand bel plants. Several kinds of grass and fodder, as of the rivers draining the Gôl. About 12,000 well as corn, are produced in the district, the Åsamis, according to some people, 20,000 as soil of which particularly favours their growth. others state, are generally engaged in washing Wild pomegranates and yellow potatoes are also these noble metals, and have to pay one told of found in the neighbourhood of Kargånv.
gold per head per annum to the chief. The finest cereals of the district under descrip. tion are rice, and wrad (dal); but masur (lentils),
IV.-The people. wheat and barley do not thrive at all.
The As&mis are in general ill-mannered, and It is a pity that, notwithstanding that silk of not bound by any religious ties. They are perfect one of the finest qualities is produced there, the epicureans, and have no prejudices as to eating people do not pursue its manufacture on a larger food touched by others. They eat meat of all Bcale than suffices for their own use. Velvet and kinds, and do not scruple to take even the flesh tatband cloth of superior textures are prepared, of dead animals; but I am happy to narrate they
• (Urually China, bat here a name for Burms, by () mixing up the two countries.-Ed.]