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
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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account