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
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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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