The Huzaree Khawa Akhas: reside in the mountains north of Burgong--Formerly very powerful, but now acknowledge the supremacy of Taggee, a Kuppah Choor Akha Chief 204 The Kuppah Choor Akhas: always looked upon by their neighbours as a ferocious band of banditti--Depredations by Rajah Taggee--His incarceration by the British, and subsequent liberation--Resorts to his former lawless practices--Massacre of the Goorkha Sipahees--Taggee, in 1842, voluntarily surrenders to the British, who again liberate him on his swearing allegiance--He is pensioned with four other chiefs 206 The Dufflahs: divided into innumerable clans--Very uncivilized, and formerly very troublesome--In 1836-37, consent to forego their depredations on receiving a fixed sum from the British Government--List of Dufflah chiefs, and the amount of pension paid to them 212 A SKETCH OF ASSAM. CHAPTER I. Appointed second in command of the Assam Light Infantry.--Journey to Assam, Goalparah, and Gowahatty.--Trip to Seebsaugur in a Canoe.--Boats and Dangers.--Seebsaugur and Saikwah described.--The Tribes.--An Assam Cottage.--Unwelcome Intruder.--Climate of Assam. In November, 1840, being then on duty at Mynpooree in Upper India, with my regiment, in which I filled the office of Interpreter and Quarter-Master, I had the honour of receiving from the Governor-General of India the appointment of second in command to the Assam Light Infantry. Regimental duty amongst our earliest military companions has its charms, but there is not an officer in the East India Company's service, be his attachment to his comrades and the sepoys under him ever so strong, who does not hail with joy the day that gives him comparative freedom, especially when that freedom is accompanied by the proud emotions ever attendant upon the possession of higher command. Accordingly I was much elated at the distinction that had been conferred on me; nor were my pleasurable sensations diminished by the circumstance of the future scenes of my service lying in a country that I had already once visited, and regarding which I felt an uncommon degree of interest. Bidding my friends farewell, therefore, I quitted Mynpooree, marched to Futtyghur, and thence embarking in a native boat upon the Ganges, proceeded to Dacca by the ordinary route, reaching the station in the latter end of December 1840. At Dacca, engaging new and more commodious boats, I again set out on my journey to Assam, and entered the Burrampooter river near the military station of Jumalpore, and arrived at Goalparah, the entrance to Assam, in nineteen days.