A Sketch of Assam: With some account of the Hill TribesButler, John, Major
History
A Sketch of Assam: With some account of the Hill Tribes
Butler, John, Major
Assam (India) -- Description and travel; Assam (India) -- Social life and customs; Ethnology -- India -- Assam
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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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